Municipal Government was a field that I had little to no interest in upon my graduation from the University of Alberta’s Political Science Program; the main reason being that I had no idea local government held such a wide variety of possibilities and opportunities. Upon graduation I applied for the Municipal Internship Program and was thankful to be one of the 15 candidates selected for placement in an Alberta Municipality. The experience gained in the program opened my eyes to a large array of differing careers, all with local government.
The Municipal Internship Program is an excellent opportunity for young people to learn about the field of local government. It is a one year program with the main goal being education. My experience as an intern was very fast paced as it took place in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Working in this high growth, high stress, fast paced community was an excellent learning experience for me as I was exposed to all aspects of local government and gained experience in key areas. Among other opportunities I helped organize major municipal events while also being able to focus on the legislative requirements of a municipality by working on bylaws, council reports and policies. The experience of the Municipal Internship Program is truly all-encompassing.
Between my past work experience, my education, and the Municipal Internship Program I fully believe that I am capable and ready for a career in Local Government. This past year has prepared me for many issues that can arise and I have the confidence and ability to cope with those issues as well as the flexibility to deal with new and differing issues that may arise.
Almost all people who are graduating from university are typically wondering: now what am I going to do with my life? I was no different. A couple of my friends from university who graduated before me had already gone through this program and had nothing but praise for the program. I would also suggest this program to anyone pondering what to do next.
This program will assist you with developing the necessary skills to excel in the field of municipal government. Throughout my internship, I was provided with a number of professional development opportunities, which will prove to be valuable in the future. I was able to attend a number of different conferences throughout the province where I was able to network with leaders in the field of municipal government.
This program enables you to be exposed to a wide variety of projects and initiatives. A few of the projects that I was involved in were: 1) being the Chief Returning Officer for the 2007 General Municipal Election; 2) being involved in the designing stages of the construction of a new outdoor swimming pool; and 3) being involved in the budgeting process for 2008.
If you are looking for a year of friendships, learning and great experiences, don’t hesitate to apply for the Municipal Internship Program.
What a difference a year can make. Back when I was lost in the world of “what am I going to do when I finish school?” the idea of working in municipal government didn’t even come close to the top. As a political science major, municipal politics and administration did not seem as exciting or glamorous at the time. However, the opportunity came for me to take part in the Alberta Municipal Internship Program and I became the municipal intern for the City of Grande Prairie in May 2007. Once I started my internship, all of my doubts vanished as I discovered the exciting and meaningful work found in the municipal sector.
The internship provided me with the opportunity of a lifetime as I was exposed to the inner workings of municipal government all the way from front-line customer service to the trades in the field to senior management and decision-making by City Council. I was impressed by the professionalism and vast knowledge of the staff, managers, and directors who mentored me in countless areas of managing a city of 50,000. The strong emphasis on professional development inside the internship program was a major reason why I enrolled in the program and I am glad that I applied. The internship provided the opportunity for an in-depth, one year accelerated skills development program that allowed me to develop skills necessary for running a municipal government from managing teams, budgeting, communications, strategic planning, and building and maintaining partnerships between the community, Council and administrators.
The Municipal Internship Program is an excellent program that I would highly recommend to everyone. As a substantial portion of senior municipal administrators will be retiring in the next ten years, programs such as the Municipal Internship Program assist in preparing young professionals like my colleagues in the program and I to play a role in shaping the communities of the future.
One of the dynamic aspects of the internship program is that the administrative stream can draw candidates from many backgrounds. Political Science, Public Administration, Economics and Business degrees are highly compatible. You should apply if you are looking to explore different career opportunities. The internship allows you to spend a year trying out various roles in municipal government. Interns are empowered to manage their own work plans. This makes the program highly adaptable to various personality types. Some of the things you may be doing in your host municipality include attending management meetings, preparing reports, writing bylaws, policies and procedures, and shadowing all jobs in the municipality. Over the past year, I have participated in everything from making presentations to council to fighting fires alongside the fire department. The diversity of activities is incredible and you will find that there is never a dull work day.
I moved to Alberta for the internship program. I worked for the Town of High River and the Municipal District of Foothills #31. During my internship, I lived in the Town of High River. I thought that moving from a bigger city would be challenging. However, many of my co-workers and citizens made the transition fairly easy. Over the year I have been able to see a large portion of the province of Alberta while attending conferences, meetings and doing site visits at other municipalities. It has been a truly enriching experience. I would recommend the internship program to adventurous graduates who are interested in fast-tracking their career in municipal government.
Upon graduating from University I was ready to venture out into the workforce and find not only a job but a career. Together with my employment back ground in management and University background in Native Studies my focus narrowed on the Municipal Internship Program for Administrators.
I have a deep appreciation for this Country and the Government as it continually provides me reasons why I should be proud of it. It was in that spirit that the Internship Program for Administrators was the next logical move.
Eleven months into the Municipal Internship Program for Administrators I have grown as a professional and as a person. Credit for the incredible mentorship that I received during the year can also be given to the Town Administrative team and to the Internship Administrators at Municipal Affairs.
Some of the highlights of my internship are: meeting the Minister of Municipal Affairs; worked with Municipal Interns on a many projects such as “Project Porchlight”; Volunteer Fire Fighter; Media relations; took on the position of Assistant Chief Administrative Officer; coordinating and addressing emerging issues; interviewing and hiring process of staff; Working with the C.A.O’s from surrounding municipalities on regional issues; attending Regular Council meetings; Regional Council meetings; EDO meetings; Mayors, Reeves, and Administrators meeting; and Committee meetings; Deputy Returning Officer for municipal elections; writing and making recommendations on Council’s policies; reviewing and writing bylaws, prosecuting Town Bylaws; preparing Council minutes and Agenda; and conducting property inspections.
Two paramount factors that facilitated my potential were my department heads and my class of interns. My department heads took turns mentoring me by directly involving me in their projects. In some cases I had projects that needed further research before proceeding. That is where my class of interns came in: I would let them know the issues I was trying to tackle and they would provide me with different strategies that they used in their own municipalities.
I am truly grateful to have met all of these extremely hard working, highly intelligent current and future leaders of Alberta.
Opportunity. That is the word I have heard most often regarding my position with the Municipal Internship Program. After graduating from the University of Alberta’s Political Science program, I was often faced with the question: “So now what?” The Municipal Internship Program has given me the opportunity to segue way my education into a career that is so much more than just a job. My first-hand knowledge of the inner working of local government is invaluable, and I have gained this exclusively as a Municipal Intern. Working for my host municipality I have had the opportunity to get down and dirty with front line workers as well to participate actively in high level decision making with Senior Management. As an intern I have attended several conferences and provincial conventions, allowing me to build a fantastic network of municipal and provincial employees, as well as elected officials. While I have learned about the different functions of local government—from strategic planning to how to drive a back hoe—perhaps more importantly, I have also acquired an intimate knowledge of the relationships necessary for a successful career in government. The professional development that the Municipal Internship Program hones in its participants is absolutely tremendous, and the opportunity I have had to work under a great mentor has helped to guide me on my (sometimes steep) learning curve.
Prior to the program, I didn’t even know what a “Municipal District” was, let alone that I would be exposed to such a variety of experiences. I have been personally involved in everything from noxious weed control to reconciling fleet and finances inventory lists to intermunicipal meetings. These experiences have all been pivotal in developing my passion for public service, and my continued desire to work in local government.
When I first heard about this program it was at a career fair at Carleton University where I had graduated from a few years earlier. Immediately I thought to myself, “I would kill for that job”. Fortunately, when I submitted my application they accepted me – no murders were necessary.
The internship has exceeded my expectations. I’ve learned so much and this has opened up so many career opportunities for me. The experiences have been invaluable and I’ve learned that government work can be incredibly rewarding. This has also given me the chance to be exposed to exciting careers within the City which I may have not even considered prior to the internship. I am truly thankful for this internship program and I would encourage anyone to apply. It really was a life-changing experience.
I’ve had the privilege to work on a number of projects including disaster recovery planning, a competitive analysis for economic development, various communications materials, and research projects for public transit. My shadowing of different departments has also allowed me to try on different ‘hats’ at the City. During this year I’ve been a gardener, a grave-digger, an economic development officer, a dog-catcher, a city clerk, a city engineer, a water tester, a property tax assessor, a receptionist, and many more roles.
Sitting in on important meetings is also a perk of being an intern. Learning about how the big decisions are made and participating in the process has been a fantastic learning opportunity. Attending conferences throughout the year has been a great way to meet interesting people and to make useful future contacts.
Well, by the time you are reading this posting, you have already read all the good things about the Alberta Municipal Internship Program. Moreover, you probably don’t really need another posting telling you why you should be an intern. After reading so many excellent postings, don’t you ever wonder how could such wonderful job exist in life? I have pondered on that question myself…
Stop wondering! Because the Alberta Municipal Internship Program is as good as it gets. As a recent graduate from the University of Lethbridge, I did several coop work terms with both the federal and provincial governments. I am very impressed with the Alberta Municipal Internship Program. The program is well organized and the Alberta Municipal Affairs provides excellent training sessions to educate interns on the most up to date knowledge in local government.
In the last 12 months, I have learned so much about municipal government. As an intern, I have the opportunities to shadow senior managers to learn about various functional areas. I have attended many professional conferences that advanced my knowledge in the area of management, leadership and municipal sustainability. Moreover, as an intern with the Town of Olds, I have the opportunities to participate in every aspect of municipal operation. The internship program is theoretical, at the same time, practical.
The most memorable moment of this internship is the fellow interns. As an intern, I have met people all across Canada and from different backgrounds of life. We have formed friendships, we enjoyed each others company and we shared laughs together. When I have questions in regards to municipal government, I call other interns to see what they would do. They are my Google search engine and I am their information network. We share what we have learned together and mostly important, we have fun together wherever we go. How good would an internship program be where there are only technical facts but no human touch? Regardless how much a person can know about municipal government, it is the people who makes the government run and friendship makes life fun.
The Alberta Municipal Internship Program, this is where you want to be after your university.
So, are you still wondering about the Alberta Municipal Internship Program? You can keep wondering about the program or you can be in the program. It is up to you.
As a recent graduate I found myself scanning through the numerous job postings at advertisements that I didn’t feel qualified for and didn’t meet the minimum requirements. I first heard about the Municipal Internship Program at the University of Alberta Career Fair. I was speaking to an intern from that year who had felt the same as I had coming out of university and felt that she was extended a tremendous opportunity to gain vast experience through a highly respected training program, and have a lot of fun doing it.
The Municipal Internship Program has provided me with the opportunity to expand my knowledge base of Municipal Government, and gain experience in the areas that I am interested in the most. Through the Internship program I was afforded the opportunity to attend high level intergovernmental meetings, design plans for new subdivisions, manage my own Economic Development projects, and gain the experience necessary to become a senior-level civil servant. I feel that becoming an intern has been an important step in my professional development, and prepared me for a challenging and rewarding career.
The hidden quality of the internship program has been the relationships that I have built with interns, and administrators throughout the province. As a result of the internship program I now have a strong network of friends and colleagues that I know I will retain for years to come. The travel throughout the province to various conferences and seminars has been an added bonus as well.
I would recommend to anyone with a passion for public service, a drive to gain vast experiences and a desire to make a difference in the community that they get involved in the Municipal Internship program.
During my internship at Mountain View County I’ve had the opportunity to work in a vast array of areas related to municipal government. I was able to experience everything from the subdivision process to engineering to accounts payable. All of these areas are fundamentals that will help me throughout my career. I’ve had commendable mentorship and support from all levels in the organization, and I’ve learned so much from their experience and technical knowledge. In particular I had lots of exposure to the CAO and his daily activities.
The projects that I have been assigned to throughout the year have definitely helped with my time management skills and problem solving skills. These skills are extremely useful in both my personal and professional life. I have seen the result of these projects in the community and I now fully understand the necessity and the amount of change that can be implemented at the local level. I really recommend the Alberta Municipal Internship Program to anybody who has a strong desire to be a leader in the community. The experiences that you encounter will follow you for life.
Coming into the job I knew only the basics of how local government worked. The Municipal Internship program was a valuable way for me to get exposure to the inner workings of a municipality, as well as an exposure to an overall perspective that would be difficult to obtain starting any other job with a local government. The program puts you in a great organization, and connects you with a network of experts who can guide you through any project. After spending a year working in my municipality I have learned a great deal about how municipal government works, and have a desire to continue.
When presented with career choices as a young adult, few have been exposed to the opportunities that are available in local government. That is why the Alberta Municipal Internship makes a valuable contribution to the attraction and retention strategies of municipal corporations.
The internship provides participants a broad overview of all functions in local government, allowing them to experience work in all departments. Interns are able to acquire within one short year a better knowledge of actors within the municipality and the intricacies of departmental functions than even longer-term staff.
Of greatest significance to myself, the internship has exposed me to the field of public relations. The function of public relations plays a vital role in communicating an organization's mission and success. The core of public relations is building and maintaining positive relationships with the organization's key audiences, being both external and internal. I have chosen this field to encapsulate my career goals.
The internship is a great opportunity to advance your knowledge of local government and be exposed to a variety of career choices therein available.
I first read about the Municipal Internship Program on my university’s online job board in my 4th year. I had never really given any thought to working in local government. I had never really acknowledged its existence prior to this opportunity. This program has given me first hand experience into the workings of local government.
The municipal internship allows you to experience municipal government in ways most other employees never will. You are given the opportunity to attend prestigious conferences, network with senior level management, and work on dream projects. Due to the nature of the program you are able to create a Workplan that allows you to rotate between all the different departments in the corporation. One month you can be in the sewers with Public Works, and the next you will be in the director’s office. Life as an intern is always changing.
I believe that every citizen should have the opportunity to experience first hand the way a local government office functions. This experience is beneficial and the knowledge gained can be taken with you forever.