Bedford teen stacking awards with automatic medication dispenser for dementia patients
They say necessity is the mother of invention. That certainly holds true for this teenage inventor from Bedford. Joy Akinkunmi, Shad2025 saw a problem and built something to fix it: the Pill Smart, an automatic medication dispenser for people with dementia. It’s been a hit at science fairs across the country and internationally, too. She […]
A Night of Connection: Shad Alumni Come Together in Calgary
On December 3, more than 50 Shad alumni came together in Calgary for an evening of networking, meaningful conversations, and shared memories. With Shad CEO Tim Jackson joining the celebration, the event highlighted the strength of Shad’s alumni community and the lasting connections formed through the program.
How Madison Zanette’s Shad Experience Sparked a $15,000 Scholarship and a Future in Biomedical Engineering
At Shad, discovery often starts with curiosity—and for Madison, that curiosity became a catalyst for her dream career. Madison Zanette arrived at Shad with a mix of excitement and nerves, not knowing that the next 26 days would change the course of her life. She came looking for a challenge but left with something far […]
How a Childhood Book and a Summer at Shad Launched Réka Winslow Into the Space Industry
When Réka Winslow was thirteen, her father handed her a well-loved copy of Isaac Asimov’s sci-fi Foundation series. She didn’t know it at the time, but that simple moment would set the course of her life. “Those books opened my mind,” she says. “They made me realize there is so much more out there, in space, and even at that age, […]
From Newfoundland to New Frontiers: How Shad Alum Robert McCarthy is Turning Curiosity into Impact
When his former teacher returned to work after a spinal surgery left her paralyzed from the waist down, Robert McCarthy noticed something that most people might have overlooked. Despite her determination to continue teaching, she faced new barriers in her daily life — small but constant challenges, like getting her wheelchair over the raised lip […]
From Shad to the Paris Climate Accords: Dr. Yassen Tcholakov’s Journey to Public and Global Health Leadership
When he arrived at Shad in 2008, Yassen Tcholakov was already envisioning a future in healthcare—though the exact path wasn’t yet clear. Surrounded by a diverse group of talented peers, he spent that summer exploring big ideas and collaborating on meaningful challenges. The experience helped to shape his journey, leading him to a career in […]
Meet Felicity Banbury, Shad2025 Alum and Waterloo Wellington Science and Engineering Fair Scholarship Recipient
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself My name is Felicity, and I’m heading into Grade 11 this fall. I live on a 100% grass fed beef farm, but attend a downtown school, which gives me a unique perspective on the rural-urban divide. I’m passionate about learning and enjoy participating in competitions like DECA, the […]
From Road Salt to Wildfires: How Shad Inspired Zoë Golay’s Environmental Mission
Curiosity is the first step toward discovery, and for Zoë Golay, it was a summer at Shad Canada that sparked a journey she hadn’t imagined—one that would lead her to a PhD in environmental chemistry and a mission to protect Canada’s forests. Today, Zoë studies how wildfire smoke interacts with the atmosphere and contributes to […]
How Shad Alum, Eden Full Goh, Is Transforming Technology and Engineering Solutions for a Changing World
Eden Full Goh has never been afraid to build bold solutions. When she arrived at Shad’s Trent University campus in 2008, she was eager to roll up her sleeves and dive into the experience. Shad gave her a space to test her engineering mindset and problem-solving skills. It also taught her what it takes to […]
Summer Program Ignited Friendships, Innovation, and Impact
During this past July, the University of Regina welcomed a cohort consisting of 75 high school students in Grades 10 and 11 from across the country for a month-long immersion in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math, and Entrepreneurship (STEAM). They were here as part of the Shad Canada program— a month-long summer STEAM and entrepreneurship […]
The transformative power of the Shad Manitoba experience
In July 2025, 35 high school students from across Canada joined Shad Manitoba at the University of Manitoba to build their skills, shape their mindset, and gain confidence for an ever-changing world. Shad is a transformational summer program and a launchpad for young innovators, now returning to UM for the third year in a row. This year’s […]
Shad Students Drive Innovation in Sustainable Transportation through the 2025 Design Challenge
While most teens were unwinding after their year end exams, a group of curious, creative students dove into something bigger: a summer of bold ideas, hands-on learning, and real-world impact at Shad. United by a shared passion for innovation and social good, these talented youths came together to tackle one pressing question: How might we […]