Profile: Loryn Gentle

A “bridge” means more than one thing!

Loryn Gentle participated in the Co-op Student Program and was bridged into the Government of Canada in a Communications Specialist position.

For many students about to graduate from university, the prospect of finding a full-time job in their field of study is truly a dream come true. For Loryn Gentle, a new graduate of the University of Ottawa’s Department of Communication, this dream came true earlier than she expected.

By participating in a co-op program, Loryn had the opportunity to work in several different federal departments in a multitude of areas including internal communications, event management and public opinion research. Loryn’s most recent co-op placement was as a Communications Assistant at Infrastructure Canada (INFC) where she worked as part of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications.  She enjoyed the placement so much—and was such a good fit for the department—that INFC took the steps necessary to bridge her in as a full-time Communications Specialist after she completed her studies in December. 

Finding a full-time job

“I never imagined finding a full-time job in my field before graduating,” she beams. “I chose to work for Infrastructure Canada because the department provides challenging work. I am continually learning and expanding my skills. My colleagues have always provided feedback and support and I have developed many friendships that would otherwise not have been possible.”

“The team is dynamic and has helped me in my career development. I think my job is interesting because every day I am given the opportunity to become involved in something new. I prepare communications products for intergovernmental announcements involving millions of dollars for infrastructure, carry out media monitoring as well as many other interesting assignments. I have also been given the opportunity to attend and represent INFC at interdepartmental meetings and learning sessions on public opinion research.”

Being a part of the Public Service is something that Loryn is excited about—and she’s eager to share her experiences with others. Aside from working full-time at INFC, she volunteers at the University of Ottawa as a co-op mentor, talking with students about the benefits of the co-op program and aiding them with their job search. “I find this job very rewarding because I am able to pass on my knowledge and experience to others.”

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