Townsend teen chosen to join national STEM program this summer
When Mya Esselment walks through the doors of Thompson Rivers University this June, she won’t just be arriving at a new campus – she’ll be stepping into one of Canada’s most prestigious enrichment programs for youth. The Grade 11 student at Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Simcoe has been accepted into Shad Canada, a […]
Manitoulin Island student receives $70K scholarship
Alexandra Wilson-Zegil is one of 20 recipients from across Canada receiving up to $70,000 over four years for her post-secondary education through the TD Scholarship for Community Leadership program. Wilson-Zegil was chosen for the scholarship thanks to her work in bringing technology to youth and seniors on Manitoulin Island. The Grade 12 Manitoulin Secondary Student […]
We’re Not Short on Talent—We’re Short on Activation
Shad Canada doesn’t believe our country has a talent problem—we have an activation problem. And nowhere is that clearer than in the disconnect between the untapped potential of our youth and the country’s worsening productivity crisis. The economic warning lights are flashing red. According to the OECD’s latest Economic Survey released this week, Canada’s GDP […]
Charlotte Bolduc – Loran Scholar 2025
Q: What does it mean for you to win this scholarship? Winning the Loran Scholarship is a tremendous honour and deeply meaningful to me as an Indigenous student. It validates the years of dedication I’ve put into my community, education, and personal growth, especially while facing challenges like being one of the few Indigenous students […]
2025 Loran Scholars
When Shad Alums Charlotte Bolduc, Joti Gokaraju, Rocky Sloan, and Shravya Verma heard they had been named Loran Scholars, they felt an enormous sense of accomplishment at having been recognized for the positive impact they were having in their communities. The scholarship provides these future leaders with a $100,000 investment in their undergraduate education […]
Shravya Verma – Loran Scholar 2025
Q. What does it mean for you to win this scholarship? It’s an honour to be part of a community that believes in integrity, character, and leadership through action. Winning the Loran means so much to me. It’s a huge encouragement to keep working hard and pushing my boundaries. Q. How might this scholarship change […]
Rocky Sloan – Loran Scholar 2025
Q. What does it mean for you to win this scholarship? For me, winning the Loran is an opportunity to gain all of the knowledge and expertise of previous generations, and eventually, for me to share all I have learned with the next generations of scholars. Q. How might this scholarship change your undergraduate […]
Joti Gokaraju – Loran Scholar 2025
Q. What does it mean for you to win this scholarship? Winning the Loran Award is an amazing privilege, and I count myself lucky to be amongst such a talented group of scholars. It also feels like a recognition for all the work I love to do with my community. Q. How might this scholarship […]
Shad Alum Daniel Urquhart’s Journey of Authenticity and Leading with Pride in Tech
Shad alum Daniel Urquhart deeply values the impact of role models. Reflecting on his experience working in tech as a gay man, he credits his openly LGBTQ2S+ colleagues—especially those in leadership—for showing him that being authentic was not only accepted but valued. Now, as Director of Software Programs at Alert Labs, Daniel is committed to […]
Shad Canada Marks 45 Years of Impact With New Report: A Blueprint for Canada’s Innovation Economy
Waterloo, ON — In celebration of Innovation Week, Shad Canada is proud to release its 45 Years of Impact report, a milestone reflection on the national program’s legacy of empowering the next generation of Canadian innovators. Since 1980, Shad has transformed the lives of over 24,000 high school students through immersive, hands-on STEAM and entrepreneurship […]
Tim Jackson to be awarded honorary doctorate recognizing years of achievement
Tim Jackson (BA’92), FCPA, FCA, a sessional lecturer at Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, will be awarded an honorary doctorate at this year’s spring convocation. Since graduating from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Accounting, Jackson has had significant success in the entrepreneurial world. Some of his notable achievements include co-founding Tech […]
Engineering Change: Luna Yin’s Journey from Shad to Harvard
When Luna Yin arrived on campus as a freshman environmental engineering student at Harvard University last fall, she was filled with excitement as she took in her new surroundings at one of North America’s most iconic academic institutions. Though she had long been working towards a post-secondary experience that included time in a prestigious program, […]
