Being a student in Canada in 2026 feels like running a marathon with rent, tuition, and groceries strapped to your back. Professors keep repeating “get experience while you’re in school” like it’s a motivational poster, but nobody tells you where those opportunities actually hide. This guide cuts through the noise: funded internships, co‑ops, and programs that pay, plus the deadlines you need to hit. Think of it less as a checklist and more as a survival manual for piecing to