Stories

As a native Quebecois, Anya Figlarz-Grassino finds the daily din of the French language being spoken all around her both beautiful and comforting. For her, the French language represents the cultural vibe of the Montreal community she lives in, while also connecting her to the rich history of the province she loves. So, when she […]

This summer, Shad welcomed over 200 students from across Canada (and the world!) to the four digital campuses of our ShadAnywhere program. Exploring the world of STEAM and entrepreneurship, students learned from university professors and industry experts, took virtual field trips, and made lasting connections with peers from across the country, all while building their […]

Natalie Mitchell has always had a passion for STEAM education. But when she applied to Shad in the fall of 2022, she had no idea that the program would teach her things about herself that would alter her self-perception and set her on a path to starting a community project that not only affected her […]

The challenge of solving complex real-world problems is not something that intimidates the Shads; in fact, for this group of innovative youth, it’s a big part of the Shad program’s appeal. Their ability to think outside the box and draw on different fields of study to inform the creation of truly novel design solutions is […]

We are proud to celebrate nine of our Shad alum who have been honoured for their leadership and outstanding work in STEM. Every year, the Schulich Foundation awards exceptional students from across Canada with a financial scholarship worth up to $100k towards their pursuit of a postsecondary degree in science, technology, engineering or math. Since the establishment of […]

When Brigadier-General Scott Malcolm, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Surgeon General, addressed the 200+ cohort of ShadAnywhere participants, he kicked off his keynote by telling them where he’s from: Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. More specifically, he’s from a small corner of the island called Lower River Inhabitants, a community of about 17 houses often […]

The pursuit of excellence is rarely without obstacles, and few understand this better than The Hammerheads, the FIRST Robotics team made up of youth from the Ron Joyce Children’s Hospital in Hamilton. But the adversity they have faced in life as youths with disabilities has made them a force to be reckoned with, both on […]

On Wednesday of the first week of Shad2024, an enthusiastic response rang out from Shads from coast to coast as they learned the theme of their Design Project: challenge accepted! Every year, Shads are challenged to use their innovation and creative thinking skills to generate solutions to a pressing global issue using STEAM and entrepreneurship. […]

Congratulations to the recipients of the Shad Entrance Scholarships for Black Students.  Shad is committed to identifying young leaders who embody the willingness to go the mile for their community in an impactful way, and for overall excellence. These students inspire those around them through their changemaker capabilities and will continue to have a positive impact as they use their passion for […]

Congratulations to the recipients of the Shad Entrance Scholarships for Indigenous Students.  Shad is committed to identifying young leaders who embody the willingness to go the mile for their community in an impactful way, and for overall excellence. These students inspire those around them through their changemaker capabilities and will continue to have a positive impact as they use their passion for […]

Congratulations to the first recipients of the Shad Entrance Scholarship for Indigenous Students from the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan. This year, Shad was proud to partner with the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan to create opportunities for young Métis leaders who demonstrate overall excellence and embody the willingness to go the mile for their community in an impactful way. […]

For Elliot Black (he/him), the celebration of the 2SLGBTQI+ community through Pride is about so many things. It’s about recognizing the historical events and people who fought for equal rights and protections for every individual; about creating space for people to learn and share to strengthen empathy and understanding based in shared humanity; and about […]