“Greetings from Beautiful Antigua!  My third week on the island has now passed and needless to say it went by much quicker than I expected.  I am currently going into my third week of work and I am excited to see how much more I can learn.  My first week was challenging.  I had to learn how to answer the phones, how to take excursion bookings and how to record the bookings into the computer.  But that’s not all, that’s just the office duties.  Outside of the office, I have to go to the resorts on the island and bring the tour desks our brochures and just keep them up-to-date about what our excursions are all about…. Being able to go to the resorts on the island has been a great experience. All of the resorts that I have been to so far are BEAUTIFUL!  They have great beaches, the food is good, the service is excellent and the guests are leaving happy.  I have met a lot of great people at these resorts, and some of these people that I have met are very powerful people on the island.”

Emma Warren, Tourism & Travel

Summer 2009 Co-op at Destination Antigua 2000 Ltd.

West Indies

My co-op experience was the key to success after graduation and any success I’ve had since, I highly recommend that people who are interested in our environment to come to college to gain the technical skills needed to work in the field. I had four job offers when I graduated.

In 2007, I took a co-op job as a personal assistant for a Real Estate Sales Representative named Trevor Shaw. I never thought I would be interested in Real Estate, however I thought this would be a great opportunity to expand my knowledge and to try something different.  I has now been over two and a half years working at RE/MAX and I am now a licensed Real Estate Representative for RE/MAX Chay Realty in Barrie. 

Kids for Turtles Environmental Education (KFTEE) are a non-profit organization that deals with increasing public awareness about the preservation of natural habitats and protecting the species that live within them. KFTEE also does stream and shoreline restoration in the Simcoe County area. KFTEE has recently completed a shoreline rejuvenation project involving over 1060 shrubs and wild flowers all native to the area. The project was designed the secure the shoreline and help prevent erosion and phosphorous loading into the lake as well it helps to keep the geese out of the park during their moulting season as geese don’t fly during this time period, which will help to keep the park clean and desirable to the general public. KFTEE was founded in 2006 by a gentle man named Bob Bowles a well known naturalist, writer, photographer and professional environmental consultant, appreciated as an expert in all aspects of the environment.

KFTEE works in partnership with the O.F.A.H. and the Lake Simcoe Regional Conservation Authority by educating people on invasive species such as purple loose strife, garlic mustard, round gobies and sea lampreys in our parks and our waters, as well as species at risk and endangered species, they do this through many outreach programs throughout the year.

Working with KFTEE has been a very educational experience for me and I would recommend that any environmental student needing a co-op placement in the future to call them and set up an interview as they welcome the opportunity to help educate anyone interested in the environmental problems we face today.  

  -James Waterhouse, Environmental Technology-

Scott Kittel –For my first co-op position, I was employed as an “electrical maintenance assistant” with Georgian College. For the majority of my time with the college, I had the opportunity to work with the staff electrician. I was introduced to the school’s electrical systems and the work involved in keeping it running smoothly. Safety is of utmost importance at the college and there was no room for error.

The most interesting thing about the school from my co-op perspective was the lighting system. The technology employed in the lighting system is very advanced. The system employed is beneficial for saving money and energy. Working at the college was rewarding and the atmosphere is a friendly one. I would encourage students to take full advantage of what Georgian College has to offer.

Dave Horie – My first co-op position has been very rewarding. I worked with a fire alarm technician. As a result, I have learned a great deal about fire safety, the fire code, electrical applications and plumbing. Working for Georgian College, has allowed me to be able to see the many different career paths a graduate from Electrical Engineering can take.

Bryan Taylor – During this summer’s co-op at Georgian, I have gained some valuable experience working with building automation systems, schematics, sc systems and electrical components housed within heating and air-conditioning rooftop units. Working for Georgian has been a beneficial experience.

Employer Testimonials

(Georgian College)

Shawn Watkins, HVAC/R Mechanic, Georgian College – Working with a co-op student has been a great experience. Having the opportunity to work with someone who enjoys what they do and absorbs what they are being trained on has been rewarding. I look forward to working with a co-op student again.

Sandy Hancock, Electrician, Georgian College – I find working with the Electrical Engineering students enriching. It gives me the opportunity to pass on a small portion of the vast experiences I myself have acquired since starting at Georgian College as an employee in 1983.

(BDO Canada LLP)

A.M. Mumby, C.A., CFP, BDO Canada LLP – I would like to commend Georgian College on their approach to co-op terms.  In allowing us to work with the students full time for a full semester, it allows them to get involved with projects and see them through to completion.  This is a “win-win” for both the student and the employer.