Empowering future leaders: The City of Kelowna’s summer student program

Each summer, the City of Kelowna provides post-secondary students with valuable work experience that complements their studies. Between May and August, these opportunities not only help students develop practical skills and advance their career paths but also allow the City to build future capacity by fostering the next generation of professionals.

While some students are local, others move to Kelowna for the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom. The skills they develop serve them long after the summer ends.  

Tnvir

Tnvir Mattu, a Development Planning Co-op student from Surrey, BC, had a transformative summer. She moved to Kelowna to explore the professional world of urban planning and also found herself soaking up as much sun as possible before returning to Vancouver in the fall. As she settled into her role, Tnvir discovered that urban planning isn’t just about blueprints and zoning bylaws – it's about weaving practical needs, social considerations, and environmental consciousness into our community.

“Moving to Kelowna by myself was a big change, and I’m so happy I did it. The summer provided lots of growth opportunities, both personally and professionally,” says Tnvir.

Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism at the University of British Columbia, Tnvir explores how design choices ripple through society and how the shaping of spaces can stimulate cultural change and long-term impact in different urban spaces.

Urban planners serve as liaisons between stakeholders, coordinating with internal and external departments while guiding applicants through the development process. Once a project meets all requirements, they prepare reports for council, highlight key aspects of the proposal, and draft permits to start the construction phase.

Over the summer work term, Tnvir gained insight into the role of a development planner with the guidance of Jocelyn Black, Urban Planning Manager.

“Hiring summer students brings immense value to both our department and the organization as a whole. Students, like Tnvir, bring new perspectives and innovative ideas that contribute to our projects in meaningful ways,” says Jocelyn.

Tnvir was involved in policy reviews and introduced to the development application process, which included collaborating with infrastructure-related departments and communicating with applicants. She managed a file for a four-unit townhouse development permit, learning how to set up the file and reviewing materials such as site plans and landscape plans, to ensure compliance with zoning bylaws and the Official Community Plan.

"This experience really helped me come out of my shell and taught me how to navigate the professional world with confidence,” says Tnvir.

In addition, Tnvir explored how MODO, the City’s car share program, is implemented and regulated and played a key role in assessing the program’s performance. She organized meetings with MODO stakeholders to gather data on usage and membership, assessed MODO stalls, and collaborated with the GIS mapping department to create an interactive map on the City’s website. After summarizing her findings, she presented a report to management and proposed ideas for program improvements.

“It really feels like I am making cool contributions to the community and have a hand in steering its future,” she says.

Tnvir also contributed to the sign bylaw rewrite, which aims to improve signage regulations in Kelowna by researching best practices and approaches used by other municipalities.

“I have now realized that working in urban planning is a great way to make a positive impact on a growing community,” says Tnvir.

Ahil

Ahil Jindani moved from Victoria, BC to work as a Finance Systems & Planning Co-op Student. He enjoyed exploring the Okanagan and all it has to offer during the summer months, especially the farmer’s market.

Ahil is taking a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with a Finance option at the University of Victoria. His studies include evaluating the costs and benefits related to various decisions across diverse sectors, including finance, public policy, and the environment. He is also learning how to analyze different economic decisions.

Under leadership from Laura Cridge, Finance Systems and Planning Manager, Ahil was introduced to the intricacies of municipal financial operations. She demonstrated how to effectively manage City financial resources, analyze financial data, and implement financial controls.

Over the summer, Ahil also connected with various City departments such as Accounting Operations, Asset Management, Purchasing and Infrastructure. He worked on a project management framework to help the Infrastructure team, aiming to centralize project management filing to help collaboration among stakeholders.

“Acquiring new skills and building relationships with City staff across various departments has been a highly rewarding experience,” says Ahil.

Ahil also got to work on the internal service ticketing system to standardize the City’s financial services, creating metric tracking tools to help managers assess staff resourcing more efficiently.

“I have gained a much deeper understanding of large-scale project management and how finance operations are involved in different areas of government,” says Ahil.

Student co-op and career path opportunities are advertised on the City’s Career Opportunities system and at various post-secondary institutions. The City's summer student program aims to connect students with valuable work experience and career development resources. Investing in the next generation of leaders helps Kelowna become a City of the Future.