Invasive Species Program Coordinator – The Invasive Species Council of BC
As an Invasive Species Program Coordinator at ISCBC, I have been focused on monitoring Japanese Beetle traps in the lower mainland weekly as part of a bigger survey led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, using GIS softwares. I have also been working on monthly Box Tree Moth monitoring, invasive species resource development (i.e. factsheets), coordinating outreach events, and assisting in a multitude of other projects where I can.
I have learned a lot about current management techniques used to combat invasive species (i.e. prevention and biocontrol), as well as the dynamics between invasive and native species. This experience has allowed me to explore areas within ecology and conservation I had not considered, which has expanded my understanding of the current conservation situation in BC.
Date: September 30, 2025 | 11:45 am – 3:00 pm PST Location: Various locations around UBC Vancouver Campus, meeting at 1956 Main Mall
Walking Forward: Honouring Youth, Carrying Hope
Join us for an Intergenerational March to commemorate Orange Shirt Day (OSD). The Faculties of Land and Food Systems and Forestry are honoured to host this event. This is one way the Faculties demonstrate their commitment to the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan. Members of the UBC community, families and those in solidarity are welcome to participate. The March is intergenerational, and aims to be educational and supportive to the Indigenous community on campus and beyond. Educational activities will allow younger participants to connect with the original inhabitants of the land and plant a seed to continue these conversations about a difficult era in Canadian history at home.
We encourage you to stop by the open area outside the UBC Bookstore to purchase educational materials and t-shirts. The UBC Bookstore trailer will be on site from 10:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Food is available for purchase at the AMS Nest, or any of the restaurants along University Boulevard.
T-shirt proceeds are donated to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. If you would like to donate directly, please visit the IRSSS website.
Pacific Assistance Dogs Society training dogs and handlers will join attendees at the 1956 Main Mall, amphitheatre near the Ladner Clock Tower to provide support during the march.
Participants gather at outdoor ‘amphitheatre’ below the clock tower
1956 Main Mall
12:00-12:05 p.m.
Event starts and students introduce speakers and performers
1956 Main Mall
12:05-12:20 p.m.
Opening by a Musqueam Elder
1956 Main Mall
12:20-12:50 p.m.
Drum group perform
1956 Main Mall
12:50-1:15 p.m.
Speech by a survivor of St. Paul’s Residential School, Sam George of the Squamish Nation
1956 Main Mall
1:15-1:30 p.m.
Aileen Michel (L’il Bear) and Mitchell Tourangeau perform
1956 Main Mall
1:30-1:35 p.m.
MC outlines the route, identifies volunteers, and explains the march map and QR code. Volunteers distribute cards for messages of action towards reconciliation. PADS dogs and UBC counsellors are there for support.
1956 Main Mall
1:35–1:50 p.m.
March begins with placards and informational signage along the way
From 1956 Main Mall down Main Mall, towards Thunderbird Commons Field
1:50-2:00 p.m.
All participants can add written messages of action and support at tables, handprints to the Engineering cairn on Main Mall
Main Mall, Engineering cairn outside of the Kaiser building
2:00-2:20 p.m.
Stephanie Holmes, an activist and son of Alberni Residential School survivor John Jones, speaks
Thunderbird Commons Field
2:20-2:30 p.m.
Closing words from Dana-Lyn Mackenzie, member of the Hwlitsum First Nation and Senior Manager of EDI.I for the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and Land and Food Systems
Thunderbird Commons Field
2:30–3:00 p.m.
Volunteers available to collect messages of support, solidarity and action towards reconciliation, messages and handprints also can be added to Engineering cairn
Thunderbird Commons Field
3:00 p.m.
Intergenerational March concludes
n/a
4:00 p.m.
Women of the Fur Trade Written by Frances Končan | Directed by Renae Morrisseau A sharp, witty satire that re-imagines fur-trade history through the bold voices of three women. More details & tickets: touchstonetheatre.com
Frederic Wood Theatre
More Information
The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre provides OSD resources and events throughout September.
Take Weaving Relations, a self-directed Canvas course which provides Indigenous awareness training. Available to UBC students, staff, and faculty.
Check out media from years past to learn more about the Intergenerational March to commemorate OSD.
Wellness Resources
Engaging with Indian Residential School histories and legacies can lead to emotional reactions and (unexpectedly) difficult thoughts and feelings. Sometimes these can surface hours, days, or weeks later. This is perfectly normal. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, it is important to respect your needs and to be kind to yourself.
Junior Modelling and Drafting Technician – StructureCraft
While working for Structure Craft in the drawing office, I have had the pleasure of working on several different projects. Structure Craft is primarily an engineering firm that also works with consultation and supply and install for the mass timber products. We produce a unique mass timber product called DLT (Dowel laminated timber).
My primary tasks have consisted of working on data gathering from old projects to be able to better estimate production costs. Working on new projects, whether that be during the modeling process of fabrication process or producing production drawings, this co-op semester has been exceptional in the way of generating practical skills in the area I wish to focus on after I graduate. Developing Connections and skills that I can take to the future no matter where I go. I would love to thank the management at Structure Craft for this amazing opportunity to learn and work under them.
During my first term as a UBC Co-op student, I have been working as a Forestry Technician for Coastal Natural Resource Management Ltd. I have had the pleasure of working all over Northern British Columbia, spending time in Mackenzie, Prince George, and Quesnel. I have undertaken a wide variety of roles, such as conducting silviculture regen surveys, boundary and road layout, as well as riparian assessment.
In my time with Coastal, I have learned the procedures of block layout, including access planning, slope gauging, as well as timber and riparian evaluation, all the while improving my native tree and shrub identification skills. I have come to appreciate long rewarding days in the field, as I have had countless eye-opening wildlife sightings. The most memorable being a brief, yet breathtaking run in with a wolverine!
I originally joined the UBC Co-op program to gain experience applying learnings from the classroom; however, my time working with Coastal has been so much than that. I have thoroughly enjoyed improving my data collection and analysis, species ID knowhow, and my understanding of forest dynamics. I look forward to continuing to work in remote areas of British Columbia with kind and hardworking people as it has been an extremely rewarding experience.
I have been working as part of a soil processing department at Bureau Veritas in British Columbia for two months during my co-op term. As part of its environmental services, Bureau Veritas provides analytical data to ensure its clients have the values that need to be protected and uphold quality and control. My role involves processing samples provided by clients, weighing them to one gram, and then diluting the samples with chemicals like nitric and hydrochloric acid. I will deliver the work to other departments for further analysis.
With the Co-op program, I have gained a better understanding of the different procedures and purposes of the various positions that are available. This pushes me to be better than I am today, and it still gives me the strength to explore more challenges that the Co-op program offers. I am glad to learn more from my peers and colleagues about the different opportunities that are available to me and encourage future Co-op students to look for many unique opportunities that can lead to various pathways and different objectives.
Wood Science Intern – Structure Monitoring Technology Research
I have been working at SMT Research, where I’ve contributed to a range of projects focused on monitoring systems for mass timber and building envelope performance. My work has included writing blog posts about building crises in different countries, drafting technical articles and project profiles, and supporting outreach to architects, engineers, and mass timber manufacturers. I’ve also been involved in designing 3D models to illustrate how our roof leak detection systems are integrated into building assemblies.
This co-op has allowed me to combine technical knowledge with creative communication, expand my industry awareness, and take part in solutions that support more resilient, sustainable buildings. It’s been a valuable experience, and I encourage others to join co-op to explore real-world applications of their studies and build meaningful industry connections.
I have been working on layout during my co-op work term, which involves establishing boundaries and road locations within a block for future logging development. A key part of my work has been stream classification, where I assess streams to determine their size and whether they have the potential to support fish. This information is critical for ensuring proper management and protection of waterways in forestry operations.
Through this experience, I have gained valuable field skills and a deeper understanding of how forestry balances development with environmental stewardship. Co-op has given me the opportunity to apply what I have learned in class to real-world situations, and I encourage others to join the program to gain hands-on experience and explore different career paths in forestry.
Junior Forest Ranger Sub Leader – Government of Alberta
I am currently working for Alberta Wildfire as a Junior Forest Ranger leader in High Level Alberta. For the month of June, my co-leader and I have been busy planning the summer for our incoming crew. We have been contacting potential partners for the summer and completing site visits when necessary. During slow days we have been given the opportunity to shadow different departments within wildland fire, such as driving with patrol or flying to deliver supplies to fire towers.
Once our crew arrives in July, we will be completing work projects that range from fire smarting campgrounds, helping unit crews with fire mop-ups to completing biodiversity monitoring of buffalo ranges. The goal of this summer is to teach and expose our youth crew to the different careers in wildland fire and forestry.
Co-op has given me the opportunity to explore a career in wildland firefighting that I likely wouldn’t have considered if I didn’t have access to the resources co-op provides. Living on the firebase and learning about all the aspects of wildland firefighting has been such an incredible experience.
Wildlife Ecology Research Assistant – UBC Department of Zoology
I have been working with UBC’s Gaynor Lab as a Himalayan Carnivore Research Assistant this summer. My role primarily involves sorting through thousands of camera trap images from Nepal and organizing them according to project relevancy.
Beyond this, the position has also given me the opportunity to learn about other ongoing wildlife ecology research from current grad students, critically read and discuss scientific papers with the other members of the lab, and explore how programs such as R and GIS can be used to synthesize our data and results.
Overall, I’ve been having a fantastic experience so far, contributing to important research and learning more about research methods and protocols! This co-op placement has enabled me to connect with scholars from various fields and has opened the door to post-undergrad opportunities.
During my first co-op term this summer, I joined the Liquid Waste Services Department at the City of Campbell River on Vancouver Island, where I observed and learned about the department’s equipment, technologies and relevant regulations and policies governing wastewater management. I assisted in a key city project digitalizing pipe services using ArcGIS, which involves compiling and updating municipal data to enable operators to deliver efficient, high-quality services, including wastewater treatment at the Norm Wood Environmental Centre and maintenance of the sewer system. Through this experience, I expanded and enhanced my skills in data analysis, research, and map editing. The variety of activities, environments, and interpersonal interactions that my co-op term provided me with have been very valuable in expanding and enhancing my skill set and applying my knowledge and passion for practical work, while appreciating the industrial knowledge and professional growth opportunities provided.
The UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Co-op Program has been invaluable in enhancing my resume and interview skills, allowing me to immerse myself in a small-town municipal environment and explore potential career paths in environmental services. I am extremely grateful to the UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Co-op program and the City of Campbell River for providing me with this opportunity for its enriching blend of practical work, skill development, and real-world application of academic passion, and I am looking forward to the rest of my work placement.
