Student Research

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include students and community-based groups or organizations involved in initiatives that build community capacity. Submissions from community organizations do not need to have a student identified.  Submissions from students do need to have a sponsoring community organization identified. In the case of successful proposals from community organizations, Selkirk College will assist in the selection of the student as needed.

Project Duration

The project will be implemented over the summer semester (May to September) or for a period of time that best suits the project outcomes and the student’s study schedule. Project funding up to the sum of $10,000 will be provided, inclusive of student salary for up to four months plus eligible administrative and travel expenses. Funding does not cover wages for supervisory staff, benefits or office space costs. Research advisory and mentorship support for the selected proposal will be provided by Selkirk College's Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute (RDI). The community organization is responsible to provide daily supervisory support.

Project Description

Projects should address a need for applied research that could be used to support initiatives intended to create positive rural development outcomes at the local, sub regional or regional scale. The scope could include a review of literature and reports, data collection from available sources or data gathering though surveys or other means, improving access to information, public education, and/or the piloting of new projects based on best practices.

Project Selection

Proposals that reflect a combination of applied research and service-focused activity in rural development, and the development of student leadership and competence will be given priority. Proposals that feature measurable and observable outcomes will also be favored. The Teck Serv Steering Committee, including representatives from Teck Trail Operations, the Rural Development Institute, Selkirk College's Co-op Education & Employment Services Manager, and the Director of Applied Research will assess proposals using the project selection matrix. The decision of the committee will be announced in mid-March. 

Student Selection

Once a proposal has been selected, Selkirk College’s Co-op Education and Employment Services will support the hiring of a Selkirk College student as required. Student selection will be based in part on the linkage between the students’ academic program and the learning opportunities in the proposed project. The successful student will be offered an applied research internship for the summer months.

Reports & Outcomes

The community organization will be expected to provide an evaluation of the student’s performance, a copy of the final project report, and any other documents related to project outcomes. Selkirk College retains the right to make project reports or other reports on outcomes available for general public access.

2017 Recipient

2017’s Teck Serv internship allowed Alexandre Landry, a student of the geographic information systems bachelor degree program to work with the Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute to support the Economic Development Commission of the East Shore of Kootenay Lake (EDC) during an initial stage of their Asset Based Community Development Project. Alexandre designed data models and a data collection framework which lead to the launching of an asset inventory project focusing on organizations and businesses on the East shore of Kootenay Lake. The information collected from this asset inventory will be used by the EDC for strategic planning during the next stages of their longer term Asset Based Community Development Project. Final report can be viewed here.

2016 Recipient

2016's Teck Serv internship allowed Tu Anh Phung, a student in Selkirk College's Business Administration Program to work with the Skills Centre to better understand poverty in the Lower Columbia Region. The purpose of the project was to compile research that would help with the development of a poverty reduction strategy in the Lower Columbia Region. The Surviving, Not Thriving: Poverty in the Lower Columbia Region report was produced.

2015 Recipient

2015’s Teck Serv internship allowed Spencer Paolone, a student in Selkirk College’s Rural Pre-Med Program, to work with the Kootenay Boundary Community Services Co-operative to better understand the region’s early childcare sector.  Activities focused on updating the Understanding the Early Years (2007-2009) report, including updating resource inventories and the compiling socio-economic statistics. This project led to the production of the State of the Family report.

2014 Recipient

2014’s Teck Serv internship allowed  Dana Burgess, a student in Selkirk College’s Social Service Worker program, to work with the Nelson CARES Society and its Age Friendly Community initiative. The project researched isolation in rural seniors and uncovered issues related to mobility, socialization, transportation, and access to health and information services and resulted in the Reaching Out: Identifying Isolated Rural Seniors and Determining Their Priority Needs report. “In addition to sharpening her applied research skills, Dana was able to work one on one with vulnerable seniors and community organizations,” said Dr. Terri MacDonald, Regional Innovation Chair at the RDI. “Dana has subsequently secured employment with the sponsoring agency which is an added bonus.”

2013 Recipient

The aim of the 2012 research project, led by Yasodhara Ashram, was to address the issue of energy resilience on the East Shore of Kootenay Lake by looking at both community and household level options for distributed generation. The focus was on alternative and renewable sources of energy. Suitable solutions were identified through a combination of research and community engagement including meetings and tours. In addition to the final report entitled, Rural Alternative Energy & Resiliency, an informational booklet was published for use by local households and communities. Learn more about the 2013 Teck Serv recipient.

2012 Recipient

The 2012 research project focused on better understanding housing need and demand in Castlegar and was led by New Vision Housing Society. New Vision Housing Society works to increase the housing inventory within Castlegar and the region to support those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and to move them towards stable and secure housing. Learn more about the 2012 Teck Serv recipient and the Castlegar & Area Housing Need and Demand Study.

2011 Recipient

In 2011, the Trail Family and Individual Resource Centre Society (FAIR) received funding from Teck Serv to implement The Boys Connection Project. View Executive Summary.