Michael Harris
KEYS (Kingston and area)
138 Sydenham Street
Kingston, Ontario
K7K 3M2
Contact Michael at: michaelh@keys.ca
A graduate of Queen’s University, Michael began employment counselling in 1978, working in area prisons for the Inmate Employment Service. In 1980, he became the team leader for institutional services for the John Howard Society of Kingston. In 1983, Michael became the founding Director of Kingston Employment and Youth Services (KEYS) and has worked in this capacity for almost 27 years. In that period of time the agency has grown from a staff of three focusing on employment services for disadvantaged youth, to a staff of more than sixty providing a wide range of employment related services for the entire community. In 2003, Michael was nominated as Kingston Business Person of the Year.
Committed to compassionate action, Michael has worked closely with many other community-based organizations during his time at KEYS. Past experience includes service as;
- President of the Ontario Association of Youth Employment Centres (OAYEC);
- President of the Kingston and Area Social Planning Council;
- Chairperson for the Industry Education Council Algonquin & Limestone;
- Treasurer of Family Mediation Kingston;
- Vice President of the Kingston Area Training Advisory Committee;
- President of the Ontario Network of Employment Skill Training Programs (ONESTEP);
- President of NOVATAS
- Chairperson of the Local Advisory Committee to Employment and Immigration Canada.
At present Michael is;
- Executive Director of KEYS Community Employment Centre;
- Board Member with First Work;
- Board Member with Ontario Business Education Partnership (OBEP)
- President of Kingston Community Heath Centres.
Over the past 29 years, Michael has emerged as a leader in the field of community-based career and employment services. While leading KEYS, Michael has also spoken at international, national and provincial events, led workshops on a variety of subjects, and has developed and expertise in managing not-for-profit organizations. Having been a director and/or officer on more than ten boards for over twenty years, Michael is also regarded as a leader in the area of board development and governance.