Edmonton’s Food Bank does more than distribute food to people in need, we also have our Beyond Food programs designed to help people increase their quality of life. Part of what Beyond Food does is help people with work readiness and skill enhancement. This can be providing access to workshops to increase skill levels and training, helping people with language skills, working on their resume and job search skills, or providing an entry level course to jump start a new career.
One such course is our Janitorial Course, which started when the need for janitorial staff was especially urgent in 2020. In 2025, 185 people attended the course, with over 55% finding employment afterwards. Janitorial work is something that is always required in the community and this course gives people the basics needed to get a job in the sector.
Janitorial Course participants practice cleaning windows.
Over two days participants receive a mix of theory and hands-on experience. It covers valuable soft skills that can help people be successful in any job, such as time management and communication, as well as a variety of hard skills and knowledge needed in the janitorial field, such as:
- Using janitorial equipment and tools
- Basic cleanliness and sanitization skills
- Customer Service
- Being safe when using cleaning chemicals and gaining WHMIS certification (the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System)
- Workplace safety
- Administration skills
The course also update attendees on the latest technological programs and skills to help with scheduling and administration if you want to be your own boss and have a cleaning business.
Janitorial Course in class education.
“I am happy to share the good news that I am currently employed, and everything is going well. I have now been working for six months. I sincerely appreciate all the assistance, guidance, and training you provided me as part of my job search, including the cleaning training I received from you. I am very grateful to you and every member of your team for your support.”
- A recent course graduate
This course is for anyone who is eligible to work in Canada and is physically fit enough for the demands of the job. It can improve employment skills and help people become competitive in the job market.
Our next Janitorial Courses are:
October 16 and 19
November 2 and 3
Participants must attend both days of the course.
To get started, email our Beyond Food team at beyondfood@edmontonsfoodbank.com or call us at 780.425.2133, extension 228.
