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Skills to Thrive participant harvesting seedlings in our Greenhouse

Skills to Thrive participant harvesting seedlings in our Greenhouse

Skills to Thrive participants harvesting microgreens in our Greenhouse

Skills to Thrive participants harvesting microgreens in our Greenhouse

Skills to Thrive participants cooking in our catering program

Skills to Thrive participants cooking in our catering program

What Our Participants Have to Say

“At a time when I felt overwhelmed and stuck, Skills to Thrive gave me momentum again. The program created a space where I could learn, reflect, and start believing in my own abilities more consistently.”

“I began the Skills to Thrive course with some hesitation and uncertainty. However, it quickly became an exceptionally meaningful and positive learning experience. The content was thoughtfully designed, making it both engaging and accessible. What truly distinguished this course was the genuine care for students.”

“It was such a special experience; I really connected with other participants, and now I feel much more comfortable using the sewing machine. I learned new ways to improve our business idea and had the chance to hear valuable insights other experts.”

“My experience with skills to thrive was amazing since I was able to learn different kitchen skills and learn about how to organize a team in a catering company. It was nice to prepare different meals for seniors. I really enjoyed working with the other women.”

“Skills to Thrive is an amazing program. It is well organized and has caring and passionate leadership. In the program, I learned a lot about different seeds that I might want to include in my own garden, how to best care for them, and how and when to plant and harvest them. The most valuable skill I developed was learning what was required to start a business and how to keep the business thriving.”

A Safe Space to Learn, Grow and Thrive

Skills to Thrive is a 12-week, FREE initiative by Scadding Court Community Centre and Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Diversity Institute. It is specifically designed as a ‘bridge’ for women overcoming gender-based violence (GBV) to reclaim their independence through workforce reintegration.

Program Details

The program follows a progression from digital/theoretical skills to physical, hands-on experience:

Phase 1: Professional Development (Weeks 1–4)
Get 4 weeks of classes from TMU’s Diversity Institute. Build financial literacy, digital skills including AI, entrepreneurship and business development, and job skills and gain access to employment supports, including one-on-one career coaching.

Phase 2: Hands-On Experience (Weeks 5–12)
Build your resume through hands-on training in our social enterprises. Led by experienced facilitators, you’ll gain practical workplace skills and receive an honorarium for your participation.

You will ALSO have the opportunity to select one specialized stream for the last 8 weeks of the program. You can choose to participate in Urban Agriculture, Catering or Sewing.

URBAN AGRICULTURE
Gardening, crop harvesting and market set-up. Learn how to grow and care for food in an urban setting. Participants gain hands-on experience in gardening, planting, crop harvesting, and preparing produce for market. You’ll also help with market set-up and selling fresh goods to the community.

CATERING
Professional cooking, food safety and menu design. Build skills in professional cooking within a team-based kitchen environment. Participants learn food safety, kitchen organization, menu planning, and meal preparation for events. You’ll gain experience working under deadlines while preparing high-quality, culturally diverse dishes.

SEWING
Sewing, clothing repair, and textile design. Develop basic sewing and design skills. Participants learn how to use the sewing machine and create their own products.

What’s In It For You?

Workforce Readiness: Gain hands-on experience to strengthen your resume and gain practical skills that will build your confidence. Receive personalized guidance to help you plan your next professional steps.
GBV Awareness: Participate in integrated sessions on healthy relationships, boundaries, and personal safety to support your overall well-being.
Childminding & Tokens: Free childminding and transit tokens offered to help remove barriers and support your participation.

Have questions? For more information, please email marisol@scaddingcourt.org

Choose a Stream

  • Catering

  • Sewing

  • Urban Gardening

NEXT COHORT

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Have questions? Contact us at marisol@scaddingcourt.org

Get Hands-On Training in One of 3 social enterprise streams

Upcoming Cohorts

Spring cohort starts May 2, 2026

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Click below for other Scadding Employment and Entrepreneurship Programs