"I have been exposed to new ideas that I never would have encountered inside a classroom. I have been forced to wrestle with the intersection of religion and politics and how faith can inform policymaking decisions.”
— Jenisa Los, Laurentian Leadership Centre, Fall 2020 cohort
As the possibility of a federal snap election looms, Jenisa Los, a Trinity Western student from Abbotsford, BC, has just completed an intensive, six-week competitive internship at the Parliament in Ottawa, ON.
Los has returned from her term at the Laurentian Leadership Centre (LLC), Trinity Western’s competitive residential internship program in Ottawa. Successful applicants spend a semester living in Ottawa while studying courses in government and public policy, and interning with the Canadian government or non-governmental organizations based in the nation’s capital.
Los is majoring in Political Science and Business Administration and will graduate in spring 2021. She was among a group of TWU students selected for the Ottawa program this fall.
Creative adaptation during a pandemic year
LLC students normally spend the semester living with peers at the historic Booth Mansion in downtown Ottawa. This year, with COVID-19 restrictions, the LLC program made some adjustments to ensure the program’s continued success.
“This semester, the LLC is the art of the possible,” said Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham, LLC Director.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic, we wondered if it would be possible to run the LLC program at all this fall. But we prevailed and so have a modified program.”
The modifications were to split the fall LLC cohort into two groups. Cohort 1 were the first to arrive at the LLC and work full-time internships. Meanwhile, Cohort 2 completed their classes online. This week, the two cohorts switched places.
Seeing the political landscape first hand
Los, one of the students from the first cohort, shared her experiences of living and working in Ottawa.
On her motivation for joining the LLC program, Los shared “I wanted to experience life on the Hill and learn from Canadian leaders who are shaping the political landscape.”
During her time in Ottawa, Los interned for a Member of Parliament from the Liberal Party of Canada.
She described some of her responsibilities, “I have been crafting correspondence, preparing policy briefs and briefing notes, participating in committee and other parliamentary meetings, writing news releases, and contributing to the office work and administrative tasks.”
Los also mentioned some highlights of living in Ottawa. “Ottawa has such a vibrant culture. I have tried so many new things, such as shawarma on Elgin Street, biking in Gatineau Park, Quebec, wandering through the National Art Gallery, and watching a procession before the Throne Speech that the Prime Minister also attended.”
Observing the political climate in Ottawa
Los has appreciated the chance to engage in the day-to-day workings on Parliament Hill. “As an intern, I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in political life on the Hill,” she said.
She reflected on her many enriching experiences, “I have been exposed to new ideas that I never would have encountered inside a classroom. I have been forced to wrestle with the intersection of religion and politics and how faith can inform policymaking decisions.”
This year is also a particularly interesting time to be on Parliament Hill. Los shared, “I have learned to adapt to the ups and downs of the Canadian political climate and navigate rapid developments in current events.”
The community aspect of living at the LLC also has its perks. As Los reflected, “On a practical level, I have also learned how to love my neighbour, both as a peer at the LLC mansion and a professional in my political office.”
All in all, Los remembered her time in Ottawa with fondness. “The LLC is an unforgettable experience, especially when an internship designed for a semester is packed into six weeks,” she said.
She continued, “I hope to apply everything I learned in the past few weeks to the rest of my life and use my experiential knowledge to more holistically engage in my local and global community.”
Like many others before her, Los considers this program a signature TWU experience. She encouraged others, “I highly recommend attending the LLC to better understand who you are and how you can impact others, while exploring a new culture and way of life in Canada's capital.”
Read this story in the Langley Advance Times.
Learn more about The Laurentian Leadership Centre (LLC) at Trinity Western University.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has five campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, Ottawa, and Bellingham, WA. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.