University of Waterloo is a leading global innovation hub that drives economic and social prosperity for Canada and the world. We are home to a renowned talent pipeline, game-changing research and technology, and unmatched entrepreneurial culture, that together create solutions to tackle today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.
University of Waterloo is a leading global innovation hub that drives economic and social prosperity for Canada and the world. We are home to a renowned talent pipeline, game-changing research and technology, and unmatched entrepreneurial culture, that together create solutions to tackle today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.
A strategic integration of research and teaching excellence, the world’s largest co-operative education program, entrepreneurship-intensive programs, and creator-owned IP, has resulted in extensive industry collaboration, the generation of thousands of commercial and social enterprises, and a dynamic learning experience for more than 41,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Find out more at uwaterloo.ca.
A strategic integration of research and teaching excellence, the world’s largest co-operative education program, entrepreneurship-intensive programs, and creator-owned IP, has resulted in extensive industry collaboration, the generation of thousands of commercial and social enterprises, and a dynamic learning experience for more than 41,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Find out more at uwaterloo.ca.
Shad2022 runs from July 3 to July 29. You should arrive at Conrad Grebel University College (west end of Waterloo) after lunch on Sunday, July 3 between 1 and 4 PM. The first meal provided by the program will be dinner at 5:30 PM. Shad team members will be present at CGC from 10 AM on.
As soon as you know your travel plans, please email the details to Kim.
If you can’t arrive on Sunday between 1 and 4 PM, before you make any bookings, please contact Kim Boucher, Program Manager, Shad Waterloo, kim.boucher@uwaterloo.ca, to discuss options.
Note that you are responsible for your own travel arrangements and costs to and from Conrad Grebel University College.
Shad students and program team members live in the Conrad Grebel University College (CGC) residence. CGC is located in the southwest corner of the University of Waterloo’s campus. CGC is affiliated with the Mennonite church, and the cooking staff is from Waterloo’s Mennonite community. The residence rooms each house two people. The washroom facilities are shared.
The residence will provide you with a towel, wash cloth, sheets, a pillow and a blanket.
You may wish to bring your own pillows and towels if you prefer.
You will be living in residence on the university campus. There will be university students living in the residence as well, in a separate section from the Shad group. Most of the program team will live in residence with you forming a closely knit community for the month.
You have the responsibility for keeping your property safe. Always keep your room door locked and have your key with you at all times. There is a substantial fee for lost keys/access cards.
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
Shad is an incredibly important part of my life–and has been ever since I attended Shad Carleton as a participant in 1998. Shad was a truly transformational experience for me then, and it remains one of the top 3 pivotal moments in my life to date. Over the years I have stayed connected to not only my campus, but to the greater Shad Canada community. Throughout my career as an educator, I have been championing students through the Shad application process, something I still enjoy doing today in my role as a Technology Integration Specialist. In 2016, the opportunity to join the Shad Waterloo Team as a Faculty member presented itself, so I jumped in with both feet and haven’t looked back since!
Assistant Program Director
This will be my seventh summer with Shad (4 awesome Julys at Shad Waterloo, and 2 fabulous Julys online with the Rigel and Waterloo campuses), and I am so hyped to jump into the community we will build together this summer. Outside of July, I am an elementary school teacher with a BEd from Niagara University. In my undergrad I studied Sexuality, Marriage and Family Studies at UWaterloo, with minors in Peace and Conflict Studies and English Literature; with this intersection of degrees I am always keen to talk and learn about anti-oppression, social justice, and how we can create more inclusive and social justice-informed classrooms. I’m also passionate about superheroes, figure skating, Jane Austen, dogs, musicals, mental health and more. I’d love to talk with you about any of these things, and about the things that excite you! Can’t wait for the month we have ahead.
Program Manager
I studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, went to teacher’s college, and then worked with Waterloo Engineering admissions for many years. I now work in the Department of Knowledge Integration at Waterloo, where we make great programs happen: Shad and the Bachelor of Knowledge Integration. When I’m not at work, I spend as much time in nature as possible: hiking, kayaking, skiing, breathing.
Please note that some of the items on the checklist below have different requirements at Shad Waterloo. Please do not worry about bringing a hairdryer or formal clothes/shoes if you do not have them/feel comfortable using them, and note there is no need to bring camping dishes/utensils. Additionally, please bring a fan, if possible, for your room (unless you are flying and thus unable to bring one), but do not worry if you do not have space for sports equipment (that is optional). Most importantly, to ensure you are up to date with the campus-specific checklist, please stay tuned for further information via email and our website about the program requirements.
(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 noon 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 11:00am on July 29 and Shad will no longer be responsible for you after this time.
Have you ever been asked to describe yourself in 400 square cm? Sound strange? Well, what we are looking for from you is a 20cm x 20cm tile to serve as an introduction to who you are. It can be made out of any material (paper, cardboard, thin wood…or use your imagination!!). Be creative and show your interests! Keep the back of the tile flat except for an appropriate looped structure so it can be hung up. We know you’ll be busy in the weeks leading up to Shad, but be sure to set aside some time to work on this before you come so you can really put some thought into it!
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).
Your parents can contact you on your cell phone (although you may not be able to answer due to program activities). They can also send mail:
Your Name
c/o Shad Waterloo Program
Conrad Grebel University College
140 Westmount Road North
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G6
By car
By train or GO Bus
By air to Toronto or Hamilton
By air to Kitchener-Waterloo from Western Canada