When I reflect back on the past twelve months, I can’t even comprehend the transformation I have undergone thanks to the Municipal Internship Program.  A year ago, I was confused about which path I would take and struggled finding an industry where I could apply my education and creativity. Today, my experiences range from hands-on field work, to organizing community events, to drafting and implementing strategic community planning.

This program has opened my eyes to the endeavours and achievements of local governments and the incredible role that young people can play in the industry.  Through my experiences, I have been given a unique insider’s perspective on how our towns, cities and counties are governed and what it takes to build a strong, successful community.  I have gained a holistic understanding of the functions of a municipal government and this has opened countless doors in my career. I am incredibly thankful to have taken part in such an esteemed program and look forward to the practical application of what I have learned.

When I was in university, I knew that I wanted to work for the government, but I was uncertain that a sociology degree would properly prepare me for any career.  Luckily, during my last year in university, I checked out the University of Alberta’s Careers Day and I wandered towards the Municipal Affair’s internship booth.  I talked to an intern and we talked about her qualifications that included an undergrad degree in arts and her previous job experience, which incidentally sounded a lot like my experience.  She recommended this internship to me as an opportunity to explore various opportunities to get experience and potentially find a career in the process.  I really wondered if I was qualified to be an intern.  I took the intern’s advice and I was selected to be an Administration Intern for the 2008/09 year.

My experience as an intern has exposed me to many areas of municipal government.  I was able to move around different departments; learn about the relationship between Council and Administration; attend various meetings and conferences throughout Alberta; working on variety of projects that include research on by-laws and internal policies, designing a Japanese park, testing water samples, and recording minutes; networking opportunities; and excellent mentoring opportunities.  Also, while working as an intern, I was also able to establish excellent relationships with the other administration and planning interns, Municipal Affairs, and Town of Barrhead Administration, Council, and staff.

The internship has provided me with direction to help guide my career path and I would recommend for any college or university grad to apply.  In fact, apply now!

This was definitely an excellent opportunity and I feel fortunate to have been able to participate in this program.  I have been able to watch some very qualified and talented individuals effectively run a prospering community.  Through the internship, I have learned a great deal about the complexities of municipal governance and this experience has prepared me for a career in local government.  The practical and theoretical elements of this experience have equipped me with a greater understanding of how a municipality should be managed; while also providing an increased awareness of how practically any decision that is made, affects just about everyone in one way or another.  

The Town of Raymond has an excellent group of people who are committed to their community and they are all here to work hard, while having fun.  I would encourage any prospective intern to get a feel for the unofficial office culture of whatever municipality they are considering working for and determining if it is similar to their attitude and personality.

In short, I would be very surprised if someone did not have a good experience in this program, provided that they are committed to working hard and being humble enough to be taught.  I have found that I learned the most when I was doing a task that I at first felt was beneath my qualifications.  Pride is usually at the root of our failures and if you try your best, than this will also be an excellent experience for you as well.

I believe it is important to think globally but act locally. This is one of the principal reasons why I am interested in municipal government.  I learned about the Municipal Internship Program during my third year of university and the program’s experiential learning approach appealed to me.  I was selected as the 2008-2009 municipal intern for the City of Grande Prairie and I have come to enjoy working and living in the City.  The internship program gave me the opportunity to gain first-hand, real-life experience in municipal government.  I wanted to take a moment to give you some information about my internship experience.

Some highlights from my experience include: observing the City/CUPE negotiations and learning about the negotiations process; discovering Alberta by going on site visits to other municipalities; and learning about the budget process – the process took approximately 7- months to complete!  As an intern I wrote reports to committees, worked on bylaws, conducted research, and worked on a team to organize public input sessions.  I also attended Municipal Affairs intern training sessions; conferences such as the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association’s (AUMA) annual convention; workshops such as an economic development session entitled, Building the Foundation; and I enrolled in a couple of online courses at the University of Alberta’s Government Studies Program.

If you’re looking for an awesome learning opportunity then look no further.  The Municipal Internship Program is a fantastic way to gain practical learning experience and explore the field of municipal government.

The opportunity for me to spend time in each department of my host municipality has been invaluable both to my career in local government and to my own personal development.  Despite having grown up in this community, I had no idea of the many things that occur behind the scenes every day and the many hard working individuals who make Strathcona County a great place to live and work.  After just eight months of my internship, I was offered a position with the County that has made me realize just how much knowledge and experience I have gained in a short period of time.

My attendance at over a half a dozen conference over the course of the past year has allowed me to build a repertoire of contacts with in both municipal and provincial government as well as to meet MLAs, MPs, Ministers and other Elected Officials. The grant funding I received from Municipal Affairs not only made it possible for me to attend these conferences, but also allowed me to extend my knowledge of local government administration through the Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta.

I truly believe that this program has jumpstarted my career and that the opportunities I have been given here will follow me along any career path I may choose.

As is the case with many university students, the last semester of school is one of the most overwhelming. Along with the stress of exams, there is the added pressure of deciding what you want to do with the rest of your life. Making this decision even tougher is the nagging thought, “what if I don’t enjoy it?” Personally, I had considered municipal government prior to applying; however, was really unsure if it was going to be a good fit for me. The internship program offered an excellent opportunity to be involved with a municipal organization in all facets which is a rare opportunity in any industry.

During the first few months of the internship it was truly a surprise how open and supporting all members of the organization were. This allowed for me to quickly become integrated into the organization, and gain an understanding of how all aspects operate. If being a senior level manager in the future is of interest, then having this understanding of the organization is an integral part of the job. For me, the most unexpected part of the internship was the varying experiences, from being out in the field on construction sites, to meeting with some of the highest ranking members in the Provincial Government. Every day offered a unique experience.

After graduating university I was successful in receiving a spot in the Alberta Municipal Internship Administrator program.  Starting in May 2008 I did not know what it meant to be an employee in the Local Governance industry of Alberta.  I did not know what I would contribute, learn, discover, or if I would even be a good fit.

Since May 01, 2008 I have participated in every department for the Town of Beaumont, an urban municipality of 10,820 people just 3 kilometres South East of Edmonton.  Through committee participation, executive meetings, council sessions, and community events I have come to know and appreciate the organizations ability to provide quality services to town patrons.  As an intern, one must be able to actively contribute to initiatives, listen carefully, honour internal dynamics, and thoughtfully contribute new ideas.

Contributing to Beaumont was something I committed to from day one.  My motto is to strengthen any organization I work for.  Through conferences, education, and research I have brought new projects, new funding through grants, and relevant tools.  When not looking for new ventures I have sought to ask staff what programs, processes, or lines of communication they have struggles with that may benefit from my input or review.  Working with existing systems has proved most rewarding because the day to day functions of an organization like Beaumont are good but have not been revisited due to the exponential growth that both the Town and administration have experienced in the last five years.

Being an intern for a Town that has been going through major growing pains means that there have been many areas neglected, as well as many areas where new techniques and good ideas have been implemented to provide for such growth.  Consequently, I have had the benefit of working with people who are passionate about their jobs, and who have also appreciated someone like myself asking them how they do all that they do.  Be it walking in work boots examining sewer line construction for an approval of a new subdivision, or sitting for hours over new policies, fellow staff members have answered my many questions and offered their time.

Given the permission to write more about my experience I would, but for the purpose of a profile I will restrain.  Fundamentally, a year in this program provided me with the opportunity to see how a municipal government organization functions from the ground up.  From daily operations across departments to hours of discourse in the boardroom. Or jumping to the perimeter of the four sections of Town boundaries, to multiple conferences where representatives from municipalities all over Alberta shared their concerns and struggles.  Overall, each role and each opportunity has adjusted my view, revealing to me how important local government is in shaping the quality of life for Albertans.

As an individual I have discovered I have strengths in facilitation, staff development, environmental research, leading and planning meetings, communications, and coordinating projects.  After completing Local Governance Accounting I appreciate the vital role of a strong Chief Financial Officer but I have no desire to follow that path.  I enjoy seeking feedback, facilitating thought generating meetings, and working with council and staff to improve the organizations function and ability to adapt to change.

Reflecting over the past eight months has allowed me to revisit the learning opportunities and lead roles that I have experienced while being a part of the Municipal Internship Program for Administrators through the Government of Alberta department of Municipal Affairs.

Following the completion of my undergraduate degree I had identified a position in the public sector as an attractive and attainable career path for myself.  Now, having spent the time working on projects in a range of disciplines and departments, I have further narrowed my career aspirations and goals. 

When I first began the internship I was overwhelmed by the variety of expectations each municipality had for their interns.   Now, I am aware that the true value of this program is the unique experiences that each individual will take from it. 

This experience has identified the individual I aspire to grow into both professionally and personally.  The experience as a senior administrator has challenged my morals, ethics, responsibilities and interests.  For this I have become a stronger willed individual, I am able to translate my ideas into action plans and see tangible results that reflect the decisions I have made and followed through on.

I realize the value of communication and that when people say: “We need to communicate more,” that this often means what is currently being used as a vessel for communication is breaking down and new avenues and formalities need to be identified and followed to prevent further breakdown of information sharing. I have also learned that valuable time is lost when people are unable to communicate their needs, concerns or visions for projects or plans. 

I have been truly thankful for the time I have spent with the Town of Didsbury as their municipal intern for the 2008/09 work term.  Over the course of these past months I have developed a range of skills that previously I was not aware of, nor took the time to develop. I am grateful that the Town of Didsbury challenged me with a variety of responsibility and made me accountable for a number of key projects. 

As a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan with a Degree in Regional and Urban Development, I did have thoughts about a career in Municipal Administration but in the regional/municipal planning area. 

During the municipal internship, I had the experience of living in a small rural municipality in Southern Alberta (Vulcan County).  It took me a little while to adjust to living in a small rural municipality after living the majority of my life in an urban municipality (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan).  I have learned about a lot of the functions in the municipality from administration, governance, municipal planning and development, agricultural services, public works, finance, and protective services.  Within those departments you get practical experience and if time permits, work on special projects.  Some examples are drafting municipal development plans for small villages, assisting with the formulation of rural addressing, writing reports to council, and giving presentations in front of council, committees, and county residents.

The internship provides you with a number of networking opportunities.  You interact with staff in your municipality along with councillors and senior management staff.  You get to network with Municipal Affairs staff who are there to help you succeed during the internship and your career in municipal government.  In addition, you get to network with councillors and staff from other municipalities while attending a number of conferences during the internship year.  

I have been exposed to a lot of functional areas within Vulcan County during my internship experience.  The experiences are really “hands-on” and you get to see different activities within each functional area.  This includes ride-alongs with County Bylaw Officers, attending fire practices for volunteer firefighters, getting to ride on road construction equipment (graders and gravel trucks), tour municipal facilities (landfills, treatment plants), and operating agricultural equipment (roadside sprayers and hydro seeders).  In addition, I received practical experience in the other areas such as writing and presenting administration reports at various Council Meetings and Committee Meetings, preparing minutes for Council and Committee Meetings, and giving presentations in front of Council Members and County residents.

During this internship I have had time to work on skills and competencies that will help me in my future in the career of municipal administration.  I have had the opportunity to work on my communication skills (written and oral), problem-solving skills, adaptability, and planning and organization skills.

This internship experience has been a positive one for me and I would encourage people in the future to apply for this program because you will learn a lot.  However, the internship year will go very quickly because it will be very busy with a lot of projects and reports that will be completed and the large amount of knowledge you will attain in a short period of time.

I came across the advertisement on the faculty of business Administration notice board about the Alberta Municipal internship program. I discussed this position with some friends and they did not know anything about career prospects in local government administration.

I decided to apply to the program after researching on career opportunities in local government and I have not regretted making that decision. The Municipal Internship program has provided me with the quality training that I needed to begin my career in the Administrative and Legislative Services with the Town of Chestermere. Learning about different areas of local government has enabled me to put into practice my knowledge in strategic planning, policy development and sustainability initiatives. I am glad that I made the decision to apply to this program because that has given me the opportunity to a great career in local government administration.

When I graduated from University with a degree in Agricultural Economics, I had no idea that my education had much to do with local government. But it first led me to a policy researcher position, where my eyes were opened to a horizon of possibilities. I consulted career advisors to find an overlap of my passion and skills, and decided to redirect my career path towards public administration. I first heard the Municipal Internship program from the professor I was working for at the time. Eager to transition from academia to the public sector, I applied and started working for the City of Red Deer.

Seeing the direct positive impact a municipality can make in the community was a rewarding experience. I was placed in the City Clerk’s department where the elected political leaders were connected to the organization. I had the opportunities to learn a broad spectrum of operations of the municipality. Attending internal committee meetings, having conversations with diverse group of City employees and learning by doing all gave me insights into local government. Most of the projects I worked on were City-wide initiatives that called for innovative thinking and collaboration, which challenged me to be holistic, strategic and organized in my approach.

Professional development was another equally important emphasis of the program. Throughout the year I joined other interns in a serious of workshops held by Municipal Affairs. These workshops cover not only subjects in municipal government but also personal professional development. A variety of tools and resources were provided, such as the custom-made Competency Tool which involves not only interns but their municipal supervisors. This allows consistent feedback and growth. The “soft skills” I gained will benefit me well beyond the internship year.

Throughout the program I was supported by both the City and Municipal Affairs. One of the most precious gifts I received is mentors. Mentors are more than supervisors. They not only teach you how to do things, but also explain why and what factors one needs to consider in real life situations. I have always enjoyed the time spent with my mentor as I was introduced to a bigger, more complete picture. Therefore I suggest future interns to find a mentor for yourself, someone that might be other than your supervisor.

If you have a passion in serving the public closely while establishing a rewarding career, the Municipal Internship Program for Administrators is for you.

When I entered the Municipal Internship Program, I had only a basic, superficial understanding of Local Government and the services it provided. As I near the end of this internship, a lot has changed. I now have an understanding of how each department works and how they are all interconnected gained from first hand experience in each department. On top of the experience in each department, I had access to a wealth of knowledge through my CAO, supervisor, and other managers who were always willing to take the time to explain to me anything I wanted to know.

While that experience and understanding gained from each department is extremely valuable, it is not the only benefit of this internship. Another benefit of the program is the networking you are able to do by attending conferences, training sessions and meetings that are usually reserved for senior level management. In addition, you also gain a close knit network of interns from your year that you can always turn to when you need advice or information for a project you are working on. This close knit network you create tends to stay in contact even after the internship is completed, providing you a valuable resource that most people trying to break into the world of Municipal Government do not have.

My internship with the County of Wetaskiwin was amazing, my projects were wide ranging, and my experiences were priceless. I have had a great time and have grown both professionally and on a personal level. I feel it was the perfect transition from University to the real world, and I recommend anyone with even the slightest interest in Municipal Government apply for it.

My time with the Town of Sylvan Lake as part of the Internship Program has been the most important experience in my professional career so far. On the surface, this may not seem all that impressive, as like most interns, I have only recently completed my degree and using the term “career” to describe my professional experience seems more than a little presumptuous. Yet, I have found my time in Sylvan Lake and the associated professional development opportunities presented by the Internship staff and the various conferences I have attended to be extremely valuable.

It is therefore with feelings of both excitement and apprehension due of the coming end of my year with the Town that I give you these pointers and recommendations for your upcoming year.

• Make sure you become comfortable speaking candidly with your supervisor
• Speak to your CAO often, even it can be as candidly
• Find someone (either in your municipality or in another) who is not your supervisor with whom you can regularly discuss your Internship experiences
• Attend as many conferences/workshops as your budget will allow: they are the best opportunity to gain new technical skills and meet people who will help you out throughout the year and hopefully the rest of your career
• The rotation from department to department will either cause you to have many trailing projects or deal with the frustration of never seeing any one project through to completion. This fact is practically unavoidable, but preparing yourself for it now might cause it to bother you a little less.
• Visit other municipalities and observe and compare their day-to-day operations with your own.
• Visit other municipalities and attend a Council meeting to compare it to your own
• Talk to the other interns. Although you will have opportunities to meet the other interns at Internship sessions, exchanging phone calls and emails with them more frequently than will be your best resource.
• If you are unsure if your Internship experience is proceeding smoothly/normally, compare your experiences with the other interns and with the Internship staff. There is no reason to struggle on your own when such a wide support system is available to you.