Shad students arrive on campus in July
Saint Mary’s University welcomes its first cohort of high-school students to campus.
National cohort of teen changemakers to tackle real-world challenges as part of Shad Laurier program
Laurier welcomes 64 youth for Shad 2025, sparking innovation through STEAM and entrepreneurship on campus and beyond.
34 Surrey Schools students selected for summer university STEAM programs with Shad Canada
Thirty-four students from eight Surrey secondary schools will be spending a month at various universities across Canada this summer after being selected for programs with Shad Canada. Hosted in partnership with 20 Canadian universities, Shad Canada is a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) and entrepreneurship program for students in Grades 10 and 11 that offers an […]
From Maskwacis to the Ivy League: Shad Alum Devin Buffalo’s Journey in Indigenous Advocacy
When Devin Buffalo arrived at Shad’s McMaster University campus in the summer of 2010, it felt as though his ambitions had been validated. On his program application, he had expressed his desire to follow a career path that would allow him to advocate for his and other Indigenous communities, and his acceptance into the program […]
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 […]
2025 Loran Scholars
When Shad Alums Charlotte Bolduc, Chioma Ezeonyejiaku, 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 […]
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, […]
