The Ottawa connection
New director settles into her role at the LLC
December 6, 2006
Rhoda Dyck
Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham, the newly appointed director of Trinity Western University’s Laurentian Leadership Centre (LLC), has been putting her networking skills to good use.
An important facet of Epp Buckingham’s job is her role as liaison. Her time is often spent interacting with the NGOs, MPs, and various organizations that are receptive to accepting TWU student interns.
“I had taught courses at the LLC before, but now I have more involvement with internships,” she said. “My philosophy is to recruit both ways, to match interests to specific connections in my network.”
For many students, the chance to attend the LLC has served as an effective springboard into careers such as politics and international development.
“There are 12 current LLC students on Parliament Hill and five [former students] working full-time in Ottawa,” said Epp Buckingham.
Also, two LLC students are currently collaborating within their internships to work on a project for war-affected children in Uganda. According to Epp Buckingham, student initiatives such as this can go a long way.
Nicolas Wilkinson is a current LLC student who has personally benefited from connections he made in Ottawa.
“I love my MP and my supervisor,” he said. “The work I do at the Committee for Foreign Affairs not only looks good on my resume, but it has provided me knowledge and wisdom that I would never get outside Ottawa.”
According to Epp Buckingham, organizations utilizing TWU students have expressed similar sentiment.
“Trinity gets very positive feedback from our internships,” she said. “It has come to the point that there’s more demand than we can actually fill. LLC interns are seen as disciplined and very capable.”
Wilkinson said that he has “enjoyed the community the most so far.”
“I love my roommates and the diversity of the group I am living with,” he added.
According to Epp Buckingham, “This group is full of self-starters. We have a good dynamic. The community aspect is a really important part of the whole experience.”
The third week of November marked Epp Buckingham’s first visit to TWU’s campus since officially commencing her position on Nov. 1.
“My main focus is to interview students coming to LLC in the spring,” she said of her visit to the school. “I also need to liaise with other faculty to make sure that we’re working together.
“That’s a big advantage to me,” she added. “I see so many great things happening here.”
Epp Buckingham also manages the spring Access Ottawa program, a week during which high school students are able to visit the LLC in order to participate in meetings and tours, with the chance to interact with various MPs and officials from NGOs.
Epp Buckingham believes the LLC exists within a role bigger than simply career preparation.
“It has changed the way people think and the course of their lives,” she said.
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