Live Work Well Research Centre
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My Summer 2021 Co-op Experience at the Live Work Well Research Centre

I am currently pursuing a BA in Psychology Co-op with a minor in Human Resources, as well as a minor in Family and Child Studies at the University of Guelph. After completing my undergraduate degree, I intend to pursue a MSc in Couple and Family Therapy. In this blog post, I will share my experience of working as an undergraduate research assistant at the Live Work Well (LWW) Research Centre.  When applying for co-op positions during the Winter 2021 semester, I remember being excited about the possibility of getting a research assistant position because I had never done that kind of work before. I had always wondered what exactly a research position as an undergraduate student entailed, particularly because I am still exploring what interests me career-wise. As such, I was thrilled when I received an offer from the LWW Research Centre.  At the Centre, my responsibilities included attending team meetings, managing the Centre’s Twitter account, contributing to the LWW Newsletter, creating a new file management system, and assisting on various projects throughout the term. Through these different activities, I was able to improve many skills, both in my work life and personal life. For example, handling the Centre’s Twitter account allowed me to improve my critical thinking skills by deciding what is worth tweeting about and what is not. Additionally, through working remotely, I was able to improve my time-management and organization skills because it was up to me to schedule my workday effectively while ensuring that my tasks are completed in a timely manner.  If I had to choose one project that I particularly enjoyed working on, it would be the File Management Project. This project was daunting at first, but with the help of my supervisor, Kim Garwood, I was able to develop a plan, implement it, and see it come to life. This was a substantial project, and there were many times when I thought: ‘This is so complicated, how am I going to do this?’ But after seeing the new file structure come to life, I learned that no project is too big, although it may seem daunting at first. All it takes is a plan and a realistic set of goals.  Another aspect of my position that I would like to highlight is the bi-weekly team meetings we would have. In the beginning, I did not really understand much that was discussed; but as time went by, my understanding grew, and I was able to contribute my thoughts and opinions on various topics. I really enjoy working independently, but having these meetings twice a week helped me learn the value of collaboration through connecting with my team members.  Lastly, I want to highlight the culture at the LWW Research Centre. I would describe it as fun, challenging, friendly, supportive, positive, and motivating. This was definitely one of my favorite co-op experiences largely due to the people I worked with and the energy that they brought to work every day. I would not have had an incredible work term without the support of my superiors. Thank you to Deborah for sharing her knowledge and wisdom with me, and a huge thank you to Kim in particular for always bringing her positive energy to work, for always being there to support me, and for being a truly amazing leader. 

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Insight Into Growing up Alongside a Sibling With a Disability 

The relationship shared between siblings is experienced by many. However, when one of those siblings has a developmental disability, it becomes something unique entirely. My older brother, Kyle, the oldest of four siblings, has a rare genetic syndrome known as Nicolaides Baraitser Syndrome (NCBRS). This is an extremely rare syndrome with fewer than 200 people around the world currently diagnosed. Its key characteristics include intellectual disabilities, seizures, and dysmorphic features. Although we always knew that Kyle had some form of a disability, it wasn’t until he was 21 that he actually received a diagnosis. Upon Kyle’s diagnosis and now getting older myself, I have become a lot more invested in Kyle’s care as well as disability advocacy. I’ve had the opportunity to speak to families with children who have NCBRS and doctors from all around the world. Through my experience, it’s dawned on me how little information there is on the sibling relationship when it comes to disabilities. I hope to provide more insight and understanding on this unique relationship.

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Land Acknowledgements Part Two: Can We Celebrate Canada Day Respectfully?

On June 21st Canada celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day as a way to honour the heritage, customs and contributions of Indigenous people’s native to these lands. However, fast forward 10 days and you will find a day dedicated to commemorating Canadian confederation and patriotism. Canada Day (July 1st) is a statutory holiday that is rooted in and often ignores the colonialization of the very peoples and cultures that were celebrated only 10 days prior.

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Land Acknowledgements Part One: Your Responsibility to Treaty

Since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released their Final Report in 2015, institutions such as the University of Guelph have started to incorporate land acknowledgements into their practices, such as at the beginning of meetings or presentations. Individuals might include an acknowledgment in their email signature or at the beginning of a class they are teaching. Acknowledging the traditional territory we are on is important and can be a good step in learning about the history of the region. However, land acknowledgements run the risk of being insincere if no action is taken or if people aren’t speaking from an informed place, especially if they don’t acknowledge or do anything about their ongoing contributions towards land theft and erasure.

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