About Us

Founded in 1983, KEYS provides Kingston and communities in Eastern Ontario with a variety of dynamic employment programs and services. Our expertise in helping individuals to attain their employment goals extends to a diverse population; including: mature workers, persons with disabilities, youth, students and newcomers to Canada.  

Whether our clients need support to identify a career; to learn job search techniques; to build an effective resume and cover letter; to practice interview skills or to access training funding to increase their marketability, KEYS is the Community Employment Centre. 

KEYS is a registered charity. KEYS Job Centre is a not-for-profit organization with a strong focus on service to others, we are committed to supporting members of our community through compassionate action and mutual respect. We help change the lives of people in our community... your community. Our programs include helping youth and students, mature workers, immigrants, job seekers and persons with disabilities. While our primary goal is to help those seeking employment, we also help as partners in the Refugee Resettlement Services Kingston. Our services are free of charge to those registered at KEYS. Whether you can give your time to help improve someone's life or donate financially to help us continue our work or support us through sponsorship, advertising or in other ways, we are grateful.

Our Membership

KEYS is part of a larger employment community and is a member of the following associations.

• 1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber of Commerce
• Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE)
• Canadian Council for Refugees
• Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE)
• First Work
• Francophone Immigration Support Network of East Ontario
• The Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce
• Kingston Immigration Partnership
• Leeds & Grenville Immigration Partnership
• The Ontario Network of Employment Skills Training Projects (ONESTEP)
• Ontario Business Education Partnership (OBEP)
• Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
• Ontario Non-profit Network
• Westport and Rideau Lakes Chamber of Commerce
• Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN)
• Innovate Kingston

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The KEYS Board of Directors operates within a Policy Governance model based on the work of John Carver. This means the Board plays a leadership role, focusing on the big picture and visions for the future; rather than getting lost in the operational and administrative details of the present. The Board is responsible for directing and protecting the organization in the interests of the community. It encourages a diversity of viewpoints and clearly distinguishes board and staff roles.

Board Members

Les Morley - President
Wendy Vuyk - Vice-President
Scott Lee - Treasurer
Alec Ross - Secretary
Pennie Carr-Harris - Past-President/Director 
Monica Stewart - Director
Tom Russell - Director
Andrew Gissing - Director
Tarek Hussein - Director 
Matt LeMay - Director
Line Drapeau -  Director