(July 22, 2025) – This week, Laurentian University concludes its third impactful year of hosting Shad Canada, a not-for-profit organization empowering Grade 10 and 11 students in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), alongside entrepreneurial thinking. Since the end of June, sixty-two exceptional Canadian high school students have been immersing themselves in Shad’s transformative twenty-seven day experience, reflecting Northern Ontario’s unique cultural and linguistic landscape as they prepare to tackle social and economic challenges.

As one of twenty-five host universities from across the nation, Laurentian has welcomed its participants, known as ‘Shads,’ for this intensive program. Living in residence, students engaged in a dynamic schedule of academic lectures and hands-on workshops. Beyond the classroom, they explored the Greater Sudbury community, participated in enriching Indigenous teachings, and benefited from Laurentian’s unique tri-cultural identity. Laurentian is the only institution among Shad Canada’s partners to offer a bilingual program experience, providing a truly unique opportunity for its pan-Canadian cohort.

“With so many dynamic and talented students coming to the Laurentian campus from all over Canada, the Shad program is always an exciting July,” said Dr. Thomas Merritt, Shad Laurentian Program Co-Director and Full Professor at Laurentian University. “Each student brings their own perspective on what a STEAM and entrepreneurship program is and can be. As a team, we work with everyone to build on, and expand, on those perspectives. Each year, I’ve been impressed with what the students accomplish as individuals and in their collaborative small groups and Shad LU 2025 certainly continued this tradition of excellence.”