McMaster University was established in Toronto in 1887 through a uniting of Woodstock College and Toronto Baptist College. The university was named after Senator William McMaster. The university was moved to Hamilton in 1930. Today, the university is recognized as a medical-doctoral, research-intensive institution dedicated to teaching, research and service.
McMaster University was established in Toronto in 1887 through a uniting of Woodstock College and Toronto Baptist College. The university was named after Senator William McMaster. The university was moved to Hamilton in 1930. Today, the university is recognized as a medical-doctoral, research-intensive institution dedicated to teaching, research and service.
McMaster University has many remarkable alumni including Roberta Bondar (astronaut), Tommy Douglas (politician), James Orbinski (Doctors without Borders), Bertram Brockhouse (Nobel Laureate) and Karen Maidment (CFO of BMO).
McMaster University is famous for its student-focused, interdisciplinary problem-based approach to learning. Other universities around the world have adopted and applied it to their many programs. The university is regularly ranked in the top 100 universities in the world and has been designated Canada’s most research-intensive university for the past two years.
Celebrated university research from 2021-2022 includes ground-breaking work on treating antimicrobial resistant bacteria (Burrows), a new centre for artificial intelligence and smart mobility (Emadi), intimate partner violence during the pandemic (Turkstra) and reimagining workplaces for people who have disabilities (Tompa and Gewurtz).
The University is situated on 300 acres of land at the western-most edge of Lake Ontario. Bounded by Cootes Paradise and the Niagara Escarpment, McMaster University has elevated vistas and myriad waterfalls to offer a picturesque setting.
McMaster University has many remarkable alumni including Roberta Bondar (astronaut), Tommy Douglas (politician), James Orbinski (Doctors without Borders), Bertram Brockhouse (Nobel Laureate) and Karen Maidment (CFO of BMO).
McMaster University is famous for its student-focused, interdisciplinary problem-based approach to learning. Other universities around the world have adopted and applied it to their many programs. The university is regularly ranked in the top 100 universities in the world and has been designated Canada’s most research-intensive university for the past two years.
Celebrated university research from 2021-2022 includes ground-breaking work on treating antimicrobial resistant bacteria (Burrows), a new centre for artificial intelligence and smart mobility (Emadi), intimate partner violence during the pandemic (Turkstra) and reimagining workplaces for people who have disabilities (Tompa and Gewurtz).
The University is situated on 300 acres of land at the western-most edge of Lake Ontario. Bounded by Cootes Paradise and the Niagara Escarpment, McMaster University has elevated vistas and myriad waterfalls to offer a picturesque setting.
Shad2022 runs from July 3 to July 29. We kindly request that you arrive after 12 p.m. and no later than 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 3. The earlier you arrive, the more time you will have to familiarize yourself with the campus, the program team and the other participants.
It also is very important that you let us know your travel plans as soon as you finalize them. Note that you are responsible for your own travel arrangements and cost to and from campus.
Shads and the campus team will be living in residence, featuring double rooms so you will be sharing your room with a roommate. There are multiple single-user washrooms on each floor.
Each person in a room has a bed, desk and a chair. The residence is air-conditioned. There are designated areas that are exclusively for male and female participants. Remember to always keep your dorm room locked and keep your key with you at all times. This will help to protect your – as well as your roommate’s – belongings.
The university provides towels, soap/shampoo and basic toiletries but you may bring extras if you wish.
Most of our meals will be eaten on campus. Keep in mind that it is a university, so the food may not be like your home-cooked meals. There will be a variety of food that accommodates most tastes.
Please ensure you let us know of any dietary requirements or allergies if you have not done so already.
You will be given residence keys for which you will be responsible. More information will be shared by your program director.
We recommend that you bring some pocket money with you for transportation to and from the airport, laundry, and purchasing souvenirs. There are no additional mandatory expenses.
There are bank ATMs available on campus should you need to withdraw additional funds.
You have an option to bring a laptop, tablet, or another personal computing device for research, word processing, and other tasks related to the program. Wi-Fi access is available in residence and elsewhere on campus. Shad team members will assist you with Wi-Fi setup upon arrival. The University and Shad Canada do not take any responsibility for lost/damaged/stolen valuables or property.
There will be pay-per-use washers and dryers available. Laundry detergent is available on campus. If you have any allergies to certain types of detergent, please bring your own.
While there are no irons in the rooms, if needed, an iron can be borrowed for use.
Program Director
He has a passion for teaching and for working with teens and both are focuses of his academic research. Along with his ongoing work running a mentorship support program, Kingsley has also authored several textbooks and constructed educational programs used by schools across Canada.
With a broad academic background, Kingsley completed a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Geography. This led to work in the area of computerized mapping and analysis using geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing resulting in two additional degrees in the area (including a MES from the University of Waterloo). This work in geotechnology has afforded many opportunities to collaborate widely with teachers. His doctoral degree is in Canadian Studies.
Kingsley is a teacher in every sense of the word. Currently, he works as an administrator with Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board putting into practice his knowledge of education, mentoring and resilience. Through his academic work, he hopes to better understand the resilience and mental health of Canadian teens (with a focus on rural teens).
Assistant Program Director
She began as a program manager and continues to serve in the role as Assistant Program Director for the Shad McMaster program.
Currently, Ruth is a guidance counsellor with the York Region District School Board. Ruth has a wealth of experience in both business and education. She has degrees in education from Ryerson University and the University of Toronto and Master’s degree in Education in counselling psychology from U of T and a Master’s degree in social work from Laurier.
As a former chair of the Ontario-wide White Pine Reading Program, Ruth recognizes the value of literature reading up to 60 books a year for the program. Making good use of her sense of humour, Ruth takes an active interest in mental health issues and the promotion of wellness.
(Highly recommended, but not mandatory)
A diverse and inclusive community is an important value of the Shad program. You will meet students from across Canada, with different lived experiences and backgrounds. Some of you have experience with complex, high responsibility activities such as traveling or being away from home, while for others, this may be your first time being apart from family. Respect for all individuals is a requirement for a successful community.
Community must be preserved and protected in the Shad program. There are no exclusive relationships at Shad, whether for the purposes of romance, clique, gender, ethnicity, or any other reason. Relationships that exclude (or attempt to exclude) others will not be accepted. Intentionally excluding others is a form of bullying and could result in dismissal from the program. The month at Shad provides you the opportunity to make connections with a community of other exceptional students. We hope that this tight-knit community that forms at Shad will continue for many years after the program.
Shad is a supervised community. Every member of the program team is charged with the responsibility of ensuring your safety and protection. We take this responsibility seriously! This means that we will need to know approximately where you are and what you are doing at all times. This level of awareness ensures that in case of an emergency, we can account for your whereabouts quickly.
You are also a partner in ensuring your own safety and the safety of the Shad community. You are expected to ensure that your behaviour is always aligned with the Shad values.
Just because the community is supervised does not mean that you won’t have freedom to engage in a range of activities across the university campus. We take advantage of many of the various programs, departments, recreational facilities and spaces on campus to ensure that you enjoy an exciting university experience.
You can expect life at Shad to be busy, but don’t worry, we have downtime and recreational activities built into the program as well. Each day, you can expect a different combination of lectures, workshops, recreational and cultural activities, as well as unscheduled time that you can use to connect with your peers, work on your design project, and reflect on what you’ve learned and accomplished so far.
The ability to rapidly access relevant information can be key to innovation. There is no question that effective use of technology can be a useful tool. That said, the appropriate use of technology is essential for an effective learning/teaching/cooperative environment. There is etiquette for the use of technology. Rather than provide a long list of rules that will define acceptable use of technology, our technology policy is governed by the same core values as Shad.
All use of technology — including cell phones, notebooks, tablets, translators and the like — must uphold the principles of excellence, responsibility and creativity. While you might be an exceptional multitasker, maintaining devoted attention to a task at hand is a hallmark of responsibility and maturity. When it comes to the use of technology, know what’s right, do what’s right and be respectful!
We have time set aside for recreational activities. These include cultural events, field trips and many opportunities to take in the beautiful scenery of the area.
Shad is most enriching when we have sufficient energy to be fully engaged in all program activities. After a long and busy day, everyone needs adequate rest. We also need to respect others and allow them to re-energize themselves by getting the rest they need. Please manage your energy levels appropriately and allow others to do the same by going to bed at the appropriate time.
Our values are what make Shad the incredible program that it is. At our Shad campus these values are vigorously embraced – just like they are at each of the other campuses across Canada. Being a Shad means accepting these values fully into everything you do! Adherence to these values determines how successful your Shad experience will be. They are sacred trusts.
We aspire to excellence in all we do.
We value diversity and open discussion.
We cherish the freedom to explore, create, and innovate.
We are committed to the respect, cooperation, and shared fun that builds a powerful, supportive community, while remaining mindful of the safety and well-being of that community.
Our behaviour is always governed by respect for others and the highest standards of ethical conduct.
What happens when a diverse group of high school students from across Canada come together in the spirit of science, technology and entrepreneurship? Shad Open Day is a day to put your campus and your accomplishments on display for the community.
On Thursday, July 28th, family, friends and community members are invited to join us for a day of demonstrations and exhibits. You will get the chance to showcase your team’s innovation and your own special talents for the extended community.
We understand that some of you will be traveling far from home to attend Shad and therefore it will be more difficult for your family members to make it for Open Day. Do not worry – there will be many of your fellow Shads in the same position and you will still enjoy the magic of Open Day!
The program ends on the morning of Friday, July 29, and some may need to leave very early to catch a flight or bus. Rooms are required to be vacated by 11:00 a.m. that day.
If you have a bus/train/plane to catch, you will need to make arrangements to get from the campus with plenty of time before your scheduled departure time. If your parents/guardians are picking you up by car, they should plan to do this before 11:00 a.m.
Please note that the Shad program concludes at 11:00 a.m. on July 29 and Shad will no longer be responsible for you after this time.
Shad McMaster is not only interested in getting you to listen, it is also very interested in what you have to say. During the course of the program you will be asked to give a 7-minute presentation — which we call ShadSpeak — on a topic of your choice. Select something that you are passionate about so that you will be comfortable sharing it with others. You should also consider a topic that you are confident will be of interest to others. Your speech may be supported by a digital presentation (such as PowerPoint) but we are much more interested in listening to your well organized ideas. Before the program, you will be asked to submit a 140-character abstract of your topic.
Q: I have a special accommodation request. How do I submit my request and will you be able to help me?
A: You will need to inform us of the special accommodations that you require ahead of time. We will let you know what we can do to support you as best as possible. We want to help make sure your experience here is exceptional.
Q: Can I have visitors during Shad? Can my parents take me off campus for a non-emergency reason?
A: No. Visitors are only welcome to come to Shad on Open Day on Thursday, July 28.
Q: How can my parents contact me during Shad?
A: Your parents can contact you on your cell phone (although you may not be able to answer due to program activities).