National cohort of teen changemakers to tackle real-world challenges as part of Shad Laurier program

June 24, 2025
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO – Wilfrid Laurier University will welcome 64 Grade 10 and Grade 11 students from across Canada from June 30 to July 26 as part of the Shad Laurier program. The experiential program aims to build high-potential high school students’ skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics (STEAM) and entrepreneurship.

Participants will live and learn on Laurier’s Waterloo campus, while also engaging in activities at the university’s Brantford campus. Building on the program’s strengths in leadership, innovation and community engagement, students will take part in interactive workshops, lectures, field trips, panel discussions and lab exercises – exploring topics in ways that are often not available in traditional high school classrooms.

“Shad participants will be supported by the enthusiasm and expertise of Laurier faculty, staff and alumni,” said Joseph Monks, Shad Laurier program director and external outreach coordinator in the Faculty of Education. “The program is designed to spark curiosity, fuel innovation, build meaningful connections between participants and inspire the next generation of changemakers.”

A highlight of the program is the Shad Design Entrepreneurship Challenge, which sees students work in small groups to develop an innovative and practical solution to a real-world social or environmental issue.

“We are excited to welcome Shad participants to Laurier’s Waterloo campus. The Design Entrepreneurship Challenge is an exceptional experience for Shad Laurier participants,” said Faculty of Education Dean Maria Cantalini-Williams. “It encourages students to think creatively, build new skills, collaborate with diverse peers from across Canada, and explore how they can make a positive change in the world through the integration of STEAM and entrepreneurship.”

Laurier became a Shad Canada university partner in 2019. Since welcoming its inaugural cohort of SHAD participants in 2021, Laurier has hosted more than 200 students from across Canada and around the world as part of virtual and in-person programming.

The Laurier community and members of the media are invited to attend Open Day on Thursday, July 24 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Senate and Board Chamber on the Waterloo campus. The event will showcase student projects developed during the Design Entrepreneurship Challenge.

About Shad Canada

Shad Canada is a STEAM and entrepreneurship program for students in Grade 10 and Grade 11 that includes partnerships with 30 Canadian universities. During the month-long program, students live on campus, attend workshops in university labs, and participate in a real-world design challenge that tackles social and economic challenges. The Shad program, first launched in 1981, is transformational and life changing. Many of its more than 20,000 alumni have made significant contributions in their chosen fields globally. Learn more at shad.ca.