Program Highlighted | Canadian Studies
Interview with | Erin Valentine
Date | December 2002

Interview | Erin Valentine

Erin Valentine is an Innis College fourth year Candian Studies specialist Student.

Innis: Would you introduce yourself?
Erin: My name is Erin Valentine, I am 22 years old and I am doing my fourth year as a Canadian Studies Specialist.

Innis: What attracted you to Canadian Studies?
Erin: I came to U of T thinking that I was going to study French, but I really wasn't happy with it after my first year. I did a seminar at Innis College about "Choosing your POSt" and was thinking "What am I going to do?" Then, my roommate said "Oh, I saw this thing about Canadian Studies and it seems like you would be really interested in it." So, I looked into it and decided to go with it.

Innis: What prompted your decision to leave French?
Erin: I was more interested in the societal applications of the language. It was also difficult to constantly think in two different languages.

Innis: Other than your roommate, what roles did advice/influence from peers, mentors, relatives, and others play in your decision?
Erin: My parents often discussed Canada while I was growing up.

Innis: Are you combining Canadian Studies with another program? If not, did you ever consider adding another program?
Erin: I did consider doing a minor in Political Science, but it didn't work out, so I decided to just do the Specialist. However, unless you want to go into Graduate School for Canadian Studies specifically it is a good idea to combine it because then you could continue on in History or English for example. It is hard to do graduate work with such an interdisciplinary base. I don't think that I would be accepted into a post-graduate History program, although I haven't really looked into it.

Innis: Are you considering doing a Master's degree in Canadian Studies?
Erin: Yes.

Innis: Great. What aspect(s) of your program do you find the most fascinating or inspiring-curriculum, professors, fellow students, its' interdisciplinary nature?
Erin: I would say its' interdisciplinary nature. I took courses in History, Religion, Aboriginal Studies, English, Linguistics, Canadian Studies, French, Geology, Politics, Culture, and Geography. In what other program could you take all those different subjects? It's also a really small program, so if you get involved, you can get to know your classmates, which definitely isn't a given at U of T.

Innis: That's so true. I noticed that your email is canadianstudies@hotmail.com, are you part of the executive?
Erin: I am part of the CSSU, the Canadian Studies Students' Union.

Innis: What is your position there?
Erin: It is essentially a really democratic union. We have a "sorta leader person", but we all share responsibilities. We are all considered executive members!

Innis: There are only five core courses in your highly interdisciplinary program, so is it difficult to get to know people in Canadian Studies?
Erin: It can be hard because you can take so many different courses, but in UNI220Y (Canada Today I) and UNI320Y(part II) (two of the main Canadian Studies courses) you get a chance to get to know people. Also, it's great to get to know people through the CSSU.

Innis: Is the CSSU mainly a social organization?
Erin: We organize many social events, and also host academic events such as the Speaker Series last week.

Innis: How would you rate the resources and opportunities offered by this program in the University of Toronto?
Erin: I think they are really good. Since the program is small I know the Director, Sylvia Bashevkin, personally. I'm sure that if you take Political Science, or any large program, it would be nearly impossible to know the Director personally. If you need to get into a course, or something like that, they will often work it out for you.

Innis: Of all the courses you have taken so far, which one did you enjoy the most and why?
Erin: I couldn't pick just one! I tried, but I can't. I have a top five though. The two core courses in Canadian Studies are the best: UNI220Y and 320Y. They are both year long and there is a different professor for each semester. The first semester is literary and culturally based and the second political and economic, so you get two views of Canada. There are sub units within each half, from multiculturalism to monetary union with the United States-a huge variety, so that was good. I really enjoyed my Introduction to Aboriginal Studies course, because it was just really amazing. My favourite History course was Immigration to Canada. Emily Gilbert teaches a Canadian Wilderness course, which was just introduced last year and I got my undergrad thesis topic from the class. Finally, the Canadian English course I am taking discusses the different dialects from coast to coast to coast, which helps me to realize the great diversity of our country.

Innis: Do you think that your program goes in depth enough? Do you feel concentrated enough?
Erin: Oh yes, if you want to really concentrate on History, then you are able to take a large amount of History courses along with the few core courses. There's just so much to choose from! In the Specialist Program there are five themes available to choose from: the Canadian cultural experience, the French presence in Canada, Canada in international perspective, Society and regions, and the Canadian environment. I am doing the Cultural stream.

Innis: Why did you choose Cultural studies as your focus?
Erin: I found it to be what I was most interested in; my thesis is about cultural studies, and my choice of program needed to reflect my thesis topic.

Innis: What is your thesis?
Erin: It's about Canadian wilderness in Toronto, and whether people try to bring wilderness into the city or whether they leave the city to find it, and the cultural wilderness in a big metropolitan Canadian city.

Innis: What are the main differences in your different courses?
Erin: The main differences are between theoretical and methodological approaches to learning. The way that a Political Science professor sees society is so different from a Cultural professor and an English professor. It's a very rich program that way, you get to see all the different approaches of how people look at and organize life.

Innis: Including the student union, what extracurricular activities have you been involved with?
Erin: I've been concentrating on the CSSU for the last couple years. My first year I was the co-editor of the Arts & Lit section of the Innis Herald. It was really cool because I was only a first year and didn't think that I would get the position, but decided to apply anyway, and it was a really fun experience. I think it's great to get involved in your program to get to know the students, and to help enrich their lives as well by organizing events. On the other hand it's also good to do things outside your program, whether it be a sport or a newspaper or anything, just to get outside scholastics for a second.

Innis: How did you manage to organize your time?
Erin: It is really important to plan ahead, which I know sounds cheesy. At the beginning of classes you receive a syllabus and you know what you need to do for the entire year or semester. The first week I write in my agenda all the due dates and set out a plan for how I will tackle all my work. I plan everything out early so it is done and the structure is there. It is really important to balance school and non-school. You can always work on an essay more, but is it that necessary to get an 85% instead of an 80%? It is also important to give friends and the other parts of your life attention.

Innis: What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone who is interested in pursuing this program?
Erin: To get involved, since it's easy to get lost in an interdisciplinary program. Join the CSSU or something social to get to know other people.

Innis: Of all your achievements here at the University of Toronto, which one(s) are you most proud of?
Erin: I think graduating from U of T, well I haven't quite done that yet, but in first year it seemed really insurmountable, and now I'm actually almost there, so it's amazing to look back on the past three and a half years. Also, I'm really proud of the course I got my highest mark in. Living on my own in Toronto as well, because I lived in Innis Residence for my first few years, but now I live in the Beaches and pay my own bills.

Innis: As a student in this field, I am sure that you have researched the job market. What kinds of employment opportunities are there?
Erin: Since it is interdisciplinary there are a wide range of opportunities. The most common area is public service and government work, because as a specialist in the country you'll be in high demand. The website mentions that graduates tend to get jobs in communications, politics, education, and business so there is a wide range.

Innis: I understand that you are interested in Museum and Library Sciences. What is this field? What attracts you to it?
Erin: Library Sciences is basically studying to become a high-end librarian, and studying Museum Sciences would likely result in becoming a curator. The Museum Sciences attracts me because I can't picture myself in the business field and I want to work in a public or non-profit institution. I've always wanted to be a Librarian, surrounded by books and helping people to find the knowledge they are seeking.

Innis: What steps are you taking to assist you in achieving these goals?
Erin: In my summer jobs I tried to look for positions that related to my desired field because when you apply to grad school they look at more than just grades.

Innis: Are there any other things you would like to say to Innis students?
Erin: I do have a bit of advice. If you have a choice between a half-year course and a full-year course always pick the full-year course. I find that they are the same amount of work! Also, if your syllabus lists more than three books then you won't really be focusing on one, and I suggest going to the library instead of spending hundreds of dollars on your reading list.

On behalf of Innis College I would like to thank you for giving your time so generously …

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