Internship Spotlight: Kyra Meier - The Bentway

I would like to thank Mr. David Roland for their generous support through the Roland Arts Summer Internship Award. My internship as Editorial Content Intern at The Bentway gave me practical experience related to the advancement of social causes and represented a positive first step into the field of Geography and Urbanism. The internship was perfect for me as a U1 Geography (Urban Studies) undergraduate who is particularly interested in public space, city building, and community engagement. I was able to expand all these interests in new and surprising ways, whether that was interviewing experts from across the world or researching climate adaptation for our publication.

As soon as I found The Bentway among McGill’s Arts Internship postings, I knew I had to apply. I deeply appreciated the Bentway and its mission for public space activation, and when I began the internship, I brought my passion for arts, culture, and social change with me. I also brought objectives to make meaningful connections and to contribute as much as possible in editorial content to the organization's seasonal publication.

The Bentway's mission to “ignite the urban imagination” is something I resonated with as an Urban Studies major. They work to guide the complex future of Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway by creating vibrant public spaces for people of all ages and backgrounds while connecting the city’s waterfront to its inland. They also engage artists, neighbours, supporters, city-builders and thinkers towards a vision of connective public space across the entirety of the under-Gardiner space. I am grateful to have connected with so many of these people during my time with the Planning & Design department.

My academic background directly prepared me for success during this internship. My interests in urban life, climate issues, and social justice were key for the “softer” sides of my internship responsibilities, and the “hard” skills coming from my G.I.S. minor were perfect for developing captivating digital assets for our publication. The theme of the season, Sun and Shade, provided a perfect intersection of my interests, allowing me to bring out my specific skills as well as my B.A. background in writing, editing, and considering many perspectives.

Some highlights of my internship included memorable moments with my colleagues, joining in on a myriad of exciting events, and occasions of remarkable accomplishment and progress. One standout was simply interacting with the site. The Bentway is such an innovative space that is genuinely inspiring to exist in – and I took advantage of it by attending the opening-night party there, watching an incredible dance performance, modelling for a site photoshoot, going on site tours, and taking my lunch breaks on site.

While my experience at The Bentway was overwhelmingly positive, it did come with some challenges. For example, working from home was wonderful for the summer in that it provided me with some locational flexibility, but it was more trying for me to regulate my workday at home than it was in-office. I countered this challenge by working in cafes, public libraries, and creating an isolated work environment for myself during remote days.

The position of Editorial Content Intern prepared me for an exciting career pathway, setting me on foot towards more opportunities and immersing me in an exciting and fast-paced field. I met many interesting people, connected in a genuine way with my co-workers, and learned about what it meant to be professional, all while keeping my student identity and looking forward to leveraging my learnings for further growth. Having gained a glimpse of the field, I now know what I want to hone in on back at McGill.

In my circumstances, an unpaid internship would not have been possible. The Roland Arts Summer Internship Award allowed me to finance my summer and put away money towards tuition for the Fall semester. Receiving payment for work I truly enjoyed was an amazing feeling, and made my internship feel valuable and worthwhile. Thank you to Mr. David Roland for making this experience possible with your generous support!