While some students finish university and struggle to find relevant experiences to start paving their way to a fulfilling career, graduates of Trinity Western University’s (TWU) Laurentian Leadership Centre (LLC) in Ottawa say they got the education, work experience and personal connections that set their course for the future.
"No other program in Canada offers the same access to elite Ottawa internships in politics, NGOs, sports associations and embassies,” says Janet Epp Buckingham, executive director of the Laurentian Leadership Centre, which celebrates 15 years of graduating students this year.
Jessie Legaree (TWU Bachelor of Arts '10 and Master of Arts '14) attended Trinity Western University because of the LLC. Having developed a keen interest in politics in high school, Jessie knew she wanted to study Political Science at university. She learned of the LLC while attending a Preview Weekend at TWU in her Grade 12 year – the LLC proved to be the determining factor that set her choice on TWU.
Up to 23 students attend the LLC per semester and finish by earning a Certificate in Leadership and Applied Public Affairs and credits toward their degree from TWU or other affiliated Canadian universities. Those who attend after finishing their undergraduate degree earn a Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Applied Public Affairs. LLC students take courses in the morning, work at their internship job each afternoon and live in an historic mansion in the heart of the nation’s capital.
“The LLC was a perfect opportunity to gain practical experience while earning course credits and getting insider knowledge that cannot be obtained by reading books. Ottawa is the centre of power. It is a different world. I wanted to be where I could see decisions being made and gain a deeper understanding of the process that leads to votes and political change,” says Legaree, now a lawyer at RDM Lawyers in Abbotsford, B.C.
Legaree completed an internship at the Policy Division of the Prime Minister’s Office. However, she is quick to point out, any student can benefit from attending the LLC. Ottawa is home to such a wide variety of corporations and non-profit organizations that it offers abundant internship opportunities, particularly for those who take initiative and want hands-on experience.
“The LLC has developed a strong reputation in Ottawa and across Canada because of the excellence of our alumni. The LLC experience instills a high level of professionalism within the context of a faith perspective,” says Buckingham.
According to Legaree, she continues to benefit from the key learnings gained and relationships formed during her internship.
“It was the most valuable semester of my post-secondary education. It serves to further the mission of TWU in developing leaders and equipping our students to serve God in the various marketplaces of life. You don't have to wait until graduation. I smiled every day on my 10 minute walk to and from Langevin Block (PMO), knowing this was exactly where I was meant to be,” remembers Legaree.