Sports and recreation internships in Canada2022-04-06T12:15:15+12:00

Sports and Recreation Internships

Canada

Sports and recreation internships in Canada involve a wide array of tasks within sports and recreation clubs and sports associations and governing bodies. Canada is a great place to undertake a sports internship because it’s a sport-mad country! Vancouver, where all our internships take place, is an outdoor paradise, located between mountains and oceans, and its population is extremely active. An internship in this area will deepen your passion for sport while giving you practical experience within a real-world organisation.

Internship placements cover a range of sporting codes and we work with a variety of sport and recreation hosts. You may be placed in one of the following: sports associations, national governing bodies, community sports and outreach centres, school sport and physical education programs, school holiday recreation programs, gyms, fitness and health centres, or high performance sport institutes and programs.

All internship placements are made in Vancouver, British Columbia, and range from 4-24 weeks in length. If you require a shorter or longer internship length please include these details in application and we can look for suitable options for you. Most interns work full-time, up to 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Some industries may require you to be available during the evenings, weekends, and public holidays. If you require a certain number of hours per week to satisfy your university requirements, we’ll negotiate these with the host company.

If your internship placement is NOT part of your program of study at home, the maximum number of hours you can work per week is 27 and your internship placement will be with a not-for-profit, NGO, or charity.

What’s Included?

  • Online interview

  • Placement Supervisor

  • Placement agreement

  • Orientation

  • Travel & local advice

  • Social community

  • 24-hour support service

  • Certificate of completion

Sports and Recreation Internship Tasks May Include

  • Administrative support to managerial staff

  • Sales membership, sponsorship and marketing tasks

  • Developing, preparing and delivering sport and recreational events

  • Developing and assisting in training and player development and nutrition

  • Nutrition, exercise and player development

  • Organising meetings, training, coaching, conferences and other events

  • Liaising with local sports councils, regional committees and national governing bodies

  • Responding to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public

  • Coaching youth teams

  • Consulting with clients, members, the community and local sporting organisations
  • Advising sports clubs on areas such as organisation, funding, promotion and regulations
  • Producing promotional literature, reports and event materials, and liaising with marketing and media organisations
  • Making presentations to grant-making bodies and/or other relevant authorities

  • Supporting colleagues to encourage and develop sport in the local, regional, national or international community
  • Customer service at gyms and training centres

Sports and Recreation Internship Requirements

  • High school leaver or higher. Undergraduate or higher students may be able to gain experience with players and coaches at more elite levels

  • Excellent interpersonal skills

  • A passion for sports

  • Fit and healthy with a focus on nutrition and exercise

  • Ability to effectively communicate in English with students and colleagues

  • Ability to work in teams and undertake a wide range of roles

  • Experience with MS office; photography experience can also be beneficial.

  • Able to work weekends and holidays when events may be on

  • 4 weeks minimum, 24 weeks maximum; open to working on weekends and holidays, when events may be on

  • Available for multiple digital interviews as required

  • Completed online application form and uploaded documents (resume, motivation letter, references)

  • University papers to define that the internship is a part of your program of study in your home country; if the internship is not part of a program of study, you’ll only be able to work 27 hours per week for an NGO, charity, or not-for-profit

  •  Criminal background check

  • Hold current visa to enter Canada

Will i be able to meet other interns in Canada?2022-04-04T12:19:11+12:00

We have a very active public relations team that will make your stay in Canada as fun as possible. From weekly pub or BBQ nights to monthly trips to places like the Rocky Mountains, Whistler and Vancouver Island you will be able to meet many people your own age who want to explore Vancouver and the surrounds with you. You can check out some of our interns and their events on Youtube here

Can i get University credit for my internship in Canada?2022-04-04T12:22:30+12:00

We can make all internship placements are made in accordance with any requirements your university has. You should check with your university or faculty head that your placement can receive course credit and whether your university has any requirements you must meet – e.g. number of hours worked; length of placement etc. We’ll take these into account when we make your placement to ensure you can get credit.

Will i get holidays during my internship in Canada?2022-04-04T12:22:44+12:00

Usually, internships do not have a built-in holiday break, however, if you have a set holiday date (as many local university and study abroad students do) or you have family visiting, for example we can arrange these on a case-by-case basis if you let us know in advance so we can negotiate it with your host organisation.  During your internship period in Vancouver we have many local events and monthly weekend trips away so you have a chance to get to see the country.

Please note that you won’t get refunds on your accommodation fees if you take time off during your internship. For this reason, we recommend you take holidays either before your internship starts or after it ends. We’re partnered with several local travel organisations within Canada, USA or Central America before or after your internship with our travel team.

What will my internship tasks be in Canada?2022-04-04T12:22:42+12:00

Your activities and/or projects during your internship will all be clearly outlined in your placement agreement. These will be in accordance with your background, preferences, your host organisation’s projects at the time, and any requirements your university may have. In general, you’ll have a range of tasks related to a project that will evolve as the project develops.

How many hours Internship can i do per week in Canada?2022-04-04T12:22:59+12:00

The number of hours of internship depends on several factors including the type of visa you hold, your University requirements and the host organisations capacity. If you are not taking an internship as a part of a study program then your maximum hours may only be 19 hours per week. If you have a working holiday visa you may like to have a part time internship so you can pick up a part time job in your spare time. You can discuss your hours of internship with your placement supervisor. We can also liaise with your University to ensure all their requirements can be met.

Where do i live and how long does it take to get to the internship in Vancouver?2022-04-04T12:22:59+12:00

All of our interns stay in Homestay accommodation for at least the first 4 weeks of their stay in Canada. We find families that have good connections via public transport into the city. As Vancouver is a big city we do our best to make sure your travel time is as short as possible with a maximum commute time from your homestay to your internship in under an hour. Most interns book accommodation for the whole duration of their internship but if you only want to book for 4 weeks then we recommend you use a provider such as AirBNB.

How is my internship selected in Canada?2022-04-04T12:23:17+12:00

We carefully select your internship based on factors such as your individual background and experience, your level of English, length of stay, your visa type and status in Canada.

After you apply you’ll be assigned a placement supervisor, whom you’ll meet via a video conferencing tool. In this meeting, you’ll be able to ask any questions you may have about the program and voice any preferences you have and the supervisor will be able to indicate what may or may not be possible. Following the meeting, your supervisor will start your placement search and find a suitable organisation to host you.

You may need to have an interview or two with your potential host organisation, which your supervisor will organise. Once we’ve found the perfect organisation for you, we’ll send you a placement agreement outlining some key information about your internship, such as your and tasks responsibilities.

What is the ideal duration of an internship in Canada?2022-04-04T12:24:28+12:00

Our internships last between 4 and 24 weeks or longer if your University requires it.

An internship of 4-10 weeks is usually long enough to observe and participate in an organisation’s basic processes, learn about its business philosophy, and begin helping out on various projects.

An internship of 11-20 weeks is usually enough time to participate in and start to master basic business processes, to become an integral part of the team, and to start managing your own projects and becoming involved with larger team projects.

An internship of 21+ weeks allows you to master business processes and even start improving those processes, to become a fundamental part of the team, and to take on more complex projects both independently and as part of a team.

We can discuss the internship length and what is best for your outcomes in your one on one interview with your placement supervisor.

What organisations can i be placed with in Canada?2022-04-04T12:24:47+12:00

We offer internships in private, public, government, non-government, charity, and not-for-profit organisations.

Each of our placements has specific requirements, and we’ll place you depending on your individual background, experience, level of English, visa type and length of stay. In most cases, you’ll need to have an interview or two with your prospective host organisation.

If you’re a current student and the internship forms part of your studies, you can undertake an internship for the duration required by your institution. However, if your internship will NOT form part of your studies, you may only intern for up to 19 hours per week with an NGO, not-for-profit, or charity organisation. We will advise you on your work visa and other visa requirements in your interview.

What is an Internship in Canada?2022-04-04T12:24:44+12:00

An internship or practicum is a period of supervised, unpaid experience for qualified participants. It is time limited, project based to give you the opportunity to observe real-world, practical examples of your education in practice.

Why should I choose Internex?2022-07-14T18:00:40+12:00

The team at Internex have worked in the youth education and travel industry for over 20 years, so we know how to make your overseas experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible.  Our team have all lived, worked, and studied overseas and know firsthand the challenges of moving to a new country and will be there to support you every step of the way. 

We’ll make sure you know what to expect and how to prepare, we’ll take care of any practical difficulties you may have, and our local representatives will ensure you are happy and looked after while you’re away. 

Internex is also dedicated to providing the best quality programs at affordable prices. Accommodation and meals (where included) make up the bulk of a program’s cost. Remaining fees are for our local representatives who ensure you’re taken care of in every country we represent.

We meet all our participants on Zoom or in person to learn more about them.  We personally visit our hosts to ensure the highest standards and when you live with one of our hosts in homestays or farmstay we collect criminal records and have them complete an application form to ensure they understand the expectations of our participants. 

We are not a search engine, we are real people that ensure this real experience is as good as it can be and all stakeholders are satisfied with the outcome.

We want you to be safe and happy while you learn and have fun abroad!

Click here for more information about our application and placement process

Internex provides the following additional services; 

  • Pre-departure support
  • Flights and visa assistance
  • Insurance booking
  • 3 night Arrival Package
  • Airport transfer
  • Homestay accommodation
  • Hostel accommodation
  • Multiple placement bookings

Additional services can be added to your booking during the application process.

Apply Now

If you are interested in finding out more about sports and recreation internships in Canada, contact our team via the enquiry form, or apply today and start the process!

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