The Municipal Innovation Internship Program (MIIP) provides emerging professionals with hands-on experience while contributing to meaningful projects that support municipalities and the communities they serve. Meet the talented interns and discover the innovative projects they’re working on, from research and policy initiatives to community engagement and digital solutions.
2026 Cohort
Maryam Abouelela
Western University
Project: Enhancing Engagement in Oakville: Voter and Candidate Outreach for the 2026 Municipal Election
Town of Oakville
The Town of Oakville is launching a research-based outreach and education initiative to increase awareness, engagement, and participation in the 2026 municipal election. Grounded in best practices and an inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) approach, the project will deliver clear, accessible election information—such as key dates, voting options, legislative updates, and voters list details—with a focus on reaching underrepresented groups, including youth, newcomers, renters, seniors, Indigenous individuals, and people with disabilities. This project will also address misinformation by promoting digital literacy and trusted sources, supporting informed participation and a healthy local democracy.
Mashuk Ahmed
Lakehead University
Project: Exploration of the Use of Artificial Intelligence in a Small, Rural, Northern Municipality
Township of Terrace Bay
The Township of Terrace Bay is pursuing a strategic initiative to explore and implement practical, cost-effective artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that enhance municipal service delivery and operational efficiency in a small, rural, Northern Ontario context. Drawing on lessons from larger municipalities while addressing local constraints, the project will assess AI applications, including service optimization, resident engagement tools, predictive infrastructure maintenance, and data-driven decision-making. By focusing on solutions suited to limited resources, large geographic areas, and remote locations, the initiative aims to develop a scalable framework for AI adoption that can be adapted by other rural and Northern Ontario municipalities.
Haley Ng
Western University
Project: Optimizing Community Paramedicine: Evaluating System Efficiencies & Innovation
Middlesex-London Paramedic Service
Middlesex-London Paramedic Services is undertaking a research project to evaluate the impact and future potential of its Community Paramedicine and CPLTC+ programs, which deliver proactive, non-emergency healthcare to reduce pressure on 911 services and emergency departments. The initiative will assess financial and operational outcomes, patient impacts, and hospital avoidance, while also exploring the feasibility of integrating a provincially funded physician into paramedic teams to improve care for unattached patients. The project will produce evidence-based insights and policy recommendations to inform municipal and provincial decision-making, support future pilots, and advance system-wide health care improvements.
Silvia Rodrigues
Western University
Project: Records Management Review Implementation
Municipality of North Perth
The Municipality of North Perth is undertaking a review of its records management system, focused on modernizing and strengthening records practices across the organization. Building on a 2025 current-state assessment, this project will support the implementation of key recommendations, such as policy and bylaw updates, new procedures, system deployment, and staff training. The initiative aims to establish a consistent, organization-wide approach to managing digital and paper records, ensuring long-term effectiveness, compliance, and operational continuity.
Nicholas Spataro
Queen's University
Project: Lifting Black Voices
City of Ottawa
As part of the City of Ottawa Archives’ award-winning Tapestry Project and in support of the City’s Anti-Racism Strategy, this initiative seeks to uncover and elevate Black voices preserved within the Archives’ collections. Through focused research in historic publications such as the Ottawa Journal and The Spectrum, the project will draw attention to lived experiences, perspectives, and contributions that have often been underrepresented in dominant narratives. The outcome will include curated indexes and selected digital scans, creating valuable, accessible resources for researchers and helping to strengthen understanding, representation, and connection across past, present, and future communities.