@misgengen
The OccEnv program at U of T is great - the research stream has a lot of flexibility. It is half course-based, half research-based. I decided to take mostly Epi courses in order to learn that skill set. For the research half, I'm doing one large thesis-like project instead of doing smaller research projects with different supervisors (also an option). I'm very happy I chose this program.
The Epi students have a full course load for the first year, spend the summer doing a practicum (research or practice-based), and then second year can be split between classes and practica.
