Tourism HR Canada’s Propel Student Work Placement Program stands as living proof of what happens when commitment meets collaboration.

Since launching in 2021, the Propel program has invested more than $7 million to support over 1,000 paid student placements across the country—from travel agencies in Vancouver to adventure operators in Newfoundland. Every one of those experiences represents a moment when a student saw their classroom learning come alive, and an employer saw what the future of travel & tourism could look like.

Propel hasn’t just filled jobs—it has ignited careers, transformed perceptions, and reminded Canadians that travel and tourism is an education in humanity.

A Competitive Advantage

We know our industry offers opportunities to students in a wide range of programs. Engaging with Propel means the next data analyst, graphic designer, finance major, or environmental sciences student could be working in travel & tourism—applying their skills to digital marketing campaigns, accounting, or sustainable travel itineraries. The next generation of tech innovators, storytellers, and strategists already exists in our classrooms. Travel & tourism is simply waiting to show them what their talent can do.

Where Travel & Tourism Leads

No other sector can match the immersive learning environment that travel & tourism offers. In every client interaction, every service recovery, every operational challenge lies a masterclass in leadership, empathy, and innovation.

When students step into a travel & tourism experience, they don’t just learn about business—they learn about people. And that’s the kind of education that builds not only strong workers, but strong citizens.

Propel’s Far-Reaching Impact

By tapping into these wage subsidies, recruiting students into Propel placements, and creating life-changing learning opportunities across Canada, we show our industry’s commitment to talent development.

Every funded placement is more than a job—it’s a statement.

A statement that travel & tourism matters.

That the experience economy is Canada’s competitive edge.

And that investing in students is the surest way to invest in our shared future.

The Power to Propel

Propel has been doing more than connecting employers and students. It’s been building bridges: between education and industry, between potential and purpose, between the Canada we have and the one we imagine.

With each student placement, the bridge gets stronger.

Let’s cross it, together.

You Can Benefit from Propel

The Propel team offers regular webinars to explain the program, outline who qualifies, and guide participants through the application process. A question-and-answer session follows each presentation.

Webinars are open to employers, students, educators, and work-integrated learning coordinators.

Visit PropelCareers.ca for upcoming dates and a link to register.

Propel is funded by the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program and coordinated by Tourism HR Canada, a national not-for-profit organization.