The greatest month of my life : 29 June 1997-25 July 1997; SHAD Valley Calgary 1997. The program takes place at eight campuses across Canada and it calls the elite of the country to test their physical, mental, and emotional limits in a challenging and exhausting environment. I am a proud Survivor of SHAD Valley Calgary 1997. At the University of Calgary we studied the maths, the sciences, entrepreneurship and we learned the value of teamwork. The fourth floor of Rundle Hall was our beloved home for that glorious month; the most intense, demanding, and rewarding month of our lives. Sixty students (Adrienne Bellehumeur, Tarrah Berger, Michael Bradley, Kevin Chan, Donna Chang, Patrick Charbonneau, Chi-En Chen, Brian Code, Laura Conquergood, Victor Desveaux, Jamie Devassy, Emily Dodwell, Young Fan, Stacy Finlay, John Green, Lisa Guevremont, Tyson Gofton, Liesel Hildebrand, Kathy Ho, Maureen Hogan, Elaina Horne, Jonathan Joynt, Bryce Kelly, Nick Krokoszynski, Lisa Krupa, Ian Kuon, Kingson Lim, Michael Ly, Lesley Mak, Chris Martin, Brooke McKnight, Ben Mills, Stephen Liu, Tanya Magnus, Andrew Manera, Sarah McIsaac, Talya Messeri, Michael Morgan, Pam Mounsey, Jennifer Mummery, Pam Nixon, Mark Northcott, Kinga Petrovai, BH Pieterse, Grant Porter, Katherine Porter, Parul Shah, Pam Smith, Sonia Solivar, Juda Strawczynski, Charles Tetrault, Emily Thorn, Virginia Thorpe, Jordy Urrez, Greg Van Slyke, Sophie Weirich, Dave White, Jonathan Wong, Vanessa Wong, and Jason Work) and nine staff (Gordon Fick, Tom Keenan, John Pliniussen, Michael Sideris, Kristin Hofstee, Krista Lariviere, Richard Martin aka frodo, Linda Wilson, and Jenna Sindle) came from near and far to learn, laugh, cry, and become eternal friends. Chances are that you'll hear these names again---watch out, we're going to save the world.

Each Sunday night at SVC we were called to select our seminars for the following week. We had to choose between math, engineering, computer science, biomedical and a host of other seminars, usually ten in number, and then create an application for our top five favourite choices. Each week the seminars changed, and competetion was tough as only 6-9 people were chosen for any seminar. The next morning, the results were out.... These are descriptions of the seminars which I had the pleasure of taking: 
 
WEEK ONE : THE BEST OF BUSINESS
Presented by : John Pliniussen, Krista Lariviere
Members : Sophie, Emily D., Jordy, Laura, Sonia, Kingson, Bryce, Chi-En, Andrew
The Best of Business Seminar was the only seminar to last for the entire month. We were to design, produce, market, and sell a one of a kind momento from SVC '97. Through the use of surveys and countless brainstorming sessions, we, the company of SHAD^UP ,were to create stunning T-Shirts for all of SHAD Calgary 1997. With logo designs by Chi-En and back designs by myself, the shirts were a massive hit. Available in three colours (black, grey, and white) and selling for an amazing $12 and $13, they sold like wildfire. I own five. The presentation was phenomenal. A CNN breaking news style coverage of the release party complete with a triumphant Carmina Burana revealing of the product. Top marks. Rank : 1st.
 
WEEK TWO : FROM SKETCH TO SCREEN IN FOUR DAYS
Presented by : Richard Martin, Kristin Hofstee
Members : Lisa G., Virginia, Chi-En, Tyson, BH, Sophie, Andrew
The classic camp out with the Silicon Graphics Indys computer animation seminar. Voted the winner "Most Time Spent on One Seminar Presentation : 30 hrs". Using Alias Wavefront we modelled and animated a dancing pencil which leaped and bounded around a table top to the swingin' rhythms of Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing". Richard (he works for those crazy SGI guys) has built a separate website for this; visit it at Sketch to Screen in Four Days Flat The presentation was awesomely fun. Skit/Formal presentation/use Sophie as our pencil model. The tape crashed. BH saved the day : he sang and we danced. Top marks. Rank : 1st.
 
WEEK THREE : PATHOLOGY
Presented by : Dr. Frank Green
Members : Emily D., Lisa K., Kinga, Pam S., Bryce, Andrew
"WARNING : The following Pathology seminar contains images of a graphic nature. Viewer discretion is advised." The coveted Pathology Seminar. We witnessed a brain autopsy on our first day. Enough said. After spending a week at the Foothills Hospital watching an autopsy, numerous disections, and learning how to use electron microscopes we realized how truly awesome this seminar was. I designed the Pathology booth for Open Day. It was a success thanks to Dr. Green's specimens which we were allowed to use for the week. The presentation was classic : formal, direct, and graphic. High marks. Rank : 2nd.
 
WEEK FOUR : SHAKESPEARE - PERICLES PRINCE OF TYRE
Presented by : Richard Martin
Members : Adrienne, Talya, Lesley, Mike B., Bryce, Sonia, Chi-En, Andrew
"I warrant you madam.", "I am sworn/And will dispatch!", "Hold villain". Under the brilliant direction of Richard, we aspiring actors and actresses read, analysed and performed at Open Day Pericles Prince of Tyre. Our scene : Act IV Scene I. Dionyza (A.B.),a jealous mother, hires Leonine (A.M.), a murderer, to kill the beautiful Marina (T.M.). When the deed is to be done, hell breaks loose; the pirates seize Marina and Leonine is left in confusion. The show was wonderful, and we bowed to the thundrous applause of the breathtaken onlookers. Five Stars. Bravo. Encore.

Sarah and I had an Idea. A really really good idea. Here's the deal : we take a group of sixty shads plus choice TAs from all across Canada to one of the top three Palaeontological sites in the entire world, namely the Royal Tyrrell Museum. We worked for two weeks gathering information, organizing and preparing for our presentation to the staff. Our trip : To visit the Royal Tyrrel Museum and Hike along the surrounding Badlands trails. The proposal was accepted and on 19 July 1997 we took off for adventure : Drumheller, the almighty land of Dinosaurs.

ELITE SHAD TEAM : Adrienne, Virginia, BH, Victor, Juda, Kevin, Andrew
ELITE TA TEAM : Richard, Jenna, Krista, Kristin
All Elite members with"Class Three Alpha Red"  security clearance are to carry out the following mission at 00:00 on Easter Weekend.
 
Operation : Loki's Canvas, all elite with class three alpha red security clearance have been alerted to the present mission status. Cheops Prime and His Obelisk are to be assaulted on Easter Weekend. The rendezvous point has been selected : the Nazca lines adjacent to the Valley of the Kings. The targets are hot; Loki has just bought a Picasso.
 
This will be my final address to you.
It is my pleasure to announce that the mission was a complete success. Both Primary and Secondary targets were convincingly transformed, with no altercations whatsoever. SHADs and Staff, you should be proud of the disciplined efforts of THIS Elite Team (Stand).
As for myself, let me say that you are the finest group of men and women that I have ever had the honour to serve with. Each of you are armed with dedication, discipline, and valour. You have well earned the respect of everyone in this room.
(Attention!)
Loki's Elite : How do you feel?
...
Now let us proclaim our anthem of truth and glory!
(I wish I were an Oscar Meyer...)
Elite!
Dismissed!
 
General Loki  
 
O Captain! My Captain!
O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While fellow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O Heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
 
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths-for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
 
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
 

To see all the world in a day you must become a part of Shad Valley. From the moment of your acceptance into the program, its spirit begins to flow within you. This spirit is nurtured throughout that glorious month until every thought, every action, every breath is filled with the pounding intensity and unbridled passion generated by Shad. The staff enriches your mind and encourages you to surpass your highest aspirations while your fellow Shads, your dearest friends, share in your laughter, comfort your tears, and cheer in your accomplishments. At Shad, you study maths and sciences, but you learn that you can achieve any goal and make any dream come true once you believe in yourself. Shad will give you all the world in a day and then have you reach for the stars. Shad Valley is more than a program, it is more than an experience, it is a way of life.
 
This is the one paragraph summary included with my evaluation of SVC 97 that tries to express what Shad meant for me.