By Lisa Houle | May 31, 2023
We love catching up with the folks who have come through ISCBC’s doors! Knowing our job creation programs are part of fascinating career paths in environmental protection is deeply rewarding.
Over the past eight years, ISCBC has employed many invasive species practitioners in contract roles, merging invasive species management with a love of the outdoors.
In this final installment of a special series, we catch up with former employees, on their professional adventures since their time with ISCBC.
Briana Walter is a Junior Biologist at Chartwell Resource Group Ltd. She started with ISCBC in the summer of 2021, as the supervisor of the Metro Vancouver region.
Why did you decide to take the job and what were you doing before this?
I was working in the aquaculture industry as a hatchery technician prior to joining ISCBC. I chose to take the job because it was a supervisory role – I could get more experience in leadership and the job involved applying science daily.
What was your experience like?
I really enjoyed the work. Some days it was more difficult than expected, because removing invasive plants is very physically laborious. But the good days outnumbered the bad. Working outside all the time is great.
Do you think your work with ISCBC helped you with your future role?
The field experience, as well as ability to ID and manage invasive plants appropriately, was definitely an asset.
Coolest experience on the job with ISCBC?
Coolest experience was definitely the European green crab sampling. My background is marine biology, so I really enjoyed splashing around in the sea and playing my part in keeping the oceans healthy.
April Blumberg is currently working with Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council as their Lead Hand for the 2023 field season. She started with ISCBC in April of 2022 as a team member for the field crew before being promoted to team lead, completing her contract in October. Her team was based out of Salmon Arm and did work across the Shuswap.
Why did you decide to take the job and what were you doing before this?
I was very excited to join the field team, having previously been a youth volunteer with ISCBC. As a volunteer I really enjoyed learning more about plants and how to ID them.
What was your experience like?
I have always enjoyed working outdoors but I found fieldwork to be especially rewarding. I think I expected the work to be very challenging but was happily surprised by the variety of work we did – from hand pulling weeds to working on canoes deadheading Yellow flag iris seed pods. Mainly I enjoyed how much I learned over the summer season, like how to ID a variety of invasive plants and animals.
Do you think your work with ISCBC helped you with your future role?
I am very grateful for the experience and training that I received while working with ISCBC. I am in a similar role this summer and a lot of the training directly transfers into my new role. I credit ISCBC with my confidence in identifying many common invasive plants and animals, as well as applying herbicide safely and effectively.
Coolest experience on the job with ISCBC?
It’s hard to choose just one! Driving around the Shuswap everyday was so beautiful. Some of my favorite days were spent out on the water – whether it was removing Yellow flag iris in the canoes or monitoring for Zebra and Quagga mussels on the dock.
Crow Bilouzenko is working with the Thompson-Nicola Invasive Plant Management Committee this summer, where her focus is more on education and outreach, and less directly managing invasives. She was an action team member for ISCBC based out of Kamloops in April 2022. Her role at that time included a lot of surveying and management, like hand pulling weeds, moving, cutting, and using herbicides.
Why did you decide to take the job and what were you doing before this?
When not doing summer work, I’m a full time Natural Resource Science student at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Before ISCBC, I had never worked in a field position. I decided to take this job as it was relevant to my career goals, and I was already somewhat interested in invasive plants. I thought it would be a really wonderful opportunity to learn more about invasives and get involved.
What was your experience like?
I had a really awesome experience with ISCBC! I explored and experienced so many parts of the province I didn’t even know existed. It felt really good to know that our team was making a difference in so many places and being a part of a big effort to control invasive plants. I knew going into it that I would be pulling weeds and whatnot, but I wasn’t expecting the amazing connections I developed with my team, the beautiful views, and totally wild stuff to see out there!
Do you think your work with ISCBC helped you with your future role?
Working with ISCBC, I gained so much knowledge, some important connections, training, and certification. My role then has absolutely helped me with my role now, as well as my career goals moving forward. My eyes were opened to the huge efforts made by so many people working with invasive species, and I hope to continue to be a part of that.
Coolest experience on the job with ISCBC?
My coolest experience was discovering a love for biocontrol species. Some of the weevils are incredibly charming! It was so fun to find them all over doing their jobs and helping our efforts in reducing invasives.
The contracts referred to are the Job Creation Program (JCP) started in 2015, and StrongerBC (SBC) which began in 2020. JCP was an employment and skills training program in partnership with WorkBC, Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. Training crew members with skills to operate safely and competently on ground operations equipped them for entry level employment in any natural resources sector. SBC was a collaborative program with the Province of BC, supporting individuals in training and providing work for people whose jobs were impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic. Both contracts provided the extra hands needed to help protect BC’s lands and waters from invasive species, while training people to work in the environmental protection field.
Thank you to all former JCP and StrongerBC employees of ISCBC!
Lisa is a Communications and Outreach Coordinator at ISCBC. She values a diverse environment and connecting with others about environmental protection. In her spare time Lisa enjoys spending time at the ocean and beach combing for sea glass. You can reach Lisa at lhoule@bcinvasives.ca
Share
