After I was accepted as an engineering assistant for the Christie Digital internship, I was sure that I would gain a LOT of experience in engineering. By the end of the month, I was right. I had amassed a whole load of experience by reading up on projector optics at my cubicle and conducting color spectrum experiments. It was difficult the first week because I had no idea how a projector functions, but I did my best and was able to complete my tasks.
On my first day at Christie Digital, I had a tour of the building with my supervisor. I quickly found that Christie Digital is massive! They have several labs, a production floor, a marketing office, an engineering office, workout rooms, and a cafeteria. I was so overwhelmed with the amount of employees and the size of the building. On the first day, my first task was assigned to me and I was working with one of the optics engineers.
My task was to compare 2 new colorimeters with the old colorimeter currently being used within the facility. I had to quickly read up on the color spectrum and luminance to understand the basics and background of my experiments. The Christie Digital environment inspired me to take initiative to complete my tasks. Most of my supervisors were in several meetings every day, so I had to make do with the time and resources I had.
By the end, I had made great friends with university co-op students and gained valuable advice for university after my grade 12 year. I feel that I have gained so much from the Christie Digital experience because it helped me understand a little bit more of the science behind a business and the fast paced and busy environment of a work place. Therefore, I would recommend the summer internship to every Shad student.
Matt Kirby
Christie Digital
Kitchener, ON
This blog captures the Shad August internship experience. Each day different interns describe their endeavours, and the Shad community gets an inside look at what Shad students do in their summer roles.
Friday, September 2
Thursday, September 1
September 1
This August, I had the opportunity to work as an intern at Xerox Research Centre Canada. Xerox Research Centre Canada is Xerox's main materials research facility and is, as I discovered, home to all sorts of chemical and scientific innovation. I took part in a Materials Integration lab, performing a variety of tests and experiments to evaluate the durability and properties of experimental types of ink. I found the month to be a highly enjoyable learning experience.
From the first day of my internship to the last, I was pleased and excited to be a part of an environment of top-tier scientific innovation. The first thing I noticed in the front lobby was the wall titled "Xerox Research Centre Canada's Top Innovators," which celebrates the researchers to receive their 50th and 100th patents. Walking down the hallways of the building, I would pass by countless labs with scientists scurrying about in lab coats.
I am thankful to my supervisor and the employees in and out of my lab who were very helpful and supportive. My supervisor guided me along the numerous projects he was working on, and was always willing to answer any questions I had. The other employees in my lab were very friendly and more than happy to show me what they were up to.
As a student with a strong interest in science and technology, this has been a wonderful experience and an exhilarating glimpse into the world of scientific research. I am definitely going to miss my month at XRCC!
Greg Chen
Xerox Research Centre of Canada
Thornhill, ON
From the first day of my internship to the last, I was pleased and excited to be a part of an environment of top-tier scientific innovation. The first thing I noticed in the front lobby was the wall titled "Xerox Research Centre Canada's Top Innovators," which celebrates the researchers to receive their 50th and 100th patents. Walking down the hallways of the building, I would pass by countless labs with scientists scurrying about in lab coats.
I am thankful to my supervisor and the employees in and out of my lab who were very helpful and supportive. My supervisor guided me along the numerous projects he was working on, and was always willing to answer any questions I had. The other employees in my lab were very friendly and more than happy to show me what they were up to.
As a student with a strong interest in science and technology, this has been a wonderful experience and an exhilarating glimpse into the world of scientific research. I am definitely going to miss my month at XRCC!
Greg Chen
Xerox Research Centre of Canada
Thornhill, ON
September 1
It is my penultimate day at my internship with Benbria. Benbria is a startup high-tech company in the Kanata Research Park. Benbria designs notification services, and has also developed a talkback IP speaker.
The first thing you have to know about Benbria is that there are many interns. Almost half the people present are interns, most of them from University. The environment is quite relaxed, with interesting discussions occurring everywhere.
As an intern, I am doing the testing of Benbria's notification system. I test their web application, which is used to automatically send notifications to multiple people at once. I write and test test cases, as well as programming scripts that allow the test cases to be run autonomously.
Benbria is a great place to work. Everyone is very nice and helpful, and they are all great people to talk to. As well, we often go out to lunch or dinner, or even rock climbing, on company expense.
This internship has been a great opportunity for me to learn about the workings of the high tech sector. Thank you Benbria and Shad Valley for providing me with this wonderful opportunity.
Bryan Wu
Benbria
Ottawa, ON
The first thing you have to know about Benbria is that there are many interns. Almost half the people present are interns, most of them from University. The environment is quite relaxed, with interesting discussions occurring everywhere.
As an intern, I am doing the testing of Benbria's notification system. I test their web application, which is used to automatically send notifications to multiple people at once. I write and test test cases, as well as programming scripts that allow the test cases to be run autonomously.
Benbria is a great place to work. Everyone is very nice and helpful, and they are all great people to talk to. As well, we often go out to lunch or dinner, or even rock climbing, on company expense.
This internship has been a great opportunity for me to learn about the workings of the high tech sector. Thank you Benbria and Shad Valley for providing me with this wonderful opportunity.
Bryan Wu
Benbria
Ottawa, ON
September 1
It’s my second last day of working at MTS Allstream Inc. Even though it takes me about an hour to arrive at their Etobicoke office for Technology Development, I’m excited to come to work everyday. On the first day, I was assigned a major project to develop a barcode reader android application to improve the inventory within the company. My product will be used extensively to help keep track of the company’s devices with the simple tap of a button. Being able to work at my own pace and tackle the problems on my own definitely challenged me, but I’ve still had a lot of fun in the process.
One of the best things about this internship is the people. Even though everyone is working on his or her own projects, I’ve found that the internship still gave me an opportunity to meet new people. During this month, I have had lunch with the President of MTS Allstream Inc., Dean Prevost, as well as my bosses and some of the employees. Getting this time to get to know the people within the company made me feel more welcomed and made this experience that much more valuable.
Truthfully, I’m extremely sad to leave this workplace. I will never forget the time that I’ve had and the knowledge that I’ve learned from MTS Allstream. I wish every day would be like this one.
Thank you MTS Allstream Inc. for this amazing opportunity, I never imagined working for a company could be this much fun!
Sarah Tan
MTS Allstream Inc.
Toronto, ON
One of the best things about this internship is the people. Even though everyone is working on his or her own projects, I’ve found that the internship still gave me an opportunity to meet new people. During this month, I have had lunch with the President of MTS Allstream Inc., Dean Prevost, as well as my bosses and some of the employees. Getting this time to get to know the people within the company made me feel more welcomed and made this experience that much more valuable.
Truthfully, I’m extremely sad to leave this workplace. I will never forget the time that I’ve had and the knowledge that I’ve learned from MTS Allstream. I wish every day would be like this one.
Thank you MTS Allstream Inc. for this amazing opportunity, I never imagined working for a company could be this much fun!
Sarah Tan
MTS Allstream Inc.
Toronto, ON
Wednesday, August 31
August 31
I know for a fact that I am, and will forever be, grateful to the Shad Valley program for giving me a wide array of opportunities this summer. I have been able to open my eyes to new possibilities, learn new skills and undertake new challenges that I never thought were possible. And just when I thought that Shad Valley could not possibly do any more for me, they decided to prove me wrong by giving me yet another unforgettable experience: an internship at Medtronic of Canada for five whole weeks.
In simple terms, Medtronic, Inc. is a world leader in medical technology and innovation; a company that is extremely passionate about helping patients from around the world live better lives. My role at this innovative and prestigious company involved working on Public Relations projects, conducting research on key health reporters of various publications in Canada, research on social media audits, as well as compiling databases and reports of my findings. In addition, I was also entrusted with the planning and organization of an Open House of Medtronic for the Shad Valley alumni of 2011. The event entailed a tour of the numerous interesting sustainability features of the building, presentations by a few speakers, including the President of Medtronic of Canada, as well as fascinating simulators of medical technology. This was one of the most important and engaging projects that I worked on this month, and my efforts paid off with the event becoming a huge success, if I may say so myself. I have also been given the chance to appear on the news and the radio as a result of this event, and as a passionate actor, this exposure to the media world was very exciting.
Not only is my role one of great interest and appeal, the working environment that was allotted to me is also very friendly and welcoming. This was brought about mainly by my fellow co-workers, all of whom had a part to play in making me feel welcome every day of the month. One of my co-workers is also a Shad Valley alumni; Dheevesh Arulmani is a Carleton Shad and together, we have dealt with our lack of Shad Valley during the month of August. While he works on projects regarding a topic that is completely different (economic assessment of health technology), we have worked in the same office and kept each other company for the entire month. My boss has also greatly helped and supported me during this month, providing valuable life lessons at every turn and giving me an amazing working experience. Not only is she very instructive and knowledgeable, she is also fun, energetic and engaging; this being very obvious when she decided to take me on a amazing field trip to a camp for children with various heart conditions.
It is sad to know that these are my final days at Medtronic; I have learnt a lot during my month here at Medtronic and will greatly miss these offices. Having been given a taste of the corporate world, I feel like I understand myself and my working habits more than I ever did. I would like to extend a special thanks to my boss and everyone who helped provide this opportunity and make this an amazing experience for me.
Aaron Vincent
Medtronic of Canada
Mississauga, ON
In simple terms, Medtronic, Inc. is a world leader in medical technology and innovation; a company that is extremely passionate about helping patients from around the world live better lives. My role at this innovative and prestigious company involved working on Public Relations projects, conducting research on key health reporters of various publications in Canada, research on social media audits, as well as compiling databases and reports of my findings. In addition, I was also entrusted with the planning and organization of an Open House of Medtronic for the Shad Valley alumni of 2011. The event entailed a tour of the numerous interesting sustainability features of the building, presentations by a few speakers, including the President of Medtronic of Canada, as well as fascinating simulators of medical technology. This was one of the most important and engaging projects that I worked on this month, and my efforts paid off with the event becoming a huge success, if I may say so myself. I have also been given the chance to appear on the news and the radio as a result of this event, and as a passionate actor, this exposure to the media world was very exciting.
Not only is my role one of great interest and appeal, the working environment that was allotted to me is also very friendly and welcoming. This was brought about mainly by my fellow co-workers, all of whom had a part to play in making me feel welcome every day of the month. One of my co-workers is also a Shad Valley alumni; Dheevesh Arulmani is a Carleton Shad and together, we have dealt with our lack of Shad Valley during the month of August. While he works on projects regarding a topic that is completely different (economic assessment of health technology), we have worked in the same office and kept each other company for the entire month. My boss has also greatly helped and supported me during this month, providing valuable life lessons at every turn and giving me an amazing working experience. Not only is she very instructive and knowledgeable, she is also fun, energetic and engaging; this being very obvious when she decided to take me on a amazing field trip to a camp for children with various heart conditions.
It is sad to know that these are my final days at Medtronic; I have learnt a lot during my month here at Medtronic and will greatly miss these offices. Having been given a taste of the corporate world, I feel like I understand myself and my working habits more than I ever did. I would like to extend a special thanks to my boss and everyone who helped provide this opportunity and make this an amazing experience for me.
Aaron Vincent
Medtronic of Canada
Mississauga, ON
August 31
Hmm... how to describe what I did at Indigo Books and Music this August? Here’s the simplest way:
Wanted: Website Fix-It Girl, Online Production Department
Needs to be able to:
- Proofread product descriptions in the Lifestyle and Paper shops in both English and French for consistency;
- Download numerous album cover images to ensure a complete listing of Indigo’s music library;
- Create product lists and sidebars for the “redesign” of the Indigo website; and
- Format rules and regulations of the current contests.
Indigo offers:
- Flexible hours;
- Friendly staff who are willing to teach and advise;
- Great downtown Toronto location with a short commute; and
- Professional yet relaxed atmosphere.
With only two more days left, it’s hard to believe my four weeks went by so fast. Thank you to all of my coworkers for your support and encouragement – it was a pleasure to work with you and I learned so many valuable lessons! Best of luck in September!
Claire Browne
Indigo Books and Music
Toronto, ON
August 31
Though my internship ended almost a week ago, I was still seen today leaving the offices of Japan Canada Oil Sands Ltd. (JACOS), contented and with my arms full. In fact, they were full with assorted computer components and even a laptop; my (now former) boss had them laying around at home and was more than willing to give them to me, a known computer tinkerer.
Yet, one month ago I had left that same office nervous and distressed; could I really live up to their expectations? Would I really feel welcome here? Could I survive to the end of the month? On the first day I was given "the tour" and assigned to the IT department, directly working under and sharing the office of the IT lead. My task had sounded simple: "Inventory," they had said. I thought that all I had to do was to visit supply rooms and count boxes.
Well, I was wrong. Before they hired me, they'd known all about my inclinations towards programming and so they decided to put me to the test. From scratch, I planned, designed and implemented a MySQL database with an MS Access + VBA front-end that would keep track of which employees had what equipment, what software and components were installed on each computer, when equipment leases and licenses expired, etc. This, of course, required me to learn the aforementioned technologies first - but you have to start somewhere, right? I spent the first three weeks either hunched over a keyboard coding, furiously reading, yelling questions across the room, or wandering the office when I'd had enough of the screen; I spent the last week replacing cables and chatting with the employees as I scurried between the three floors populating my database with relevant information.
Though a lot of my learning and work was self-directed, my boss and the other employees were always willing to share their knowledge, expertise and assistance when I asked for it. If I needed reference books or software, the company would put it in my hands within a day or two. I felt my experience there gave me a taste of corporate culture and how technology is used and supported in the business world (which is very different from what hobbyists and enthusiasts do at home).
My internship, like Shad, was another avenue for personal growth and I feel that it was well worth the time.
Julian Salazar
Japan Canada Oil Sands Ltd.
Calgary, AB
Yet, one month ago I had left that same office nervous and distressed; could I really live up to their expectations? Would I really feel welcome here? Could I survive to the end of the month? On the first day I was given "the tour" and assigned to the IT department, directly working under and sharing the office of the IT lead. My task had sounded simple: "Inventory," they had said. I thought that all I had to do was to visit supply rooms and count boxes.
Well, I was wrong. Before they hired me, they'd known all about my inclinations towards programming and so they decided to put me to the test. From scratch, I planned, designed and implemented a MySQL database with an MS Access + VBA front-end that would keep track of which employees had what equipment, what software and components were installed on each computer, when equipment leases and licenses expired, etc. This, of course, required me to learn the aforementioned technologies first - but you have to start somewhere, right? I spent the first three weeks either hunched over a keyboard coding, furiously reading, yelling questions across the room, or wandering the office when I'd had enough of the screen; I spent the last week replacing cables and chatting with the employees as I scurried between the three floors populating my database with relevant information.
Though a lot of my learning and work was self-directed, my boss and the other employees were always willing to share their knowledge, expertise and assistance when I asked for it. If I needed reference books or software, the company would put it in my hands within a day or two. I felt my experience there gave me a taste of corporate culture and how technology is used and supported in the business world (which is very different from what hobbyists and enthusiasts do at home).
My internship, like Shad, was another avenue for personal growth and I feel that it was well worth the time.
Julian Salazar
Japan Canada Oil Sands Ltd.
Calgary, AB
Tuesday, August 30
August 30
Sadly I ended my RBC internship a week early due to university complications; in fact yesterday was my last day of my internship at RBC.
During this month, I have met so many amazing co-workers as well learned new technology which could help me build up my resume. I have done tasks that I never imagined a high school student would be trusted with.
I do wish to be able to work for RBC again. The experience and diverse culture it offers is something that no other banks in the world could possibly offer. Special thanks to my manager and senior manager for giving me this opportunity to enrich my experience.
Jessica Wong
RBC Financial Group
Mississauga, ON
During this month, I have met so many amazing co-workers as well learned new technology which could help me build up my resume. I have done tasks that I never imagined a high school student would be trusted with.
I do wish to be able to work for RBC again. The experience and diverse culture it offers is something that no other banks in the world could possibly offer. Special thanks to my manager and senior manager for giving me this opportunity to enrich my experience.
Jessica Wong
RBC Financial Group
Mississauga, ON
August 30
I have had the amazing opportunity to work online with Social Journal, a Canadian-based start-up which aims to create an online site that will become the foremost online destination for social entrepreneurs. My job is to analyze visitor traffic and behaviour to Social Journal's blog and beta site using Google Analytics and other analytic tools. Overall, each day of my online internship has been a unique and extraordinary learning experience, and today was no exception.
I started my internship today in a hotel room in Los Angeles, California, after lunch. Taking out my laptop, I discussed with my boss over Skype and we determined the assignments I would complete over the next few days. The call was casual, with no need for formalities or any sort of defined structure. Throughout the call, we shared knowledge and discussed ideas equally, and I could always interrupt my boss to raise a point of issue. Thus, my boss treated me not as an employee, but as an equal partner in business, which is representative of my entire internship experience.
After the call ended, I proceeded to start completing one of my assignments, which was to research tools to analyze social media traffic to our website. By reading through several sites, I learned a lot about tools such as KISSmetrics, Twendz, Twittersheep, and Huitesuite Analytics. The next step was to identify which tool Social Journal would use and to sign up for the tool, but first my family had planned to attend an admissions tour at CalTech. I returned to the hotel room at around 10:00 in the evening and finished setting up an account for KISSmetrics, the analytic tool which I felt was best for Social Journal.
Each day of my internship has been the same as this one in terms of how flexible my work schedule is and how much control I have over my work. Thus, I have truly enjoyed working with Social Journal as they have given me an endless amount of opportunities to learn and develop my skills as much as I want. Though my internship is ending in a few days, I hope to continue working with Social Journal as a team member in the following months. Thank you so much, Shad, for giving me the opportunity to work with such an amazing company as well as giving me the opportunity to experience an amazing month of July! Thanks, too, to Social Journal, for giving me an incredible internship experience. I'll certainly look forward to continuing my work with Social Journal.
Victor Shang
SoJo
Victoria, BC
I started my internship today in a hotel room in Los Angeles, California, after lunch. Taking out my laptop, I discussed with my boss over Skype and we determined the assignments I would complete over the next few days. The call was casual, with no need for formalities or any sort of defined structure. Throughout the call, we shared knowledge and discussed ideas equally, and I could always interrupt my boss to raise a point of issue. Thus, my boss treated me not as an employee, but as an equal partner in business, which is representative of my entire internship experience.
After the call ended, I proceeded to start completing one of my assignments, which was to research tools to analyze social media traffic to our website. By reading through several sites, I learned a lot about tools such as KISSmetrics, Twendz, Twittersheep, and Huitesuite Analytics. The next step was to identify which tool Social Journal would use and to sign up for the tool, but first my family had planned to attend an admissions tour at CalTech. I returned to the hotel room at around 10:00 in the evening and finished setting up an account for KISSmetrics, the analytic tool which I felt was best for Social Journal.
Each day of my internship has been the same as this one in terms of how flexible my work schedule is and how much control I have over my work. Thus, I have truly enjoyed working with Social Journal as they have given me an endless amount of opportunities to learn and develop my skills as much as I want. Though my internship is ending in a few days, I hope to continue working with Social Journal as a team member in the following months. Thank you so much, Shad, for giving me the opportunity to work with such an amazing company as well as giving me the opportunity to experience an amazing month of July! Thanks, too, to Social Journal, for giving me an incredible internship experience. I'll certainly look forward to continuing my work with Social Journal.
Victor Shang
SoJo
Victoria, BC
Monday, August 29
August 29
“If you are interning for a Real Estate Agent, you get the flexibility of an agent’s lifestyle”. Those words were running through my mind as I was sitting on a Thursday morning, completing one of the tasks assigned to me during this internship from home instead of the office.
Karen, my boss and the co-owner of Go West Realty, explained on the first day how the life of a real estate agent worked; self-motivation, drive and hard work were required. Yet it was to be a mix of these traits and just enjoying life. On an average morning I could be found talking and laughing with the co-owners for an hour drinking coffee, but suddenly it’d be hyper-drive work time because a new lead opened up.
I learned tons on property management, residential sales and investing. Partially through sitting down and having Karen explain things to me, and partially from completing the tasks she usually does day-to-day.
Karen showed me how a career in real estate can fit an adventurous lifestyle like mine. Benefits include having the ability to go for mid-day work outs, travel whenever, and direct your company as you wish. I can now use this intern experience to pursue my own real estate career!
In closing, thank you Karen and the Go West Team for having me as an intern over the last month, I learned skills that I will take with me for the rest of my life!
Karen, my boss and the co-owner of Go West Realty, explained on the first day how the life of a real estate agent worked; self-motivation, drive and hard work were required. Yet it was to be a mix of these traits and just enjoying life. On an average morning I could be found talking and laughing with the co-owners for an hour drinking coffee, but suddenly it’d be hyper-drive work time because a new lead opened up.
I learned tons on property management, residential sales and investing. Partially through sitting down and having Karen explain things to me, and partially from completing the tasks she usually does day-to-day.
Karen showed me how a career in real estate can fit an adventurous lifestyle like mine. Benefits include having the ability to go for mid-day work outs, travel whenever, and direct your company as you wish. I can now use this intern experience to pursue my own real estate career!
In closing, thank you Karen and the Go West Team for having me as an intern over the last month, I learned skills that I will take with me for the rest of my life!
August 29
Every time I enter, the nutty smell of the café wafts up to embrace me, even on the topmost floor of the building. Walking through the open layout of the offices, observing the brightly painted walls and water bowls for the occasional canine companion on the floor, I am once again struck by how modern this company is. But then, that’s what Desire2Learn is: a modern, innovative company making a big impact in the world around it.
Desire2Learn creates the online platforms supporting online learning for universities, secondary schools, corporations, and governments all over the world. This is the first year they have taken on a Shad alumnus as an intern. I was assigned two projects to complete for the duration of my stay: completing the initial research for a new vertical Desire2Learn wishes to explore, and watching and categorizing raw video footage from D2L’s recent users’ conference called Fusion.
On my first day, I was extremely nervous. I didn’t know what to expect or what I would be expected to do. Luckily, my mom sent me off with these kind words of encouragement: “They’re not going to give you something that will jeopardize the future of their company!” That made me feel a lot better. However, I needn’t have worried; everyone at Desir2Learn was very kind and obliging. I was given the use of a desk and laptop and I set to work on my projects.
The time flew by. I am an intern with Desire2Learn for five weeks, and here I am among the final days. I will miss the routine and the sense of accomplishment that this internship has given me. I will miss the aroma of coffee and cookies from the café downstairs. I will miss the thrill of excitement I get every time I see a dog run past my desk (a common occurrence at Desire2Learn!) But most of all, I will miss the people who introduced themselves in the elevator, or walking past my desk. And to those who kept talking, who brought me into their worlds outside of work. Thank you.
Charlotte Wallace
Desire2Learn
Waterloo, Ontario
Desire2Learn creates the online platforms supporting online learning for universities, secondary schools, corporations, and governments all over the world. This is the first year they have taken on a Shad alumnus as an intern. I was assigned two projects to complete for the duration of my stay: completing the initial research for a new vertical Desire2Learn wishes to explore, and watching and categorizing raw video footage from D2L’s recent users’ conference called Fusion.
On my first day, I was extremely nervous. I didn’t know what to expect or what I would be expected to do. Luckily, my mom sent me off with these kind words of encouragement: “They’re not going to give you something that will jeopardize the future of their company!” That made me feel a lot better. However, I needn’t have worried; everyone at Desir2Learn was very kind and obliging. I was given the use of a desk and laptop and I set to work on my projects.
The time flew by. I am an intern with Desire2Learn for five weeks, and here I am among the final days. I will miss the routine and the sense of accomplishment that this internship has given me. I will miss the aroma of coffee and cookies from the café downstairs. I will miss the thrill of excitement I get every time I see a dog run past my desk (a common occurrence at Desire2Learn!) But most of all, I will miss the people who introduced themselves in the elevator, or walking past my desk. And to those who kept talking, who brought me into their worlds outside of work. Thank you.
Charlotte Wallace
Desire2Learn
Waterloo, Ontario
August 29
Just as four weeks of Shad went by in a flash, so did my four weeks of internship. As I'm finally used to waking up at the crack of dawn, suffering through the morning commute, and learning the countless three letter acronyms in the field of engineering, it's time to say goodbye.
My placement is at Cronos Consulting Group, a small research firm that specializes in the fields of science and engineering. The office is a very open environment, in fact, I remember being told on the first day to ask lots of questions, provide feedback, and especially to eavesdrop on the senior consultant's conversations.
Everyone is very outgoing and chatting with them over lunch is always a highlight of my day. However, my favourite part is the little wrap-up meeting we do before we all depart for home. Someone, usually my supervisor Afifa, reads an interesting piece of news article and we, as a team, discuss how it affects us as a business. It's like a leveled-up, way more awesome version of all those critical reading exercises that we do in school. Through these discussions, I learned about the field of engineering and how it interplays with politics and the economy.
My role at Cronos is to assist the senior consultants by scavenging the internet and finding appropriate talents with experiences relevant to each of our client's requirements. It's a lot harder than it sounds. This is my first "real" exposure to the engineering industry, and as I've mentioned, the jargons and technical terms sound like a foreign language! I&C, PLC, DCS, LCA, CFD, FEA, P&ID, PFD, LNG, that's just a sample of the more frequently used ones. I also had to be clever with my search terms and methods, luckily my supervisor provided me with sheets upon sheets of reference material. The task is also as rewarding as it is challenging, I've developed many transferable skills that will inevitably carry onto other areas of my life, such as knowing how to write a killer resume. In addition, having read through countless other successful engineer's experiences, I've developed a better idea of how to achieve my own career goals.
Aside from my routine work, I was also assigned a special research project to do on next generation biofuels. It was tons of fun and the perfect chance to apply the research skills that I've accumulated over the month.
As I finish my second last day, I'd like to again thank everyone at Cronos, especially Afifa, Aliya, and Adam, for all the patient help and feedback they provided. Also thank you Shad Valley for connecting me to Cronos and making my 2011 summer one that I will never forget.
Weijie Liu
Cronos Consulting Group
Toronto, Ontario
My placement is at Cronos Consulting Group, a small research firm that specializes in the fields of science and engineering. The office is a very open environment, in fact, I remember being told on the first day to ask lots of questions, provide feedback, and especially to eavesdrop on the senior consultant's conversations.
Everyone is very outgoing and chatting with them over lunch is always a highlight of my day. However, my favourite part is the little wrap-up meeting we do before we all depart for home. Someone, usually my supervisor Afifa, reads an interesting piece of news article and we, as a team, discuss how it affects us as a business. It's like a leveled-up, way more awesome version of all those critical reading exercises that we do in school. Through these discussions, I learned about the field of engineering and how it interplays with politics and the economy.
My role at Cronos is to assist the senior consultants by scavenging the internet and finding appropriate talents with experiences relevant to each of our client's requirements. It's a lot harder than it sounds. This is my first "real" exposure to the engineering industry, and as I've mentioned, the jargons and technical terms sound like a foreign language! I&C, PLC, DCS, LCA, CFD, FEA, P&ID, PFD, LNG, that's just a sample of the more frequently used ones. I also had to be clever with my search terms and methods, luckily my supervisor provided me with sheets upon sheets of reference material. The task is also as rewarding as it is challenging, I've developed many transferable skills that will inevitably carry onto other areas of my life, such as knowing how to write a killer resume. In addition, having read through countless other successful engineer's experiences, I've developed a better idea of how to achieve my own career goals.
Aside from my routine work, I was also assigned a special research project to do on next generation biofuels. It was tons of fun and the perfect chance to apply the research skills that I've accumulated over the month.
As I finish my second last day, I'd like to again thank everyone at Cronos, especially Afifa, Aliya, and Adam, for all the patient help and feedback they provided. Also thank you Shad Valley for connecting me to Cronos and making my 2011 summer one that I will never forget.
Weijie Liu
Cronos Consulting Group
Toronto, Ontario
Friday, August 26
August 26
Today was actually my last day at work, but that didn't stop me from working just as hard as I usually would have.
I spent an amazing month with Nature Crops International, a child company of Technology Crops International. Nature Crops, or NCI for short, is a Prince Edward Island based company that produces speciality oils that are customized to fit the client companies needs. I worked in the company's chemistry department, where I would do chemical analysis and quality control on the oil samples.
I was privileged to experience something that others cannot get unless they go through years of studies first, and I will remember this experience for the rest of my life. My day would go from 8 in the morning to about 4:30 pm. During this time all the staff members of the company would try to provide the best experience for me, and to give me as many opportunities to learn as possible. This resulted in me being extremely comfortable in the laboratory environment, something that I will take with me to all other labs that I ever visit.
The staff invested an extraordinary amount of trust in me, something that I am deeply thankful for. It was because of this that I learned so much over that short month. This included how to operate a Gas Chromatography machine, something that I enjoyed considerably, and how to perform Iodine Tests, Colour Tests, Phosphorus Tests, Moisture Tests, Stability Tests--the list goes on and on. The most important aspect of all this chemistry was, in my opinion, the ability to relate those results and procedures back to the original question; whether the oil was good or not. This experience allowed me to take my classroom theory into the real world, something that I have always desired.
Being part of a professional laboratory environment didn't only teach me about chemistry, but also about the dynamics of a lab, as well as the dynamics of modern business and the relationships between a company, its clients, its suppliers and its producers. The amount of care, thought, and work that is invested in a simple oil for a cosmetic company is amazing. Every worker in the company would share the same feelings about the quality of an oil, and this created a tight social network that is very rare in today’s professional industries.
Yet again, I thank the staff and workers at Nature Crops International. They have given me an exceptional experience that I would not have traded against anything else. I could not have been more pleased.
Jason Wuertz
Technology Crops International
Charlottetown, PEI
I spent an amazing month with Nature Crops International, a child company of Technology Crops International. Nature Crops, or NCI for short, is a Prince Edward Island based company that produces speciality oils that are customized to fit the client companies needs. I worked in the company's chemistry department, where I would do chemical analysis and quality control on the oil samples.
I was privileged to experience something that others cannot get unless they go through years of studies first, and I will remember this experience for the rest of my life. My day would go from 8 in the morning to about 4:30 pm. During this time all the staff members of the company would try to provide the best experience for me, and to give me as many opportunities to learn as possible. This resulted in me being extremely comfortable in the laboratory environment, something that I will take with me to all other labs that I ever visit.
The staff invested an extraordinary amount of trust in me, something that I am deeply thankful for. It was because of this that I learned so much over that short month. This included how to operate a Gas Chromatography machine, something that I enjoyed considerably, and how to perform Iodine Tests, Colour Tests, Phosphorus Tests, Moisture Tests, Stability Tests--the list goes on and on. The most important aspect of all this chemistry was, in my opinion, the ability to relate those results and procedures back to the original question; whether the oil was good or not. This experience allowed me to take my classroom theory into the real world, something that I have always desired.
Being part of a professional laboratory environment didn't only teach me about chemistry, but also about the dynamics of a lab, as well as the dynamics of modern business and the relationships between a company, its clients, its suppliers and its producers. The amount of care, thought, and work that is invested in a simple oil for a cosmetic company is amazing. Every worker in the company would share the same feelings about the quality of an oil, and this created a tight social network that is very rare in today’s professional industries.
Yet again, I thank the staff and workers at Nature Crops International. They have given me an exceptional experience that I would not have traded against anything else. I could not have been more pleased.
Jason Wuertz
Technology Crops International
Charlottetown, PEI
August 26
Four weeks ago my Shad adventure had come to an end yet the second part of my Shad experience was just beginning. Now, four weeks later, I have completed my internship at McElhanney and emerged with a glimpse into the working force. McElhanney is a surveying and mapping company focusing primarily with the oil and gas and forestry industries. In addition to surveying, McElhanney makes and prints maps. Once created, the maps need to be printed, folded, sorted, filed, laminated, and bound just to name a few of the many tasks the company does.
As an intern to the company, my day had a wide variety of tasks to complete. One of my main jobs was to laminate, cut and bind McElhanney map books which they sell to the public for use recreationally such as hunting, fishing, snowmobiling etc. but also for commercial use. It was amazing to see how even though much of earth today has been met by human contact there are constant changes to these maps as more is discovered about sections of land.
In addition to this, I helped with organizing the hundreds of maps that come through McElhanney’s offices. Sorting, scanning, filing and placing the maps in an organized manner could sometimes cause chaos but it gave me an in depth view of how different companies within the same industries work together to efficiently create a system.
Having never really entered an office job before, this also gave me the chance to learn about the large variety of machines the McElhanney print room holds and how to run them each. From 4 feet wide printers to the giant paper cutter and everything in-between, the print room at McElhanney had a lot to learn from. These are just some tasks among many that I completed throughout the month.
I would like to thank McElhanney and Shad Valley for the opportunity to complete my internship and gain valuable work experience through these last few weeks!
Jacquie Gulevich
McElhanney Land Surveys Ltd.
Fort St. John, BC
As an intern to the company, my day had a wide variety of tasks to complete. One of my main jobs was to laminate, cut and bind McElhanney map books which they sell to the public for use recreationally such as hunting, fishing, snowmobiling etc. but also for commercial use. It was amazing to see how even though much of earth today has been met by human contact there are constant changes to these maps as more is discovered about sections of land.
In addition to this, I helped with organizing the hundreds of maps that come through McElhanney’s offices. Sorting, scanning, filing and placing the maps in an organized manner could sometimes cause chaos but it gave me an in depth view of how different companies within the same industries work together to efficiently create a system.
Having never really entered an office job before, this also gave me the chance to learn about the large variety of machines the McElhanney print room holds and how to run them each. From 4 feet wide printers to the giant paper cutter and everything in-between, the print room at McElhanney had a lot to learn from. These are just some tasks among many that I completed throughout the month.
I would like to thank McElhanney and Shad Valley for the opportunity to complete my internship and gain valuable work experience through these last few weeks!
Jacquie Gulevich
McElhanney Land Surveys Ltd.
Fort St. John, BC
August 26
I have never really had a ‘real job’ before, so I had no idea what to expect when I was offered an internship at Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC). Fortunately, my preconception of menial sedentary photocopying all day everyday was proven false on the first day. I couldn’t possibly imagine the amount of work behind something like a photocopy.
Each Xerox Research Centre worldwide makes a unique and integral contribution to Xerox as a whole. XRCC is the materials research centre where research in toners, inks, photoreceptors and specialty substrates is conducted. I help a supervisor with a new project called Printable Electronics. We have been concentrating on thin-film transistor fabrication and the evaluation using new semiconductor materials. Eventually, this research will be applied to developing low-cost, flexible electronic devices using printing technologies. I was a little nervous because I hadn’t taken anything beyond the first year of physics nor learned about circuits at school, but my supervisor was very patient and not only taught me, but showed me how transistors work.
However, I was not limited to just learning about transistors. The open door policy allows me to learn about the research of other scientists and co-op students such as working with inks and the actual synthesis of the polymers! Even though everyone is so busy, everyone at XRCC is so hospitable and happy to take the time to explain everything from the apparatus they use to each step of the procedures.
It has been absolutely amazing the valuable experiences I have gained here. I did lab work every single day. I have not done a page of paperwork. I operated equipment that third-year university students may not even have the chance to touch every single day. I worked one-on-one with a principal scientist at XRCC who is working to file his 100th patent for a whole month! I am so grateful to everyone at XRCC and Shad Valley for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Stella Lee
Xerox Research Centre of Canada
Oakville, ON
Each Xerox Research Centre worldwide makes a unique and integral contribution to Xerox as a whole. XRCC is the materials research centre where research in toners, inks, photoreceptors and specialty substrates is conducted. I help a supervisor with a new project called Printable Electronics. We have been concentrating on thin-film transistor fabrication and the evaluation using new semiconductor materials. Eventually, this research will be applied to developing low-cost, flexible electronic devices using printing technologies. I was a little nervous because I hadn’t taken anything beyond the first year of physics nor learned about circuits at school, but my supervisor was very patient and not only taught me, but showed me how transistors work.
However, I was not limited to just learning about transistors. The open door policy allows me to learn about the research of other scientists and co-op students such as working with inks and the actual synthesis of the polymers! Even though everyone is so busy, everyone at XRCC is so hospitable and happy to take the time to explain everything from the apparatus they use to each step of the procedures.
It has been absolutely amazing the valuable experiences I have gained here. I did lab work every single day. I have not done a page of paperwork. I operated equipment that third-year university students may not even have the chance to touch every single day. I worked one-on-one with a principal scientist at XRCC who is working to file his 100th patent for a whole month! I am so grateful to everyone at XRCC and Shad Valley for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Stella Lee
Xerox Research Centre of Canada
Oakville, ON
August 26
My summer internship, which I greatly enjoyed, comes to an end today. I’m working for Mr. Adam Lorant, a member of the board of directors of Shad Valley and a formidable entrepreneur who is constantly in search of new and exciting ventures. He has been a great mentor, and his advice and assignments have led me in many directions of research.
My two main tasks this month were researching the feasibility of concentrated solar power on a small scale, and reviewing a Facebook application in development. Both of the tasks were very self-directed (I worked at home), but much progress was achieved.
Today, I called MPTV, a company which develops panels that convert heat directly to usable electricity. I requested details about the technology, such as its size, power output, cost, temperature required, and stage of development. I collected and presented this information of Mr. Lorant. He then gave his opinions about the technology, as well as some feedback about my work in general.
This post-Shad month has been nearly as challenging and fun as the previous month at the Shad program. Shad Valley has given me many entrepreneurial skills, and this internship has only augmented them.
Fred Zhu
PolarBlue Systems
Burnaby, BC
My two main tasks this month were researching the feasibility of concentrated solar power on a small scale, and reviewing a Facebook application in development. Both of the tasks were very self-directed (I worked at home), but much progress was achieved.
Today, I called MPTV, a company which develops panels that convert heat directly to usable electricity. I requested details about the technology, such as its size, power output, cost, temperature required, and stage of development. I collected and presented this information of Mr. Lorant. He then gave his opinions about the technology, as well as some feedback about my work in general.
This post-Shad month has been nearly as challenging and fun as the previous month at the Shad program. Shad Valley has given me many entrepreneurial skills, and this internship has only augmented them.
Fred Zhu
PolarBlue Systems
Burnaby, BC
Thursday, August 25
August 25
I vividly remember the cascade of emotions on the first day of Shad—bouncing in my chair to the buzzing excitement; the conspicuous sidewise peeks at my soon-to-be friends (looking back, as if the word “friends” can even remotely describe our closeness); forcing my attention to Jeremy, one of our coordinators at the Dalhousie campus, and his opening talk on group dynamics. At the time, “norms”, “storming”, “danger zone”, and such concepts drawn hastily on a giant flipbook seemed quite foreign and intangible to me. It wasn’t until my house group hit the Shad Valley of Despair—several times—and pulled through with a business plan that included no less than three styles of citations, an “imaginative” solution to our prototype, and a stunningly confident presentation, that I came to appreciate the power of team building.
My internship at TD Securities has perfectly complemented my Shad experience, especially in terms of understanding how groups work, and work effectively. The second thing I noticed was the team spirit at the office. We celebrated a five-year anniversary for working at TD with cake; we rode the subway to an employee appreciation barbeque together; we passed yesterday afternoon at Dave and Busters for our summer team event; we start Friday morning’s with a team breakfast—the sense of “we” is simply so uniting.
My first impression was how much the people here enjoy their work. Each person I shadowed shared a distinct animation that revealed itself when they explained how they contribute to “Risk Solutions”. The self-motivation to do a task well here at my internship is only comparable to that I found at Shad. It is enlightening to see first-hand how individuals take pride in reaching a milestone, and just as quickly, turn to face the next one.
My month on the BASEL II Reporting team has been marked by countless new experiences. I came to realize the magnitude of information stored virtually from updating hyperlinks and change control tabs on SharePoint. Exploring iTrackers opened my eyes to the organization of the efforts of such a large pool of human resources. As we bid a good night to the offshore team in India at the end of a morning conference call, I realized that the “real world” must account for even the little things, like time zones. From my first time using an ATM to wandering the Path during my lunch breaks to learning the wonders of Excel, and then Access, I truly appreciate how much I have learnt.
I extend my wholehearted thanks to Shad Valley for arranging this internship as the second half of the best two months of my life. I would also like to thank TD and the BASEL team for this invaluable opportunity to apply my understanding of theory in a real-world environment; welcoming me onto the team; and the patience each person here has shown in teaching me about their everyday work.
Cynthia Yeung
TD Securities
Toronto, ON
My internship at TD Securities has perfectly complemented my Shad experience, especially in terms of understanding how groups work, and work effectively. The second thing I noticed was the team spirit at the office. We celebrated a five-year anniversary for working at TD with cake; we rode the subway to an employee appreciation barbeque together; we passed yesterday afternoon at Dave and Busters for our summer team event; we start Friday morning’s with a team breakfast—the sense of “we” is simply so uniting.
My first impression was how much the people here enjoy their work. Each person I shadowed shared a distinct animation that revealed itself when they explained how they contribute to “Risk Solutions”. The self-motivation to do a task well here at my internship is only comparable to that I found at Shad. It is enlightening to see first-hand how individuals take pride in reaching a milestone, and just as quickly, turn to face the next one.
My month on the BASEL II Reporting team has been marked by countless new experiences. I came to realize the magnitude of information stored virtually from updating hyperlinks and change control tabs on SharePoint. Exploring iTrackers opened my eyes to the organization of the efforts of such a large pool of human resources. As we bid a good night to the offshore team in India at the end of a morning conference call, I realized that the “real world” must account for even the little things, like time zones. From my first time using an ATM to wandering the Path during my lunch breaks to learning the wonders of Excel, and then Access, I truly appreciate how much I have learnt.
I extend my wholehearted thanks to Shad Valley for arranging this internship as the second half of the best two months of my life. I would also like to thank TD and the BASEL team for this invaluable opportunity to apply my understanding of theory in a real-world environment; welcoming me onto the team; and the patience each person here has shown in teaching me about their everyday work.
Cynthia Yeung
TD Securities
Toronto, ON
August 25
After returning from Shad Valley, I was given a new experience - I started my internship with EBA, a Tetra Tech company.
EBA is a seemingly small company. The office is in a residential area far from downtown in a building shared with two other businesses. However, after walking into the building for the first time, I was blown away at how big EBA actually was. They were recently acquired by Tetra Tech, a large US company. They have 160 employees in Calgary alone, and many more in the head office in Edmonton. However, what really surprised me was the work environment. Having only worked at McDonald’s, I had never experienced working in an office before.
Right of the bat, they showed me my desk - a small cubicle in between the beautiful atrium in the middle of the building and the super-cool coffee machine near the front! The people in my group were very friendly – there was not one person that wasn’t amiable. They were mostly biologists, so I learned plenty about wildlife and the environment. My boss was amazing, and always ensured that I was satisfied with the work I was receiving.
The work I did was always very interesting. From amphibian habitat charts to a full day in the field doing a scientific study (a REAL one), everything I did always kept me intrigued. Every morning, I was always excited to get to work and see what new things I would get to do.
Shad gave me a month filled with joy, laughter and happiness. In addition, they provided me with an internship that gave me an immense experience, and taught me so much, not only about biology, but about teamwork as well. I would like to thank Shad Valley and EBA for providing me with this amazing opportunity!
Ali Virji
EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd.
Calgary, AB
EBA is a seemingly small company. The office is in a residential area far from downtown in a building shared with two other businesses. However, after walking into the building for the first time, I was blown away at how big EBA actually was. They were recently acquired by Tetra Tech, a large US company. They have 160 employees in Calgary alone, and many more in the head office in Edmonton. However, what really surprised me was the work environment. Having only worked at McDonald’s, I had never experienced working in an office before.
Right of the bat, they showed me my desk - a small cubicle in between the beautiful atrium in the middle of the building and the super-cool coffee machine near the front! The people in my group were very friendly – there was not one person that wasn’t amiable. They were mostly biologists, so I learned plenty about wildlife and the environment. My boss was amazing, and always ensured that I was satisfied with the work I was receiving.
The work I did was always very interesting. From amphibian habitat charts to a full day in the field doing a scientific study (a REAL one), everything I did always kept me intrigued. Every morning, I was always excited to get to work and see what new things I would get to do.
Shad gave me a month filled with joy, laughter and happiness. In addition, they provided me with an internship that gave me an immense experience, and taught me so much, not only about biology, but about teamwork as well. I would like to thank Shad Valley and EBA for providing me with this amazing opportunity!
Ali Virji
EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd.
Calgary, AB
August 25
All through my Shad-related experiences, everything had been shrouded in mystery: and my internship was no exception. Even the company's name, "The Centre of Excellence in Personalized Medicine" left me with more questions than answers. However, with some research and reading materials, I felt more informed and ready to tackle the tasks set before me.
CEPMED focuses largely on promoting and supporting personalized medicine through research, commercialization, and education. It also funds clinical trials that incorporate personalized medicine. It is located inside the Montreal Heart Institute and shares space with the Pharmacogenomics Centre.
My days started fairly early and I would be one of the first people to arrive in the morning. While at CEPMED, I worked on a couple of different projects, all of which involved intellectual property, and more specifically, patents incorporating personalized medicine. This work included patent searches, ensuring their relevance, and classifying them into different groups. It was difficult work, but I learned something new every day.
Today was a special day as I got a tour of the Pharmacogenomics Centre's labs upstairs. It was interesting to see the technology and processes that I read about in these patents, and it really helped me understand the complexity of what all three institutions do.
I am so thankful for everything I've learned at CEPMED (a lot), as well as for the opportunities that both Shad and CEPMED have opened me up to.
Pia Dimayuga
CEPMED
Montreal, QC
CEPMED focuses largely on promoting and supporting personalized medicine through research, commercialization, and education. It also funds clinical trials that incorporate personalized medicine. It is located inside the Montreal Heart Institute and shares space with the Pharmacogenomics Centre.
My days started fairly early and I would be one of the first people to arrive in the morning. While at CEPMED, I worked on a couple of different projects, all of which involved intellectual property, and more specifically, patents incorporating personalized medicine. This work included patent searches, ensuring their relevance, and classifying them into different groups. It was difficult work, but I learned something new every day.
Today was a special day as I got a tour of the Pharmacogenomics Centre's labs upstairs. It was interesting to see the technology and processes that I read about in these patents, and it really helped me understand the complexity of what all three institutions do.
I am so thankful for everything I've learned at CEPMED (a lot), as well as for the opportunities that both Shad and CEPMED have opened me up to.
Pia Dimayuga
CEPMED
Montreal, QC
Wednesday, August 24
August 24
The company I work for, Polar Mobile, essentially enables its customers - media companies around the world - to launch mobile applications on all smartphones and tablets. Being an avid iPod Touch user myself, it was a new experience getting to see all of the steps involved in developing an application from its most basic architecture to a functional piece of software on a mobile device. As an IT Intern, I was able to see what goes on behind the scenes, and see also just how much work goes into making something as simple as a never-ending scroll feature on an app. We often take that work for granted because the apps deliver such a smooth user experience.
What also makes my internship unique is that the company atmosphere isn’t quite conventional – it was founded in 2007 by Shad Alumni! Although Polar is moving away from its start-up status (we’ve just opened an office in Dubai!), the team is still relatively small and the dedication and efforts put into each day’s work by every employee is phenomenal. Yet everyone is still happy to lend a hand or answer a question when any of the interns need some help. This is the kind of atmosphere I would want at my future job.
I have come out of this experience with a ton of new skills and experience: I’ve developed my programming, business, and overall technical knowledge; I’ve been given a glimpse into what the business world is like; and I’ve met and communicated with so many new and talented people. Ultimately, as Shad has taught me, amazing things happen when intelligent and motivated individuals come together.
This has been the experience of a lifetime, and I cannot begin to thank Shad Valley. I highly encourage any of you reading to apply for Shad and apply for an internship!
Vivian Zhang
Polar Mobile
Toronto, ON
What also makes my internship unique is that the company atmosphere isn’t quite conventional – it was founded in 2007 by Shad Alumni! Although Polar is moving away from its start-up status (we’ve just opened an office in Dubai!), the team is still relatively small and the dedication and efforts put into each day’s work by every employee is phenomenal. Yet everyone is still happy to lend a hand or answer a question when any of the interns need some help. This is the kind of atmosphere I would want at my future job.
I have come out of this experience with a ton of new skills and experience: I’ve developed my programming, business, and overall technical knowledge; I’ve been given a glimpse into what the business world is like; and I’ve met and communicated with so many new and talented people. Ultimately, as Shad has taught me, amazing things happen when intelligent and motivated individuals come together.
This has been the experience of a lifetime, and I cannot begin to thank Shad Valley. I highly encourage any of you reading to apply for Shad and apply for an internship!
Vivian Zhang
Polar Mobile
Toronto, ON
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