KEYS

What KEYS does

KEYS Job Centre d'emploi is a registered Canadian charity and non-profit organization headquartered in Kingston, Ontario, founded in 1983 as a Youth Employment Centre and incorporated as an independent entity in 1991 under the legal name Kingston Employment and Youth Services. The organization is the largest provider of comprehensive employment and newcomer services in the Kingston, Gananoque, Elgin, Rideau Lakes, and Sharbot Lake region, operating from five physical office locations supplemented by virtual services. Across its four-decade history, KEYS has served more than 120,000 individuals and grown to nearly 100 employees.

The core technology consists of a free, web-based local Job Board (keys.ca/jobboard/) supporting full-time, part-time, and seasonal postings, with paired employer and candidate account systems for posting management, resume storage, job alerts, and application tracking. This platform underpins a broader service catalogue that includes recruitment consulting, certification training (WHMIS, Working at Heights, Food Safety, Smart Serve), IRCC-funded LINC English language classes, refugee resettlement case management, the Professional Mentoring Partnership, SWIS in-school settlement support, the CEO Program for Women, and the Harbour Community Kitchen for women entrepreneurs. Strategic sub-brands such as the NEST* dual-career program and the Workplace Inclusion Charter extend the offering into employer relocation and corporate EDI advisory services.

KEYS generates revenue primarily through government grants at federal, provincial, and municipal levels, supplemented by charitable donations processed via Canada Helps. All client-facing services are offered at no cost with very few exceptions, making the organization effectively free at the point of delivery to job seekers, newcomers, employers, and entrepreneurs. Distribution is hybrid: physical offices deliver in-person workshops, advising, and case management; the virtual services portal, website, social channels, and online job board extend reach; and a network of partnerships with the City of Kingston, IRCC, Government of Ontario, RISE, local school boards, and community agencies drives referrals and co-delivery of programs.

Name

KEYS

Legal name

KEYS Job Centre d'emploi

Website

https://keys.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM)

Keywords

• Employment services
• Newcomer settlement services
• Job board platform
• Workforce development programs
• Community nonprofit charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: KEYS receives public funding from various government sources at federal, provincial, and municipal levels to support its employment and newcomer services programs.
2. Charitable Donations: KEYS is a registered Canadian charity (received charitable status in 1991) that accepts financial donations from individuals and businesses to support community programs and keep services free to clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KEYS delivers free employment, newcomer, and entrepreneurial services to the Kingston region through in-person offices, virtual channels, and a community job board. Core offerings include job search and matching support, recruitment assistance and training for employers, English language classes (LINC), refugee resettlement, youth employment programs, and entrepreneur support such as the Harbour Community Kitchen and CEO Program for Women.

Product overview

KEYS is a community-based employment and newcomer services organization operating as a registered charity. The core offering consists of the KEYS Job Board (a local job posting and matching platform) supported by account systems for employers and candidates. These are supplemented by specialized programs including English language classes (LINC), employment services for job seekers and newcomers, refugee resettlement support, youth employment programs (START Here, In Motion & Momentum+), and entrepreneur support (Harbour Community Kitchen, CEO Program for Women). For employers, KEYS offers recruitment services, training certifications (WHMIS, Smart Serve, Working at Heights, Food Safety), and EDI solutions (Workplace Inclusion Charter, EDI Plus). The NEST* Program supports dual-career families during employer relocation. All programs are free to eligible participants with public funding and charitable donations supplementing operational costs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NEST* Program: Nurturing Employees and Supporting Transitions - A dual career program providing tailored services to support the integration of newly relocated partners into the local community and workforce.
• Harbour Community Kitchen
• Professional Mentoring Partnership
• Workplace Inclusion Charter

Products and services

• KEYS Job Board Free regional online job board listing full-time, part-time, and seasonal employment opportunities in Kingston and surrounding area; employers post jobs free of charge and job seekers can browse, apply, register for job alerts, and store resumes.
• Recruitment Services Just-in-time recruitment support for employers including candidate sourcing, interview design, job description development, candidate pre-screening, and access to wage incentives and apprenticeship information.
• Training Programs and Certifications Employment-related certification programs including WHMIS, Working at Heights, Food Safety, and Smart Serve, plus facilitation of financial support for sector-specific training.
• Job Matching and Placement Assisted job search services that match skills and interests with employment opportunities, negotiate employment relationships, create experiential training placements, and provide ongoing support for job success.
• Employment Resource Centre Drop-in centre providing free internet, printing, job search resources, job leads, resume help, and information on local labour markets, education opportunities, and community programs.
• LINC English Language Classes Free daytime, online, and evening English classes for Permanent Residents and Convention Refugees, funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, focusing on conversation, reading, writing, vocabulary, and workplace communication.
• Professional Mentoring Partnership Three mentoring opportunities for newcomers: Professional Mentoring (24 hours over 4 months), The Connector Program (one meeting plus three referrals), and Career Networking Events connecting newcomers with local employers.
• Refugee Resettlement Services Multilingual support for government-assisted refugees including temporary accommodation, orientation to Kingston and Canada, connections to essential services, and 12-month resettlement case management.
• Harbour Community Kitchen Community kitchen initiative at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour providing commercial kitchen access and wraparound support for women entrepreneurs, particularly newcomer, racialized, Indigenous women and women with disabilities.
• CEO Program for Women The Creating Enterprise Opportunities Program provides group-based entrepreneurial training, mentorship, micro-financing, and customized supports to help women achieve economic independence through entrepreneurship.
• START Here Program Pre-employment training followed by supported work placement for youth aged 16-29 at Kingston and Gananoque locations; participants receive paid attendance and earn while they learn.
• In Motion & Momentum+ A 10-week free program for ages 18-30 helping participants build motivation, goals, and career planning skills with focus on personal strengths, community contribution, and actionable steps toward employment.
• Michael Harris Youth Award A $10,000 award ($5,000/year renewable for 2 years) for first-generation youth aged 16-29 pursuing education, training, entrepreneurship, or community leadership in the Greater Kingston area.
• NEST* Program (Dual Career Program) Partnership with the City of Kingston supporting integration of newly relocated partners of City employees into the workforce through career guidance, strategic networking, job search support, and referrals to health, educational, and recreational services.
• SWIS (Settlement Workers in Schools) Free support in elementary and secondary schools helping newcomer students and families navigate the Canadian education system, including intake assessment, school registration, transportation, and ongoing in-school support.
• Workplace Inclusion Charter Program for Kingston-area employers committed to inclusion; participants sign a charter declaration and commit to developing a one-year action plan for improving inclusion with access to assessment tools and public recognition.
• EDI Plus Enhanced EDI services for employers including environmental scans, HR policy reviews, inclusive hiring practices development, EDI training at three levels, and climate surveys.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of clients seeking employment or training found employment, returned to school, or registered in a training program (2021)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of KingstoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Kingston partnered with KEYS on the NEST* Program (Nurturing Employees and Supporting Transitions), part of the Workforce Development & In-Migration Strategy. This innovative program provides tailored services to support the integration of newly relocated partners of City employees into the local community and workforce.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEYS English language classes are funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada through the LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) program. This funds daytime, online, and evening English classes for eligible Permanent Residents and Convention Refugees.
• Law Foundation of OntariominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded the 'Newcomers Facing Labour Struggles' comic book project produced by KEYS as part of a legal education and training initiative. Supported by OPSEU and Windmill Microlending.
• OPSEUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the 'Newcomers Facing Labour Struggles' comic book project produced by KEYS for legal education and training.
• Windmill MicrolendingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the 'Newcomers Facing Labour Struggles' comic book project produced by KEYS.
• RISE (Small Business Lending Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEYS partners with RISE to provide small business loans to entrepreneurs through the Rise Small Business Lending Program. KEYS connects entrepreneurs to this micro-lending program and provides mentorship support for recipients.
• City of KingstoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Harbour Community Kitchen initiative operates with generous support from the City of Kingston, offering commercial kitchen access and wraparound support to women entrepreneurs at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JVS Toronto: JVS Toronto is a nonprofit employment and vocational services organization serving the Greater Toronto Area, offering career counseling, job placement, and skills training. Comparable to KEYS as a community-based nonprofit providing free employment services with government and donor funding, though operating at much larger scale in a major metro.
• ACCES Employment: ACCES Employment is a Toronto-based nonprofit providing employment services for immigrants, refugees, and newcomers in Ontario. Directly comparable to KEYS for its focus on newcomer employment services, multilingual support, and federal government funding (IRCC) for programs like LINC equivalents.
• COSTI Immigrant Services: COSTI is a major Ontario nonprofit providing settlement, language training, and employment services for immigrants and refugees. Comparable to KEYS for its newcomer services model, LINC program delivery, and employment placement offerings funded by IRCC.
• Goodwill Industries Ontario: Goodwill Industries operates employment services, vocational training, and disability employment programs across Ontario and Canada. Comparable to KEYS for its employment services for persons with disabilities, job placement services, and nonprofit mission-driven model.
• Centre for Skills Development: Centre for Skills Development is an Ontario nonprofit providing employment services, training, and settlement support in the Burlington/Hamilton-Halton region. Comparable to KEYS for its community-based employment services model, training certifications, and newcomer settlement programs.

Regional players

• YMCA of Kingston: The YMCA of Kingston is a regional nonprofit offering employment services, newcomer programs, and community support in the same Kingston geography as KEYS. Directly comparable as a local community service competitor and potential partner, with overlapping programs in newcomer settlement and youth employment.
• YWCA Kingston: YWCA Kingston is a regional nonprofit offering women's employment programs, newcomer services, and community support in Kingston. Comparable to KEYS for its regional service overlap, focus on women and newcomers, and similar funding model relying on government and donor support.

Others

• OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants: OCASI is an umbrella organization representing Ontario immigrant-serving agencies including many that deliver LINC programs. Comparable to KEYS as part of the same ecosystem of IRCC-funded newcomer service providers, though OCASI operates as a coordinating body rather than direct service provider.

Emerging players

• Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC): TRIEC focuses on immigrant employment in the Toronto region through mentoring and employer engagement. Comparable to KEYS for its Professional Mentoring Partnership model and focus on connecting newcomer professionals with local employers, though TRIEC operates at a regional/coordination level.

Broad incumbents

• Indeed Canada: Indeed is the dominant online job board platform operating across Canada and globally. Comparable to KEYS as a job posting and search platform serving job seekers and employers, though Indeed operates as a broad commercial incumbent while KEYS offers a regional, charity-supported alternative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/keyscanhelp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0Y4JnYAOjKW9yG2MtQdSWA
• Facebookfacebook.com/KEYSCanHelp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/keys
• Instagraminstagram.com/keys_changes_lives

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KEYS