A recap of our Time is Money campaign

Fairness begins when every effort is valued.

Let’s be real, doing hours of work for free is frustrating. Whether it’s an internship, placement or co-op, students are often expected to take on unpaid roles just to complete their program—and that’s just not right. That’s why IGNITE launched our Time is Money campaign.

Student leaders and the IGNITE team came together to spotlight a long-overdue conversation—the real cost of unpaid work. The goal? To make sure Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber students are paid for their work.

Through social media campaigns, in-person events, powerful student testimonials and collaborative advocacy efforts, Time is Money brought attention to the financial and emotional toll unpaid internships, placements and co-ops place on students.

What began as a conversation grew into a movement—one that amplified student voices, challenged long-standing norms and ultimately led to meaningful progress.

As we continue advocating for equity in education, let’s take a look back at the journey we’ve taken so far!

Advocating for student rights

A woman is talking to another woman. — *Image via IGNITE*

One of the students leading the charge was Isabella Vergara Bedoya. A passionate advocate and dedicated student leader who contributed a lot to the campaign by meeting with key stakeholders and raising awareness on campus through activations.

“A lot of programs at Humber and UofGH still expect students to work unpaid and that’s just not fair,” Bedoya said.

She mentioned that the campaign was a major success, achieving all of its core objectives. “We reached over 2,000 students through campus activations and received 690 personal WIL stories through our website, showing the scale of student impact, and we secured key meetings with Humber and UofGH leadership,” Bedoya explained.

The College Student Alliance (CSA) further amplified the effort by presenting the campaign to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities on behalf of the students, helping to advocate for change across Ontario.

“What stood out to me the most was how many students were eager to talk. It really showed how common and frustrating this issue is,” Bedoya mentioned.

When asked about the future of the campaign, she emphasized the importance of continued action. “The next steps include ongoing collaboration with institutional leaders to ensure policy changes. Setting clear timelines and accountability measures will be crucial in ensuring that the campaign’s goals lead to lasting change,” Bedoya said.

Students speak out on unpaid placements

A woman is speaking while holding a microphone. — *Image via IGNITE*

The campaign gathered hundreds of anonymous student stories from students across different programs—each one unique, but all echoing the same frustration. Let’s hear some of them.

“I was working 9 to 5 at my unpaid internship, then going to my part-time job until midnight just to make ends meet,” shared an anonymous student.

“I felt like my work was valuable, but my time wasn’t. Everyone around me was getting paid except me,” shared another anonymous student.

“I do 12-hour shifts at the hospital—with real patients. But I don’t get a dime,” shared an anonymous nursing student.

“I’m sending money home while working for free. It doesn’t add up,” shared an anonymous international student.

Many of these placements are required for graduation, leaving students with little choice. They either take on unpaid work or risk not completing their program. The stress of juggling school, jobs and unpaid placements often leads to burnout.

The message was clear, students are doing real work and should be compensated for it.

Working for free? Apply for the WIL Bursary

Two people are standing in a classroom, holding brochures. — *Image via IGNITE*

After months of student voices, advocacy efforts and hard conversations about fairness in education, real progress is finally taking shape.

IGNITE, in partnership with CEWIL Canada and Humber’s Transition and Academic Support (TAS) team, has launched the Humber Polytechnic IGNITE Unpaid WIL Bursary (formerly known as “GLOW”).

If you’re a full-time student at Humber or the University of Guelph-Humber completing an unpaid internship, placement or co-op between May 5 and Dec. 31, 2025, you could receive $2,000 to help cover your expenses.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is a great way to gain real-world experience, but doing meaningful work without pay isn’t fair—especially for students from underrepresented communities who may face added financial pressure.

This bursary is backed by $560,000 in funding to make sure you don’t have to choose between experience and your bank account.

It’s awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible students, so get your documents ready and apply early. Head to ignitestudentlife.com/wil-bursary for full details.

Your time matters

A man is holding the 'Time Is Money' campaign brochure. — *Image via IGNITE*

This campaign was all about equality and fairness. It gave students a space to be heard, to share their stories and to demand better.

And now, that collective voice has led to real change. The launch of the WIL Bursary proves what’s possible when students speak up and stand together.

But this milestone is only the beginning. Together, we are building a future where every student can pursue their career goals without sacrificing their well-being or financial security.

A future where unpaid work is no longer the norm and where fair compensation is standard practice. Your time, your energy and your work deserve more than a thank you—they deserve to be valued.

A heartfelt thank you to every student who shared their story, spoke up and stepped forward. Your voices were the driving force behind this campaign, and without you, none of this progress would’ve been possible.

Together, we’re building a future where everyone’s efforts are valued!

Feature image courtesy of IGNITE

Sick of working for free? Check out why unpaid internship is giving major ick!