During academic breaks, Loran Scholars gain practical skills in the professional world they will one day contribute to. Loran engages with an extensive network of employment partners, supporting scholars to find placements that best leverage their talents and nurture their growth.
During academic breaks, Loran Scholars gain practical skills in the professional world they will one day contribute to. The Summer Experiential Learning Program opportunities represent some of their most transformative Loran experiences.
Loran equips scholars with the skills, network, and confidence to seek out placements that align with who they are and where they want to go. With access to an extensive network of employment partners, scholars then take the initiative to find roles that best leverage their talents and nurture their growth. Currently, 71 scholars are lending their talents to a variety of organizations and companies across 12 provinces and territories in Canada and six other countries spanning three continents. This summer, some employers included Alberta Neuroscience in Calgary, the MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund in Toronto, Helicopters Without Borders in Vancouver, Presse-Ouest Ltée in Winnipeg, Académie canadienne du cinéma et de la télévision in Montreal, Nature Trust of New Brunswick in Fredericton, Ecology Action Centre in Halifax, and ArcticNet in Yellowknife. For the third consecutive year, Polar Bears International welcomed a Loran Scholar for the summer and recently highlighted the experiences of current and past scholars who have contributed to the organization.
Reflecting on their past year’s summer experience, scholars reported that:
Whether spent in Canada or abroad, Loran summers provide scholars with greater breadth and understanding of the intersections between three major economic sectors and the role each plays within the local, national, and global community.
During my public policy summer at Women’s Shelters Canada, I conducted in-depth research on gender-based violence (GBV) across Canada. This involved analyzing legislation, engaging in outreach to institutions and local shelter associations, and contributing to the development of practical reports supporting advocacy work with government bodies. It was my first time living out of province, and I would not have taken that leap out of my comfort zone without Loran’s support and encouragement. The experience was transformative; contributing to work with real-world implications—used by shelters and activists on the ground—was incredibly meaningful and reaffirmed my belief in research as a powerful tool for change. It also helped me realize that GBV is the field in which I hope to build my career.
Mariana Cueto Mendoza
2023 Heaslip Loran Scholar
Public Policy Summer
Women’s Shelters Canada, Ottawa, ON
For my community development summer, I worked with No Name Kitchen, helping migrants living in a camp on the French-Italian border. Organizing showers, first aid, laundry, social support, and food distribution—our team adapted to the needs people expressed. I believe that the only way to truly understand the challenges of immigration and borders is to go out into the field and listen to the stories of those affected. At the camp, there were a multitude of issues I had never faced before. These experiences taught me to be an attentive, vigilant, and flexible leader. Although the logistics surrounding my summer experience were atypical and complex, the Loran program offered dedicated support and an incredible opportunity that was crucial for my journey and my heart.
Luka Bordeleau
2022 Loran Scholar
Community Development Summer
No Name Kitchen, Ventimiglia, Italy
I spent my enterprise summer at Amazon developing and streamlining software systems, including leading a project addressing an issue affecting over 300,000 customers and saving 800 hours of manual work annually. Beyond the code, I volunteered through Amazon’s Black Employee Network and Women in Engineering, participating in initiatives like shoreline cleanups and supporting the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. I was initially concerned about making a meaningful impact and staying true to my service-focused values at such a large company, but I found many ways to do both. This experience showed me that technology and community care can go hand in hand. Loran gave me the confidence to show up fully in both spaces—as an engineer, a volunteer, and a growing leader.
Tumi Fabiyi
2023 R. Howard Webster Loran Scholar
Enterprise Summer
Amazon, Vancouver, BC
Are you an employer? Learn more about hiring a Loran Scholar for a summer opportunity.