We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

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Michael Setnyk

Computer Science Student

Company: Enbridge

Co-op Job Title: Business Intelligence

What motivated you to apply for Co-op?

I joined the co-op program for several reasons. I wanted to gain workplace experience in order to see where I need to improve. I value having work experience on my resume and want an edge over the competition. And finally co-op was a much better experience than my previous jobs.

Can you describe your position in a few sentences?

I analyzed Enbridge’s databases in order to provide decision makers with information. I was performing complex queries which had to be accurate and fast over large and noisy data.

Did you receive training to perform your duties? Please Explain.

My co-workers were all very friendly, there was no technical training in a structured form. Instead a task would be given and I could ask my team at any time for guidance/advice.

What was your work atmosphere like? (flexibility, formality, team centric, supportive)

The office itself was a cubicle which limits flexibility and communication. However, the team was supportive and informal. When communicating with stakeholders and other teams the process is more formal.

What new skills were you able to learn/develop during your co-op placement?

Due to my co-op placement prioritizing SQL I learned how to fly around SQL and become much more comfortable with it. I also learned how to value organized data and a well-organized data base. Aside from technical skills I learned how to communicate within a team setting. I believe that this is the most valuable skill, communication is very important and when it isn’t practiced the skill degrades.

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

My experience did not meet my expectations and hopes. As a computer science student, I want to be programming and designing solutions. I was not expecting to spend all day working on SQL queries; thankfully, it confirmed to me this is not a job I want to pursue.

What was your proudest moment?

My proudest moment was completing a particularly difficult query. This query was the last part of a project that I had to complete and I was happy to deliver the results to my team.