ShadAnywhere The Wave Campus Information Guide
ShadAnywhere
in partnership with Athabasca University
ShadAnywhere participants are joining us virtually at Athabasca University (AU) from all across the country, and maybe even beyond—just like all AU students!
As one of the world’s foremost and fastest-growing online and open post-secondary institutions, AU serves more than 38,000 students across 81 countries. It is the second-largest university in Alberta, and one of four comprehensive academic and research universities in the province.
Headquartered in the boreal forest of Athabasca, Alta., AU provides high-quality learning, scholarship, and research environments and strives to ensure that everyone can have access to a university education. The university is dedicated to the removal of barriers that restrict access to and success in university-level study and to increasing equality of educational opportunity for adult learners worldwide.
AU offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs alongside courses for both personal learning and professional development. It is uniquely founded on the principles of flexibility and openness, giving students control over their studies so they can learn whenever and wherever is right for them. The research community at AU is open and online by design, with research focused in four thematic areas: environmental and societal dynamics of sustainability; disruptive pedagogies; society, culture, health, and well-being; and digital futures. AU is home to four Canada Research Chairs and several other research chairs in business, science, humanities, and health disciplines.
We’re proud to partner with Shad Canada to offer this opportunity to all our future ShadAnywhere alumni. Welcome to AU!
More specifically, we would like to welcome you to The Wave Campus! Within the broader ShadAnywhere community, you will be a member of The Wave, one of our four ShadAnywhere virtual campuses. The Wave will be your close-knit Shad family who you will spend the majority of your time with during Shad this July.
At The Wave, we’re all about observing, listening, asking, and experimenting. We strongly believe that learning should be fun, and that community should be authentic. Our biggest goal and greatest achievement will be to see each one of you have your breakthrough or ‘aha!’ moment, so come expectant for a summer full of surprises, discoveries, and thrills as you get ready to surf The Wave.
Athabasca University respectfully acknowledges that we live and work on the traditional lands of the Indigenous Peoples (Inuit, First Nations, Métis) of Canada. We honour the ancestry, heritage, and gifts of the Indigenous Peoples and give thanks to them.
Shad Program Team
Ginu Chacko, MBA
Campus Lead
Ginu (she/her) is a management consultant and social entrepreneur who’s worked across four continents, helping businesses, governments, and charities team up for social good. A proud Shad Alum, she was part of Shad’s first international program in Scotland back in 2000.
With a background in economics and psychology from the University of Toronto, Ginu’s career has taken her from microfinance projects in South Africa and France to big consulting gigs with Accenture and Dalberg in Indonesia to Malawi. She helped raise over a million dollars for women farmers in rural Ghana and worked on global youth unemployment and child health initiatives. She has also designed and run leadership programs for different agencies at the United Nations.
She also holds an MBA from the University of Oxford and now runs a social enterprise focused on global collaboration and innovation around upskilling.
Outside of work, Ginu is all about exploring new cultures. She’s into hip hop and salsa dancing, crocheting, singing opera, and learning guitar—basically, she loves picking up random new skills, like a typical Shad! She can’t wait to hear about all the cool and quirky things that all our Shads at the Wave are up to!
Rajan Minocha-McKenney
Campus Coordinator, Tech and Community
Rajan (he/him) grew up in the small town of Amherst, NS, and attended Shad in 2020 during its first online program. Shad transformed his perspective, igniting a passion for meaningful change. Inspired, he co-founded Race to a Cure, a non-profit that empowered youth through interactive STEAM opportunities during the pandemic. For the past five years, he has returned to Shad, helping shape programs at York University and Mount Allison University.
Beyond Shad, Rajan is completing an Honours in Biochemistry at Mount Allison, where he researches how fish adapt to environmental stressors, such as fluctuating oxygen levels caused by rising global temperatures. As captain of his university’s cross-country team, he’s also super excited to bring his passion for running to the Shad Running Club – so stay tuned!
His curiosity and drive have taken him beyond Canada, including working with UNICEF in Geneva on sustainable fundraising for lower- to middle-income countries. Adventures like this, where he can connect with diverse people, cultures, and experiences, are a reminder of why Shad is so special to him.
Rajan couldn’t be more thrilled for ShadAnywhere this summer and can’t wait for you to have the best summer FOR your life!
Rose Zhang
Campus Coordinator, Design and Community
Rose (she/her) joined Shad in 2021 as a participant at University of Waterloo’s virtual program. Since then, she has worked as program assistant and program manager at Shad York’s On Campus program. She values Shad for the sense of community and confidence it continues to bring to many people, including herself, both in person and virtually
Rose is currently finishing her degree in Education at the University of Cambridge. She is passionate about teaching and motivating students to learn.
In her spare time, Rose can be found at a restaurant with friends, practicing karate (with her black belt!), or in bed watching Chinese dramas.
She is looking forward to good vibes and high tides this summer at Shad Anywhere – The Wave! 🌊🏄
Arriving at Shad
Shad Timing
ShadAnywhere 2025 runs from June 30 to July 25, 2025. The digital program will take place from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. There will be no scheduled programming outside of these dedicated times.
The program will be in session on July 1.
You have committed to full-time participation in the program and we look forward to you joining our Shad community!
Arrive on screen every day, on time, eager to learn, and excited to engage with peers from across the country. We look forward to seeing you and hearing from you, so plan to have your camera and microphone turned on.
If you require assistance with technology requirements, Shad Canada has limited loaner equipment available for use. Contact Andrea Isogai to inquire.
Setting Yourself Up for Success
In advance of ShadAnywhere commencing, you will receive a ShadAnywhere email address for use throughout the duration of the program. Watch for it to arrive sometime in late June! We will host tech check-ins to help ensure you can access your accounts.
G-Suite Education is our platform of choice and Zoom will be our primary video conferencing platform. If you are not familiar with these platforms, check out instructional videos to assist you in advance of the program.
Comfort is important. If you haven’t already established your learning environment, take time to find an area you are comfortable in that you will join from. Shad Canada will share a virtual background in June for those interested, while others may prefer to be creative and establish their own. And don’t forget to experiment with lighting and sound so we see and hear the best of you.
What to Expect
Shad Values
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. Our values are as follows:
- We cherish the freedom to explore, create, and innovate.
- We aspire to excellence in all we do.
- 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.
- We value diversity and open discussion.
- Our behaviour is always governed by respect for others and the highest standards of ethical conduct.
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.
Diverse & Inclusive Community
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. Whether you are experienced with online programs or this is your first time in a virtual community, one thing is certain: treating everyone with respect is the foundation of creating a supportive and 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.
Supportive Team
The Shad team is here to support you. Your program team is made up of leaders who are committed to working with students to meet their needs.
Supervised Community
Shad is a supervised community. Every member of the program team is charged with the responsibility of ensuring your safety and protection while participating in our online environment. This is a responsibility which we take seriously, and you are a key partner in our efforts. All members of our ShadAnywhere community have agreed to demonstrate behaviour consistent with our Shad Values when they accepted placement in the program. Any behaviour which deviates from these values will be addressed.
Schedule
A typical day will begin at 11:00 am and end at 5:00 pm, Eastern Time. Participants will be signing into the program from several different time zones and represent provinces and territories from across the country. Hours will be filled with lectures, workshops, personal challenges, community development activities, and project design initiatives. A Shad tradition is never giving the schedule away in advance as the element of surprise enhances the magic of the program. That magic continues in 2025!
Tech-etiquette: Appropriate usage
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.
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!
Tech Etiquette: Community Guidelines
- Be Kind and Courteous
We’re all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let’s treat everyone with respect. - No Hate Speech or Bullying
Make sure everyone feels safe. Bullying of any kind isn’t allowed, and degrading comments about things like race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity will not be tolerated. - Respect Everyone’s Privacy
Being part of this group requires mutual trust. Authentic, expressive discussions make groups great, but may also be sensitive and private. What’s shared in the group should stay in the group. - Comments are Monitored
All comments will be monitored, and we reserve the right to delete any if they use foul, vulgar, defamatory, or any other negative language.
Energy Management
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 disconnecting from the screen at the end of the day, during designated break times, and whenever helpful for your mental health. We ask that you notify a team member if you are stepping away for a brief break.
What You'll Need to Do Pre-Program
Shad attracts many of the most insightful, curious, talented, and ambitious young people from across Canada, and one of the ways we tap into the wisdom and intrigue of our Shad community during the July program, is through ShadSpeaks!
ShadSpeaks are 3-minute talks given by each Shad to the rest of the campus, on a topic of their choosing. We have heard talks on topics ranging from patterns found in Disney villains, to the joys and dangers of bouldering, orienteering, and hebertism, all the way to the dangers of e-waste orbiting earth or the deep mathematical and philosophical underpinnings of origami.
You will have time and support at the beginning of July to work on your ShadSpeak, but for now, start thinking about topics that you are passionate about, that you would like to expound to your fellow Shads this summer.
Pre-program Online Form: We are already hard at work preparing a summer experience that is going to be completely game changing for each of our Shads at The Wave. In order for us to tailor the experience to your specific needs, goals and aspirations, please fill out our pre-program form and help us get to know you better!
Once you have filled out the pre-program form, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram at the handle @thewave.shadanywhere, and join our Discord server
Shad Open Day
Your family and friends will not understand what you’ve been up to all month at Shad, so we will have a dedicated Open Day session to give them a taster of all the cool things you’ve been up to. Make sure to have your friends and family save the date for The Wave’s Open Day showcase. [We will send out an RSVP close to the date].
Live Virtual Open Day
What: Projects showcase, tour, and sample workshop for family and friends.
Date: July 24, 2025
Time: 4:00pm-4:45pm (EDT)
Platform: Zoom
Contact us
Ginu Chacko, Campus Lead
+1 437 328 1856
Rajan Minocha-McKenney, Campus Tech Coordinator
rajan.minocha-mckenney@anywhere.shad.ca
+1 (902) 397 1551
Rose Zhang, Campus Design Coordinator
+44 (7514) 280 016
Frequently Asked Questions
Special accommodation requests
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.
Tech
Q: What are the tech requirements for the program?
A: Information about tech requirements for the program can be found here.
Q: What should I do if I don’t have a dedicated laptop/computer for the program?
A: All students will need a dedicated laptop or desktop for the entire Shad program. If you do not have a dedicated device and cannot borrow one from family, friend, or school, Shad Canada has a limited number of laptops that can be borrowed for the duration of the program. Contact us for more information.
Q: How do I get the most out of my ShadAnywhere experience at The Wave?
A: Great question! We’ve boiled it down to three things that will ensure you have an amazing, life-changing experience at Shad:
- Bring your curiosity: we are bringing amazing professors, professionals, educators, and all of you Shads together to teach and learn from one another in a once-in-a-lifetime interactive format. Bring your questions and your full attention to learning, and you’ll be blown away by what you discover.
- Invest in relationships: Many Shads come away from the program having made new friendships that they will have for life. In every group activity, game, project or workshop, get to know your fellow Shads through questions and active listening, and share who you are and all the things that make you unique. You never know, you might meet a best friend for life. And it’s not about quantity of new friends, but quality relationships.
- Be willing to grow: The hallmark of Shad is learning something new, and oftentimes that involves uncertainty and stretch. Shad isn’t school, where many students worry about getting good grades or attaining certain achievements. Shad is a safe space to explore new topics, try out new things and experiment with new skills. In the lead up to the program, reflect on your personal strengths and weaknesses, and come ready to push your own limits without fear of failure.