Shad Valley

Shad Valley International

Type	Non-profit organization
Founded	1980
Founder(s)	Dr. Derek Lane-Smith
Headquarters	Waterloo, Ontario  Canada
Key people	Barry Bisson (President)
Area served	Primarily Canada
Motto	Drive. Stretch. Dream.
Website	www.shad.ca

Shad Valley (colloquially known as Shad) is a Canadian summer enrichment program for high-achieving high school students that runs every year, primarily in July. The program is open to both Canadian and international students, and runs in twelve participating university campuses across Canada, where the students live in residence. It is focused on business, science, mathematics, and engineering.

The Shad Valley program was founded by Dr. Derek Lane-Smith, a teacher, physicist, and entrepreneur. The first summer program ran at St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario in July, 1981,^[1] and has since expanded to twelve university campuses across Canada.

The Shad Valley program is run by Shad Valley International (formerly known as the Shad Valley Centre for Creative Technology), a non-profit organization based in Waterloo, Ontario. Shad Valley International also ran the Pesk’a Aboriginal Shad Valley Program, which ended in the summer of 2009. Barry Bisson is the current president of Shad Valley International.

There is a rigorous application process, which goes in depth into both the students' academics and extra-curriculars. In 2013, over 1,000 students applied, with over 900 students meeting the requirements for Shad Valley. With only about 50 spots available per campus, 600+ students were accepted.

Program overview

During the program, students live in residence at one of twelve participating university campuses across Canada. The program is run by university faculty and staff, and focuses on science, engineering, technology, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Each campus plans its own events and activities so schedules and opportunities vary from campus to campus, however each campus has the same basic format and themes. Participants and alumni of the program are often colloquially known as "Shads".^[2]

A typical day at Shad Valley can include workshops, seminars, staff and guest lectures, recreation time, and group projects. Students also participate in off-campus day trips, based on the region’s attractions.^[3]

Eligibility

Students in grades ten, eleven, or twelve (Secondaire IV, V, or CEGEP I in Quebec), or the international equivalent, may apply for Shad Valley. Applications deadlines are in late November and mid-December^[4]

Program cost

Shad Valley costs $4,100 CAD for Canadian citizens/permanent residents and $8,000 CAD for international students. Travel expenses to and from the program are not included in the program fee. Financial assistance from Shad Valley International is available.^[5]

Shad Valley Entrepreneurship Cup

Every year, the program is given a project theme. Students collaborate to simulate a start-up venture, based around a product or service that addresses the theme. Groups complete a business plan, marketing plan, promotional strategy package, external resources plan, website, and create a working prototype of their product. One winning project is selected from each campus every year to advance to national judging between the campuses.

The results of the competition are announced during the Shad Valley Entrepreneurship Cup Awards, which takes place every Fall. The awards will be:^[6]

• Best Website Award
• Best Prototype Award
• Best Application of Theme Award
• Best Application of Scientific Principles Award
• Best Marketing Award
• Best Business Plan Award
• Best Overall Award

The theme for the 2013 Shad Cup was "How Might We Improve the Safety and Efficiency of Year Round, Human Powered Transportation". Previous themes included: "Disaster & Emergency Preparedness" (2004),^[7] "Health & Wellness" (2005),^[8] "The Great Canadian Energy Challenge" (2006),^[9] "Zero Waste Technology" (2007),^[10] "Design with Conscience" (2008),^[11] "Nature and Natural Fibres" (2009), "Designing for Canada's Aging Population" (2010), "Improving the Quality of Life for a Canadian Child with a Disability" (2011), and "Preventing/Reducing Obesity in North American Youth" (2012).

Host universities

Current

There are currently twelve Shad campuses:

• Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario (since 1989)
• Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia (since 2001)
• Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario (since 1999)
• Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador (since 2003)
• McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario (since 1998)
• Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario (since 2004)
• Université Laval in Quebec City, Quebec (since 2006)
• University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia (since 1986)
• University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta (1984-2008, 2013 - )
• University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick (since 1985)
• University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (since 2013)
• University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario (since 1983)

Former

• Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia (1988–2000)
• Bark Lake/Trent University in South Algonquin, Ontario (1997)
• Queen's University International Study Centre in Herstmonceux, East Sussex, United Kingdom (2001–02)
• St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario (1981–82)
• Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario (2005–08)
• Université de Sherbrooke in Sherbrooke, Quebec (1988–2000)
• University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba (1986–95)
• University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland (2000)

Internships

Shad Valley students are also eligible for a summer volunteer internship for the month of August, immediately following the July program.^[12][13] Shad Valley assists students in finding an internship.

Alumni

Shad Valley has 13,542 alumni in 36 countries, twenty-six of whom are Rhodes Scholars.^[14] Several Canadian post-secondary schools offer scholarships for Shad Valley alumni.^[15][16]

Awards

• NOVA Corporation Global Best Award ^[17]
• Canadian Best Practice in Youth, Science and Technology ^[18]
• Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion ^[19]
• National Award for Excellence in Business-Education Partnerships, Conference Board of Canada ^[20]
• 2005 ASTech Awards Recipient ^[21]

References

External links

• Shad Valley Website
• Shad Valley Student Weblog
• Shad Valley Media Stories