Work Integrated Learning: Connecting with the Real World
At York House, learning doesn't stop at the classroom door—it extends into boardrooms, studios, labs, and beyond. Our Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) program bridges academic excellence and real-world experience, where our Grade 11 students can explore, discover, and ignite their potential in professional settings.
At the core of YHS Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is mentorship. Each student enrolled in WIL is thoughtfully paired with a hosting organization through our diverse network of YHS alums, parents, guardians, and community partners.
Students will shadow their hosts’ work life, experience the rhythm of real workplaces, contribute to the work through research and presentations, learn about the nuances of industries, and gain a genuine spark of excitement for potential career paths. The goal is for students to gain real, purposeful exposure and valuable opportunities to test their skills, build confidence, and reflect on their strengths through their WIL experience.
Enrolled students will complete 30 - 40 hours of Work Integrated Learning through one of the flexible arrangements: a full-time work week over Spring Break, short-term job placement on a part-time basis, or through a weekly engagement over an extended period of time during the school year.
Examples of industries where students participated in WIL:
- Film Production
- Construction
- Judicial & Legal
- Medical & Healthcare
"I got to go on site and visit two of their sites: prospect reservoir and UBC Ross drive. This experience allowed me to learn about marketing, construction management and electrical engineering and help guide my future post secondary decisions. My biggest takeaway was that: people don’t hire engineers because they are smart, but because of their problem solving and critical thinking skills."
- Savannah
WIL Experience in Engineering Consulting
"We visited active production sets and met many professionals from many different departments, gaining insight into how each team contributes to bringing a project to life. We also explored the post-production process, where we learned how footage is edited and transformed into the final product we see on screen. Seeing both the production and post-production sides of filmmaking gave us a deeper understanding of the collaboration, creativity, and technical skills involved in the industry. Overall, this internship widened my knowledge on the numerous jobs open in film industry and the systems of how a film is made."
- Sarah
WIL Experience in Film Production
"During this time I saw many diverse surgeries, and got to experience an outpatient working environment.... My favourite part was getting to see the process from the patient consultation to the physio recovery after surgery to fully understand the many aspects of the Orthopedic Specialty. As well as getting to see the importance of teamwork and communication during surgery and how developing those skills now through sports and activities will greatly benefit me in the medical field!"
- Ayla
WIL Experience in Medical / Healthcare