Valerie Chort

We have a collective opportunity to prepare young people for the opportunities and ambiguities of the future.

Valerie Chort, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship, RBC

Generous donor support provides extraordinary live-in STEAM and entrepreneurship programs for driven, aspirational youth across Canada. Your generosity allows students to express endless curiosity, explore a love of learning, and strive for their full potential.

Through Shad, participants will:

  • hone their science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) skills 
  • follow their passion for STEAM
  • shape their educational paths
  • develop their workplace readiness
  • build their skills and networks 
  • explore their enthusiasm for innovation and entrepreneurship

Your financial support will have a lasting impact by changing lives and positively transforming Canada’s STEAM future.

Shad recognizes that the capacity to love STEAM is not tied to gender, economic status, or ethnicity. Shad is focused on growing participation and maintaining inclusive communities where gender, cultural, geographic and socioeconomic disadvantages are not a factor in reaching their STEAM potential.  

Donor Stories

Donor generosity and belief in Shad’s mission enabled a rapid transition to a virtual program for summer 2020, after months of prep for a live-in experience. One donor eloquently described the shift as an ‘intentional course correction’. Post-program, many happy parents jumped in as donors, to help make ShadOnline possible for future participants.

  • We were very impressed with the remote program you put together for students this summer. It was a very positive experience for our son. Thank you! 
  • We are very grateful to Shad organizers for deciding to run the online program for summer of 2020. Thank you! Best of luck to future Shad students.
  • My son Noah loved his Shad experience this summer!
  • Your team is to be commended for putting together a wonderful program this summer under very difficult circumstances. Thank you for giving our daughter a memorable experience.
  • We appreciate the efforts made by Shad to make our son Owen’s experience at Shad 2020 the best it could be. Thank you! 
  • Thank you to all the folks at Shad who put in the effort to make this year’s online experience memorable for the participants!
  • Our son Luke enjoyed this summer’s online program. Thank you for making it happen!

Shad Stories

There are always new and exciting Shad stories being told. Be sure to check back often to see what’s happening in the world of Shad.

Meet Raina Garland, Shad2024 Alum and Recipient of Shad’s Entrance Scholarship for Indigenous Students

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.Hello, my name is Raina Garland and this year I was a part of ShadOnCampus at ULethbridge in Alberta. I am going into grade 11, which made me the ...

Aadrika Bhakt uses STEAM and her ShadAnywhere experience to drive innovation with an impact

As a physics-loving flutist, Aadrika Bhakt has always looked for ways to embrace her authentic complexity and meet others whose interests are as broad as her own. She often found those opportunities in extracurricular programs, ...

Meet Jaden Wolfe, Shad2024 Alum and Recipient of Shad’s Pathways to Education Scholarship

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.My name is Jaden, and I live in New Brunswick. I love music and play the piano, sports, lead my school’s Key Club and organize cultural awareness activities. Q: What motivates ...