Ottawa, ON – Project Learning Tree (PLT) Canada and the Canadian Parks Council (CPC) announced a partnership to place 600 youth in summer jobs in Canada’s provincial and territorial parks in the summers of 2018 and 2019. PLT Canada has received approximately $4 million through the Government of Canada’s Summer Work Experience program to offer a 50% wage-match to support summer green job placements for youth.
“Canada’s future prosperity depends on young Canadians getting the skills and experience they need to succeed. Thanks to Project Learning Tree and the Canadian Parks Council, students will have more opportunities to work in the great outdoors this summer while enhancing their skills and saving money to pay for their education,” says The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.
PLT Canada’s mission is to grow future forest and conservation leaders. By working directly with the CPC and its member jurisdictions to employ youth in provincial and territorial parks we can inspire leadership in environmental stewardship.
“Providing summer work experience in Canada’s provincial and territorial parks is an opportunity to inspire a lifelong commitment to professions that serve and enhance the powerful benefits of nature,” shared Dawn Carr, Executive Director, Canadian Parks Council. “A summer job in a park is how I got my start in this sector and landed my dream job!”
“Ensuring youth are engaged and encouraged to pursue careers in the great outdoors will be critical to the future of Canada’s forests,” says Kathy Abusow, President & CEO. “These job opportunities will inspire youth to become future forest and conservation leaders.”
Many summer jobs for youth in Canadian parks are a great fit for this funding opportunity. Examples of Green Jobs in Canada’s parks include outdoor educators, youth rangers, park interpreters and GIS technicians. Funding awards will be determined based on alignment with the requirements of the program and best fit with PLT Canada values.
Seven provincial and territorial agencies have committed to providing summer jobs, including Ontario Parks, British Columbia Parks, Saskatchewan Parks, Yukon Parks, New Brunswick Parks, North West Territories Parks, and Nova Scotia Parks.
For more information and to receive wage-match funding application forms, email greenjobs@pltcanada.org. Jobs are for the summer of 2018. This initiative is to place students in jobs in the summer of 2018 and 2019.