Summer 2026 Mentorship Program - Protégé Registration

interVivos is pleased to announce our Sumer 2026 Mentorship Program that launches on Thursday, May 28 from 5:30 to 9:00 pm at 99Ten. This six-month program runs from June to December 2026.

The Summer 2026 Mentorship Program celebrates mentors of Asian heritage and highlights the meaningful work they are doing in our communities. During Asian Heritage Month, we’re proud to spotlight these mentors and create opportunities to support the next generation of leaders. Through safe and welcoming spaces to share experiences, mentors and protégés can learn from one another and grow as trusted, inspired and informed leaders.

Guided by diversity and inclusion principles, interVivos provides protégés with the opportunity to connect and match with successful mentors of Asian heritage with varied careers, backgrounds and perspectives. We’re dedicated to creating an environment that celebrates diversity and encourages interVivos protégés to select mentors from different cultural, ethnic and language backgrounds as potential matches. Protégés from all backgrounds are encouraged to register. interVivos is a nonpartisan organization and we support one another by creating a sense of belonging for all.

A $70 cost + Eventbrite fees for protégés supports our non-profit initiatives. We also offer complimentary spots for local non-profit organizations, including protégé spots through our community partners for this program. We’re always looking to connect with additional community groups interested in participating.

We want this event to be accessible. Feel free to email us at [email protected] to explore reduced ticket options.

Ten mentors will meet ten protégés at our in-person program launch to determine who is the best for them during the program. Here are some important launch details:

• Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026
• Time: 5:30-9 pm
• Location: 99Ten (9910 109 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 1H5)
• Accessibility: Please let us know if you have questions.
• Our launch emcee is Nathan Ip, MLA Edmonton-South West
• A light snack will be provided. Additional food and drinks are available for purchase. Feel free to arrive early or stay after to enjoy a full meal at your own expense.
• Mentors and Protégés are expected to participate in the full launch event from 5:30–9:00 PM. The launch will include a series of speed-rotations, where mentors and protégés in pairs will discuss their goals and expectations in short 7-minute conversations. Please note that attendance for the full event is required to participate in the program.
• Participants rank their choices at the end of the evening on a Google form sent via email after the launch, and interVivos makes the final matches in mid-June.

• Dr. Bonnie Islam, Associate Professor, Pediatrician at University of Alberta, Northeast Community Health Centre, New Canadians Health Centre
• Gingie Welsh, Corporate Services Manager at Covenant Health
• Ilona Maitra
• Jasjit Kahlon
• Major Jose Areekadan, Deputy Commanding Officer at 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group
• Larissa Kho, Account Director at FKA
• Linda Ha, Business owner/ Coach/ Consultant at Service Pathways
• Patrick Yu, Director, Trade Collaboration at Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, Government of Alberta
• Puneet Manchanda, LP Manager Engineering Services at Enbridge
• Soni Dasmohapatra, Assistant Professor at MacEwan University

Our organization provides you with resources and support to help you with the launch and the 6-month program, including a mandatory Zoom orientation scheduled for two hours on Monday, May 25, 7:00-9:00 pm. Your meeting link will be emailed to you shortly after you register.

After you register, please email us a high-resolution, professional, and colour photo of yourself by Wednesday, May 20 at [email protected]. The photo doesn’t need to be a professional headshot, but please avoid selfies, AI images or passport photos. It will be used alongside your biography in the launch playbill for program participants and on our website and social media accounts.

• "The interVivos Mentorship Program was an excellent opportunity to network and connect with outstanding leaders in the community. Cultivating a close relationship with a community leader over six months is such a privilege. I feel grateful, and I will hold close all of the lessons learned as I move forward in my personal and professional worlds."
• "I appreciate the program's flexible structure regarding letting the partnership grow organically and setting a working style that fits both the protégés and the mentor. "
• "Really impressed with how this process rolled out and the thought and intention behind it. It was great to see the board—already a very diverse group of young women—driven to take diversity and inclusion training to ensure the program addresses any potential power imbalances. I’ve personally been in networking and mentorship events/programs where mentors grossly abused their position given the stage and power dynamics that were intentionally set up to be highly imbalanced. Not once did I feel uncomfortable; everyone, whether mentors or protégés, was genuinely valued and appreciated."
• "I’ve had multiple mentors in the past, all from my field, but this is the first time I’ve been matched cross-industry, and it has been incredibly helpful and surprising. This mentorship experience has been different in the best way possible. I’ve felt much more comfortable sharing my professional journey, including my dislikes, which is something I never expected. In previous mentorship settings, I often felt like I had to present myself in a certain way. This time, the experience has felt easygoing and authentic. It is also the first time I have felt open enough to share aspects of being neurodivergent, which has made our conversations even more meaningful."
• "What has truly surprised me about this experience is the level of insight, strategic thinking and accessibility my mentor brings to each conversation. Given their senior role, I initially thought our discussions might feel formal or highly structured. Instead, I have been pleasantly surprised by how open, approachable and invested they are in my growth. They have been generous in sharing not only their professional journey, but also the nuanced, behind-the-scenes aspects of policy development, which I wasn’t expecting to learn in such depth. Another surprise has been how relatable and encouraging my mentor has been. Despite their significant responsibilities and experience, they have created an open space for dialogue, making it easy for me to ask questions, seek advice and share openly."
• "As a first-time protégé, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the mentorship program and my mentor have made the experience seamless and comfortable. I’ve found it easy to share my challenges, seek feedback and gain valuable knowledge. I have been pleasantly surprised by how open and insightful our discussions have been, and it has been a great experience connecting with and learning from him."

Questions?

Check out our FAQs, or send us an email at [email protected].

Be sure to check us out on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn) to stay up to date on all things interVivos and find out more about our mentors. You can also join our mailing list to stay connected.

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