code for canada’s
Fellowship
program

2017–2021
Accelerating digital transformation in government one project at a time

When Code for Canada was founded, it was with the same mission and vision we have today — to improve lives across Canada by helping to make inclusive, accessible and effective digital services for everyone.

In 2021, we slowly sunset our flagship program: the Code for Canada Fellowship. Running from 2017 to 2021, the Fellowship embedded 50+ digital professionals, or “fellows,” within 16 different government projects to help their public sector partners advance their digital knowledge while co-creating innovative digital solutions.

These teams of product managers, designers, and developers worked on everything from helping the City of Toronto provide better access to housing, to ensuring veterans got quicker and easier access to their benefits. Together, with their pioneering public sector partners, they built digital products and services that improved lives while accelerating digital transformation in government.

So why did we say goodbye? Following the Fellowship's core principles meant being responsive to our "user" needs. Partner and fellow feedback guided the evolution of the program into a more custom, flexible experience that's opened up new opportunities for us to advance our mission.

But none of the work we do today would be possible without the foundations of the Fellowship, and the incredible work of the fellows that were part of it.

On this page you’ll find everyone who participated in the program, and the digital solutions they were able to create. We hope you’ll take a moment to explore.

At a Glance

5

COHORTS

16

PARTNERS

51

FELLOWS

16

PROJECTS

70%

of our fellows chose to stay in government after their fellowship

📖 Read more!

2017–2018

WHO THEY WORKED WITH

COHORT 1

Daniel Tse
Product Manager
Canadian Digital Service
Leon Lukashevsky
Developer
Canadian Digital Service
Racula Ene
UX Designer
Canadian Digital Service
Christine Lee
Product Manager
Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development
Sophie Sengmany
UX Designer
Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development
Santiago Mendoza
Developer
Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development

WHAT THEY DID

🏆

The Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development wanted to build a digital tool to improve adults’ education experience. They brought in a team of fellows to help make it happen. The team developed a tool that helps learners identify and access relevant training programs, making it easier for them to take the next step toward further education.

🏆

Veteran Affairs Canada’s Online Services team requested the Canadian Digital Service’s help in developing “Benefits at a Glance,” a web-based directory of all Veteran Affairs Canada Benefits. The CDS agreed and partnered with us to bring a team of fellows to tackle the project.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

2018

WHO THEY WORKED WITH

COHORT 2

Pallavi Thampi
Product Manager
Canadian Digital Service
Andrew Konoff
Product Manager Toronto Transportation Services
Evan Savage
Developer
Toronto Transportation Services
Andee Pittman
UX Designer
Transport Canada
Jennifer Payne
Product Manager Transport Canada
Fatima Sarah Khalid
Developer
Transport Canada
Siobhan Ozege
Product Manager
Public Service Commision of Canada
Caley Brock
Developer
Public Service Commision of Canada
Joey Hua
UX Designer
Public Service Commision of Canada

🏆

Fellows at the City of Toronto Transportation Services contributed to Toronto’s Vision Zero road safety plan by prototyping innovative data products that better engaged residents and key stakeholders.

🏆

Fellows at Transport Canada conducted user research with drone pilots and prototyped digital tools to help them fly safely and in accordance with new regulations.

🏆

Fellows at the Public Service Commission of Canada helped deliver a more modern, inclusive, accessible and user-centred experience for Canadians applying for jobs in the federal public service.

WHAT THEY DID

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

💕

“The friendship and opportunity to showcase the impact our team could have at the federal level”

💖

“On-boarding with my cohort and the outcomes of our time with our partners”

💕

“Being exposed to how government operates and finally feeling like I might be able to make an impact in my career

💖

“I was invited to give an ignite talk at the department and their partners’ innovation event. It was really memorable because it felt like they respected and appreciated me enough to give me space to speak in their space”

FAVOURITE FELLOWSHIP MEMORIES

2019

WHO THEY WORKED WITH

COHORT 3

A photo of collaborator Andrea Hill
Andrea Hill
UX Designer
Public Services & Procurement Canada
A photo of collaborator Mike Jenkins
Mike Jenkins
Developer
Public Services & Procurement Canada
A photo of collaborator Maddy Elwins
Maddy Ewins
Product Manager
Public Services & Procurement Canada
Ayisha Memon
Product Manager
Toronto Shelter Support & Housing Administration
Sabrina Dominguez
UX Designer
Toronto Shelter Support & Housing Administration
Russell Hoy
Developer
Toronto Shelter Support & Housing Administration
Lequanne Collins-Bacchus
Product Manager
Canada Energy Regulator
Roan Reimer
UX Designer
Canada Energy Regulator
Ivan Duka
Developer
Canada Energy Regulator
Glennys Egan
Product Manager
Public Health Agency of Canada
Rosemarie Gresham
UX Designer
Public Health Agency of Canada
Adam Simonini
Developer
Canada Energy Regulator

WHAT THEY DID

🏆

Fellows worked with Toronto’s Shelter Support and Housing Administration to design a digital solution that helped city staff find stable, permanent housing for residents experiencing homelessness.

🏆

Fellows’ worked with Public Services and Procurement Canada to help reimagine the government travel experience, so public servants can spend less time booking and expensing travel and more time helping residents.

🏆

Fellows’ worked with the National Energy Board in Calgary to help make data about important energy projects more accessible for Canadians.

🏆

Fellows worked with the Public Health Agency of Canada to help modernize the department’s granting process, creating a better experience for users and enabling PHAC’s partners to focus on improving health outcomes in their communities rather than filling out forms.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

THE IMPACT

88%

of fellowship alumni surveyed said participating in the Fellowship made them more likely to consider a career in government

100%

of fellowship alumni surveyed felt the Fellowship was an important step in their career journey

2020

WHO THEY WORKED WITH

COHORT 4

Jude Park
UX Designer
Transport Canada Surface Security
Jared Chadwick
Product Manager
Transport Canada Surface Security
David Ranger
Developer
Transport Canada Surface Security
Keith Colbourne
Product Manager
Transport Canada Marine Safety Unit
Kay Nadalin
UX Designer
Transport Canada Marine Safety Unit
Alexandre Sanscartier
Developer
Transport Canada Marine Safety Unit
Noor Syed
Developer
Measurement Canada
Jasper Chan
Product Manager
Measurement Canada
Ramis Khawaja
UX Designer Measurement Canada
oluSeyi Taylor
Product Manager
Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Rola Kuidir
UX Designer
Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Zola McAdie
Developer
Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

WHAT THEY DID

🏆

Fellows at Transport Canada’s Intermodal Surface Security & Emergency Preparedness Unit helped adapt and improve the security clearance process for employees at our ports and airports. They created a better experience for workers, reduced costly delays, and supported the security of our national transportation network.

🏆

Fellows at the
Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs supported provincial growers by making data about pests and crop threats more integrated, accessible and actionable.

🏆

Fellows’ worked with Public Services and Procurement Canada to help reimagine the government travel experience, so public servants can spend less time booking and expensing travel and more time helping residents.

🏆

Fellows with Transport Canada’s Marine Safety Unit helped the Ministry ensure workers on our waterways were properly trained and certified. They helped transform the in-person, pen and paper certification process into a simple and secure digital experience for both seafarers and staff.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

📺 Watch the TC SS team demo their tool which helped modernize the department's security screening program

📺 Watch the TC MS team demo their tool which helped Canadian seafarers get certified 

📺 Watch the MC team demo their tool which assisted the inspectors who protect Canadians from mis-measurement in the marketplace

📺 Watch the MC team demo their tool which assisted the inspectors who protect Canadians from mis-measurement in the marketplace

📖 Read about the OMAFRA team’s work and 📺 watch them demo their tool which helped get vital pest data to farmers faster.

2021

WHO THEY WORKED WITH

COHORT 5

Ian Cappellani
Developer
Canada Energy Regulator
Gillian Wu
UX Designer
Canada Energy Regulator
Malik Jumani
Product manager
Canada Energy Regulator
Sidra Mahmood
UX Designer
Employment and Social Development Canada
Dena Sotoudeh
Product Manager
Employment and Social Development Canada
Regan Meloche
Developer
Employment and Social Development Canada
Neil Mispelaar
Developer
Employment and Social Development Canada
Farwa Farshori
Product Manager
Employment and Social Development Canada
Thomas Hoy
UX Designer
Employment and Social Development Canada
Christina Lanning
UX Designer
Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group
Heshan Modaragamage
Product Manager
Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group
Korhan Akcura
Developer
Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group

WHAT THEY DID

🏆

Fellows at the
Canada Energy Regulator (CER) researched and prototyped new digital engagement tools. Their work supported and enhanced how the CER consults with stakeholders, Indigenous Peoples and the public on important energy projects.

🏆

Every year, between 10,000 to 12,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces leave the military and re-enter civilian life. Code for Canada fellows with the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group (CAF TG) built tools to make the experience of transition more user-centred and effective. Their work helped outgoing members access training, healthcare and other services they need to take their best next step into the future.

🏆

Fellows with Employment and Social Development Canada explored how emerging technologies and methods could reshape the way social benefits are delivered to Canadians — both on the back-end of policy, and the front-end of user experience.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

📖 Read about how the CAF-TG team developed their tool and 📺 watch them demo it

📖 Read how the CER team built their tool and 📺 watch their demo

The Legacy of
the Fellowship

While the Fellowship program has ended, the legacy of its alumni and their important work lives on. From the fellows who went on to work as public servants dedicated to digital transformation, to the continued use of many of their tools, to the work that Code for Canada continues to do today — the program set the stage for future years of work improving lives across Canada with tech and design.

Want to be part of that legacy? Get in touch with us about bringing a team of digital professionals to your department to work on a digital transformation project.

Inspired?

Let’s Work Together