I came to VIU as a transfer student in 2020. I completed a diploma in Fish and Wildlife Conservation from Sault College in Ontario, and then completed one year of a Bachelor of Science at Lake Superior State University in Michigan. Originally born and raised in Maple Ridge B.C, I was missing the west coast, and coupled with other reasons, I decided to head back to BC to finish my schooling.
Upon researching the different programs and schools, the small class sizes, and opportunity to be taught by professors who did the job before going into the academics is what confirmed that VIU was where I wanted to finish my education. Before coming to VIU, I had completed three contracts between school years with Natural Resources Canada as a Forest Entomology Technician, where I worked with invasive and native pest species.
In all honesty, I had no desire to go into the enforcement/compliance world, and only aspired to work within the sciences. Regardless of this, VIU was still my main choice for completing my degree as I figured gaining knowledge of the different legislation and enforcement tactics would be a good challenge and unique way of rounding out my education. I used my electives to take the required biology courses needed for the College of Applied Biology, and as the semesters went on, I found myself really enjoying all the new concepts being taught regarding enforcement/compliance. Being a transfer student wasn’t easy though. I came into a program where I had no previous knowledge of the material being taught. Everyone else had been learning these concepts for 2 years prior, so I really had to buckle down and catch up fast. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the help of all the professors. They spent time after class with me getting me up to speed and were always committed to helping me succeed.
While at VIU I worked a contract for FLNRORD in Nanaimo as a Forestry and Fisheries Research Assistant and I also volunteered with the Centre for Shellfish Research on campus. Upon graduating BNRP I spent a year working on the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline as a Jr. Aquatic Biologist doing water quality monitoring and fish salvages. I quickly realized that consulting was not what I wanted for my career, and for the first time ever I quit before having a new job lined up. Your mental health is more important than a job, remember that! Consulting is a great way to gain experience though, especially right out of school.
During my time as a consultant, I decided to move to Alberta. Here, I was able to get on with the Government of Alberta (GOA) for a 6-month contract as a Fisheries Technician. Since contracts are the nature of the game in terms of the environmental world, I saw a 2-year contract being offered for an Environmental Protection Officer (EPO) with the GOA. I didn’t feel overly excited about the job posting, but 2 years of work is 2 years of work, so I applied anyways.
Fast forward to today, I am now 6 months into my 2-year contract as an EPO, and I am really enjoying it. I work with the Water Act and am on the drought response team making sure water use within the province of Alberta is being done legally. I work with farmers, wastewater operators, the public and industry to name a few. Without the education I received at VIU I would have never been able to flourish in this position as much as I already have.
Some advice for you new and/or potential students. Take the opportunities as they come and keep your mind open to your career being fluid. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t take chances in trying out positions I thought I wouldn’t like.