Applications Now Closed

Thank you to everyone who applied! We will be reaching out to everyone who applied before Dec 20th with our results.

If you are an NYA Alumni who applied, we will be reaching out at a later date to schedule your interview.

Who Can Apply? 

• Any youth between the ages of 15 and 20 (as of June 1, 2025) living in Nunavut or the Northwest Territories can apply.
• Youth do not need to be attending school to participate.
• Youth who have already completed NYA Canadian or Next Programs will be contacted separately with a different application.

How to Apply

• Interested youth should fill out an application online, using the “Apply Now” button above.
• Youth can also send in a paper application by email to nya@nya.ca or fax to 613-232-2121. 
• Youth need to find a Mentor, who is an adult that can help the Participant complete and send in assignments and support them as they get ready for travel. A Mentor can be a teacher, a boss, an NYA Alumni, a rec coordinator etc. A Mentor can’t be a family member or someone who lives in the same house as you.  
• Each youth needs 2 referrals forms. 1 is completed by their Mentor, and 1 is from another adult who does not live in the same house as the Applicant) called a second referral).  

Referral Forms 

Each youth needs to have 2 adults complete a referral form. This helps us get to know the applicant. One referral must be from the person who will be your Mentor. The other referral can be completed by another adult who knows you (who is not a family member). Examples of who can be your mentor include a teacher, a boss, a coach, a rec coordinator, or an NYA Alumni.

Referral Forms were due November 21st, 2024. Please email nya@nya.ca if you need the link to the referral forms.

Print Applications

What is the NYA Canadian Program? What is NYA Next? 

The NYA Canadian and Next Programs are programs for youth from Nunavut and the NWT that gives opportunities to travel, gain work experience, earn high school credits and more! They are both 10-months long, and are highlighted by a summer placement in Southern Canada. Over 610 young people from Nunavut and the NWT have completed an NYA Program. 

As an NYA Program Participant, youth will:

• Work on assignments in their home community between February and June with the help of a Mentor. These assignments help prepare youth for a summer placement in the south. 
• Attend a five-day Orientation program in Ottawa. 
• Attend Re-Orientation after placements are finished before returning home. 
• Complete a series of fall assignments after returning home. 

Additionally, Canadian Program Participants will: 

• Stay with a Host Family in southern Canada. 
• Travel and live with another NYA Participant (who we call a placement buddy) during the summer. 
• Volunteer full-time at a work placement and gain work experience. 
• Gain independence. 

Additionally, Next Program Participants will: 

• Live with a group of other Participants in a college residence. Complete a construction trades course.  
• Experience living in a city, 
• Learn about post-secondary and plan their next steps 

Contact Us

If you need to reach out to us, you can can contact us by phone (1-866-212-2307) text (1-867-888-4001) or email (nya@nya.ca)