Over the years, BCICS has worked with many energetic and bright students. We’ve tracked down a few of the more recent ones to see what they are up to. Predictably, all are involved in interesting projects and their passion for what they’re doing is clearly evident, even from those as far away as Montreal and Kenya.

In January 2005, André Vallillee started an internship at the Legislative Assembly. After a brief period working in the Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development, André was assigned, with three other interns, to work with the Opposition (NDP) Caucus to research political issues relating to government performance and election promises. “It’s an exciting time,” says André. “With the election soon approaching on May 17th!” André says he’s had the chance to meet with all the independent officers, such as the BC Ombudsman, the Privacy Commissioner, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner as well as meeting with the different Government House Leaders and other political system notables. André sums it all up as, “Quite the wild ride”.

Julia Smith, located in Nairobi, Kenya, is working for the International Co-operative Alliance as a Gender and Development Officer through Canadian Co-operative Association’s Youth Experience International Internship Program. Through wonderful emails, Julia keeps friends, relatives and the BCICS gang informed about her numerous, exciting adventures. Here are some excerpts from her emails to us:

Julia has decided to continue her internship until the fall, so we look forward to another six months of adventures!

Katie Tucker, who worked on our Saxena Library last summer, has moved to Montreal to study Law at McGill University. We all miss Katie’s cheeky, cheerful manner since she left but once in a while we get glimpses of her humorous way of viewing life. “I haven’t been asked to leave the program due to my extreme uselessness yet, which I think is pretty promising,” Katie told us in a recent email.

Katie has taken up the tremendous challenge of doing a dual-degree program (Civil Law and Common Law). She added, “The program is very international and the profs are great!”

Ron Dueck, also studying Law, is working on a co-op term at Dwyer Tax Law in Victoria. “We don’t have any co-op clients that I am aware of,” says Ron. “But everything I learn is relevant to co-ops in one way or another in the sense that co-ops are a business that, while they may not operate according to a bottom line, nonetheless need to compete with businesses that do.”

Although Ron doesn’t know yet what he’ll be doing after law school, he’s leaning towards working in the not-for-profit sector, perhaps in the area of estate planning and charitable donations to not-for-profit organizations. “But that is a specialized area,” he adds, “requiring many years of more general practice.”