Royal Roads University is pleased to recognize outstanding internship employers with the RRU Internship Employer of the Year Award for their effort in providing a valuable work-integrated learning experience to one or more students.
2023 - Urban Aboriginal Voices Society
Urban Aboriginal Voices Society is a social profit organization that provides community and connection with culture to Indigenous people living in Red Deer, Alberta.
For her internship, MA Justice Studies student Dominique Bradford worked with UAVS to develop an Indigenous Diversion Program. The pilot program, implemented in partnership with the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre, diverts Indigenous individuals away from the criminal justice system by offering alternative and culturally appropriate forms of justice. Dominique obtained an RBC Community Integrated Learning Grant to help fund an Indigenous Diversion Coordinator Assistant role. Bradford's project was featured in a Royal Roads University news story.
UAVS was chosen for this award because of the multi-faceted learning and mentorship that Bradford received during her internship. In addition to the day-to-day supervision offered by Mary Ann Butterfly, Indigenous Diversion Program Coordinator, Bradford met with Elders to learn teachings that go hand in hand with justice.
UAVS allowed Bradford to take a progressively increasing leadership role, be part of healing circles, and meet with various interest holders in the justice system. The networking value of the internship was outstanding. If federal funding for the diversion program is approved, Bradford may be able to contribute to the development of an Indigenous Justice Society.
2022 - City of Victoria
The City of Victoria has offered many exceptional internship experiences to our students. The City of Victoria has provided challenging and meaningful internships that develop skills, professional profiles and visibility. In 2022, under the supervision of Tanya Patterson, Daniel Gray completed a paid Emergency Management Community Liaison internship with the City of Victoria. As a supervisor, Patterson’s high-quality mentorship and genuine support of Gray’s career development were evident.
Gray credits Patterson for sharing her critical insight into the scope of the municipal emergency management program and its relationship to regional and provincial programs and policies. As an intern, Gray took on a key role in the city’s extreme heat response in July 2022. This was the city’s first response since the 2021 heat dome, and Gray was able to participate in the planning, execution and evaluation of a new pilot program. Throughout the internship, Gray was encouraged to pursue projects aligned with his interests and skills, including GIS heatwave vulnerability mapping and contributions to the city’s Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Assessment. This internship was profiled in a Royal Roads University news story.
2021 - Payline
Payline provided an internship platform to a Master of Global Management student in 2021. This internship allowed the student to demonstrate their experience and knowledge from their program and excel by using their skills in finance. Payline’s President Paul Rechner was the intern’s mentor and he provided in-depth knowledge, tools and techniques about the forex business. The whole Payline team was welcoming and encouraging during the student’s internship.
In this internship, the student role learned about more than just finance and was given a chance to work in the critical departments like payments, sales and marketing. Such an approach will help the intern to excel in his career. The student’s broad expertise allowed them to provide valuable feedback to the organization. The Payline management also included the new intern in the decision-making process for budgeting and forecasting. Payline also went the extra mile and provided personal support to the intern during challenging pandemic times.
2020 - Malatest
In 2020, Malatest provided exceptional support and mentorship for three Master of Global Management internship students. From the very start of the internships, Malatest offered the students robust and challenging opportunities that provided them with marketable skills. Then, at the midpoint of their internships, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Canada’s economy, threatening job loss across the country. Malatest was proactive in the first stages of the pandemic to ensure the students’ safety, while also not wavering on the support and mentorship the students required.
Since Malatest’s office was closed, the internships were transitioned to part-time remote work. The required technical equipment was shipped to the interns’ homes. The company maintained ongoing support and collaboration throughout the remote internship to best ensure students’ success in their work projects and completion of their master’s programs. Malatest and their work integrated learning opportunities were featured in a Royal Roads University news story.
2019 - AXYS Technologies
AXYS Technologies has been an outstanding supporter of Royal Roads University business students. The company initially hired one Master of Global Management intern in the spring of 2019, then hosted a highly successful team project related to the Supply Chain Management course. In the fall of 2019, AXYS went on to hire two of the students from this cohort, demonstrating a willingness to support them in their academic internships and their research.
The mentorship that Royal Roads University students have received at AXYS Technologies has been exceptional and intentionally focused on career development success for students. AXYS Technologies has also fully embraced diversity and inclusion practices. Not only are they interested in creating internship opportunities for students, they are creating career positions for its interns where possible. The work that AXYS Technologies has done with students was featured in a Royal Roads University news story.
2017 - Comfort Inn
Shelley at Comfort Inn took an active role in mentoring Tourism and Hospitality Management students during their first internship experiences. She created dynamic working teams that enhanced the development of students’ professional skills including English communication. She constantly challenged the students to learn and improve while providing additional support to ensure their experiences were positive. She took pride in the interns’ work and celebrated their progression while providing additional coaching. She welcomed the course Instructors to discuss the evaluation of students and provided invaluable input. During our time working with Shelley and the Comfort Inn, students have experienced a positive first hospitality industry work experience and come away qualified and confident of their skills.
