✨ Visit Highlight: U+ Community Welcomes Minister Tim Hodgson 🤝

On Saturday August 15, 2026, U+ Community welcomed the Honourable Minister Tim Hodgson, Member of Parliament for Markham along with members of his team, for a visit highlighting youth employment, volunteerism, community engagement, and personal development.

The U+ employees hired through the Canada Summer Jobs program shared brief reflections on their summer experiences. The six Canada Summer Jobs employees shared their experiences supporting programs and initiatives while reflecting on the skills and experience they gained throughout the summer.

“That pit in your stomach is a sign that you’re about to grow.”

This was a sentiment Minister Hodgson shared during the interview, encouraging youth to view nervousness not as something to avoid, but as a sign that they are stepping outside their comfort zone and having that willingness to grow.

Minister Hodgson encouraged youth to embrace challenges, build strong communication skills, and seek real-world experiences that help them develop. He also highlighted Markham-Thornhill’s diversity as a strength and praised youth programs that bring young people together. 

The visit gave U+’s Canada Summer Jobs employees an opportunity to showcase their work while hearing directly from a community leader about the importance of challenging themselves and taking advantage of opportunities to grow.