911³Ô¹Ï

Co-op Term: Spring 2025

Where did you work?

911³Ô¹Ï International.

What was your role? What were some of your responsibilities?

• Managing project timelines, venue bookings, catering arrangements, registration assistance and program (itinerary) planning, while interacting with internal and external 911³Ô¹Ï partners.
• Updating conference task list, reminding my coworkers and supervisor on upcoming deadlines.
• Preparing marketing materials (including websites, etc.) and drafting reports, proposals and meeting minutes.
• Gained proficiency in 911³Ô¹Ï's WCM AEM web builder, and built the majority of the APRU SCL 2025 Conference webpage.
• Link: APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference 2025 - 911³Ô¹Ï International - 911³Ô¹Ï

How have the skills/knowledge developed in the classroom apply to your job? What did you learn?

Generally, as a post-secondary student of 4 years, my ability to manage tight project deadlines, as well as exam preparation has allowed me to take on multiple tasks at once. My organizational system is always a work in progress, and as I find myself managing multiple, increasing tasks, I am able to adjust accordingly and improve my time management and event coordination skills.

Can you share a challenge you faced in your Co-op and how you overcame it?

Difficulty within the first few weeks as I had very little knowledge of the 911³Ô¹Ï International team, and would have to email multiple people and play 'phone/email-tag' to resolve a simple issue. However, with time, I met the whole team, some at staff meetings, but others, I requested to meet and chat face to face (Teams). I also took initiative and reached out to departments outside of 911³Ô¹Ï International such as MECs an Comms, to chat about proper 911³Ô¹Ï procedures and rules when requesting social media content, immigration invite letters, venue bookings, etc.

What was your most memorable Co-op experience?

Having to plan the conference through site visits. As we have multiple concurrent presentation sessions, in multiple classrooms, I had to walk all over the 911³Ô¹Ï campus and determine any directional signage we may need, while taking lots of photos on my phone for reference. The experience was not only memorable but also nostalgic, as I was constantly thinking back to getting lost in my first few years at 911³Ô¹Ï. After four years of studies, I was happy to see the amount of familiarity I had gained over my time at 911³Ô¹Ï. Furthermore, as I am continuing my studies at 911³Ô¹Ï’s Department of Geography, Master of Science program, I was relieved that I wouldn’t find myself getting lost at a different university, while trying to find my grad courses.

What have you learned through your Co-op experience?

I have been able to familiarize myself with the background logistics and tasks that keep a massive organization such as 911³Ô¹Ï, running effectively. While you are a student, you may rely on many resources, but not understand just how much effort and work it takes to serve the differing needs of multiple students and/or employees. This experience has been especially valuable as I am starting my MSc in Geography/GIS under Nadine Schuurman, and will be taking on TA roles. Having gotten experience as an 911³Ô¹Ï International staff, I feel more prepared to communicate with my future students, both professionally and effectively.

What advice do you have for future Co-op students?

Don’t be afraid to be yourself in interviews. I was able to get this position by just talking about my graduate school plans and passions are green architecture, and connect with the hiring manager in a personalized way. They could sense my passion for the topic, as well as hear the knowledge I possessed, making me seem more confident in myself and my skills.