Summer Camp Counsellors – Varley Art Gallery
About the role
The City of Markham is proud to be recognized for the 5 th consecutive year as one of Canada’s Best Employers by Forbes and Statista Inc. In 2025, the City of Markham is ranked 2nd among municipalities in Canada and 12th overall for Government Services. The recipient of multiple environmental awards, we are recognized for our innovative sustainability and urban planning initiatives as well as our fiscal accountability. More than 366,000 residents call Markham home and benefit from our rich heritage, culturally diverse environment, vibrant local economy and focus on quality of life.
Applications are now being accepted for the positions of Summer Camp Counsellors at the Varley Art Gallery of Markham. To apply for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter online by January 25, 2026. Join us and make a lasting difference! Duration of Position: 9 weeks
- Part-time hours, including training: June 2026
- Full-time hours: July 6 to August 28, 2026 (8 weeks)
Job Summary Are you a creative, energetic student ready to make an impact this summer? The Varley Art Gallery is looking for enthusiastic Camp Counsellors to help inspire and engage young minds through the power of art! In this role, you’ll gain hands-on experience working with children aged 4 to 12 in a vibrant and dynamic environment. Spend your summer leading exciting activities, playing games outdoors, assisting in the art studio, and ensuring every camper has a fun, safe, and memorable experience.
This is your chance to develop leadership skills, work in arts and culture, and be part of a passionate team committed to creativity and exploration. If you love working with kids, enjoy being active, and want to build a meaningful summer experience, this is the perfect opportunity for you!
Key Duties And Responsibilities
- Assist in facilitating engaging studio activities, and camp-wide art projects.
- Prioritize the safety, well-being, and protection of campers by proactively identifying and addressing potential risks.
- Accurately maintain camp documentation, such as registration forms, attendance records, sign-in/out logs, permission forms, health and safety forms, and timesheets.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for parents/guardians, delivering exceptional customer service and addressing inquiries or concerns.
- Organize and lead games during breaks; supervise children during meals and snack times, ensuring adherence to health and safety policies and procedures.
- Collaborate with Summer Camp Instructors to adapt art materials and activities to meet the unique needs of campers, considering factors such as safety, hygiene, weather, and breaks to ensure a high-quality experience for all participants.
- Participate in mandatory training sessions and regular staff meetings to stay informed and prepared.
- Exhibit confidence and sound judgment when making decisions in the best interests of campers.
- Effectively resolve conflicts and issues among campers, reporting any incidents promptly and thoroughly to the Summer Camp Director.
- Maintain a clean and organized studio environment and manage art supplies effectively.
- Perform additional duties as required to ensure the camp's success.
Required Skills & Competencies
- Passion for fine arts, including visual arts, arts administration, art history, or early childhood education.
- Experience working with children; previous camp experience is a strong asset.
- Proven ability to work effectively as part of a team, including collaborating with peers, supervisors, and volunteers.
- Ability to think quickly and resolve conflicts or challenges effectively while maintaining a positive environment.
- Commitment to prioritizing the health, safety, and well-being of participants, staff, and volunteers.
- Willingness to adapt to changing circumstances, schedules, or camper needs, ensuring smooth camp operations.
- Strong time management skills to balance multiple responsibilities and ensure activities stay on schedule.
- Strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills to effectively manage camp activities and interactions.
- Excellent customer service skills with the ability to foster positive relationships with campers, parents, and staff.
- Ability to remain active and energetic throughout the day, including participating in outdoor activities and games.
- Welcoming and inclusive attitude, creating an environment that values diversity and ensures all participants feel supported.
- Legal eligibility to work in Canada and between the ages of 15 and 30.
- Valid Standard First Aid and CPR Level C certification.
- Possession of a HIGH FIVE® Healthy Child Development certificate; Understanding of developmental milestones and age-appropriate activities for children aged 4 to 12.
- Clear Vulnerable Sector Screening to ensure a safe and secure environment for all participants.
CORE BEHAVIOURS
- Leadership: the ability to influence and motivate others while maintaining an overall commitment to excellence
- Safety & Risk Management: the mindset of actively anticipating and mitigating all aspects of risk
- Team building: the ability to foster a strong team environment within the camp
- Judgment: the capacity to assess situations, draw appropriate conclusions and make sound decisions
- Customer Service: the ability to focus individual and group efforts toward identifying and meeting community needs
- Organization: the capability to plan and implement complex programs
- Problem Solving: the ability to effectively manage and resolve day-to-day issues as they arise
All offers of employment for this position will be conditional on satisfactory reference checks and vulnerable sector screening checks as required for the City of Markham.
The City of Markham is committed to inclusive, accessible and barrier free employment practices and to creating a workplace that reflects and supports the diversity of the community we serve. Please let us know if you require an accommodation and we will work with you to ensure a barrier free hiring process. Contact us at varley@markham.ca
We thank all applicants who have applied, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted by email.
AI Disclosure: At the City of Markham, we value transparency and fairness in recruitment. While our system (ADP Workforce Now) includes AI-powered features, we do not use AI to screen, assess, or select applicants. All evaluations are conducted by people.
Vacancy Reason :
New Vacancy
About City of Markham
Markham, Ontario is one of the most culturally diverse and fast growing cities in the Greater Toronto Region with a population of over 353,000 people. A multiple award-winning municipality celebrating its 220th anniversary, Markham is Canada’s High-Tech Capital anchored by 1,500+ technology companies that generate over 35,000 jobs. Of the 10,400 companies in Markham, there is a high concentration of Canadian head offices located here - including industry leaders such as IBM, Aviva Insurance, AMD, Allstate, The Miller Group, Parsons, Huawei Technologies, MMM Group, Lenovo, GE Energy, Bank of China, Toshiba, J+J, Hyundai and Honda. Defined by its rich heritage, well-planned communities, high quality infrastructure, a talented workforce, and a pro-business environment, Markham’s business community includes outstanding companies and organizations providing globally competitive banking, financing, engineering, design, technical and commercialization services.
For the third consecutive year, we are pleased to be named one of Canada’s Best Employers for 2023 by Forbes and Statista Inc. The City of Markham is ranked in the top three for Government Services.
Summer Camp Counsellors – Varley Art Gallery
About the role
The City of Markham is proud to be recognized for the 5 th consecutive year as one of Canada’s Best Employers by Forbes and Statista Inc. In 2025, the City of Markham is ranked 2nd among municipalities in Canada and 12th overall for Government Services. The recipient of multiple environmental awards, we are recognized for our innovative sustainability and urban planning initiatives as well as our fiscal accountability. More than 366,000 residents call Markham home and benefit from our rich heritage, culturally diverse environment, vibrant local economy and focus on quality of life.
Applications are now being accepted for the positions of Summer Camp Counsellors at the Varley Art Gallery of Markham. To apply for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter online by January 25, 2026. Join us and make a lasting difference! Duration of Position: 9 weeks
- Part-time hours, including training: June 2026
- Full-time hours: July 6 to August 28, 2026 (8 weeks)
Job Summary Are you a creative, energetic student ready to make an impact this summer? The Varley Art Gallery is looking for enthusiastic Camp Counsellors to help inspire and engage young minds through the power of art! In this role, you’ll gain hands-on experience working with children aged 4 to 12 in a vibrant and dynamic environment. Spend your summer leading exciting activities, playing games outdoors, assisting in the art studio, and ensuring every camper has a fun, safe, and memorable experience.
This is your chance to develop leadership skills, work in arts and culture, and be part of a passionate team committed to creativity and exploration. If you love working with kids, enjoy being active, and want to build a meaningful summer experience, this is the perfect opportunity for you!
Key Duties And Responsibilities
- Assist in facilitating engaging studio activities, and camp-wide art projects.
- Prioritize the safety, well-being, and protection of campers by proactively identifying and addressing potential risks.
- Accurately maintain camp documentation, such as registration forms, attendance records, sign-in/out logs, permission forms, health and safety forms, and timesheets.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for parents/guardians, delivering exceptional customer service and addressing inquiries or concerns.
- Organize and lead games during breaks; supervise children during meals and snack times, ensuring adherence to health and safety policies and procedures.
- Collaborate with Summer Camp Instructors to adapt art materials and activities to meet the unique needs of campers, considering factors such as safety, hygiene, weather, and breaks to ensure a high-quality experience for all participants.
- Participate in mandatory training sessions and regular staff meetings to stay informed and prepared.
- Exhibit confidence and sound judgment when making decisions in the best interests of campers.
- Effectively resolve conflicts and issues among campers, reporting any incidents promptly and thoroughly to the Summer Camp Director.
- Maintain a clean and organized studio environment and manage art supplies effectively.
- Perform additional duties as required to ensure the camp's success.
Required Skills & Competencies
- Passion for fine arts, including visual arts, arts administration, art history, or early childhood education.
- Experience working with children; previous camp experience is a strong asset.
- Proven ability to work effectively as part of a team, including collaborating with peers, supervisors, and volunteers.
- Ability to think quickly and resolve conflicts or challenges effectively while maintaining a positive environment.
- Commitment to prioritizing the health, safety, and well-being of participants, staff, and volunteers.
- Willingness to adapt to changing circumstances, schedules, or camper needs, ensuring smooth camp operations.
- Strong time management skills to balance multiple responsibilities and ensure activities stay on schedule.
- Strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills to effectively manage camp activities and interactions.
- Excellent customer service skills with the ability to foster positive relationships with campers, parents, and staff.
- Ability to remain active and energetic throughout the day, including participating in outdoor activities and games.
- Welcoming and inclusive attitude, creating an environment that values diversity and ensures all participants feel supported.
- Legal eligibility to work in Canada and between the ages of 15 and 30.
- Valid Standard First Aid and CPR Level C certification.
- Possession of a HIGH FIVE® Healthy Child Development certificate; Understanding of developmental milestones and age-appropriate activities for children aged 4 to 12.
- Clear Vulnerable Sector Screening to ensure a safe and secure environment for all participants.
CORE BEHAVIOURS
- Leadership: the ability to influence and motivate others while maintaining an overall commitment to excellence
- Safety & Risk Management: the mindset of actively anticipating and mitigating all aspects of risk
- Team building: the ability to foster a strong team environment within the camp
- Judgment: the capacity to assess situations, draw appropriate conclusions and make sound decisions
- Customer Service: the ability to focus individual and group efforts toward identifying and meeting community needs
- Organization: the capability to plan and implement complex programs
- Problem Solving: the ability to effectively manage and resolve day-to-day issues as they arise
All offers of employment for this position will be conditional on satisfactory reference checks and vulnerable sector screening checks as required for the City of Markham.
The City of Markham is committed to inclusive, accessible and barrier free employment practices and to creating a workplace that reflects and supports the diversity of the community we serve. Please let us know if you require an accommodation and we will work with you to ensure a barrier free hiring process. Contact us at varley@markham.ca
We thank all applicants who have applied, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted by email.
AI Disclosure: At the City of Markham, we value transparency and fairness in recruitment. While our system (ADP Workforce Now) includes AI-powered features, we do not use AI to screen, assess, or select applicants. All evaluations are conducted by people.
Vacancy Reason :
New Vacancy
About City of Markham
Markham, Ontario is one of the most culturally diverse and fast growing cities in the Greater Toronto Region with a population of over 353,000 people. A multiple award-winning municipality celebrating its 220th anniversary, Markham is Canada’s High-Tech Capital anchored by 1,500+ technology companies that generate over 35,000 jobs. Of the 10,400 companies in Markham, there is a high concentration of Canadian head offices located here - including industry leaders such as IBM, Aviva Insurance, AMD, Allstate, The Miller Group, Parsons, Huawei Technologies, MMM Group, Lenovo, GE Energy, Bank of China, Toshiba, J+J, Hyundai and Honda. Defined by its rich heritage, well-planned communities, high quality infrastructure, a talented workforce, and a pro-business environment, Markham’s business community includes outstanding companies and organizations providing globally competitive banking, financing, engineering, design, technical and commercialization services.
For the third consecutive year, we are pleased to be named one of Canada’s Best Employers for 2023 by Forbes and Statista Inc. The City of Markham is ranked in the top three for Government Services.