Introduction

The Shad Program typically looks like this: A month of STEAM and good times spent
at a Canadian university, hanging out 24/7 with amazing grade tens and elevens. This
year, the Shad 2020 Program looks quite a bit different. Back in February, students
from across the country (and a couple from outside the country) joyfully received
notice that they were selected to join Shad. Unfortunately another big event was
surfacing. All around the world Covid-19 was beginning to intensify and soon disaster
struck, as on March 23, 2020 the decision was made to cancel the program. While
grade 10 students had the option to attend in the upcoming year, grade eleven
students were heartbroken to hear that for them it would not be possible. Yet, hope
soon surfaced. May 4, 2020, Shad announced that all grade elevens could participate in
a brand new online version of the program. The amazing team at Shad headquarters
pulled together an incredible experience for all of us in just a couple months. They
acquired top tier facilitators and program directors, world class keynote speakers, and
partnered with Blue Origin to provide a one of a kind design challenge. The design
challenge this year was: How might we leverage space as a creative research platform
to advance humankind? 60 teams would soon put their ideas together to each design
an experiment that could be tested in microgravity. At the end of the program, the
team with the best idea and proposal will have the opportunity to assemble their
project and fly their payload on Blue Origin’s New Shepard reusable spaceship.
Overall, the Shad 2020 experience will certainly be one that we will never forget!
 SHADUATION
Shad Canopus 2020

Andrew Zhang, 3-4 Aneri Buch, 6-4 Arjun Sandhu, 1-2

Mississauga, Ontario Ottawa, Ontario Calgary, Alberta

“Do or do not. There is no try.” “Life has no limitations, except
-Yoda the ones you make.” - Les Brown
Instagram: @aneriibuch
“You are braver than you believe,
stronger than you seem, and
smarter than you think.”
insta: @arjun.sandhu1

Benita Cui, 5-1 Benjamin Bartman, 4-2 Benjamin Chung, 3-2

Vancouver, British Columbia Richmond Hill, Ontario Toronto, Ontario

Wait, we’re not sending a raspberry pie to
space? #DOB
“If you’re offered a seat on a rock- “Be curious about everything. “
et ship, don’t ask what seat! Just
Instagram: benita_cui get on.” Instagram: ben_chung_
Snapchat: benitacui Snapchat: bchung30
TikTok: benita_cui
Facebook: Benita Cui
Instagram: benjamin.bartman Facebook: Benjam Chung
Discord: benita_cui#7656 Snapchat: bb96576
 Bri Pelechyti, 3-1
Lacombe, Alberta
“I didn’t get a bad set of cards, I
got a different set of cards, and
it’s up to me how I play them.”
-Michele Romanow #DOB
ig: @brianna.marie.p
sc: @sweetbrimariep
Cassie Tucker, 6-1
St. John’s, Newfoundland
“You either win or you learn”
#DOB
Instagram: ccassietucker
Snapchat: cassieetucker
Facebook: Cassie Tucker
Caitlin Lee, 4-4
Oakville, Ontario
Shad CANopus 4 Life
IG: caitlingylee
Snapchat: caitlinglee
Catherine Hsu, 6-4
Markham, Ontario
“Choose courage over comfort”
Instagram: @catherine_ush
Discord: pinetrees#8423
Calvin Melanson, 6-4
Ancaster, Ontario
“What you do matters, but who
you are matters more.”
Instagram: @calvin.melanson
Chris Tseng, 5-2
Palo Alto, California
“Glizzy Gobbler Infinity is not
an appropriate name for your
design project”
ig: chris.tseng55
sc: christseng53
 Cindy Cui, 1-1 Coco Ruan, 2-4 Daphene Wen, 3-1

Surrey, British Columbia Coquitlam, British Columbia Niagara Falls, ON

“If you want to go fast, go alone. “Look for the silver lining in every “There is no problem so bad that
If you want to go far, go with cloud” you can’t make it worse.” -Chris
Shads!!! <3 #DOB” Hadfield #DOB
ig: @coco.cocoa
IG: @chezrox ig: daph.71
Discord: cinadia#9599 sc: daphenewen

Edward Jung, 2-1 Elliot Thoburn, 2-1 Emili Bykovskyv, 3-3

Waterdown, Ontario Toronto, Ontario Cornwall, Prince Edward Island

“There are no accidents” - Master “Stop planning and get going!” “Life has no limitations, except
Oogway #DOB #DOB the ones you make.” - Les Brown

Instagram: @edishere12 Facebook: Elliot Thoburn insta: _emik.__

Instagram: elliotthoburn snap: emilyb102942
Snapchat: elliot645
 Emily Fitzpatrick, 1-2
Carleton Place, Ontario
“Chase the heartbeat moments”
Facebook: Emily Fitzpatrick
Discord: emifab18#3366
Snapchat: dramaemily913
Instagram: dramaemily913
Grace Haines, 1-3
North Vancouver, British
Columbia
“No human is limited”~ Eliud
Kipchoge
Emma Sturgeon, 4-4 Gabriel Benrubi, 1-4
Quarryville, New Brunswick Markham, Ontario
“Having hope will give you “Just because you are on dif-
courage” - Job 18:11 ferent trees doesn’t mean that
you don’t end up on the same
instagram: @emmasturgeonn branch.”
Email: gabeben777@gmail.com
Isabel Lew, 5-2 Isabelle VanderSluis, 1-2
Vancouver, Bristish Columbia Nanaimo, British Columbia
Wow. SHAD went by so fast. I am so incredibly hon-
oured to have been in the same campus as EVERY SIN- “Eat the Big Mac now and then
GLE one of you. With the best staff and campus there
was no way this experience was gonna be anything
go finish your essay!” -Jess Tang
less than extraordinary and I’ve gotta say extraordinary
does not do it justice. We had so many laughs, cries
and quotes. Let’s go out of the world and do everything Insta: iz_vandersluis
we CAN to make the world a better place. Also feel free Snap: iz.vandersluis
to hit me up whenever and let’s be friends!!
nsta: @isabel.lew
Snap: @i_sabellew
Discord: @is_a_bell_ringing (this
may be wrong)
 James Chen, 6-3 Jason Zhang, 3-1 Jeffrey Xuzhang, 5-4

Toronto, Ontario Mississauga, Ontario Scarborough, Ontario

“Courage over comfort.” “Passion is a Key Ingredient of “Wagwan shortys!”

Life” - Elle Wods #DOB
Facebook: jchen9827 ig : jefryx.uzhang
Instagram: jameschen0707 IG: @jasontzhang snap : ultragum.27
. SC: @jason.trzhang
Facebook: Jason T. Zhang

Jenny Wu, 2-1 Jessica Mckillop, 6-1 Jonathan Huo, 6-2

Calgary, Alberta Moncton, New Brunswick Waterloo, Ontario

“Peppa pig didn’t make the “Sorry I can’t, I work. #DOB” “Thanks for the great memories!”
monthbook:( #DOB”
SC: Jessica_mckillop
ig: @ _ .jenny.wu. _ IG: Jess_mckillop
sc: jenny.wu12
fb: Jenny Wu
 Jordyn Friesen, 4-2
Winnipeg, Manitoba
“If you change nothing, nothing
will change”
insta: @jordynn.friesen
Kathleena Henricus, 6-1
Mississauga, Ontario
“shad *complains*, me: all the
more reason to come to ontario!
*peace sign* #DOB”
ig: @kathleena.henricus
Snapchat: Kit_kat20xx
LinkedIn: Kathleena Henricus
Julia Deuville, 3-4
Nova Scotia
“When life gives you lemons,
make lemonade. I read that one
on a can of lemonade. I like to
think it applies to life.”
Instagram: @juliadeuville
Snap:@jubes1600
Katrina Artes, 2-3
Vancouver, British Columbia
“Thank you SHADs and leaders
for showing me true leadership
— making others feel touched,
valued, and heard! DT2, HT3, and
Canopus Family, thank you for
the amazing memories!”
instagram: katrina.artes
Snapchat: katrina.artes
Julius Soldan, 1-4
Kinistino, Saskatchewan
“You never fail until you stop
trying.” ― Albert Einstein
snap: @jewslius
insta: @julaiusmate
discord: @NeatStew73#4245
Keeley Isinghood, 2-4
Calgary, Alberta
“If you don’t have a little bit of
sick in your stomach, your not
growing.” - Ginu
Snapchat: @kisinghood345
 Lauren McIlroy, 6-2
La Salle, Manitoba
“The narrower your view of suc-
cess is, the broader your view
of failure will be.” - Lam Nguyen
(my math teacher)
ig: laurenmcilroyy
snap: lqmcilroy
Luke Blommesteyn, 5-4
Stouffville, Ontario
“Don’t plan, get going”
ig - @lblommesteyn
sc - @blomsequence25
discord - @lukeBBBB#3400
Leo Xie, 4-3
Markham Ontario
“Its CANopus not CANTopus” -
Jess Tang
insta: leoxie080808
discord: LeoXie#3544
Martin Zhao, 4-1
Richmond Hill, Ontario
“So self-made you’d think I was
asexual” - Mighty and High
#DOB
Ig: partymarty028
Discord: partymarty028#3026
Liam Bray, 6-3
King City, Ontario
“The supreme art of war is to
subdue the enemy without
fighting.” - Sun Tzu
Instagram: @liam.bray1066
Milenna Raposo, 4-3
Caledonia, Ontario
“Always in motion is the future.”
-Yoda, Star Wars: The Empire
Strikes Back
instagram: @milennaraposo
 Mutian Liu, 5-3 Nafisa Abdullahi, 3-3 Neil Kaus, 4-1

Markham, Ontario Saint John, New Brunswick Waterloo, Ontario

“SHAD is by far the most innova- “That is what is in the inside that “The best advice I’ve ever
tive learning program there is..” count not what’s on the outside.” received is “No one knows what
they’re doing either”” -Rick
Wynton_Santana @najla_07129 Gervais #DOB

IG: @neilk3211

Nicole Stein, 2-3 Nicole Sun, 3-2 Noah Fenlon, 5-3

Vancouver, British Columbia Vaughan, Ontario Toronto, Ontario

“It eez what it eez so why not
make the most of it?”
instagram: @_nicolestein
snapchat: @nikastein
linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/
in/nicolemariastein
<3 “Instead of striving for personal
happiness in life, strive to find
ig: nicolesun03 meaning, and you will be con-
sc: sunnicole tent.”
Discord: manahydra7#3162.
Instagram: @manahydra7
 Ojas Chahel, 2-2
Kitchener, Ontario
Do the difficult things while they
are easy, and do the great things
while they are small. A journey
of a thousand miles must begin
with a single step. - Lao Tzu
Instagram: @ojaschahal
Ryan Chan, 1-3
Toronto, Ontario
“Drill once, rivet twice”
@ryan_chan.17
Puneet Bhullar, 1-3
Ottawa, Ontario
“Even the most beautiful flowers
must grow through dirt before
they bloom.”
Instagram: @p.u.n.e.e.t_m.i.a
Ryan Tjoe, 2-2
Tsawwassen, British Columbia
“Logic will get you from A to
B. Imagination will take you
everywhere.” Albert Einstein
Instagram: tjoe.ryan
Discord: Goon#6756
Rajan Minocha-McKenney
4-1
Amherst, Nova Scotia
“Love what you do and do what
you love” #DOB
Instagram: rajanmckenney
Snapchat: rajan_mckenney
Discord: Rajan#0019
Sarah Zuo, 4-2
Calgary, Alberta
“We’re all stories, but we need
to find people to fill in our
margins.”
Instagram: sarahzzuo
Snapchat: sarahzrui
Discord: sarah#5292
 Siting Ban, 2-3
Waterloo, Ontario
“Sometimes you will never know
the value of a moment until it
becomes a memory.” ~Dr. Seuss
Instagram: @t__icing
Snapchat: @sincerely.ting
Victor Chao, 1-1
Mississauga, Ontario
“Who knew we could form
bonds from misspelling dab”
#DOB
IG: @victor_chao___
Stephen Xiong, 3-4 Tamara Kwan, 5-3
Toronto, Ontario Richmond Hill, Ontario
“Yesterday was a history, yuhh get into it B)
tomorrow is a mystery, but today
is a gift; that is why it is called ig: tamarakwann
present.” sc: tamarak223
Insta: @stephen.lalala
Victoria Smith, 5-4
Guelph, Ontario
“The way to get started is to quit
talking and begin doing” - Walt
Disney
Instagram: @_victoria._smith
 Staff Bios
as told by Shads
Jess Tang, Program Director
As the founder of the famous “We are CANopus not CANTopus” saying and
a member of the Gryffindor house, Jess Tang has become an inspiration to
all the Shads in campus Canopus 2020. From jamming to Shawn Mendes
and the Jonas Brothers, giving meaningful life advice, and pushing us all
to always do our best, we are lucky to have Jess as our Program Director
this year. When she isn’t reading Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly and building
her collection of quotes, Jess’ hobbies include Shad, mentoring youth,
playing the guitar badly, and watching Legally Blonde. Other important
facts include: her favourite colour is blue and (after a great deal of stress)
Jess would choose the Jonas Brothers over Shawn Mendes in the game
Pancakes vs Waffles. And finally, some of her favourite quotes are: “If
you’re going to say yes, make sure it’s a HECK YES!”, “Choose courage
over comfort”,“Trust the process”, and “It’s not the size of the dog in the
fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog”. Thank you for everything Jess!

Ginu Chacko, Assisstant Program Director

Ginu has been an amazing APD to Shad CANopus 2020! Ginu attended
Shad 2000 at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK. She pursued a
Bachelor of Commerce at University’s Rotman School of Commerce. Ginu
then went on to complete a Master of Business Administration at the
University of Oxford. From September 2008 to July 2009, Ginu lived in the
Cape Town area of South Africa where she worked alongside underdevel-
oped communities. Ginu encourages anybody who has the opportunity to
live abroad as it teaches you important lessons and skills that will never be
taught in a classroom. When she returned from South Africa, she began
working as a consultant for five years until she started her own company.
Today Ginu is the founder and CEO of TALENTRADE, an organisation that
specialises in relationship based learnings. Ginu hopes to become an actual
runner one day and is participating in the couch to 10k program with the
support from fellow Shads. Thank you Ginu for being an awesome APD!

Hilary Hutchins, Facilitator

Hilary has been an amazing facilitator to DT2 and HT4! Hilary grew up in
the small farm town, Elora, ON. She is currently a student at the University
of Waterloo where she is working towards an honours in psychology and
business. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to pursue
a masters or PhD in psychology. Hilary’s ultimate passion is baking. As
much as she enjoys baking pastries and cooking pastas, she prides herself
on her sourdough bread. Hilary claims “Baking may not be healthy, but
makes you feel good.” Hilary doesn’t have a signature dish as she discour-
ages herself to repeat recipes. Hilary enjoys the challenges that arise when
attempting a new recipe. At her home, you can find a large jar of baking
soda beside the stove for her to use to deter kitchen fires. Despite Hilary’s
passion for baking, one of her favourite desserts is slightly undercooked
boxed brownies. If Hilary could she would move away from Ontario, to
avoid the cold and snowy winters. She finds drinking plain glasses of milk
weird, yet thoroughly enjoys all forms of cheese. If you would like to follow
Hilary in more of her baking endeavors, follow @pastriesandpasta
Kent Penaranda, Facilitator
Kent is an outgoing facilitator to HT1 and DT5! Kent grew up in
Doha, Qatar where he attended an all American highschool. He
has graduated this year from Ryerson Engineering with a Major
in Mechanical Engineering. He is considered a people person and
actively engages in his community. Kent was honoured to be the
president of Engineers Without Borders at the Ryerson Chapter last
year, a member of the Ryerson Rocketry Club and a Frosh leader.
When Kent isn’t studying or participating in an extracurricular, you
can find him watching anime, reading or exercising. His love for
anime and reading began in Doha, when his parents worked late
and the only fun part in Doha, downtown was inaccessible without
a drive from his parents. Kent played tennis competitively in Doha,
and began playing badminton at his high school in Canada. He
had such a blast being part of Shad 2020 and hope you all did too!

Liz Rowe, Facilitator

Liz has been an amazing facilitator to DT , DT , HT3! Liz grew up in

Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador. She graduated from
the University of New Brunswick in 2018 with a Bachelor degree in
Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership. After completing the
program, she lived in Honduras, where she worked for the compa-
ny Global Brigades. From September 2018 to June 2019, Liz helped
with rural development in Honduras. Over the course of this past
year, Liz has completed her first of four years of medical school at
Memorial University. Liz is passionate about social justice issues,
gender equality and indengenious health. She currently is helping
to build a healthcare center for indegenious people. Liz very much
enjoys travelling, and hopes to travel one day to India and Australia.
Her favourite vacation has been to Cartagena, Columbia because it
is affordable, safe and beautiful. She doesn’t like organised sports
like track and field because they make her feel overwhelmed.
During quarantine she grew an enjoyment for running and spike-
ball. She very much enjoyed being part of Shad CANopus 2020!

Natalia Aroca-Oullette, Facilitator

Natalia Aroca-Ouellette is the outstanding supervisor for design
teams 1 and 4! She went to McGill University for her undergrad,
studying linguistics and psychology. Now, Natalia is working on her
masters degree at UBC in speech pathology! In case you didn’t know,
a speech pathologist is basically just a physiotherapist for speech.
Natalia loves linguistics, telling us everything from International
Phonetic Alphabet to the difference between different languages’
syntax. She could honestly talk about it for hours. In her spare time,
Natalia loves to read. Her favourite books include Touching the
Void by Joe Simpson and Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.
When she isn’t reading, Natalia also loves to hike and often goes
on backpacking hiking trips around our beautiful country. Natalia
has always been a huge team player. Throughout highschool and
university she played on an Ultimate team, often in the cutter
position. Maybe that’s why she’s such an invaluable part of our Shad
team? Finally, Natalia lives by the golden rule and her favourite
quote is: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.
 Fun Questions
We definetely have some...opinions
What is the most ridicoulous facts you know?

The acid of pineapples will try to digest you (protein degradation on your mouth) as you
eat it.
The king of Siam offered Abe Lincoln war elephants during the civil war, but he refused.
You can fit two raccoons in your butt - don’t ask why/how I know this
You can’t wear camo in the caribbean!
Grapes explode when you put them in the microwave!!!
Flamingo feces is pink.
If you fold a piece of paper 42 times, it will reach the moon.
Turtles can breathe through their butts and pee through their mouths
A herd of bunnies is called a fluffle
Ice cream wasn’t made public for 110 years after its invention (1550-1660 was its period of
anonymity)!
It’s impossible to hum while holding your nose
Whales can die by drowning because they have no more energy to go up to the surface :(
The surface area of the inside of your small intestine is larger than it’s outside surface
area.
Almonds aren’t nuts. They’re seeds found inside an almond fruit.
Otters sleep holding hands so they don’t loose eachother
I’m not a taco
If you happen to fall into a black hole, the gravity at your feet becomes rapidly greater
than the gravity at your head. You then become stretched and squeezed until you are a
stream of atoms. This is called spaghettification.
A baby puffin is called a ‘puffling’ (puffins are Newfoundland’s provincial bird)
The Tyrannosaurus probably had a full plumage of feathers!!
The line between the numerator and denominator of a fraction is caled the vinculum.
Blue whale hearts weigh almost a ton and beat once every 10 seconds.
It’s impossible to hum while plugging your nose
Keeleys room is dedicated to penguins.
The world is improving but almost nobody (on Level 4) knows about it!
Space smells like seared steak

What cereal did you bring to the Living Room Concert?

Pizza! (Not cereal!) Timbits chocolate
Mini Wheats! Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Sushi Water B)
Fruit-Loops Froot Loops
Reese’s Puffs! Special K
Timbits Cereal Cinnamon toast crunch
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Honey Bunches of Oats
None, because I dislike cereal Popcorn lol
Trail mix Honey nut cheerios
Lucky Charms Chicken and rice :)
A muffin Fibre One Honey Clusters
Timbits Birthday Cake Cereal Honey Bunches
Did not bring cereal :( Frosted flakes
Chocolate cheerios!
If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be and why?

Hermione Granger, so that she could tell me how to get late admission into Hogwarts!

I would like to pick a noble historical figure, but none of them could speak any english.
Maybe it would be nice just to eat with them in silence.

Bill Gates because he is so intelligent and kind hearted, PLUS ITS BILL GATES!

Jacinda Ardern - the epitome of female leadership & women getting things done!

Chrstine Sinclair so she could teach me some cool soccer skills!

Michael Scott - because he’s the world’s best boss

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s only sister to make it past adolescence, Maria Anna, AKA
Nannerl. Because I have very many questions for her about her childhood with Wolfgang.

Robin Williams because I’ve always loved him and watched him growing up

Beethoven - I’d love to know how he actually planned out his musical works. Although
now that I think about it, I’d spend more time writing out my questions to him than eat-
ing since he wouldn’t be able to hear me talk...

Honey Lemon of Big Hero 6 - she’s my STEM icon (along with Marie Curie, but I think that
Honey Lemon would be a more fun dinner guest)!

My great great grandfather, Grampy Alec because I never got to meet him and everyone
always talks about what a good/cool person he was

Elon Musk because I believe he’s at the forefront of technological innovation.

Gordon Ramsay because he’ll cook the best dinner I’ll ever have in my life (and I kind of
want him to roast me)

Madeleine Albright, because she is my hero and I think she would be very inspirational

Neil deGrasse Tyson so we can talk about spaghettification while eating spaghetti.

Taylor Swift because I am obsessed with her.

Jimmy Wong (famous Magic: the Gathering youtuber) because he seems like a fun, nice
guy who loves the same game I do!

Jess Tang

Michelle Obama because she’s such a great role model for women and worked as an ad-
vocate for poverty awareness and education issues. Also the Shads and the facilitators! I
can’t wait to meet you all in person :)
Anyone from shad canopus(Staff or shad). I feel like everyone is so cool and easy to talk to
and had their own unique view of the world

Ola Rosling. His organization, Gapminder, gave me a fact-based worldview and his data
visualization tools are great too!

Why is Canopus the BEST CAMPUS?

Because we are CANopus not CANTopus. We believe in choosing bravery over perfection.
We have the wittiest memes and dance TikToks together. Above all, we create space for
everyone to be who they are and find their place of belonging.

Because it’s CANopus not CANTopus! AND we have the best shads and facilitators!!

Well, its because everyone is so friendly.

Because of our amazing PD’s/Facilitators and Shad Community!

Because we’re CANopus not CANTopus; also because of each and everyone here <3 love
you guys to the moon & back!

Canopus is the best campus because everyone is free to be themselves and it’s super
fun!!! Also we have the best facilitators and PD’s!!!

Because we simply are the best. Do not question it!

Because it’s better than every other campus

Because of the people and all of their great ideas which generate great experiences. But
mostly the amazing people.

Because DOB. Also because we’re literally a family

‘Cause we got Jess, Ginu, Natalia, Kent, Liz, and Hilary! <3

The way we’re a FAMILY is what makes or breaks the Shad experience, in my eyes! It’s so
amazing that we can all relate to one another in some way, and the chemistry (pun) that
we have together is something I wouldn’t trade for the world!

Because we are CANopus not CANTopus

Canopus is the BEST CAMPUS because of all the talented, supportive, and amazing peo-
ple here.

BECAUSE OF OUR SPIRIT AND AMAZING FACILITATORS <333

Because we’re CANopus not CANTopus

Why not?
Even though everyone is so unique and comes from different parts of the world, everyone
is still so supportive of each other. AND we have the BEST PDs and Facilitators

We love and support eachother always, and there is no judgment. We have a family that is
going to last because we all care.

Because of the facilitators!

Because it is canopus, not cantopus

We have the best meme creators! Lol, plus we all care about each other so much and are
choosing courage over comfort !

Many reasons! Everyone is so welcoming, talented and make me smile. Shoutout to DT2 :)
Obviously also Jess’s way of expressing herself when she’s excited hahah, her enthusiasm
is contagious

Because we’re CANopus, not CAN’Topus!

Everyone is supportive, amazing, and awesome to be with!

We truly have the BEST group of facilitators ever! I’m so happy to have gotten to know
such an amazing group of people who have a wide array of many diverse stories and ex-
periences that really care about youth and making sure we have so much fun!!

It’s the best campus because everyone is always so positive and understanding! It’s prob-
ably the most welcoming and stress free environnement I’ve ever been in : )

Personally I never felt out of place. I always felt welcomed at Canopus and I just don’t
think I’d have felt this welcome at any other campus.

Atmosphere of a true Ohana & confronting values

Because we have everything: the brains, the talent, the superior memes, tik toks, and of
course the bedtime stories!
 Journal Entries
Aneri Buch’s Journal Entry

Thursday, July 30th, 2020

Dear Canopus,

“I didn’t get bad cards, I got different cards.” Those were the famous words of Michelle
Romanow, an engineer and serial entrepreneur who started 5 companies before 33, as
she tirelessly tried to convey the insights she gained during her career to a group of 600
mesmerized Shads. Nothing I’ve ever heard rang so true (except Jess Tang’s countless,
genuine truth bombs, of course!). Shad taught me to belong to myself first, take the
courage to show my authentic self and create space for others, and much, much more. I
truly can’t believe that program is now coming to an end. As the sun is setting on this very
meaningful, revolutionary experience, I definitely thought I had some reflecting to do.

Firstly, can we address the fact that we’ve all grown such an astronomical amount
from the first week?! We had absolutely no clue who everyone was, but slowly but surely
we got to know each other, and create these undeniable, ineffable bonds that we now
know will keep us as connected as a constellation in a shimmering night’s sky. We now
know that it’s these unquestionable bonds and these shared moments that have made
us into what we are: an everlasting Ohana. That’s why, when reflecting back to one of
my favourite moments (although it’s extremely difficult trying to choose one!), I’d have
to say that I was hit the most when we read Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss for
bedtime stories! The fact that no matter whatever we choose to pursue in our lives, we’ve
all got each other’s back left me flabbergasted and incredibly grateful, to say the least.
I’m so happy to have gotten to know such a powerful group of people with such diverse
interests and passions that all still inspire me so much. I think about the lessons I learned
from each of you and our time together every day, and hope to continue to live by them.
May the years continue, but our time together never be forgotten.

They say that often, the most memorable moments are not the ones you may think.
Personally, I think that this is so true! From the fantastic keynote speakers, the mind-
blowing Virtual Field Trips, the sometimes stressful design team meetings, to the
wholesome CANopus bonding sessions, I have to say that I enjoyed the small moments
of interaction the most, from those witty, infamous zingers, to the deep, late night life
chats. I truly could not have asked for a better campus. Also, honestly, nothing I say about
the phenomenal staff will do them justice, because they were on an otherworldly level of
kindness and adaptability (due to the tech issues) and were a huge source of inspiration
for us all. I had my heart broken into 66 pieces this month, and ugly cried about it. From
the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Love,
Aneri
Emili’s Journal Entry

Here we are at the end of week 4 of shad and I’m still at a loss of words about it. It’s crazy
to think about how just a few weeks ago, we were a group of strangers thrown into the
unknown.
It was a new experience for all of us, transforming this program into an online thing obvi-
ously came with technical and many other difficulties and we overcame all of them as a
family. Shad Canopus has been the best experience in and for my life.
In week one I was wrapped up in fear and anxiety as being “thrown” into the unknown.
Every day I opened up more and more and started battling my fears and insecurities, I’m
not saying I overcame them all but I had a huge progress thanks to each and every one of
you.
Shad has also been a new door that opened up an opportunity to meet so many great
people and build a new ohana. It is insane how quickly I bonded with so many people and
how I was able to relate to a tremendous amount of stories and fears and how all of us
are so similar yet so different. The diversity in this program is so amazing, so many people
from so many backgrounds. So many stories and powerful personalities.
I am so grateful for my design team #3 and for everyone who reached out to me and
made this experience 448484832 times more magical.
There aren’t enough words in the 3 languages I know to describe how much shad im-
pacted my life, how happy and appreciated everyone made me feel, and how grateful and
thankful I am for getting to meet all of you.
Shad has been a rollercoaster and I enjoyed every single moment of it.

Isabelle V’s Journal Entry

Thursday, July 30th

Wow, after a whirlwind of activities, bonding sessions, and design team grind, I can’t be-
lieve that we’ve reached the last week of the 2020 Shad online program. As Shad is com-
ing to a close, I find myself reflecting back to the beginning and the incredible journey
that we’ve made. On the first day of the program, I didn’t really know any of the other
Shads. We were told to “let go of who you should be and show up as you are”, but during
our first ever house team we were all pretty quiet and awkward. Despite lingering feelings
of doubt, it didn’t take much to convince me to dive full on into the experience. By day
three, we had heard from Andrea Yip and met with our design teams for the first time. I
didn’t know it then, but I would come to love and feel utterly comfortable with my group
(shoutout to dt1!).On day four of Shad we had a sobering all campus session where we
reflected on insecurities and obstacles that we would like to overcome, becoming united
over our mutual fears. By the end of week one, a bond was formed among the Canopians
that would continue to grow until July 31st, when it shall become forever unbreakable.
As I sit here and try to think of what moments stand out the most, it is impossible. Every
moment this month has been a heartbeat moment. From guest speakers to workshops,
house teams to design teams, the living room concert and the memes of our campus
G-chat, I love everything about this program. Despite being devastated that Shad will
be coming to an end (and our @shadonline accounts brutally destroyed) in a few short
hours, I know that I will forever be tied to the members of this community and that we
will always be an Ohana.
 Shad Testemonials
Thoughts on BEST campus - Canopus

Thoughts on Keynotes

What did you think about your overall Shad experience?

Favourite moment in time and why?

What are your favourite quotes and why?

Other (random thoughts!)

 Shad Testemonials
Thoughts on BEST campus - Canopus
Benita Cui

The keynotes covered many points that I could relate to and they gave numerous tips on
how to conquer adversities. It was also very inspirational to see the Shad alumni’s many
achievements. My favourite keynote speaker is Michele, and her motto “shoulda, coulda,
woulda” really resonated with me. I am someone who is always looking back in the past,
thinking about what I should’ve done differently, but she made me realize that everything
happens for a reason and that reminiscing about the past will only drag you down.

AMAZING!! Honestly, when I first heard that Shad was going to be online, I was hesitant
about whether it would still be worth it, because I thought that I wouldn’t be able to learn
much and it would be hard to connect with the other participants. To my surprise, I was
able to bond with not only my design team and house team, but also other shads in Ca-
nopus, creating so many unforgettable memories. The facilitators are so incredible, lifting
my spirit every time I see them pop up on my screen. I will miss everyone <3

My favourite moment is the living room concert. My partner and I were so nervous when
Hilary presented our video, because we didn’t think that people would find it interesting.
However, those feelings of anxiety quickly disappeared when waves of comments over-
flowed the chat from fellow shads, giving us tremendous support. Plus, the facilitators’
reactions are honestly DA BEST (especially Jess’). The heartwarming and welcoming vibe
honestly made me feel at home.

“Chase the heartbeat moments!” “Give yourself the permission to feel, to acknowledge
your feelings.” “Never be comfortable because if you are comfortable, you are not grow-
ing.”

Sorry Aneri, this is so bad omg. I had an assignment to hand in the afternoon, so I had to
rush this haha hopefully I made it even though its past 5 :)

Benjamin Chung

The Keynote speakers were all amazing and so inspirational. I learned so much from
them, and it’s always inspired me to look into different fields. My favourite parts were the
Q&A sessions at the end.

My overall SHAD experience was amazing. Thank you to all the facilitators, Shads, and
keynote speakers for making this such a memorable experience. Although we missed out
meeting each other in person, some of these experiences would never have happened if
it weren’t online. We all made the best of our situation, and there’s no doubt we’ll all meet
one another later in life.
My favourite moment in time is always January 1st. It’s a new year, and I always feel some
sense growth, as I look back on my year and see what I could improve on.

One of my favorite quotes is “you don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to
be great”. We’re all scared at some point about trying something new, but to be in that
growth mindset, we have to find comfort in the uncomfortable.

Bri Pelechytik

Like mostly everyone, Michele Romanow’s keynote blew me away. One quote specifically,
“Never be comfortable, because as soon as you’re comfortable, you’re not growing,”
I felt was so applicable to life at and after Shad. Leaving the comfort zone can be so
intimidating at the time. At the beginning, Shad was for me. But it was so rewarding.

It was indescribable. The love and acceptance, the passion and hard work, the inspiration
and encouragement I felt in this community was profound. I wouldn’t have traded it for
the world.

Impossible to choose one. But HT1 meets would definitely be up there. #DOB

“Bravery over perfection”

Perfectionism has always been such a huge barrier for me. I’ve had such huge and
unrealistic expectations for myself, that when I can’t do things perfectly, doing them really
scares and discourages me. Jess constantly repeating this to us this month has been such
a good reminder to always get out in the arena and try, and that I don’t have to be perfect.

When Jess said “is organelle the female version of organ”

also #DOB

Cassie Tucker

I found the keynotes to be so interesting!! I loved each and every one of them and learned
so much!! I especially loved the keynote by Kenton Low as he was a Disney Imagineer and
Disney is my favourite place on earth so I found it so amazing and interesting!!

My overall Shad experience was actually amazing!!! I learned so many things and all the
other shads and facilitators were so nice and supportive of everyone!! I enjoyed every
single thing we did and am so grateful to have been able to participate in Shad Online!!

My favourite moment in time was when design team 6 finished our design project a day
ahead of schedule and we all got to relax and play scribble io and charades. We all had
so much fun just hanging out and enjoying our time together. I also really enjoyed the
bedtime stories!!

My favourite quote is “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it”. I strongly agree
with this quote as to me it means that you have to keep an open mind for great things to
come. From my experiences this is entirely true for me.
Shad Online was so much more than I originally expected it to be and I really
appreciate all the hard work that went in so we could enjoy this program under these
circumstances!!

Coco Ruan

I liked the keynotes by Michele Romanow, Kenton Low, Dr Donna Strickland and the Shad
alumni. Michele’s story was so genuine and captured my attention from the beginning. I
especially connected with her failures to contact people because I’ve been through that
when I was writing emails and she inspired me to keep trying, because there’s nothing
to lose. I also respected how she turned every seeming weakness into a strength; this
really opened my eyes to innovation and perspective. Kenton Low’s interactive keynote
was really engaging! As someone who would like to go into the sciences as well but not
fully decided yet, Dr Donna Strickland’s journey makes me hopeful; she is so humble
yet she achieved a Nobel Prize for her discovery. It was also nice hearing from Shad
alumni because it’s crazy how much they’ve achieved since from a relatable high school
experience (maybe in future sessions even more recent Shad alumni could speak about
taking action in university ^^)

The online program definitely exceeded my expectations and I thought the way it was
designed was very considerate, such as shortening lengths of screen time, incorporating
the design team project, Shad hoodies, and having a fun living room concert. Ngl I
was a bit disappointed not getting the experience of living on campus, camping and
bonding with other Shads in person (from the Shad Alumni favorite moments) but I
sincerely believe an online program couldn’t be better and I’ll miss it a lot! Everyone is so
welcoming! I didn’t expect to smile so much and be able to know people as well as I did
and I hope we will keep in touch :)

The online program definitely exceeded my expectations and I thought the way it was
designed was very considerate, such as shortening lengths of screen time, incorporating
the design team project, Shad hoodies, and having a fun living room concert. Ngl I
was a bit disappointed not getting the experience of living on campus, camping and
bonding with other Shads in person (from the Shad Alumni favorite moments) but I
sincerely believe an online program couldn’t be better and I’ll miss it a lot! Everyone is so
welcoming! I didn’t expect to smile so much and be able to know people as well as I did
and I hope we will keep in touch :)

Probably the Living Room Concert because there were so many interesting performances
and everyone was so, so supportive. There was definitely a happy vibe, SO much talent
(things that you don’t do yourself are just that much more impressive!) and I just can’t get
over Jess’s reactions hahaha
Daphene Wen

The Keynotes were so amazing. I especially enjoyed the one with the Governor General
and I will likely be watching them several times again.

It went by way too fast :( I wish it were on for another month!

The problems ahead of you are tough, but you are tougher!

Please stay in touch so we can have Jams with Jess in September!

Emily Fitzpatrick

Love them! So many good stories, quotes, advice! They taught me so many lessons that I
hope to take with me everywhere for forever.

I loved how open and accepting everyone was. The energy at Canopus was always sky
high and made me want to constantly be on a call or g-chatting with other Canopians!

There are so many but I’ll have to go with a late monthbook meeting, I think it was a Fri-
day, there were like 6 people including Kent, Jess, and myself. The other 3 Canopians there
took turns singing and they all had voices that rival any professional singer!

“Chase the Heartbeat Moments” - It resonated with me, probably because it made me
think about all the things that I would love to do, and it made me thought that I can actu-
ally do them.
“Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, and mirror what you admire” - Aneri
Buch’s SHADSpeak - I just think it’s a good motto to live by.
There are so many more that I could put down but I won’t.

- FAN Club forever!

- Bedtime stories with Jess and Ginu!
- Jess’ guitar sessions (Stitches)

Hilary Hutchins

I feel so grateful to have seen the progress you shadlings have made over this month.
We’ve seen you grow, engage, learn, and laugh together and it has been an amazing jour-
ney. Keep pushing on and keep being yourselves - each and every one of you has a bright
future ahead!!
Isabel Lew

They were mostly very interesting and got me super hyped for the future and where I will
go and what I will do! I really like Michele Romanow because she seemed really genuine
and engaging!

It was incredible!! I love my design team and house team and wish there was more time
with both! I will keep in touch with all of them! I learned so much about being a leader
and about life!!
Every. Single. Moment.

We are CANopus! Belong don’t fit in. You were made to be brave not perfect. Courage over
comfort.

Bed time stories are superior.

James Chen

One of my favourite keynote is that of Dr. Hennessey. I loved how she combined art and
data in her projects and created the job of a data-driven artist.

I would like to thank Shad Canopus for showing that online connections are possible and
encouraging an environment where we can discuss and foster our values.

Watching Kathleena answer the call from Dr. Massa, the principal investigator of NASA’s
Veg-03 experiment

Courage over comfort. These three words guided me and made my Shad experience un-
forgettable.
Jason T. Zhang

I really loved all of the keynote sessions. It has been so amazing here many wonderful
speakers and seeing how down-to-earth some of them were. I think I can say that I tech-
nically “met them” even though it was online? One of my top takeaways from the key-
notes was a quote from Michele Romanow. Michele said to “Never be comfortable.” Being
comfortable doesn’t make you grow and with no challenges present, you won’t have any
room for improvement. Before this, I always wanted to get to a point in life where I could
be comfortable and not have to worry about many things, but after hearing this, it really
goes to show that challenges are what help humans achieve more and grow. In a sense, I
see it as to “never settle” for anything because there’s always more to that than what you
can see.

I loved this overall SHAD experience. I love my CANopus OHANA! I remember feeling so
mad that SHAD was moved online and I didn’t have any high expectations coming into
the program. However, immediately after the first week everything that happened sur-
passed by expectations by 100000000000000000% and now I really wish that this could
last further past the end of July. From the SHAD-notes to g-chat messages to the fun
meets that I had with other shads, I truly made so many memories this month that I don’t
think I’ll ever forget. Everyone I talked to was so amazing and supportive, and I still can’t
believe we accomplished so much in just under a month. This was such a memorable and
astronomical experience and a truly wonderful wonderful wonderful time.

I truly loved every single moment of SHAD, but if I really had to choose, it would probably
be filming for the living room concert and watching all the talented acts during the con-
cert. It’s crazy to think that talented shads from across provinces came together to put
together an act.
Literally everything Jess said. But one quote I’ll definitely remember is: “We are human
BEINGS not human doings”

Jess Mckillop

You get out what you put in- and i got a lifetime worth of memories

My favourite moment was the moment i realized i could ask questions and ask for help
without judgement

Jordynn

I thought they were all spectacular! I found it really important that when we had Dr.
Strickland on and she talked on women in STEM in a way that concerned some people,
we discussed it multiple times over as a campus and made sure everyone had the chance
to discuss how it made them feel.

I loved it! Although it may look a little different than what I was envisioning when I signed
up, I think that it was a spectacular program that introduced me to some amazing peo-
ple! Everyone, from my fellow Shads to facilitators, have been so accepting and welcom-
ing.

I just loved the whole thing :) if I had to pick a favourite moment, I would have to say it was
when we clicked submit on our Design Project! It felt so good to be able to say we fin-
ished such a big task in 3 weeks!

Of course, I have to say the classic! We’re CANopus not CANTopus.

I had a really hard time with technology glitches & problems during the Shad program,
and all of the facilitators and my fellow shads were so understanding and nice about it!
Thank you to everyone who helped me out, included me, and caught me up!!!

Julius Soldan

All the keynotes were extremely interesting and insightful. I downloaded them all and will
most definitely listen to them again.

It was, for lack of a better word, magic! I got to know so many amazing people and made
plenty new friendships and connections.

The one quote that has burned itself into my memory is “Choose bravery over comfort.” I
really like this quote because it is a really powerful motto that allows you to grow as a per-
son.
Katrina Artes

In the wise words of Ryan, “to others SHAD is a mood, but at Canopus SHAD is a lifestyle.”
Summer 2020 would not have been this exciting if it weren’t for all of you SHADs and
facilitators! Please keep being quirky and witty; keep making quality memes and Tik
Toks; lastly, keep being yourselves because you’re all such amazing people! Thanks to
this community for teaching me and letting me experience firsthand lollipop/leadership
moments. You all are incredibly smart and competent people — I can’t wait to see the
crazy stuff our promising group will do in the future! Shoot for the stars guys and don’t
forget any of us when you’re famous ;)

“Worthiness is less about what we do, but who we are” - Jess Tang. I love this quote
because often as high achievers we focus too much on achievements and creating our
legacies that we tend to forget about our growth. From this entire SHAD experience, my
biggest takeaway has been to be myself and discover more of who I am by diving into
new challenges and building relationships with people. Looking back at this experience,
it’s been the people around me that have really painted who I am as a person. Interesting
enough, the most common advice we’ve been taught here in SHAD is that it’s not about
where you are in your life that will determine your success but who you are as a person. I
hope everyone here will continue to work hard on their extracurriculars and academics;
most importantly, I hope everyone here makes the time to prioritize your personal growth.

Keeley Isinghood

My favorite speaker this month was Eden Hennessey. She had an absolutely amazing
message and brought so much passion and energy to her topic. As a girl who is pursuing
STEM and as someone who loves statistics, I found her to be both inspirational and down
to earth. What stood out for me was that every single thing she said was backed up by
facts, because she had proven it to be true herself, and I think this brought another level
of realness to her presentation. I know firsthand how hard it is to be a girl pursing a male
dominated field and she validated all those feelings. I also love the way she answered ev-
ery questions thoroughly because she knew what she was talking about. I think she made
everyone realize what a big issue it is and she told us all how to make changes in our
own lives to affect real change. I am so grateful we had this last minute speaker, because
I know she is someone I can continue to follow. She sounds passionate about teaching
and helping the next generation, so I am glad to have someone to connect with. “Run for
things, put your name on things, because why not?”

I loved Shad so much, it truly has been an amazing experience. I have enjoyed getting
to know everyone because they all have such unique interests and passions. Our staff
members have been amazing at making sure everything is organized and makes sense
as well as dealing with technical problems. I can tell how much effort they have put forth.
There are so many interesting activities that we have gotten to take part it in and they are
all quite diverse and interesting. It is so exciting to take part in everything. The keynote
speakers have been amazing. There is something to look forward every single day. Some
days it is hard spending so long in front of a screen, but it is definitely worth it. I feel so
lucky to have had this experience. I know it is going to impact my life in the future. With all
the downloaded recordings and notes I have, I know that the things I have learned will al-
ways keep coming back. I will never forget this community. THANK YOU SHAD CANOPUS
Lauren McIlroy

Shad gave me the opportunity to hear so many amazing men and women speak about
their work and their passions. I learned so much from people such as Michele Romanow,
Toni De Mello, Donna Strickland, and many more. My worldview and perspectives on
many issues and topics were shifted due to the keynotes we were able to watch. All of the
keynote speakers are all truly inspiring and it was a privilege to hear them speak.

I was honestly skeptical about doing Shad online, as I felt it wouldn’t be the same or as fun
as doing Shad in person. However, after spending July at Canopus with all of the amazing
Canopians and facilitators, I am so glad to have participated in Shad, even though it was
online. I met funny, talented, intelligent people and got to work with so many amazing,
like-minded students. Shad truly has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I had an
awesome time.

My favourite moment was when Design Team 6 finished our project one day early and we
spent an hour playing Skribbl.io. Ginu and Jess ended up joining the meet and we all had
a super fun time! It was so fun to destress and spend time with my fellow Design Team
members after finishing our big project.

We are CANopus not CAN’Topus! (Reminds me of the positive, inclusive, AMAZING

environment within Canopus; and overall, how awesome my Shad experience has been!)

Leo Xie

The Keynotes at Shad present a rich global overview yet offer insightful knowledge that is
understandable on a personal level. Kenton Low’s keynote stood out to me in particular.

This experience has been very engaging in a welcoming community lead by wonderful
facilitators, filled to the brim with memes and the brightest minds, in a way it opens your
eyes and lets you see things with a different perspective. 10 / 10 would do it again.

The final hour before the design project submission date, this is the true hour where team
members of every timezone argue over how to format the summary page so it fits into
one page.

“””Its CANopus not CANTopus”” - Jess Tang, this is a staple quote very spicy
“”Shad isnt an experience, its a lifestyle”” - Ryan Chan, hes got a point tho “

Pls no more 11pm design team meets.

Liz Rowe

The keynotes were truly phenomenal - my favourite was Tanya (Toni) De Mello. She dis-
cussed unconscious bias, privilege, and social justice and how her work incorporates these
topics.

I loved seeing all of the Shads grow together as a team throughout their Design Projects.
They came so far in just 4 weeks and I am so proud of each and every one of them!
Luke

Michelle’s was the best!

I’m super lucky to have gotten to meet all the staff and shads!!

Watching the canopus boyband performance at 5am!! I laughed really hard.

“Don’t plan -> get going” I really enjoyed this quote from Michelle because I definitely
spend too much time planning thing and I need to stop waiting around for things to
happen in my life and should start living it.
Milenna Raposo

The keynotes this month were amazing - I gleaned so many new insights and really ap-
preciated all of the “gold nuggets” that the keynote speakers had to offer. I gained so
many new perspectives around the worlds of STEM and business, and I’m so thankful that
I got to witness so much talent being used live! Plus, the keynotes’ quotes made for some
great calligraphy in the monthbook! I can’t lie, I was a little starstruck with some of the
speakers (cough, Julie Payette? What???), and I’m super grateful that I got the change to
hear so many amazing speakers.

“I don’t think there’s a way for me to write that will do my experience at Shad justice. If I
could travel a month backward in time to talk to my past self, I’d probably tell her some-
thing like this...
Milenna, there’s absolutely no need to stress about Shad. At all. About it being online,
about tech issues, about fitting in, nothing. ShadOnline doesn’t discredit the Shad expe-
rience, and the family you’re about to meet is one that I don’t think you’ll ever be able to
forget. The people you’re about to meet aren’t just people who you’ll see in a tiny box on
a Google Meet, they’re about to become your family. From the first day. Every single per-
son there has something of their own to offer, and it’ll be hard to believe that you’ve never
met them in person by the end of the month. You’ll laugh a lot, work really hard and bond
with kids over the geeky stuff you don’t like sharing with people at home. Everyone is ac-
cepting. You’ll sing, play games and watch other people share talents that are out-of-this-
world. You’ll also discover that your campus star is in your favourite nebula! Just trust me,
Shad is not something you’ll be able to forget. Not anytime soon. “

This may seem cheesy, but I can’t think of a single favourite moment of Shad. Normal-
ly you’d expect the answer to be something like a big speaker sharing insights with the
group, but I don’t think any huge event could top the culmination of little moments that
form the Shad experience, in my eyes. I think it was the sum of bonding with a friend
about a TV show on the first day of the program. Sending a diagram into my design team
thinking it would get negative feedback and being met with a supportive and positive
response. Watching Jess freak out over people’s talent show acts. Finally hitting “Submit”
on our Blue Origin experiment. Playing Skribbl.io with my house team. These are the mo-
ments I’ll look back on.
I think that my favourite quote was that “youth have the capacity to make change,” said
by keynote speaker Toni De Mello. It spoke to me on many levels surrounding Shad - kids
in this group have infinite potential, and the drive to learn and willingness to adopt new
perspectives that they bring to the table inspires me every day. I truly believe that the
immeasurable talents of this year’s cohort speak Toni’s quote into existence. I also liked
our campus’ trademark quote, “we are CANopus, not CANTopus.” I think it caught on
really well with the group, and says it all for the type of team that we are. It embodies our
spirit perfectly.

I don’t think the words I’ve written do my experiences with this campus justice, and I’m
not sure if any words ever will. I truly believe that Shad is the best month for your life. I
couldn’t imagine forgetting anyone here and I know that the relationships and memories
that were forged this month are ones I’ll take with me wherever my life may lead.
Noah Fenlon

I loved all of the Keynotes! Everyone had such interesting things to say, and I really en-
joyed hearing about their different experiences and takes on life.

When I came into this program, I thought it was going to be like school... boring and hard.
I joined because it would help me get into universities, but I was prepared to grimace
through the 4 weeks. How wrong I was! SHAD was not like school at all! I was always en-
gaged, excited, and laughing. I met so many new people and friends, and learned a lot
about working effectively as a team. My design team, Design Team 5 (team C.R.I.) from
the CANopus campus was made up of the best teammates I could ever have, and I’m so
happy that I got to know them well. This was truly an amazing experience.

A few: Playing scribble with both my house and design teams, the concert, and Jess read-
ing us bedtime stories (totally not) after hours. All three memories are similar because
they made me laugh and smile, and

“CANopus, not CAN’Topus”, “you can’t be a taco!” and “Jess can’t even”. They all show the
fun, positive vibes of SHAD Canopus.

Ojas Chahal

I thought that the keynotes were very inspirational and motivating. They complement-
ed the process of the design project, because many of the speakers gave tips/advice that
were definitely applicable to the notion of completing a team project.

When I first heard that Shad was going to be moved online, I was, honestly, somewhat
disappointed. I had been looking forward so much to the in-person Shad experience.
However, after a month of Shad online, I can say that this experience was just as valuable
as any in-person experience would have been. Digitally, I was able to connect and work
collaboratively with others in the program.

My favourite moment in time was likely the moment at which my design team submitted
our project. This was not only my favourite moment because I felt as if a huge load had
suddenly been removed from my shoulders, but also because I was able to see the prod-
uct of nearly four weeks of team effort and creativity working towards this goal.
Puneet

Awesome keynotes! They all had such varying experiences and wise insights. Through the
keynotes, I learned valuable information on important topics.

There are no words to describe how amazing my Shad experience was.

How do you expect me to pick a favorite moment in time? Every minute together was my
favorite.
Sarah

All of the Keynotes were so incredibly inspiring!! I especially enjoyed Michele Romanow’s
talk. Her story of failure and success really made me realize that no matter what, you just
got to keep on trying!

This is been incredible. You Matter, I Matter, We All Matter. It’s been an honour to Matter
Together.

I loved all the facilitator talks, but my favourite night was the talent show. We really to see
each other’s heartbeat moments and we all shined!!! Also, legally blonde

“Tell the story you tell best, don’t tell somebody else’s story that they can tell better.” ~ Jess
Tang

DOB

Stephen Xiong

I mean, all the keynote speakers are pretty much unaccessible without SHAD, so I am re-
ally glad and grateful that SHAD brought me this chance of listening to them and asking
questions.

I am really curious about how the actual physical camp will look like given that this online
version is already so much fun and a great learning experience.

Almost every meet excites me, especially the design team ones as we get to do things,
accomplish, and learn throughout the progress together.

“We are CAN-opus, not CANT-opus!” -- Jess Tang (every true Canopian knows why and will
choose this one)

WHY IS SHAD DELETING OUT SHAD EMAIL ADDRESS AND ALL THE LINKED STUFF???
Anon

Despite being online, SHAD 2020 was truly an unforgettable experience. It was so
inspiring to see all the time and effort everyone, including the facilitators, put into making
the best out of this experience. I’ve never been met with such a diverse and welcoming
group of people and thanks to every single one of you for making this summer one to
remember!

“Choose Courage over Comfort” - Jess Tang

Anon

This was definitely a great learning experience for me. All of the facilitators were so amaz-
ing and provided us with so much insight on anything we could think of. Literally the only
thing that could make this better was if we could all meet in person.

Anon

The Keynotes from Shad Online were all very different but many were very inspiring. I
loved the ones that discussed social justice.

The past month has been crazy, I’ve met so many new people and learned so much.

My favourite moment this month was the when the Shad Boyband showed us their
Shawn Mendes cover at the Living Room Talent Show.

“ Being underestimated is not an obstacle, it’s an advantage.”

Anon

All the keynote speakers were amazing. They were are so inspirational and had great ad-
vice!

Shad was a fantastic experience! I was able to learn so much during the month about
STEAM and leadership. I had so much fun getting to know all the facilitators and everyone
in the Canopus campus. I made so many life long friendships with people from all across
Canada and the USA!
Anon

I learned that even professionals are imperfect and that as learners, we take away from
these keynotes the positives, and leave behind the problematic

vibey!

when dr. Massa from NASA called us back! It was the peak for our design team and we all
felt like we were on top of the world!

“we don’t put shad it people, we put people in shad” - it’s nice to know that wherever we
go, shad & all the people are behind us, rooting for our success

Come to Ontario!
 Design Teams
Space-worthy Experiments

The FAN Club 2020 

NAT: A Fan Propulsion System

Created by The Flying Autonomous Nanobot (FAN)
Club

Team Members: Gabriel Benrubi, Puneet Bhullar,

Ryan Chan, Victor Chao, Cindy Cui, Emily
Fitzpatrick, Grace Haines, Arjun Sandhu, Julius
Soldan, Isabelle
VanderSluis

I. Team Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqkb0BRQqwo&feature=youtu.be

II. Summary
Space has been and will continue to be a considerable investment in our future.
For our project, The Flying Autonomous Nanobot Club wants to shoot for the stars. We
want to expedite groundbreaking research in space while ensuring that the millions of
dollars spent on each mission does not go to waste. To do so, we tried to answer the
question “How might we use robots to move objects in microgravity”, and NAT -
Natalia’s Autonomous Thruster - was born. We wanted to make something that could
streamline maintenance processes that require astronauts to spend countless
expensive hours on spacewalks. Our design is an effective, economic fan-powered
thruster which can move in three dimensions in microgravity. NAT is setting the
foundation for a semi-autonomous system that will reduce astronaut risk and
maintenance requirements. It allows for simple, economical, and effective designs for
robot propulsion in microgravity. Our experiment consists of a fan, an air
blocking-wedge, and two motors; all contained inside of a 3D printed frame. As the
wedge moves, it blocks the airflow from the fan and changes the direction of NAT. Our
total experiment grant comes to $1975.76, with a generous contingency and prototyping
budget. During its short flight we expect NAT to undock itself, move vertically and
horizontally using the fan-powered thruster on its programmed flight path, and then
return itself to the dock.
1 
Precipitation Reactions In Microgravity
Katrina Artes, Siting Ban, Ojas Chahal, Keeley
Isinghood, Edward Jung, Coco Ruan, Nicole Stein,
Elliot Thoburn, Ryan Tjoe, Jenny Wu

Team Video:​ ​https://youtu.be/xu2_BXWAiwY

Summary
Fluids are substances that we encounter daily,
and extensive research has been conducted on the
properties of fluids on Earth. Despite this, there are still
unknowns, and microgravity could be the secret to fully
understanding fluids. We combined this idea with our
design challenge—how might we leverage space as a
creative research platform to advance humankind? By
answering this question, we hope to have an impact on
space innovation, but more importantly, on Earth-based
technologies.
With the goal of having a lasting impact, our
design team chose a phenomenon that we felt was
important to people around the world and apparent in
everyday life. Thus, we chose to focus on the behaviour
of a precipitation reaction in microgravity. On Earth,
precipitation reactions occur all around us, such as in
hard water, drug development and in the formation of
kidney stones. Our experiment specifically models the
precipitation reaction between calcium chloride and
oxalic acid, which is part of the process that forms kidney
stones within the human body. We adapted this
experiment to microgravity conditions to produce a result
that could be impactful in this area of study. Kidney
stones are a painful problem that affects 1 in 10 adult
Canadians, recur frequently, and are very costly to
remove.
Our experiment design includes two liquid chambers, with a syringe housing
oxalic acid and a plastic container housing calcium chloride. These are separated by a
watertight valve and tube. When the experiment reaches microgravity, the valve will
open and a motor will push the oxalic acid out of the syringe to ensure that both liquids
are in the same chamber. Finally, a smaller motor will spin a propellor to ensure that the
fluids mix thoroughly so that a complete reaction occurs. We will be observing
qualitative data with the use of a camera and quantitative data using a pH probe. Our
total estimated budget is $1665.
By comparing the behaviour of this precipitate reaction in microgravity with
normal gravity conditions through a control reaction on Earth, we believe that our
research will provide insight into the properties of fluids, strengthening the foundation for
applications that could potentially have a positive impact on our world.
Project Summary
Project Title: ​The Passive Diffusion of Acetaminophen in Microgravity
Team Name: SEEDS (​Students from Earth Experimenting with Drugs in Space​)
Team Members: Nafisa Abdullahi, Emili Bykovsky, Benjamin Chung, Julia Deuville, Bri
Pelechytik, Nicole Sun, Daphene Wen, Stephen Xiong, Andrew Zhang, Jason T. Zhang

Link to team video: ​https://youtu.be/49g0p6BMxJ4

Abstract

Through our research this month, our team has noticed that there is a significant
lack of data and research regarding pharmacodynamics in space. With long-term
manned missions to Mars set to take place in the near future, the study of drug
absorption by the body in a microgravity setting is crucial. From there, drugs can be
further studied and modified if needed to maximize their effectiveness in space.
There has been evidence that cell membrane in the human body increases in
fluidity in microgravity, which would impact the rate of passive diffusion of drugs into the
cell. Our team’s plan to simulate the diffusion of drugs into a human cell is to use
liposomes, spherical vesicles with the same phospholipid bilayer membrane. Liposomes
have been used to effectively mimic the human cell in experiments observing diffusion.
A liquid, intravenous form of acetaminophen will be used for the purpose of our
experiment, as it is a commonly used drug. In microgravity, the acetaminophen will be
injected into a solution which contains the liposomes and an identical experiment will be
conducted with 1G conditions to accurately compare. The data collected from the
results of our experiment will contribute to future space expeditions. By learning more
about how drugs are absorbed in microgravity, we can help develop further research
that can guarantee the health and safety of long term space missions. Our research can
act as a groundwork for further research in the area of pharmacodynamics in space and
contribute to development of effective drugs for space. When the payload reaches
microgravity, a programmed timer will switch on a microscopic camera. A fluorescent
tag will be attached to the acetaminophen and the camera will monitor its propagation
through the liposome solution with near infrared fluorescence (a light wavelength used
in vivo fluorescence imaging). Following this, the acetaminophen will be injected into the
liposome solution. During the three minute period in microgravity, the microscopic
camera will record videos and images of the acetaminophen’s interaction with the
liposomes regarding the passive transport and rate of diffusion. An identical experiment
will be performed in gravity on Earth to compare the differenc
 THE DIFFUSION OF SALT

SOLUTIONS IN MICROGRAVITY

Fluid motion in microgravity is often perceived ambiguously due to changes in pressure. A further study of
diffusion in these conditions will yield knowledge that may be applied to various fields of study.
Applications include animal systems, scent infusion in culinary practices, and environmental factors
concerning radiation and temperature. Ultimately, a deeper understanding of diffusion can lead to myriads
of applications that improve social and health factors in space and on the ground. The objective of this
experiment is to learn more about the rate of diffusion–in microgravity–across a concentration gradient. To
achieve this goal, our design uses a simple rotating barrier mechanism similar to that of a chili flake shaker.
The barrier can be moved simply with a motor, and there are only two moving parts total. Coupled with a
camera and a conductivity probe, both qualitative data and quantitative data are collected. Overall, we aim
to observe supporting evidence that consolidates our hypothesis that the rate of change of conductivity,
and thus rate of diffusion, will be lower in microgravity than in normal gravity.

VIDEO PITCH: https://youtu.be/coZD1SgIfIc

PRESENTED BY

TEAM4BIT
Benjamin Bartman, Jordynn Friesen, Neil Kaus, Caitlin Lee,
Rajan Minocha-McKenney, Milenna Raposo, Emma Sturgeon,
Leo Xie, Martin Zhao & Sarah Zuo
Project Overview:
Project Title: Heat 2 Outer space (H20)
Team Name: Team C.R.I. (Communicate, Respect and Include)
Team Members: Luke Blommesteyn, Benita Cui, Noah Fenlon, Tamara Kwan, Isabel
Lew, Mutian Liu, Victoria Smith, Chris Tseng and Jeffrey Xuzhang.

Link to team video: ​https://youtu.be/J95SiJ7PpPg

Summary

Showering, drinking water, and sanitation. These three actions have one thing in
common. They all require heated and purified water to survive in space. Currently,
water can not be easily transported to the International Space Station (ISS) and there is
limited access to this important liquid. However, a design has been constructed that will
provide access to water during space travel by switching the current cooling system
from ammonia to water. Subsequently, technology on the ISS may be cooled
simultaneously while the product of heated water can be used and consumed by
astronauts. This will result in further and longer space explorations, along with a better
quality of living in space. To test this idea, cold water will be pumped from a water
reservoir through a silicone tube that will be in direct contact with a hot metal plate and
continuously circulate the system, back to its original compartment. By having water
constantly contact the hot plate, it is expected that the water will heat up to an
approximate increase of 10°C within the allotted time. By using an estimated $1400 this
experiment will come to life, benefiting mankind and resulting in a higher chance of
survival and more effective future space explorations.
 Students Automating Irrigation | SAI (Design Team 6)
Seed Watering In Microgravity (SWIM)
Project Title: Seed Watering in Microgravity (S.W.I.M.)
Team Name: Students Automating Irrigation (SAI)
Team Members: Liam Bray, Aneri Buch, James Chen, Kathleena Henricus, Jonathan
Huo, Catherine Hsu, Jess Mckillop, Lauren McIlroy, Calvin Melanson,& Cassie Tucker
Team Logo Project Image

Video Pitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkxymzZc7GE&feature=youtu.be

Challenge: Shads must create a research experiment utilizing microgravity that will
impact humankind through value to the scientific community. SAI has created Seed
Watering In Microgravity (SWIM); a robotic system that waters plants in microgravity.

Impact: SWIM provides development towards space exploration by enhancing food

cultivation in space, allowing humans to remain in space for longer. It reduces the
inefficiency of manually watering plants, while mitigating errors that affect crop outcome.
SWIM optimizes plants’ growth/water usage, improving efficiency. On Earth, the growing
food/water scarcity could be mitigated by this automated irrigation system.

Outline of Experimental Design: SWIM consists of an elastic water tank attached to a

water pump that delivers water to a ‘plant pillow’ via tube. The electric valve on the
pillow end of the tube controls the water delivered. An artificial plant will be used. A
moisture sensor detects water levels within the plant pillow. The system is controlled
with a programmed Arduino Uno (powered via USB outlet) that is connected to the
water pump, valve, and moisture sensor. When the sensor detects low moisture levels,
a signal is sent to the Arduino, prompting an electric signal that powers the motor and
opens the valve, allowing for an injection of water to the plant pillow.

Total Estimated Budget/Cost: ~$298.81

Expected Outcomes: The pump will deliver specific amounts of water to the plant
pillow to sustain plant growth. The experiment will be successful if the moisture sensor
detects an increase in water and the Arduino is able to control the valve based on this
data. The Arduino will store data based on plant moisture levels during space flight so
the outcomes of the experiment can be used for analysis upon the return of the payload
to Earth.

Canopus | SHAD 2020 | 1

 Shad Pets
Honorary Canopians

Axel - Jordynn Friesen Bambi - Milenna Raposo Cappucino - Nicole Sun

Griffin and Fae - Isabelle Indie - Bri Pelechytik Jasper and Gypsy - Emily
Vandersluis Fitzpatrick
 Java - Natalia Aroca- Jupiter - Coco Ruan Luna - Aneri Buch
Oullette

Mothy - Milenna Raposo Nacho - Noah Fenlon Ripley - Jordynn Friesen

Sandi - Keeley Isinghood Stella - Jess McKillop Tom - Emili Bykovsky

 Violet - Cindy Cui Wang Wang - Jenny Wu West and Jett - Jess
McKillop

Xiao Hong - Daphene Wen Yoshi - Cassie Tucker

MEMES
Mission Patches
 Quotes
“Shad isn’t the best month of your life - it’s the best month for your life.”

YOSO: You Only Shad Once

Staff:

Jess Tang:

“You are made to be real, not perfect.”

“Courage over comfort.”

“Choose bravery over perfection.”

“If you don’t know it’s mom, don’t eat it!” (if you don’t know where it came from, don’t eat
it)

“Don’t make a decision until you have a decision to make”

“Find the courage to ask for what you need”

“Great leaders create other leaders”

“The story I’m telling myself is __” (“What’s at stake if I continue to think this way?”)

“If you don’t know how to say no, your yes is meaningless.”

“Be as you say, do as you promise”

“You can’t make everyone happy - you’re not a taco”

“When you are alone, you belong everywhere”

“Don’t compare your progress to others; finished products”

“Legacy is planting seeds in a garden you cannot see.”

“True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to BE who you
are”

“EAT YOUR VEGGIES!”

“Leadership is less about what we did and more about who we are”

“We’re CANopus, not CANTopus.”

Hilary

“Baking may not be healthy, but it makes you feel good!”

Natalia

“HEY SQUAD!! <3”

“You have to find something that makes you enjoy taking your final exams”

Ginu

“If we don’t think of ourselves as leaders, we won’t SHOW UP as leaders.” ( i think this was
ginu’s)

Kent

“Be like a river - go with the flow but have a sense of direction”

Susan Gorbert

“Any useful idea about the future will at first appear ridiculous.”

Keynotes:

Toni de Mello

“We do not see things as they are, we see things as WE are.”

“Don’t despair that you can’t do everything, but don’t do nothing.”

“Youth have the capacity to enact change”

Her Excellency Julie Payette, Governor of Canada

“Don’t let anyone else choose for you”

Dr. Donna Strickland

“We have to say ‘we don’t know’ otherwise there’s nothing for us to do!”

“There’s opportunity everywhere.”

 Kenton Low

“Average companies help themselves. Exceptional companies help the consumers.”

“Did you make a difference in one person’s life today?”
“The future isn’t so scary when you’re the ones creating it”

Jeff Cyr

“I’ll try each new adventure and see where it takes me.”

Michele Romanow

“You need to fail to be successful”

“Great innovation comes from iteration”

“You should never feel comfortable” (to achieve great things)

“It’s better to be underestimated than overestimated”

“All you can do is control your mindset”

“Stop playing - get going!”

“Build from failures and g eat ready for the next punch in the face”

“Your story is YOURS to tell”

“I didn’t get bad cards, I got different cards.”

Dr. Eden Hennessy

“If you want to pursue something, pursue it.”

Shad Alumni Panel

“I wish for you failure because I want you to succeed.” - Cathy Han

“We don’t have to wait to make a change” - Debba Dada

What did the panel learn from shad?

“Enjoy the process”

“Be fearless” - Dean Prevost

“Embrace the serendipity”

“The days are long and the years are short”

Pictures
 Video Links
Website Link: shadcanopus.weebly.com

FAC Thank You: https://youtu.be/qARKRvH0TyE

Shad Canopus - See You Later: https://youtu.be/fC4wAfQsaaA

Shad CANopus Monthbook Testomonial: https://youtu.be/5sX0H04zVJo

Shad CANopus active pride: https://youtu.be/G4aK3EIyBBc

Shad Monthbook Video Recap: https://youtu.be/w17GOWbXrn0