Experience

The SLP program is nothing short of amazing! Having the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the political process while gaining valuable work experience was incredible. The friends and mentors I made along the way were invaluable, but the real highlight was getting to interact candidly with some of Canada's most important elected leaders. The SLP program helped set me up for a career after I graduate, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The SLP program was an exciting and educational way to put my previous experience with the Liberal government into action while advocating for my region. Throughout my time as an intern in the Halifax Ministers Regional Office I assisted with ministerial planning as well as engagement coordination, and ended up staying on in my role part time through my final year of undergrad! I recommend anyone who feels they can make a difference and has dreamt of working in government like me apply.

I really enjoyed my time as an SLP participant working for my local MP. I got to work on meaningful projects throughout the summer that took advantage of my existing skills while also helping me to build new ones. All the people I met through the program were extremely kind and I built relationships that will last a lifetime. Applying for SLP was one of the best decisions I made!

The Summer Leadership Program (SLP) has been a life-changing experience for me; it laid the foundation for my career in politics. As a recent political science graduate, SLP was an excellent opportunity to apply my knowledge and critical thinking skills to the realities of the Canadian political system. Throughout my SLP experience, my Member of Parliament (MP), staff and fellow SLP interns were a fantastic source for learning, support and career guidance. I had the privilege of working with Deb Schulte, who served as Minister of Seniors and MP for King-Vaughan. SLP provided me with the opportunity to write her speeches, take caucus meetings and attend local events. Only through SLP was I able to have these first hand experiences, to further my skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue a career in politics. I highly recommend the Summer Leadership Program because as Canada moves into a critical stage of the COVID-19 recovery, as an intern, it is an opportunity to be at the forefront of those issues, whether at an MP or Minister's office.

If you are looking to get involved in Canadian politics in a motivating environment with an experienced and welcoming team, the Summer Leadership Program is for you! This unique and enriching experience opened my eyes to the variety of career opportunities on The Hill and inspired me through its captivating speaker series. It is not only a chance to hear directly from the incredible minds that have shaped our government, but also an opportunity to have our voice heard and feel empowered. In addition to the wonderful memories and advice I cherish from my experience, I maintain contacts and valuable friendships that have been created thanks to the Summer Leadership Program.

Being a part of the Summer Leadership Program in 2021 has been one of the best life-changing experiences throughout my professional career. This internship gave me a different perspective on how politics in Canada is run and how it can affect our everyday lives. It also put all the theory that I have learned throughout my undergrad into practice while giving me a more humbling sense of working with different stakeholders and community leaders in the process.

Getting involved in the Summer Leadership Program has been a career-changing moment for me. I was able to utilize my skills and passion to further pursue my interests in politics. I am grateful for meeting many other like-minded people with similar passion for advocating for social justice, democratic values, and the well-being of marginalized groups in Canada. The program offered me a better understanding of politics, as well as the tremendous impacts that it has to people from coast to coast to coast. The Summer Leadership Program has helped me gain essential skills, experience, and knowledge to further my career. I believe that this is a great opportunity for everyone interested in politics to unleash your potential and pursue your dreams.

I was happy to be a part of the 2018 Summer Leadership Program. Since I'm a political science major, I thought this would be a great experience for me to take the information I learned in my classes and be able to apply it in an actual political setting. I learned so many new things like how committees' help create policy, how legislation is passed and how to write SO31s to name a few. I definitely recommend this program to others because it gave me the exposure I needed to further my political career as well as give me invaluable knowledge I use today. I learned a lot about politics in my classes at university but I think this program is a great hands on experience in getting a more in depth understanding of federal politics and ways in which our government's decisions directly impact constituents. I met so many people and was able to work for an MP who represented the city I grew up in which made it even more of an exciting experience because I could, in a small way, influence positive change in my hometown.

The Summer Leadership Program has been life-changing for me. As an immigrant and a young woman coming from an underrepresented group, I never even thought Canadian politics was something in which I could get involved. However, SLP opened doors for me that I never thought were possible. The program was nothing short of phenomenal as we had the opportunity to interact with our nation's leaders and political staffers and learned from their unique and diverse journeys in choosing to serve Canada. SLP empowered me to find my voice in advocating for a more inclusive and equitable Canada, which I bring to my work every day.

The Summer Leadership Program was nothing short of life-changing. Through the program I had the opportunity to intern at the Liberal Research Bureau and the Prime Minister's Office. Both opportunities exposed me to the inner workings of the political process, amazing social networks, and the awe-inspiring nature of democracy in Canada. The Summer Leadership Program gave me the skills, knowledge, and the confidence to pursue a career in politics. Specifically, through this program I learned how to write briefing notes, engage with stakeholders, and coordinate events for liberal caucus. As well, this program helped me meet hundreds of inspiring young professionals who are now lifelong friends! I highly recommend this amazing program!