We take youth to the next level.
They take it further.
Shad is a month-long program for grade 10 & 11s. Pan-Canadian classrooms with university level STEAM and entrepreneurship content and access to mentors. Selection process in place. Limited spots available.
This isn’t a summer camp.
This is your next level
life experience.
At Shad students participate in hands-on learning, collaborate in design teams, explore post-secondary institutions, engage with academic and entrepreneurial mentors, experience vulnerability training, and meet some of the most passionate dreamers in Gen Z.
Why Shad:
We know diversity matters.
That’s why we create
purposeful community
at Shad.
At Shad students collaborate and build meaningful relationships outside of their home province. Each campus, and each design team, has a mix of rural and urban participants from diverse economic backgrounds. Students learn the value of their own perspective and the differing perspectives of those around them.
Community goes beyond diversity and requires inclusivity. We are purposeful about reaching students in black, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ communities and students with disabilities that are traditionally underrepresented. We make sure there are multiple perspectives and diverse strengths in a learning environment like no other.
Partnership with Pathways to Education and Minerva and connections with regional school boards, educators, guidance counsellors and STEM organizations help us recruit students from all parts of Canada. And thanks to supportive donors we can provide $1-million in bursaries most years.
We use STEAM as a force for Good. #STEAM4Good.
We equip youth to take on social and economic challenges with a STEAM lens. Each campus tackles the same real-world problem and designated design teams, with assigned mentors, develop STEAM-based solutions. Products, pitches, presentations to panels, this is an entrepreneurial experience with a social impact twist. And one of the most loved aspects of our program.
Shad News
One bead at a time: Shad alum talks business, Indigenous culture, and connection 
Exploring mentorship and design thinking at Shad 
Design challenge spotlight: Three innovative solutions from teams across Canada 
Three Shad alumni awarded for giving back to their communities 
A day @ Shad2021 
Hundreds of high school students design solutions to protect Canada’s fresh water 
Young scientists pioneer Canada-Wide Science Fair projects and win Shad2022 grants 
Meet some of this year’s Loran Scholars 
Shad alum on social entrepreneurship and criminal justice reform 
Shad alumni give back during pandemic with #RisingYouth grants 
Building community in a pandemic: How Rajan Minocha-McKenney learned to love learning online at Shad 
A look into Shad’s real-world design challenge 
What’s possible in a month online at Shad
Real connections, real fast. Shad’s Alumni Network is also part of the package.
The #Shadpride lives on years after the program is complete. Program participants join Shad’s Alumni Network. With 19,000 members, this group has access to exclusive scholarships, events and career nights. And like typical professional networks it is a breeding ground for career advice, business opportunities, sharing knowledge and like-minded friendship. Nice perk.
Shad to NASA: A Research
Scientist reroutes her passions
and helps astronauts
explore space
Darlene Lim has spent the past 16 years leading field investigations in deep oceans, deserts, lakes, polar regions and volcanic landscapes. Despite taking place all around the world, the projects are actually more telling about life far beyond our borders, even our planet.
Darlene Lim is a Research Scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center in California. With expertise in geobiology, space science and science operations, her work aims to help astronauts conduct scientific exploration as they return to the Moon and move onwards to Mars.
Cindy Soo
Global Innovation & Co-Creation Matrix Manager, IKEA Shad1991
Paula Piilonen
Research Scientist, Mineralogy, Canadian Museum of Nature Shad1992
Graeme Smith
Author and Senior Consultant, NOREF Norwegian Centre for Conflict Resolution, International Crisis Group Shad1997
Emily Jones Joanisse
CEO and Co-Founder, Connected Canadians Shad1997
Amit Virmani
Founder and CEO, Naveco Power Incorporated Shad2005
Primrose-Chareka
Software Engineer, Google Shad2013
Anne-Robinson
Chief Strategy Officer, Kinaxis Shad1992
Nana-Owusua Kwamena
Environmental Risk Assessment Specialist, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Shad 1996
Rohit Ramchandani
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Global Health InnovationShad1999
Cathy Han
Founder & CEO, 42 Technologies Shad 2006
Neil Pasricha
Best-selling author, Book of Awesome series Founder, Institute for Global Happiness Shad 1998
Emily Ma
Lead in Food Systems, X, the moonshot factory Shad 1998
Jay Shah
Director, Velocity Shad 2005Life after Shad
Shad alumni across North America, and around the world, are leading businesses, making discoveries, innovating and using STEAM as a force for good. Meet some of the alumni in our Network who are making a difference.
