The summer student experience at Extendicare: Learning, networking, and long-lasting impact

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Over the last few months, I have been a summer student on the Public Affairs team - one of eight university students who interned at Extendicare's head office in Markham, Ontario.

We had the opportunity to contribute to a range of projects, while gaining experience and understanding of the workings of long-term care at one of Canada's leading providers of care and services for seniors.

Learning and development

One of the highlights of the internship was a series of learning and networking sessions organized by the Human Resources (HR) team. These sessions were designed to help us grow our professional brand and prepare for entry to the job market, with the guidance of Extendicare leaders.

The first Lunch and Learn session emphasized the importance of personal branding and honing our professional profile online. We discussed how to build a strong and effective resume and use tools like LinkedIn.

The second Lunch and Learn session gave us the chance to hear from some of Extendicare's leaders. They shared their own career journeys, including pivots and bumps along the way, and offering advice and encouragement.

The importance of building strong networks and being curious were two pieces of advice that will stay with me.

Beyond the office: building relationships and having fun

Extendicare also ensured the students had many opportunities to get together as a group. The HR team organized a bowling outing, which was a blast! It was a great way to unwind, have fun, and build friendships with fellow interns. The students and mentors attended a farewell breakfast, where they could reflect on their experiences and celebrate the connections that were made.

Real-world experience

One of the most impactful parts of the internship were visits to Extendicare's long-term care homes, Extendicare Guildwood and Extendicare Scarborough. I personally had the opportunity to visit ParaMed's Oakville office and interview Evelyn, the Care and Services Manager responsible for supporting home health care professionals in the field, and a nurse, Tami. Throughout these visits, we also met with long-term care residents, spoke with the clinical leaders, and observed the various roles that come together to provide quality care. It was a great experience that really made me appreciate the work being done on the front lines of health care, every day

Reflections from the team

Each student had a unique experience at Extendicare, working with their various teams.

Duaa, who attends Western University and worked with the Talent Acquisition team, described her experience as well: "My internship at Extendicare has been an extremely rewarding experience that has allowed me to both understand the healthcare industry from a different lens and work with an extremely dedicated and supportive group of people. Witnessing a real-time impact on resident and patient care is something I will always cherish."

Laura Gallant, Director of External Relations on the Public Affairs team remarked, "It has been an amazing experience having a summer student on our team over the last couple of months. Her fresh perspective allowed us to learn and experiment with new skills we hadn't considered yet.

A summer to remember

This summer at Extendicare was more than just an internship-it was a journey of learning, growth, and connection.

Tori Jones joined Extendicare's Public Affairs team as the Communications Assistant during the summer of 2024. She is studying a double major in Political Studies and Health Studies at Queen's University.

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