JobSpark was created by two Ottawa High School teachers who recognized a gap between employer expectations and the skills needed by teenage students looking for work. Through contact with businesses in the Ottawa area, the JobSpark curriculum was carefully developed. The successful launch of its first session was working with students from the Ottawa Catholic School Board and their Focus on Youth Program in 2018. This continued partnership led to many students gaining confidence in their abilities and skills. JobSpark inspires youth by engaging them with collaborative and unique activities that build the skills they need to stand out from the crowd.

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PAUL BROWN

Paul Brown has worked as an educator in Ottawa for over 30 years. He has a BA in Criminology from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa. The first part of Paul's career was spent working with students who have varying exceptionalities. In the last 20 years of his formal educational career, Paul worked as a guidance counsellor, where he helped guide hundreds of students to achieve both their academic and career goals. A father of four, some of Paul’s accomplishments include being a recipient of the Community Builder of the Year Award by the United Way (Ottawa) for leadership; nominated for the Capital Educators’ Award; and being a finalist for the NFL/CFL High School Coach of the Year. Paul’s passion for seeing students succeed led him to co-develop JobSpark.

ANDY CASTELLARIN

Andy Castellarin is a proud father of three and a graduate of McGill University (B.Ed) with over twenty years of classroom and coaching experience. Over the last two decades, Andy continues to be very active as a volunteer for multiple non-profit organizations within his community. In 2019, he founded the first high school girls tackle football program in Ottawa. In 2020, Andy received the prestigious National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association’s (NCSSAA) Leadership in Sport Award. And in 2021, he joined the newly formed Ontario Football Female Development Committee. Andy devotes his time creating opportunities to engage youth, and it is this passion that led him to co-create JobSpark.

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ABOUT JobSpark

PAUL BROWN

ANDY CASTELLARIN

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