WEBVTT
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hello everyone and welcome to season five episode nine of emerging leaders for biodiversity.
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How do I do this?
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And environmental career podcast?
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Our guest today is Lexi Armstrong.
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Lexie works as an assistant conservation biologist.
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And the invasive species program at the nature Conservancy of Canada.
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Lexi discusses.
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The really cool aspects of her job and the fun places she gets to go and how she got where she is today.
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I've had the privilege of meeting and working with Lexi myself.
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But for anybody that doesn't know you, could you please introduce yourself, Lexi?
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My name is Lexi Armstrong, and I go by she slash her.
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Awesome.
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Thank you.
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Tell us a little bit about yourself, Lexi.
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Who are you and what do you do?
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So I am a biologist and I love to share the outdoor world and my knowledge with others.
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I enjoy hiking, I'm also a rowing coach, and I like nature photography.
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Yeah, I was gonna say, nature photography seems to be a really common theme on the show, and I think just biologists in general.
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Well, you can capture the beauty then it's such a win.
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So what's a day in the life of Lexi look like?
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I know obviously you're a biologist, but what kind of projects are you working on?
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So, I, work as an assistant conservation biologist in the Invasive Species program, and currently I am specializing on invasive fraidees the day-to-day varies quite a lot for me in my role.
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For example, yesterday we did a long, field work day out in the marshes, uh, port Franks on Lake Huron.
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And then today I was cleaning equipment and working on grant reports for our team.
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And yeah, so it's office work and field work, but, gotta go to some pretty cool places.
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That's awesome.
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So what are the main, invasive species that you deal with the majority of the year?
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So, I've had two roles since I started with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
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In my first role I did a variety of invasives based on their seasonality.
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So we started with garlic mustard and then we moved into other species such as, dog Strangling V and Dame's Rocket.
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We did Scott's Pine and thistle management and then we've moved into, woody shrub control with, Norway Maples and Manitoba maples, which are native in Canada, but not in southern Ontario.
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fun factor there.
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Some spruce trees and autumn olive and common buckthorne so it's been a big variety.
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And in my current role where I moved, I'm only focusing on invasive Frank, my knee and it's expansion across Southern Ontario.
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And you get to use some pretty cool toys to control that, don't you?
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Yes.
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Like the Marsh Master Tank.
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Do you?
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I do
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Oh, that's awesome.
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So I am one of the drivers of a marsh master for our organization.
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I think it's a rare piece of equipment that people get to drive, it's like a tank with pontoons, so you get to float your way, around the marsh, but it's not a good swimmer.
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We're crossing a channel just yesterday and I'm just like, the snails are laughing at us like you're going under half a kilometer, maybe speed.
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Sometimes you're wondering if you're even going anywhere.
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And so you panic a bit but it just takes time until it can grab onto some vegetation mats or sand or whatever.
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But yeah, we use some hand saws to.
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Cut down, Frank Mighty's as well in the wintertime.
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And yeah, a lot of, sprayers too that we get to ride around with and yeah, it's cool.
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it's super fun.
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It's a lot of cool equipment.
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Yeah.
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That's awesome.
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As someone who's had to like bust their way through Fred looking for turtles, like kill it all.
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Kill, kill it all however you can.
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I hate it so much.
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I know the poor turtles also try to bust through and they can't.
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So I'm ready to get rid of it all.
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For anyone listening that maybe isn't very familiar with Frankies, why is it so important to reduce the amount in all of these areas?
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So, fra like any invasive, is really good at becoming a monoculture.
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And so I was working out on Long Point in Lake Erie and it was just hectors and hectors of just invasive frag.
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And so it reduced the biodiversity drastically, which is super important for ecosystem health and human health.
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It also hinders turtles from nesting up on the shores.
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And with all our endangered turtles we have here in Ontario, it's important to give them the best chance they have.
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So removing frag is a key component to that.
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It also, reduces the amount of bird species that can nest in an area.
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So as I'm aware of, it's only the red wing black bird that seems to be very successful in those dense patches of fraidees.
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And every other bird kind of has to find somewhere else to nest.
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It also reduces native plants.
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So it's a allopathic, so it actually sends out chemicals that kill other plants, but that's part of the reason is it also kills off native plants.
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But yeah, so Frank is just super bad.
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It affects, animals and it affects, other native plant species and reduces biodiversity, which is something that we're trying to increase.
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Yes.
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Make room for those native plants and all the little happy, happy turtles.
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Mm-hmm.
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I was wondering how many days it would take you to just slowly.
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Chuck along the coast to get up and around
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if there, like, even if you were not having waves crash against you
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mm-hmm.
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Yeah.
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Forget the waves.
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You just, you have all the time in the world to just coast.
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You could kayak faster,
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solid day's.
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So we've chatted about some of the cool toys that you get to use.
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But I was wondering, how does your current position differ with the seasons.
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Are you inside more than the winter time or A little bit of both?
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So, in the wintertime we do have a lot of reporting that we need to send into our funders, based on the activities that we did in summer and fall.
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we also still do winter management of Frankies, so that's when we do our cutting and rolling.
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So that we can give other native plants a chance to grow back.
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So when they are in dense monocultures, if you can cut down the stalks, it'll allow more light to come in for other plants.
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And also we roll in big areas to break up vegetation mats, so that, again, other native species have a shot at regenerating.
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And in summer, we are out, actively engaging our partners.
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Currently we are expanding in a private landowner program as well as doing our coastal wetlands, with provincial and federal partners.
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And so what that kind of looks like is we're going out, we're meeting people in the community, we're serving for frag, contacting people, letting them know the problems with Bragg, how it affects agriculture and, funding for the community and the consequences if we don't manage it.
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And then after we can engage people like that, we have people sign up for our program and we implement it.
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And so we start controlling the FRA in August and going straight doing some field work and spraying until October.
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And, yeah, that's pretty much, the look at my year right now.
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So, there's a lot of outdoor work, which is super enjoyable, but then you also have a balance of some office stuff, so
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That's awesome.
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So yeah, you're kind of like in and out and in and out.
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So, I know you're new at N C C this last year, but it sounds like you've done a bit of contract jumping beforehand.
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Kinda wanna talk about how you got to the n c position?
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So how far back do we need to go?
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I have a long career trajectory.
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It's totally up to you.
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Whatever you feel comfortable with.
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Okay, we're gonna summarize this, uh, So my first biology job that I had was with the invasive PMI control center.
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And so I'm back, I'm back with Frank again.
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but so
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that's what it's all about.
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Yeah, right.
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So I started out in frag management as a technician, and then I also had a role in, university for one of my summer positions.
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I had a scholarship to go over to Germany.
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And there I did research in Limnology, which is the study of, inland and freshwater systems.
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And there I was focusing on zoo plank.
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And so that was also an introductory into, biology and research.
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And so I really found a love for ecology.
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I then tried to do a master's and I was a graduate teaching assistant for an ecology class, and I really enjoyed that, being able to try and open kids' minds to ecology and just seeing the world in a different lens.
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And then from there I did the Canadian Conservation Corps, program.
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And that was through the Canadian Wildlife Federation.
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So I was a conservation intern with them, and that's when I was placed with the Cort, the Land Trust.
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Part of that program I really.
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Fell in love with the mission and the vision that land trusts have for protecting and preserving nature and kinda guaranteeing that there's room for wildlife to continue to prosper and also for human health reasons, like being able to go out and join natural spaces, which we really have benefited from, since the pandemic.
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And so from there I got a job as an environmental chemist in the winter when it was a down season.
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Um, chemistry was something I always loved in schooling but fieldwork pulls me back.
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So I then joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada as a field technician dealing with invasive species of all different kinds.
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And then that led me into the role I am now as an assistant conservation biologist, dealing with basic pmi.
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That's great.
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That is a crazy range.
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You have been all over with everyone.
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I know So it's, it's been very diverse and I've lived in quite a few different cities so yeah, I was up, working in Thunder Bay and then when I was in Germany, I was down south in Munich and then Cologne, and then I moved back to Peterborough and then I was now here in Turkey Point.
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So I've been jumping around quite a bit.
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But, you gotta go where the work you love is, so that's just kind of what's been happening for me.
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That's great.
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Yeah.
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I feel like it's super common with.
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People in the environmental field when they're first starting out.
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Or still in that contract phase.
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There's lots of hopping all over the place.
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I know I've done my fair share of hopping around as well, and that can definitely be stressful.
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For sure.
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We were just curious, what does your educational background look like?
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What did you go to school for?
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So I did my undergraduate degree at, Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario.
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And, that's where I did my thesis in aquatic ecology and I focused on diversity in zoo plankton, communities.
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But, from there I started a master's at Lakehead University.
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and that was also in conservation biology.
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And something that really fascinated me was habitat corridors.
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I've always thought, wow, they're so cool.
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You know, they provide a lot of safe, refuge for, animals and areas where, you know, humans have a presence.
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So I was excited about that.
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And then I didn't actually end up finishing for different reasons I ended up, not enjoying my project as much as I wanted and so I got pulled in with the opportunity to go and do the more in-person fieldwork stuff with the Canadian Conservation Corps.
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And yeah, so I, oh, I got a bachelor's degree honors, bachelor's, but uh, didn't end up finishing my a Master's.
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But I think the path I've gone on since then is what I enjoy more and potentially I'll go back, but I don't know.
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I found it hard going straight into a master's in a pandemic.
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So uh, interesting.
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A lot of life building experience.
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But I'm not sure I recommend it for a lot of people.
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Yeah.
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And we've talked to quite a few people that have kind of went down the same path and the masters isn't for everybody and work experience equals masters in a lot of cases as well.
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Yeah, exactly.
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So between all that contract hopping, did you have any downtime in there?
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And if so, how did you.
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Deal with it, cope.
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Did you work in the unrelated field?
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Did you, do you do like some people where they just kinda hang out and wait for the spring?
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How did you deal with the in between times?
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So, I have had two periods of in between time, but they weren't very long.
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My first time was in between when I decided to leave my Master's and starting with the Canadian Conservation Corps.
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And, uh, maybe, maybe two months, maybe a bit more.
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But in that time I, I took a break because I enjoyed the hiking up in Thunder bay, nature Conservancy property, big trope Bay Beautiful.
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It is beautiful.
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I highly recommend people go check it out.
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And so I was just, I'm kind of enjoying the outdoors and reconnecting with, what I like.
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That's why I love my job is because I get to spend time outdoors.
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And so I did take this few months off, the next period.
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I had a break only for a month and that's because I ended up taking, a job as an environmental chemist.
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That was kind of my in between fill.
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Which was still stuff that I enjoyed, but not exactly like, uh, I was like, oh, I like ecology, but then I'm like going into like water and mineral management, like kind of testing and stuff.
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So it was different.
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And that's kind of how I filled my, my downtime.
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But yeah, so I had like a, a month of looking for jobs, constantly being like, where am I gonna go next?
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Uh, cuz I wanted to have something in between and then that popped up right away.
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And.
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I was fortunate to do that.
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And yeah, that's kind of my, two times in between contracts.
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Awesome.
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Yeah, it's good to be able to stay busy during those times.
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And the fact that you're able to land a job as an environmental chemist, like I'm sure that, yeah, that helped.
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Like I used to bartend in between like totally, totally unrelated to everything.
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Well, that's awesome.
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Yeah, it was an experience as well.
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I think it was different because it's like private sector and I hadn't really, experienced a job that was like, we're doing everything for the client and we need to have these samples done.
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We had samples that.
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within 24 hours, you wouldn't be able to detect whatever chemical you were looking for.
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So you are getting those done that day and you're not leaving until they're done.
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So it was a very interesting, job to be in.
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But yeah, I think definitely my background in school and, working in that lab, in Germany definitely helped me land that, which was nice.
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But, uh, I haven't, I haven't had to bartend yet.
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I'm thinking, well, you never know when that might come up again, that So, but, that's a pretty good school to have, I think as well.
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Yeah.
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And seeing the lab side of things is probably useful now in your current position as well.
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I know a lot of people bartend in between.
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I definitely also did that.
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I served.
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But the tips.
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The tips, you can't
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Yeah, I think that's the hard part with some of these jobs in our sector, they aren't as funded as well as, maybe they could be.
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And then, you know, it's easier to take a, another job in a different field, such as bartending, but I think that's also equally as valuable because you're gaining other skills, especially social interaction skills, which is a, a big thing anywhere at any workplace.
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And so a customer service as well.
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I have never had to do a full on customer service position.
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Uh, I definitely see a difference in my response.
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I have a con compared to people that are well manicured in the service and industry.
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That's funny.
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You must miss it too.
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Candace's just like leaving cash in hand every single day.
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Oh, so much.
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Yeah.
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Okay, our next question.
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What is your favorite part of your job?
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I think my favorite part of my job is just to be outdoors in nature, but not only that, I also get to go to places that people have never really been before.
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So, and part of that, Being able to drive a Marsh Master and you just head right on into the center of the swamp where no one can walk and boats can't go cuz it's thick vegetation.
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And then you're just out there and you're just thinking, I don't think there's been a human here ever, honestly.
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And I'm just like, that's, that's really cool.
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No one else is gonna see this landscape again unless it's me driving back.
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So I've really, uh, I've really enjoyed that and just taking time to like look around and be like, wow, this is very beautiful and, uh, people won't get to experience this.
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So I feel very fortunate in that way.
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Yeah, it's an awesome perspective.
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This one time I got to go out on the March master with Lexi and You're just surrounded by Marsh y You never get that.
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Like, I've never had that perspective ever.
00:20:01.535 --> 00:20:05.224
Like you can be in a kayak in a marsh, but you're never up above the marsh.
00:20:05.224 --> 00:20:11.045
Looking at everything around you and from in the seat is also extremely cool.
00:20:11.914 --> 00:20:16.634
So the flip side to that, I guess, would be, what's your least favorite aspect of your job?
00:20:18.674 --> 00:20:22.545
I'd say washing the equipment that would be take to the marsh.
00:20:23.085 --> 00:20:31.545
Uh, cleaning thick mud out of tracks of machines is incredibly challenging.
00:20:32.505 --> 00:20:43.545
So we do a clean equipment, protocol where we make sure we're not transferring invasives between sites, but cleaning out a tanks tracks are quite an effort.
00:20:43.644 --> 00:20:48.609
and you definitely needed a power washer and then you got it everywhere in your hair.
00:20:48.849 --> 00:20:51.369
It's like, it just, yeah.
00:20:51.369 --> 00:20:53.859
At the end of the day you're like, okay, it's time to shower.
00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.910
Then you're like, wait a minute.
00:20:54.910 --> 00:20:56.799
Why is there mud everywhere?
00:20:57.200 --> 00:21:09.464
The other part of being an biologist, is that you cannot unsee the invasives Now that you know how to identify them, they are everywhere.
00:21:10.484 --> 00:21:14.474
And I'll just be trying to enjoy a nice, peaceful hike.
00:21:15.404 --> 00:21:26.265
And then I'll look down and there will be frag at the bottom of a hill, and I will be like, I want to remove it so badly.
00:21:26.595 --> 00:21:32.474
But you can't, and you have to continue on, and you're just like, oh my gosh.
00:21:32.535 --> 00:21:40.664
But yeah, so sometimes makes, Recreational outings, less enjoyable because it's just like you can't shut it off.
00:21:40.664 --> 00:21:45.164
Once you have the identification skills, you're seeing it everywhere.
00:21:45.194 --> 00:21:53.634
So that's probably my other least favorite thing but you know, when you enter an area that's pristine, you really appreciate it.
00:21:53.634 --> 00:21:59.664
You're like, wow, no one has disturbed this, or people have been taking care of it.
00:21:59.664 --> 00:22:00.984
This is beautiful.
00:22:01.464 --> 00:22:05.085
That is very rare to find but still.
00:22:05.785 --> 00:22:10.375
So yeah, that would be a downfall that I can't turn off like invasive.
00:22:10.375 --> 00:22:14.634
I don't know why, but I'm imagining you like on a hike and all your friends are like, where's Lexi?
00:22:14.634 --> 00:22:18.234
And they turn around and you're just like kicking the absolute hell at some garlic, mustard,
00:22:22.625 --> 00:22:23.234
garlic.
00:22:24.444 --> 00:22:30.865
I'm like, oh yeah, I can relate Why is where, why isn't she keeping up?
00:22:30.865 --> 00:22:32.244
And I'm like, I'm sorry.
00:22:37.592 --> 00:22:38.071
too Good.
00:22:39.654 --> 00:22:51.910
I guess for the next question, were there any memberships or experiences as a kid that you think might have sparked your interest in an environmental career?
00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:56.500
And if not, what do you think sparked your interest in an environmental career?
00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:58.210
Have you always wanted to be a biologist?
00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.210
Uh, yeah.
00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:02.670
This would've been part of my long wind story of my career trajectory.
00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:15.397
I've had many, jobs that I wanted as a kid and none of them were, uh, environmental sector, job I don't know.
00:23:15.397 --> 00:23:22.657
As a kit, we did camping and I did girl guides and just did a lot of outdoor activities.
00:23:23.198 --> 00:23:27.788
I grew up, outside of London and so hanging out on my friend's farms.
00:23:29.627 --> 00:23:32.272
but I never was like, yeah, this is what I wanna do.
00:23:32.272 --> 00:23:33.982
I just enjoyed it in my spare time.
00:23:33.982 --> 00:23:42.532
And then also sports, such as rowing, I just loved being out on the water, but I was never like, yeah, this is, that's what I wanna do.
00:23:42.538 --> 00:23:49.972
So when I entered university, I actually took biochemistry and I wanted to be a doctor.
00:23:50.782 --> 00:24:09.133
And then what changed my mind was I took a first year environmental class at Trent Introductory, and I just loved it, And then I was like, why am I not taking this as all my classes?
00:24:09.673 --> 00:24:18.163
You know, I'm like, I'm not enjoying doing biochemistry, but I really freaking love that environmental science class.
00:24:18.472 --> 00:24:23.992
So, I was like, oh, I'm gonna do environmental chemistry cuz I still loved chemistry.
00:24:24.682 --> 00:24:29.512
But then I took an ecology course in second year and I was like, this is it.
00:24:30.202 --> 00:24:32.093
This is what I needed in my life.
00:24:32.633 --> 00:24:48.553
And since then, I think that's really where I pivoted fully and I wanted to be involved in conservation biology and that's why I applied to do that internship in Germany, cuz I wanted to get some field work experience.
00:24:48.553 --> 00:24:56.442
And yeah, so that's, uh, definitely, it wasn't until university that I was like, wow, conservation biology, this is it.
00:24:56.803 --> 00:25:03.097
And I definitely struggled feeling like I was behind cuz there was other kids that had known this is what they wanted.
00:25:03.518 --> 00:25:15.363
So they had all these ID skills and they were like, oh, I, I've been volunteering here and there and, and I had done all this and I was like, What, is that what, I dunno.
00:25:16.073 --> 00:25:16.823
I dunno what I'm doing.
00:25:16.823 --> 00:25:20.633
I love, I love it, but I was like, I felt so inexperienced.
00:25:20.633 --> 00:25:22.448
But, it definitely hasn't hindered me.
00:25:22.452 --> 00:25:28.623
I feel like I've reached for a lot of other opportunities, since that pivotal moment in my second year of university.
00:25:28.623 --> 00:25:34.722
And yeah, I'm just, I got into the fields, and, stick in here.
00:25:34.722 --> 00:25:35.863
I think for a while.
00:25:36.432 --> 00:25:36.702
I was gonna
00:25:36.702 --> 00:25:40.363
say, it seems like you're doing well for yourself and you got to travel and work all over.
00:25:40.363 --> 00:25:42.103
So you're, you're doing something right.
00:25:42.232 --> 00:25:43.972
I'm doing something right.
00:25:44.722 --> 00:25:56.093
I quite figured out what it is myself, but, uh, people seem to like me in certain roles and they, and then they're like, oh, maybe she could do this.
00:25:56.093 --> 00:25:57.803
And then that's where I go next.
00:25:57.803 --> 00:25:58.073
So
00:26:00.742 --> 00:26:01.042
Yeah.
00:26:01.042 --> 00:26:01.762
That's great.
00:26:03.633 --> 00:26:14.613
If you could go back and have like a sit down conversation with yourself, either in these times where you were kind of like career flipping or finding new passions or between contracts, do you have any like, advice you'd give yourself?
00:26:18.903 --> 00:26:20.023
My, I don't know.
00:26:20.028 --> 00:26:22.323
I, I would say don't be so hard on yourself.
00:26:22.353 --> 00:26:34.383
I know, uh, in this field sometimes it's easy to feel defeated, you know, when there's lots of seasonal work and then that contract ends and you necessarily can't jump into the next thing.
00:26:34.923 --> 00:26:39.752
A lot of the time it's really about luck and timing that you're gonna find something.
00:26:40.863 --> 00:26:48.087
Um, so just keep your eyes open and always be looking you never know when that dream job's gonna pop up on a, on a job board.
00:26:48.087 --> 00:26:59.083
And so I just think staying engaged that way and don't be disheartened and also, Volunteering with certain conservation, organizations.
00:26:59.083 --> 00:27:03.163
I definitely missed out on that in my, early university years.
00:27:03.163 --> 00:27:08.742
And even later, I was heavily involved in the rowing community at Trent University as well.
00:27:08.748 --> 00:27:10.752
And so that took up a lot of my time.
00:27:11.313 --> 00:27:21.192
And I feel like being able to reach out with local organizations and uh, doing more environmental things would've really helped.
00:27:21.192 --> 00:27:31.732
And not even just like worrying about building your resume or portfolio, but to help, yourself tailor where you're interested in pursuing.
00:27:31.732 --> 00:27:39.022
Cause when you go into environmental science or biology, like people are always like, oh, Lexi, what kind of job do you want?
00:27:39.083 --> 00:27:39.292
And I.
00:27:40.673 --> 00:27:53.813
The field is massive and you won't know what you want until you do that volunteer experience or you do that job experience and then you'll be like, either this is for me or it's not.
00:27:54.292 --> 00:28:01.073
And so being able to volunteer in between, I think, definitely helps you kind of figure out more what you wanna move towards.
00:28:01.190 --> 00:28:01.549
Yeah.
00:28:01.609 --> 00:28:04.609
Or find a position that you get to dabble in a little bit of everything.
00:28:05.150 --> 00:28:05.549
Yeah.
00:28:07.309 --> 00:28:08.119
Environmental field's.
00:28:08.430 --> 00:28:08.720
So big
00:28:09.829 --> 00:28:10.549
so huge.
00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:12.740
Ooh, you probably have an answer for this one.
00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:17.210
What is the strangest or wildest thing that you've ever found in the field?
00:28:18.710 --> 00:28:18.950
Ok.
00:28:18.950 --> 00:28:29.119
Well, I do, and I, whether you wanted to include this or not, I don't know, but I always, this sounds good.
00:28:29.269 --> 00:28:29.759
Yeah.
00:28:30.890 --> 00:28:33.319
Memes about biologists.
00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.599
Talking about skat.
00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:57.359
and, and this is gonna be a story about Skat I was working, on a property and we came across coyote sc and lo and behold, I'm just looking at it and I'm like, am I seeing this right?
00:28:58.049 --> 00:29:01.170
There was an entire chipmunk.
00:29:03.164 --> 00:29:12.634
It was fully intact in the scat, like it was fur whole body together, but it had passed through that digestive system.
00:29:13.025 --> 00:29:13.505
Wow.
00:29:13.525 --> 00:29:20.255
I, I was literally like, anyway, of course I'm taking photos and I'm sending it to my other friends.
00:29:20.255 --> 00:29:24.605
He's like, oh my gosh, look at what I saw that, oh gosh.
00:29:24.664 --> 00:29:29.194
I just was like, how did none of this get digested or protested in any way?
00:29:29.194 --> 00:29:32.404
But it was like the full body of a chipmunk.
00:29:33.065 --> 00:29:34.865
And I was like, that's crazy.
00:29:35.434 --> 00:29:47.285
And then the other thing I just reminded me now, we were on a whipper whale survey and we found a chicken randomly and they, they panic in the dark.
00:29:47.285 --> 00:29:49.115
I didn't realize they fully panic.
00:29:49.144 --> 00:29:50.345
They become immobile.
00:29:50.349 --> 00:29:51.154
So this thing couldn't.
00:29:52.430 --> 00:30:02.150
And on our way to deliver it to the neighboring farm, it ended up not being their chicken the farm when we're walking with this chicken in our hands cuz it's paralyzed.
00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:12.079
We come across a toad and I'm sorry, have you ever, there was a crazy, is this like
00:30:12.269 --> 00:30:14.210
a, does a bear shit in the woods kind of thing?
00:30:14.210 --> 00:30:14.930
Does a toad poo
00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:19.940
No, but honestly I had never seen a toad poo before.
00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:23.299
I didn't own, I didn't own hers as a kid.
00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:26.660
I know this is all, this is all, this is all scat related.
00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.440
This is too much.
00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:34.609
But uh, it was a toad pooing and I was like, it was crazy.
00:30:34.609 --> 00:30:34.759
Yeah.
00:30:35.809 --> 00:30:36.559
Thing to watch.
00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:39.950
And then we panicked him cuz we were walking towards him and
00:30:39.950 --> 00:30:41.000
it was not, it was,
00:30:42.049 --> 00:30:43.940
and your chicken in hand for all of this.
00:30:44.089 --> 00:30:44.660
Yes.
00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:46.039
Chicken in hand.
00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.390
There's a chicken in hand.
00:30:47.390 --> 00:30:49.579
And this toad's hopping away while he is.
00:30:50.569 --> 00:30:59.549
Pooping and it was like, it was whoa, So yeah, that's, I think that's my, my
00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:03.200
Those are awesome answers.
00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:07.230
that was free to include either or.
00:31:07.230 --> 00:31:07.789
I don't know.
00:31:09.589 --> 00:31:16.930
Not everybody wants to hear about animal poo, but those are my, strange and weird stories I had.
00:31:16.990 --> 00:31:19.900
So yes.
00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:20.440
In peace.
00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:20.829
Little buddy
00:31:22.089 --> 00:31:22.450
Yeah.
00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.170
Alright.
00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:24.700
Alvin has moved on.
00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:28.119
R ip, little chipmunk.
00:31:28.269 --> 00:31:30.109
Oh, that's sad.
00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:42.869
Um, I don't really have a good segue for this, but, um, what advice do you have for someone's application to stand out when applying for these contracts?
00:31:43.750 --> 00:31:57.980
I guess, you wanna, at least carefully look at, the qualifications they're looking for in job applications, and then I look at the different experience I've had and what one will tailor specifically to each qualification.
00:31:58.579 --> 00:32:11.440
So, like I said, it doesn't even have to be something that's directly related to the field, but, you know, like, oh, if I was working in a service industry, being like leadership skills you got there, or communication skills that you earned in those roles.
00:32:11.869 --> 00:32:13.730
You also put that in your resume.
00:32:14.269 --> 00:32:18.914
You definitely tailor to what they've written on their own page and what they're looking for.
00:32:19.394 --> 00:32:42.890
I, I also have quite a few certifications that I've done over the years and so mentioning ones that, go well with what they're looking for in skills-wise is also something, and yeah, highlighting your relevant experience for sure when you're applying is, uh, yeah, really beneficial.
00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:46.069
What, certifications did you go for that you found helpful?
00:32:47.220 --> 00:33:02.539
So in the stewardship line of work, when I was in University Arei Society of Ecological Restoration, had a chainsaw horse and so I found that was very useful.
00:33:04.450 --> 00:33:08.859
Also having first aid and I also had wilderness for aid.
00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:11.230
which is good for remote jobs.
00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:24.220
They always appreciate that you like, have a different, skillset set on that front or like a way of thinking, because first aid when you're near an urban center is usually like, make sure they're breathing, call an ambulance.
00:33:24.549 --> 00:33:31.119
But when you're in a remote setting, it's like, okay, what's the best option to keep this person alive?
00:33:32.049 --> 00:33:33.640
But we still need to be able to move them.
00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:44.750
So yeah, so those are both, really valuable courses that I got early on and I found made a difference in my application, in our work as well.
00:33:45.089 --> 00:33:51.323
We also get exterminator licenses so that we use, herbicide in some applications.
00:33:51.873 --> 00:33:55.323
It's just part of the invasive species world when they take over.
00:33:55.323 --> 00:33:58.143
So, uh, incredibly well.
00:33:58.502 --> 00:34:05.238
so in order to get rid of those huge monocultures, when you're doing an integrated pest management program, you have to use herbicide sometimes.
00:34:05.238 --> 00:34:11.547
So that certificate, I feel has also really bolstered my application for stewardship placements.
00:34:12.938 --> 00:34:13.297
For sure.
00:34:13.297 --> 00:34:17.077
The chainsaw for the wilderness first aid, those were really useful.
00:34:18.398 --> 00:34:22.958
And I don't know, there's so many more I want to get It's always ever growing.
00:34:24.097 --> 00:34:24.788
I know.
00:34:25.418 --> 00:34:25.597
Yeah.
00:34:25.597 --> 00:34:26.588
Benthic monitoring.
00:34:26.648 --> 00:34:32.547
I don't have that, but I know that's can be valuable in a lot of, ecosystem health assessments.
00:34:32.907 --> 00:34:40.018
Yeah, I have mine, but I've never actually used it in a, like, employable setting only in like volunteer in school settings.
00:34:40.617 --> 00:34:43.018
But yeah, that's definitely a really popular one.
00:34:43.972 --> 00:34:49.858
Um, if you had to get only one spray license, what do you think would be the most valuable one?
00:34:50.097 --> 00:34:50.818
That's a hard question.
00:34:50.818 --> 00:34:52.108
You don't have to answer that if you don't want to.
00:34:53.498 --> 00:34:57.112
Uh, I guess it, I guess it depends, uh, what, ecosystem you wanna work in.
00:34:58.402 --> 00:35:00.492
Uh, well, there's aquatic.
00:35:00.498 --> 00:35:02.092
I have my aquatic vegetation license.
00:35:02.902 --> 00:35:10.012
I also have an industrial license, which is for more, um, public, public areas and roadside.
00:35:10.222 --> 00:35:29.463
And then I also have a landscape license, which is also kind of like public private lands, but I would say, so if you're doing, aquatic ecosystems, then aquatic vegetation, there's also people that do an aquatic license for mollusks and fish and lamp pr.
00:35:29.543 --> 00:35:33.922
But that's, if you wanna go into fishery systems, that's definitely valuable.
00:35:34.552 --> 00:35:36.188
if not the aquatic vegetation.
00:35:36.188 --> 00:35:48.047
And then if you are just doing the on land environmental, I would say forestry is super good because landscape, you're only limited to a certain size of forest.
00:35:48.527 --> 00:35:48.797
Yeah.
00:35:48.887 --> 00:35:52.967
And then you're no longer able to, so yeah.
00:35:52.967 --> 00:35:56.358
I honestly have no idea there were differences in licensing.
00:35:56.358 --> 00:35:59.858
I thought you just did a sprayer course and then you could just have at everything.
00:35:59.887 --> 00:36:01.538
I didn't know there was like different branches.
00:36:02.197 --> 00:36:02.527
I wish.
00:36:02.532 --> 00:36:03.568
There's a lot of differences.
00:36:05.478 --> 00:36:10.248
Yeah, there's a lot, there's way more you can get aerial, structural licenses.
00:36:11.637 --> 00:36:18.438
There's, there's quite a few categories and within those categories there's different licenses as well.
00:36:18.443 --> 00:36:18.827
So
00:36:19.608 --> 00:36:23.507
Ariel would be a cool one that's, I didn't even, again, I didn't, I didn't even know that existed.
00:36:24.527 --> 00:36:24.737
Yeah.
00:36:24.742 --> 00:36:30.818
So a lot of, if it farmers want to, spray their fields from a plane, they need an aerial license.
00:36:31.402 --> 00:36:32.422
Uh, that makes sense.
00:36:32.422 --> 00:36:37.853
So we do use a aerial application, for the, huge water patches.
00:36:37.913 --> 00:36:45.813
Um, a and so we do Nina a, a helicopter pilot that is licensed in, aerial, pesticide application.
00:36:45.818 --> 00:36:46.112
So
00:36:46.380 --> 00:36:47.130
Very cool.
00:36:47.278 --> 00:36:51.688
What is an example of positive change that you're hoping to create?
00:36:51.922 --> 00:37:00.556
Well, I like the feel of, conservation biology for the reason that you're kind of always working towards a positive change.
00:37:00.856 --> 00:37:23.246
But for me, I just really love educating people that are not in our field, and the reason for that is, in order for us to really make change and continue to protect, the native ecosystems that we all enjoy, is to inspire that love in other people.
00:37:24.146 --> 00:37:27.476
If people don't care about something, they're not gonna wanna protect it.
00:37:27.476 --> 00:37:29.217
They're not gonna wanna dedicate time to it.
00:37:29.757 --> 00:37:36.177
So the most positive change I wanna make is trying to get more people to fall in love with nature.
00:37:36.686 --> 00:37:41.036
The way that a lot of us biologists are, we're like crazy, for it.
00:37:41.036 --> 00:37:57.737
But, you know, just like trying to encourage people to go outdoors and connect and, you know, when I took an ornithology course and then I could identify the birds in my backyard, I was like, whoa, I'm seeing this world in a whole new way.
00:37:58.356 --> 00:38:05.282
and I just really wanna give other people that feeling where they could be like, oh, you know what, that's a white oak.
00:38:05.311 --> 00:38:06.271
Why do I know that?
00:38:06.277 --> 00:38:13.061
Because I hung out with these biologists and they told me why it's a good species, you know?
00:38:13.422 --> 00:38:26.657
And just like, yeah, if we're, we're moving towards, while we're even living in a time where, you know, we, it's important to protect natural areas, with climate change and decreases in biodiversity.
00:38:27.257 --> 00:38:37.967
And so just getting people to wanna go outside, I wanna learn about nature is something that I really hold close to my heart and really wanna.
00:38:38.851 --> 00:38:39.976
getting people involved.
00:38:39.976 --> 00:38:45.702
And so I have a little social media that I do I just love being able to tell, like show my friends what I'm seeing.
00:38:45.706 --> 00:38:52.692
And so that's why I kind of got into the nature photography so that I could then post a photo and be like, this is the species I'm talking about.
00:38:52.882 --> 00:38:56.652
I saw it in real life, so you can too, you know?
00:38:56.652 --> 00:38:59.021
And then why is this species awesome?
00:38:59.382 --> 00:39:03.282
And so, yeah, I think that's like the biggest change I hope to make.
00:39:03.581 --> 00:39:14.472
I also hope to give habitat to important native species and protect endangered ones, but I think in order to do that, we really need to get the general public on board.
00:39:14.472 --> 00:39:19.902
And so making them also love nature is what my main goal is.
00:39:21.851 --> 00:39:22.902
That's an amazing answer.
00:39:23.141 --> 00:39:23.621
I love it.
00:39:24.371 --> 00:39:25.331
Yeah, that's a great one.
00:39:25.402 --> 00:39:30.952
If someone wanted to get involved with N CCC or learn more about what you do, where should they go?
00:39:32.222 --> 00:39:38.606
So Nature Conservancy canada.ca, we have a lot about our, a mission and our values.
00:39:38.936 --> 00:39:47.677
And then we also have a lot of conservation volunteer events planned coming up, just across the organization as a whole, and they're posted on that site.
00:39:47.737 --> 00:39:51.007
And so there's some really cool ones that I know that I run.
00:39:51.106 --> 00:40:02.251
There's some grassland prairie, initiative and then, I ran a garbage cleanup, not, that's not glamorous, but there's those kinda events on there as well.
00:40:02.251 --> 00:40:15.947
And so I think it's a really good way to, connect with people in your local area, across Canada and just figure out a little more about what our organization's all about and what each job kind of entails.
00:40:16.007 --> 00:40:23.577
It's a nice way to network, but also not a lot of pressure on you when you're there at a conservation volunteer event.
00:40:23.577 --> 00:40:27.447
So you're just having fun being out in nature with other people who like to do the same.
00:40:27.617 --> 00:40:28.036
Yeah.
00:40:28.041 --> 00:40:28.606
Awesome.
00:40:28.956 --> 00:40:30.726
Well, thanks so much for sitting down with us today.
00:40:31.112 --> 00:40:34.831
Thank you so much for tuning into Emerging Leaders for Biodiversity.
00:40:34.981 --> 00:40:35.942
How do I do this?
00:40:36.001 --> 00:40:37.652
An environmental queer podcast.
00:40:38.282 --> 00:40:47.072
Be sure to follow us on social media and our website using the handle EL number four, biodiversity to get the latest news on upcoming events and other exciting opportunities.
00:40:47.572 --> 00:40:49.851
We can't wait for you to tune in to our next episode.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.940
hello everyone and welcome to season five episode nine of emerging leaders for biodiversity.
00:00:06.269 --> 00:00:07.200
How do I do this?
00:00:07.259 --> 00:00:09.060
And environmental career podcast?
00:00:10.086 --> 00:00:12.696
Our guest today is Lexi Armstrong.
00:00:12.996 --> 00:00:16.236
Lexie works as an assistant conservation biologist.
00:00:17.016 --> 00:00:20.617
And the invasive species program at the nature Conservancy of Canada.
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Lexi discusses.
00:00:23.106 --> 00:00:30.126
The really cool aspects of her job and the fun places she gets to go and how she got where she is today.
00:00:35.768 --> 00:00:39.789
I've had the privilege of meeting and working with Lexi myself.
00:00:39.819 --> 00:00:43.418
But for anybody that doesn't know you, could you please introduce yourself, Lexi?
00:00:43.924 --> 00:00:48.215
My name is Lexi Armstrong, and I go by she slash her.
00:00:48.445 --> 00:00:48.956
Awesome.
00:00:48.956 --> 00:00:49.496
Thank you.
00:00:49.604 --> 00:00:51.164
Tell us a little bit about yourself, Lexi.
00:00:51.164 --> 00:00:52.814
Who are you and what do you do?
00:00:52.966 --> 00:01:02.801
So I am a biologist and I love to share the outdoor world and my knowledge with others.
00:01:03.432 --> 00:01:10.792
I enjoy hiking, I'm also a rowing coach, and I like nature photography.
00:01:10.868 --> 00:01:16.971
Yeah, I was gonna say, nature photography seems to be a really common theme on the show, and I think just biologists in general.
00:01:17.391 --> 00:01:20.828
Well, you can capture the beauty then it's such a win.
00:01:21.179 --> 00:01:23.549
So what's a day in the life of Lexi look like?
00:01:23.549 --> 00:01:26.188
I know obviously you're a biologist, but what kind of projects are you working on?
00:01:26.549 --> 00:01:42.932
So, I, work as an assistant conservation biologist in the Invasive Species program, and currently I am specializing on invasive fraidees the day-to-day varies quite a lot for me in my role.
00:01:43.572 --> 00:01:51.302
For example, yesterday we did a long, field work day out in the marshes, uh, port Franks on Lake Huron.
00:01:52.081 --> 00:01:59.882
And then today I was cleaning equipment and working on grant reports for our team.
00:02:01.081 --> 00:02:06.831
And yeah, so it's office work and field work, but, gotta go to some pretty cool places.
00:02:07.046 --> 00:02:07.825
That's awesome.
00:02:07.825 --> 00:02:13.716
So what are the main, invasive species that you deal with the majority of the year?
00:02:13.801 --> 00:02:18.312
So, I've had two roles since I started with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
00:02:18.762 --> 00:02:25.222
In my first role I did a variety of invasives based on their seasonality.
00:02:25.222 --> 00:02:37.382
So we started with garlic mustard and then we moved into other species such as, dog Strangling V and Dame's Rocket.
00:02:37.592 --> 00:02:52.231
We did Scott's Pine and thistle management and then we've moved into, woody shrub control with, Norway Maples and Manitoba maples, which are native in Canada, but not in southern Ontario.
00:02:53.292 --> 00:02:54.231
fun factor there.
00:02:54.236 --> 00:03:00.127
Some spruce trees and autumn olive and common buckthorne so it's been a big variety.
00:03:00.697 --> 00:03:09.877
And in my current role where I moved, I'm only focusing on invasive Frank, my knee and it's expansion across Southern Ontario.
00:03:10.137 --> 00:03:14.157
And you get to use some pretty cool toys to control that, don't you?
00:03:15.687 --> 00:03:16.076
Yes.
00:03:16.081 --> 00:03:17.757
Like the Marsh Master Tank.
00:03:17.757 --> 00:03:18.146
Do you?
00:03:18.956 --> 00:03:19.377
I do
00:03:20.336 --> 00:03:20.847
Oh, that's awesome.
00:03:21.417 --> 00:03:26.336
So I am one of the drivers of a marsh master for our organization.
00:03:27.046 --> 00:03:38.007
I think it's a rare piece of equipment that people get to drive, it's like a tank with pontoons, so you get to float your way, around the marsh, but it's not a good swimmer.
00:03:38.622 --> 00:03:49.782
We're crossing a channel just yesterday and I'm just like, the snails are laughing at us like you're going under half a kilometer, maybe speed.
00:03:49.961 --> 00:03:53.921
Sometimes you're wondering if you're even going anywhere.
00:03:54.132 --> 00:04:03.472
And so you panic a bit but it just takes time until it can grab onto some vegetation mats or sand or whatever.
00:04:03.472 --> 00:04:05.671
But yeah, we use some hand saws to.
00:04:06.260 --> 00:04:09.221
Cut down, Frank Mighty's as well in the wintertime.
00:04:09.221 --> 00:04:14.674
And yeah, a lot of, sprayers too that we get to ride around with and yeah, it's cool.
00:04:14.723 --> 00:04:15.834
it's super fun.
00:04:15.903 --> 00:04:17.074
It's a lot of cool equipment.
00:04:17.673 --> 00:04:17.824
Yeah.
00:04:17.829 --> 00:04:18.274
That's awesome.
00:04:18.274 --> 00:04:22.713
As someone who's had to like bust their way through Fred looking for turtles, like kill it all.
00:04:22.863 --> 00:04:24.814
Kill, kill it all however you can.
00:04:24.814 --> 00:04:25.894
I hate it so much.
00:04:26.163 --> 00:04:29.194
I know the poor turtles also try to bust through and they can't.
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So I'm ready to get rid of it all.
00:04:34.064 --> 00:04:44.803
For anyone listening that maybe isn't very familiar with Frankies, why is it so important to reduce the amount in all of these areas?
00:04:44.944 --> 00:04:50.983
So, fra like any invasive, is really good at becoming a monoculture.
00:04:51.649 --> 00:05:01.603
And so I was working out on Long Point in Lake Erie and it was just hectors and hectors of just invasive frag.
00:05:02.084 --> 00:05:09.483
And so it reduced the biodiversity drastically, which is super important for ecosystem health and human health.
00:05:09.803 --> 00:05:13.713
It also hinders turtles from nesting up on the shores.
00:05:13.954 --> 00:05:21.793
And with all our endangered turtles we have here in Ontario, it's important to give them the best chance they have.
00:05:21.798 --> 00:05:24.853
So removing frag is a key component to that.
00:05:24.976 --> 00:05:28.817
It also, reduces the amount of bird species that can nest in an area.
00:05:28.971 --> 00:05:37.221
So as I'm aware of, it's only the red wing black bird that seems to be very successful in those dense patches of fraidees.
00:05:37.550 --> 00:05:41.031
And every other bird kind of has to find somewhere else to nest.
00:05:41.180 --> 00:05:45.021
It also reduces native plants.
00:05:45.071 --> 00:05:57.440
So it's a allopathic, so it actually sends out chemicals that kill other plants, but that's part of the reason is it also kills off native plants.
00:05:57.495 --> 00:05:59.725
But yeah, so Frank is just super bad.
00:05:59.725 --> 00:06:07.365
It affects, animals and it affects, other native plant species and reduces biodiversity, which is something that we're trying to increase.
00:06:08.235 --> 00:06:08.716
Yes.
00:06:08.771 --> 00:06:13.062
Make room for those native plants and all the little happy, happy turtles.
00:06:13.622 --> 00:06:13.822
Mm-hmm.
00:06:15.512 --> 00:06:18.576
I was wondering how many days it would take you to just slowly.
00:06:19.357 --> 00:06:22.326
Chuck along the coast to get up and around
00:06:23.076 --> 00:06:27.576
if there, like, even if you were not having waves crash against you
00:06:27.576 --> 00:06:27.666
mm-hmm.
00:06:27.906 --> 00:06:28.057
Yeah.
00:06:28.057 --> 00:06:28.836
Forget the waves.
00:06:28.836 --> 00:06:30.997
You just, you have all the time in the world to just coast.
00:06:31.173 --> 00:06:32.374
You could kayak faster,
00:06:34.744 --> 00:06:36.803
solid day's.
00:06:37.524 --> 00:06:41.934
So we've chatted about some of the cool toys that you get to use.
00:06:42.084 --> 00:06:46.944
But I was wondering, how does your current position differ with the seasons.
00:06:47.814 --> 00:06:51.514
Are you inside more than the winter time or A little bit of both?
00:06:51.699 --> 00:07:01.040
So, in the wintertime we do have a lot of reporting that we need to send into our funders, based on the activities that we did in summer and fall.
00:07:01.769 --> 00:07:06.779
we also still do winter management of Frankies, so that's when we do our cutting and rolling.
00:07:07.035 --> 00:07:12.735
So that we can give other native plants a chance to grow back.
00:07:12.824 --> 00:07:20.745
So when they are in dense monocultures, if you can cut down the stalks, it'll allow more light to come in for other plants.
00:07:21.105 --> 00:07:29.324
And also we roll in big areas to break up vegetation mats, so that, again, other native species have a shot at regenerating.
00:07:29.595 --> 00:07:33.348
And in summer, we are out, actively engaging our partners.
00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:43.992
Currently we are expanding in a private landowner program as well as doing our coastal wetlands, with provincial and federal partners.
00:07:44.531 --> 00:08:04.504
And so what that kind of looks like is we're going out, we're meeting people in the community, we're serving for frag, contacting people, letting them know the problems with Bragg, how it affects agriculture and, funding for the community and the consequences if we don't manage it.
00:08:04.504 --> 00:08:10.199
And then after we can engage people like that, we have people sign up for our program and we implement it.
00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:18.838
And so we start controlling the FRA in August and going straight doing some field work and spraying until October.
00:08:18.894 --> 00:08:23.809
And, yeah, that's pretty much, the look at my year right now.
00:08:24.559 --> 00:08:31.399
So, there's a lot of outdoor work, which is super enjoyable, but then you also have a balance of some office stuff, so
00:08:31.569 --> 00:08:32.349
That's awesome.
00:08:32.349 --> 00:08:34.899
So yeah, you're kind of like in and out and in and out.
00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:42.999
So, I know you're new at N C C this last year, but it sounds like you've done a bit of contract jumping beforehand.
00:08:42.999 --> 00:08:45.729
Kinda wanna talk about how you got to the n c position?
00:08:47.004 --> 00:08:50.573
So how far back do we need to go?
00:08:52.254 --> 00:08:55.759
I have a long career trajectory.
00:08:56.168 --> 00:08:57.698
It's totally up to you.
00:08:57.808 --> 00:08:58.849
Whatever you feel comfortable with.
00:09:00.375 --> 00:09:12.505
Okay, we're gonna summarize this, uh, So my first biology job that I had was with the invasive PMI control center.
00:09:13.495 --> 00:09:17.365
And so I'm back, I'm back with Frank again.
00:09:18.206 --> 00:09:19.326
but so
00:09:19.655 --> 00:09:20.405
that's what it's all about.
00:09:20.885 --> 00:09:21.395
Yeah, right.
00:09:22.686 --> 00:09:33.167
So I started out in frag management as a technician, and then I also had a role in, university for one of my summer positions.
00:09:33.287 --> 00:09:36.826
I had a scholarship to go over to Germany.
00:09:37.397 --> 00:09:45.116
And there I did research in Limnology, which is the study of, inland and freshwater systems.
00:09:45.201 --> 00:09:47.660
And there I was focusing on zoo plank.
00:09:48.681 --> 00:09:54.235
And so that was also an introductory into, biology and research.
00:09:54.235 --> 00:09:56.426
And so I really found a love for ecology.
00:09:56.522 --> 00:10:14.312
I then tried to do a master's and I was a graduate teaching assistant for an ecology class, and I really enjoyed that, being able to try and open kids' minds to ecology and just seeing the world in a different lens.
00:10:14.438 --> 00:10:18.839
And then from there I did the Canadian Conservation Corps, program.
00:10:19.009 --> 00:10:21.558
And that was through the Canadian Wildlife Federation.
00:10:21.828 --> 00:10:28.149
So I was a conservation intern with them, and that's when I was placed with the Cort, the Land Trust.
00:10:29.208 --> 00:10:31.729
Part of that program I really.
00:10:32.254 --> 00:10:54.980
Fell in love with the mission and the vision that land trusts have for protecting and preserving nature and kinda guaranteeing that there's room for wildlife to continue to prosper and also for human health reasons, like being able to go out and join natural spaces, which we really have benefited from, since the pandemic.
00:10:55.106 --> 00:11:03.606
And so from there I got a job as an environmental chemist in the winter when it was a down season.
00:11:03.667 --> 00:11:10.177
Um, chemistry was something I always loved in schooling but fieldwork pulls me back.
00:11:10.177 --> 00:11:18.187
So I then joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada as a field technician dealing with invasive species of all different kinds.
00:11:19.547 --> 00:11:26.938
And then that led me into the role I am now as an assistant conservation biologist, dealing with basic pmi.
00:11:27.471 --> 00:11:27.951
That's great.
00:11:27.951 --> 00:11:29.001
That is a crazy range.
00:11:29.001 --> 00:11:30.711
You have been all over with everyone.
00:11:31.261 --> 00:11:52.731
I know So it's, it's been very diverse and I've lived in quite a few different cities so yeah, I was up, working in Thunder Bay and then when I was in Germany, I was down south in Munich and then Cologne, and then I moved back to Peterborough and then I was now here in Turkey Point.
00:11:52.731 --> 00:11:56.302
So I've been jumping around quite a bit.
00:11:56.392 --> 00:12:01.947
But, you gotta go where the work you love is, so that's just kind of what's been happening for me.
00:12:03.365 --> 00:12:04.115
That's great.
00:12:04.176 --> 00:12:04.446
Yeah.
00:12:04.446 --> 00:12:06.426
I feel like it's super common with.
00:12:06.905 --> 00:12:09.816
People in the environmental field when they're first starting out.
00:12:10.176 --> 00:12:12.395
Or still in that contract phase.
00:12:12.846 --> 00:12:15.035
There's lots of hopping all over the place.
00:12:16.735 --> 00:12:21.535
I know I've done my fair share of hopping around as well, and that can definitely be stressful.
00:12:22.135 --> 00:12:22.765
For sure.
00:12:23.676 --> 00:12:27.725
We were just curious, what does your educational background look like?
00:12:27.725 --> 00:12:29.166
What did you go to school for?
00:12:29.413 --> 00:12:35.006
So I did my undergraduate degree at, Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario.
00:12:35.636 --> 00:12:44.881
And, that's where I did my thesis in aquatic ecology and I focused on diversity in zoo plankton, communities.
00:12:44.971 --> 00:12:50.591
But, from there I started a master's at Lakehead University.
00:12:51.596 --> 00:12:54.297
and that was also in conservation biology.
00:12:54.596 --> 00:12:59.157
And something that really fascinated me was habitat corridors.
00:12:59.697 --> 00:13:02.366
I've always thought, wow, they're so cool.
00:13:02.667 --> 00:13:10.797
You know, they provide a lot of safe, refuge for, animals and areas where, you know, humans have a presence.
00:13:10.802 --> 00:13:14.547
So I was excited about that.
00:13:14.817 --> 00:13:31.576
And then I didn't actually end up finishing for different reasons I ended up, not enjoying my project as much as I wanted and so I got pulled in with the opportunity to go and do the more in-person fieldwork stuff with the Canadian Conservation Corps.
00:13:32.116 --> 00:13:39.767
And yeah, so I, oh, I got a bachelor's degree honors, bachelor's, but uh, didn't end up finishing my a Master's.
00:13:39.772 --> 00:13:50.836
But I think the path I've gone on since then is what I enjoy more and potentially I'll go back, but I don't know.
00:13:50.836 --> 00:13:55.576
I found it hard going straight into a master's in a pandemic.
00:13:55.576 --> 00:13:58.897
So uh, interesting.
00:13:58.902 --> 00:14:01.447
A lot of life building experience.
00:14:01.677 --> 00:14:04.897
But I'm not sure I recommend it for a lot of people.
00:14:06.817 --> 00:14:07.326
Yeah.
00:14:07.386 --> 00:14:19.777
And we've talked to quite a few people that have kind of went down the same path and the masters isn't for everybody and work experience equals masters in a lot of cases as well.
00:14:20.797 --> 00:14:21.636
Yeah, exactly.
00:14:23.057 --> 00:14:26.956
So between all that contract hopping, did you have any downtime in there?
00:14:27.076 --> 00:14:28.437
And if so, how did you.
00:14:29.172 --> 00:14:30.192
Deal with it, cope.
00:14:30.192 --> 00:14:31.751
Did you work in the unrelated field?
00:14:31.751 --> 00:14:35.861
Did you, do you do like some people where they just kinda hang out and wait for the spring?
00:14:36.072 --> 00:14:37.751
How did you deal with the in between times?
00:14:39.662 --> 00:14:44.337
So, I have had two periods of in between time, but they weren't very long.
00:14:44.607 --> 00:14:52.738
My first time was in between when I decided to leave my Master's and starting with the Canadian Conservation Corps.
00:14:52.918 --> 00:14:59.067
And, uh, maybe, maybe two months, maybe a bit more.
00:14:59.067 --> 00:15:12.408
But in that time I, I took a break because I enjoyed the hiking up in Thunder bay, nature Conservancy property, big trope Bay Beautiful.
00:15:12.798 --> 00:15:13.668
It is beautiful.
00:15:13.668 --> 00:15:15.587
I highly recommend people go check it out.
00:15:15.738 --> 00:15:21.788
And so I was just, I'm kind of enjoying the outdoors and reconnecting with, what I like.
00:15:21.927 --> 00:15:25.508
That's why I love my job is because I get to spend time outdoors.
00:15:25.508 --> 00:15:30.336
And so I did take this few months off, the next period.
00:15:30.336 --> 00:15:37.567
I had a break only for a month and that's because I ended up taking, a job as an environmental chemist.
00:15:38.437 --> 00:15:40.506
That was kind of my in between fill.
00:15:41.147 --> 00:15:55.397
Which was still stuff that I enjoyed, but not exactly like, uh, I was like, oh, I like ecology, but then I'm like going into like water and mineral management, like kind of testing and stuff.
00:15:55.397 --> 00:15:56.986
So it was different.
00:15:57.086 --> 00:15:59.756
And that's kind of how I filled my, my downtime.
00:16:00.057 --> 00:16:08.246
But yeah, so I had like a, a month of looking for jobs, constantly being like, where am I gonna go next?
00:16:08.277 --> 00:16:12.326
Uh, cuz I wanted to have something in between and then that popped up right away.
00:16:12.326 --> 00:16:12.657
And.
00:16:13.187 --> 00:16:15.447
I was fortunate to do that.
00:16:15.447 --> 00:16:19.586
And yeah, that's kind of my, two times in between contracts.
00:16:21.086 --> 00:16:21.866
Awesome.
00:16:22.677 --> 00:16:26.517
Yeah, it's good to be able to stay busy during those times.
00:16:28.106 --> 00:16:32.876
And the fact that you're able to land a job as an environmental chemist, like I'm sure that, yeah, that helped.
00:16:32.876 --> 00:16:36.447
Like I used to bartend in between like totally, totally unrelated to everything.
00:16:37.167 --> 00:16:37.947
Well, that's awesome.
00:16:38.756 --> 00:16:41.001
Yeah, it was an experience as well.
00:16:41.081 --> 00:16:53.642
I think it was different because it's like private sector and I hadn't really, experienced a job that was like, we're doing everything for the client and we need to have these samples done.
00:16:53.672 --> 00:16:54.692
We had samples that.
00:16:56.366 --> 00:17:00.611
within 24 hours, you wouldn't be able to detect whatever chemical you were looking for.
00:17:00.611 --> 00:17:05.922
So you are getting those done that day and you're not leaving until they're done.
00:17:06.281 --> 00:17:10.521
So it was a very interesting, job to be in.
00:17:10.612 --> 00:17:20.102
But yeah, I think definitely my background in school and, working in that lab, in Germany definitely helped me land that, which was nice.
00:17:20.507 --> 00:17:23.386
But, uh, I haven't, I haven't had to bartend yet.
00:17:24.346 --> 00:17:33.416
I'm thinking, well, you never know when that might come up again, that So, but, that's a pretty good school to have, I think as well.
00:17:35.247 --> 00:17:35.787
Yeah.
00:17:36.086 --> 00:17:42.507
And seeing the lab side of things is probably useful now in your current position as well.
00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:44.559
I know a lot of people bartend in between.
00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:46.210
I definitely also did that.
00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.160
I served.
00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:51.279
But the tips.
00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:52.539
The tips, you can't
00:17:52.980 --> 00:18:01.825
Yeah, I think that's the hard part with some of these jobs in our sector, they aren't as funded as well as, maybe they could be.
00:18:02.095 --> 00:18:19.914
And then, you know, it's easier to take a, another job in a different field, such as bartending, but I think that's also equally as valuable because you're gaining other skills, especially social interaction skills, which is a, a big thing anywhere at any workplace.
00:18:20.214 --> 00:18:22.644
And so a customer service as well.
00:18:22.974 --> 00:18:26.545
I have never had to do a full on customer service position.
00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:30.650
Uh, I definitely see a difference in my response.
00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:37.390
I have a con compared to people that are well manicured in the service and industry.
00:18:37.690 --> 00:18:38.140
That's funny.
00:18:38.144 --> 00:18:38.890
You must miss it too.
00:18:38.894 --> 00:18:41.769
Candace's just like leaving cash in hand every single day.
00:18:42.009 --> 00:18:43.309
Oh, so much.
00:18:45.549 --> 00:18:46.000
Yeah.
00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:49.269
Okay, our next question.
00:18:49.472 --> 00:18:52.292
What is your favorite part of your job?
00:18:52.589 --> 00:19:04.650
I think my favorite part of my job is just to be outdoors in nature, but not only that, I also get to go to places that people have never really been before.
00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:17.369
So, and part of that, Being able to drive a Marsh Master and you just head right on into the center of the swamp where no one can walk and boats can't go cuz it's thick vegetation.
00:19:17.369 --> 00:19:25.109
And then you're just out there and you're just thinking, I don't think there's been a human here ever, honestly.
00:19:25.109 --> 00:19:27.599
And I'm just like, that's, that's really cool.
00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:32.369
No one else is gonna see this landscape again unless it's me driving back.
00:19:32.369 --> 00:19:44.430
So I've really, uh, I've really enjoyed that and just taking time to like look around and be like, wow, this is very beautiful and, uh, people won't get to experience this.
00:19:44.730 --> 00:19:46.799
So I feel very fortunate in that way.
00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:49.799
Yeah, it's an awesome perspective.
00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:58.099
This one time I got to go out on the March master with Lexi and You're just surrounded by Marsh y You never get that.
00:19:59.045 --> 00:20:01.535
Like, I've never had that perspective ever.
00:20:01.535 --> 00:20:05.224
Like you can be in a kayak in a marsh, but you're never up above the marsh.
00:20:05.224 --> 00:20:11.045
Looking at everything around you and from in the seat is also extremely cool.
00:20:11.914 --> 00:20:16.634
So the flip side to that, I guess, would be, what's your least favorite aspect of your job?
00:20:18.674 --> 00:20:22.545
I'd say washing the equipment that would be take to the marsh.
00:20:23.085 --> 00:20:31.545
Uh, cleaning thick mud out of tracks of machines is incredibly challenging.
00:20:32.505 --> 00:20:43.545
So we do a clean equipment, protocol where we make sure we're not transferring invasives between sites, but cleaning out a tanks tracks are quite an effort.
00:20:43.644 --> 00:20:48.609
and you definitely needed a power washer and then you got it everywhere in your hair.
00:20:48.849 --> 00:20:51.369
It's like, it just, yeah.
00:20:51.369 --> 00:20:53.859
At the end of the day you're like, okay, it's time to shower.
00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.910
Then you're like, wait a minute.
00:20:54.910 --> 00:20:56.799
Why is there mud everywhere?
00:20:57.200 --> 00:21:09.464
The other part of being an biologist, is that you cannot unsee the invasives Now that you know how to identify them, they are everywhere.
00:21:10.484 --> 00:21:14.474
And I'll just be trying to enjoy a nice, peaceful hike.
00:21:15.404 --> 00:21:26.265
And then I'll look down and there will be frag at the bottom of a hill, and I will be like, I want to remove it so badly.
00:21:26.595 --> 00:21:32.474
But you can't, and you have to continue on, and you're just like, oh my gosh.
00:21:32.535 --> 00:21:40.664
But yeah, so sometimes makes, Recreational outings, less enjoyable because it's just like you can't shut it off.
00:21:40.664 --> 00:21:45.164
Once you have the identification skills, you're seeing it everywhere.
00:21:45.194 --> 00:21:53.634
So that's probably my other least favorite thing but you know, when you enter an area that's pristine, you really appreciate it.
00:21:53.634 --> 00:21:59.664
You're like, wow, no one has disturbed this, or people have been taking care of it.
00:21:59.664 --> 00:22:00.984
This is beautiful.
00:22:01.464 --> 00:22:05.085
That is very rare to find but still.
00:22:05.785 --> 00:22:10.375
So yeah, that would be a downfall that I can't turn off like invasive.
00:22:10.375 --> 00:22:14.634
I don't know why, but I'm imagining you like on a hike and all your friends are like, where's Lexi?
00:22:14.634 --> 00:22:18.234
And they turn around and you're just like kicking the absolute hell at some garlic, mustard,
00:22:22.625 --> 00:22:23.234
garlic.
00:22:24.444 --> 00:22:30.865
I'm like, oh yeah, I can relate Why is where, why isn't she keeping up?
00:22:30.865 --> 00:22:32.244
And I'm like, I'm sorry.
00:22:37.592 --> 00:22:38.071
too Good.
00:22:39.654 --> 00:22:51.910
I guess for the next question, were there any memberships or experiences as a kid that you think might have sparked your interest in an environmental career?
00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:56.500
And if not, what do you think sparked your interest in an environmental career?
00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:58.210
Have you always wanted to be a biologist?
00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.210
Uh, yeah.
00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:02.670
This would've been part of my long wind story of my career trajectory.
00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:15.397
I've had many, jobs that I wanted as a kid and none of them were, uh, environmental sector, job I don't know.
00:23:15.397 --> 00:23:22.657
As a kit, we did camping and I did girl guides and just did a lot of outdoor activities.
00:23:23.198 --> 00:23:27.788
I grew up, outside of London and so hanging out on my friend's farms.
00:23:29.627 --> 00:23:32.272
but I never was like, yeah, this is what I wanna do.
00:23:32.272 --> 00:23:33.982
I just enjoyed it in my spare time.
00:23:33.982 --> 00:23:42.532
And then also sports, such as rowing, I just loved being out on the water, but I was never like, yeah, this is, that's what I wanna do.
00:23:42.538 --> 00:23:49.972
So when I entered university, I actually took biochemistry and I wanted to be a doctor.
00:23:50.782 --> 00:24:09.133
And then what changed my mind was I took a first year environmental class at Trent Introductory, and I just loved it, And then I was like, why am I not taking this as all my classes?
00:24:09.673 --> 00:24:18.163
You know, I'm like, I'm not enjoying doing biochemistry, but I really freaking love that environmental science class.
00:24:18.472 --> 00:24:23.992
So, I was like, oh, I'm gonna do environmental chemistry cuz I still loved chemistry.
00:24:24.682 --> 00:24:29.512
But then I took an ecology course in second year and I was like, this is it.
00:24:30.202 --> 00:24:32.093
This is what I needed in my life.
00:24:32.633 --> 00:24:48.553
And since then, I think that's really where I pivoted fully and I wanted to be involved in conservation biology and that's why I applied to do that internship in Germany, cuz I wanted to get some field work experience.
00:24:48.553 --> 00:24:56.442
And yeah, so that's, uh, definitely, it wasn't until university that I was like, wow, conservation biology, this is it.
00:24:56.803 --> 00:25:03.097
And I definitely struggled feeling like I was behind cuz there was other kids that had known this is what they wanted.
00:25:03.518 --> 00:25:15.363
So they had all these ID skills and they were like, oh, I, I've been volunteering here and there and, and I had done all this and I was like, What, is that what, I dunno.
00:25:16.073 --> 00:25:16.823
I dunno what I'm doing.
00:25:16.823 --> 00:25:20.633
I love, I love it, but I was like, I felt so inexperienced.
00:25:20.633 --> 00:25:22.448
But, it definitely hasn't hindered me.
00:25:22.452 --> 00:25:28.623
I feel like I've reached for a lot of other opportunities, since that pivotal moment in my second year of university.
00:25:28.623 --> 00:25:34.722
And yeah, I'm just, I got into the fields, and, stick in here.
00:25:34.722 --> 00:25:35.863
I think for a while.
00:25:36.432 --> 00:25:36.702
I was gonna
00:25:36.702 --> 00:25:40.363
say, it seems like you're doing well for yourself and you got to travel and work all over.
00:25:40.363 --> 00:25:42.103
So you're, you're doing something right.
00:25:42.232 --> 00:25:43.972
I'm doing something right.
00:25:44.722 --> 00:25:56.093
I quite figured out what it is myself, but, uh, people seem to like me in certain roles and they, and then they're like, oh, maybe she could do this.
00:25:56.093 --> 00:25:57.803
And then that's where I go next.
00:25:57.803 --> 00:25:58.073
So
00:26:00.742 --> 00:26:01.042
Yeah.
00:26:01.042 --> 00:26:01.762
That's great.
00:26:03.633 --> 00:26:14.613
If you could go back and have like a sit down conversation with yourself, either in these times where you were kind of like career flipping or finding new passions or between contracts, do you have any like, advice you'd give yourself?
00:26:18.903 --> 00:26:20.023
My, I don't know.
00:26:20.028 --> 00:26:22.323
I, I would say don't be so hard on yourself.
00:26:22.353 --> 00:26:34.383
I know, uh, in this field sometimes it's easy to feel defeated, you know, when there's lots of seasonal work and then that contract ends and you necessarily can't jump into the next thing.
00:26:34.923 --> 00:26:39.752
A lot of the time it's really about luck and timing that you're gonna find something.
00:26:40.863 --> 00:26:48.087
Um, so just keep your eyes open and always be looking you never know when that dream job's gonna pop up on a, on a job board.
00:26:48.087 --> 00:26:59.083
And so I just think staying engaged that way and don't be disheartened and also, Volunteering with certain conservation, organizations.
00:26:59.083 --> 00:27:03.163
I definitely missed out on that in my, early university years.
00:27:03.163 --> 00:27:08.742
And even later, I was heavily involved in the rowing community at Trent University as well.
00:27:08.748 --> 00:27:10.752
And so that took up a lot of my time.
00:27:11.313 --> 00:27:21.192
And I feel like being able to reach out with local organizations and uh, doing more environmental things would've really helped.
00:27:21.192 --> 00:27:31.732
And not even just like worrying about building your resume or portfolio, but to help, yourself tailor where you're interested in pursuing.
00:27:31.732 --> 00:27:39.022
Cause when you go into environmental science or biology, like people are always like, oh, Lexi, what kind of job do you want?
00:27:39.083 --> 00:27:39.292
And I.
00:27:40.673 --> 00:27:53.813
The field is massive and you won't know what you want until you do that volunteer experience or you do that job experience and then you'll be like, either this is for me or it's not.
00:27:54.292 --> 00:28:01.073
And so being able to volunteer in between, I think, definitely helps you kind of figure out more what you wanna move towards.
00:28:01.190 --> 00:28:01.549
Yeah.
00:28:01.609 --> 00:28:04.609
Or find a position that you get to dabble in a little bit of everything.
00:28:05.150 --> 00:28:05.549
Yeah.
00:28:07.309 --> 00:28:08.119
Environmental field's.
00:28:08.430 --> 00:28:08.720
So big
00:28:09.829 --> 00:28:10.549
so huge.
00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:12.740
Ooh, you probably have an answer for this one.
00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:17.210
What is the strangest or wildest thing that you've ever found in the field?
00:28:18.710 --> 00:28:18.950
Ok.
00:28:18.950 --> 00:28:29.119
Well, I do, and I, whether you wanted to include this or not, I don't know, but I always, this sounds good.
00:28:29.269 --> 00:28:29.759
Yeah.
00:28:30.890 --> 00:28:33.319
Memes about biologists.
00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.599
Talking about skat.
00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:57.359
and, and this is gonna be a story about Skat I was working, on a property and we came across coyote sc and lo and behold, I'm just looking at it and I'm like, am I seeing this right?
00:28:58.049 --> 00:29:01.170
There was an entire chipmunk.
00:29:03.164 --> 00:29:12.634
It was fully intact in the scat, like it was fur whole body together, but it had passed through that digestive system.
00:29:13.025 --> 00:29:13.505
Wow.
00:29:13.525 --> 00:29:20.255
I, I was literally like, anyway, of course I'm taking photos and I'm sending it to my other friends.
00:29:20.255 --> 00:29:24.605
He's like, oh my gosh, look at what I saw that, oh gosh.
00:29:24.664 --> 00:29:29.194
I just was like, how did none of this get digested or protested in any way?
00:29:29.194 --> 00:29:32.404
But it was like the full body of a chipmunk.
00:29:33.065 --> 00:29:34.865
And I was like, that's crazy.
00:29:35.434 --> 00:29:47.285
And then the other thing I just reminded me now, we were on a whipper whale survey and we found a chicken randomly and they, they panic in the dark.
00:29:47.285 --> 00:29:49.115
I didn't realize they fully panic.
00:29:49.144 --> 00:29:50.345
They become immobile.
00:29:50.349 --> 00:29:51.154
So this thing couldn't.
00:29:52.430 --> 00:30:02.150
And on our way to deliver it to the neighboring farm, it ended up not being their chicken the farm when we're walking with this chicken in our hands cuz it's paralyzed.
00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:12.079
We come across a toad and I'm sorry, have you ever, there was a crazy, is this like
00:30:12.269 --> 00:30:14.210
a, does a bear shit in the woods kind of thing?
00:30:14.210 --> 00:30:14.930
Does a toad poo
00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:19.940
No, but honestly I had never seen a toad poo before.
00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:23.299
I didn't own, I didn't own hers as a kid.
00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:26.660
I know this is all, this is all, this is all scat related.
00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.440
This is too much.
00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:34.609
But uh, it was a toad pooing and I was like, it was crazy.
00:30:34.609 --> 00:30:34.759
Yeah.
00:30:35.809 --> 00:30:36.559
Thing to watch.
00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:39.950
And then we panicked him cuz we were walking towards him and
00:30:39.950 --> 00:30:41.000
it was not, it was,
00:30:42.049 --> 00:30:43.940
and your chicken in hand for all of this.
00:30:44.089 --> 00:30:44.660
Yes.
00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:46.039
Chicken in hand.
00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.390
There's a chicken in hand.
00:30:47.390 --> 00:30:49.579
And this toad's hopping away while he is.
00:30:50.569 --> 00:30:59.549
Pooping and it was like, it was whoa, So yeah, that's, I think that's my, my
00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:03.200
Those are awesome answers.
00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:07.230
that was free to include either or.
00:31:07.230 --> 00:31:07.789
I don't know.
00:31:09.589 --> 00:31:16.930
Not everybody wants to hear about animal poo, but those are my, strange and weird stories I had.
00:31:16.990 --> 00:31:19.900
So yes.
00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:20.440
In peace.
00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:20.829
Little buddy
00:31:22.089 --> 00:31:22.450
Yeah.
00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.170
Alright.
00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:24.700
Alvin has moved on.
00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:28.119
R ip, little chipmunk.
00:31:28.269 --> 00:31:30.109
Oh, that's sad.
00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:42.869
Um, I don't really have a good segue for this, but, um, what advice do you have for someone's application to stand out when applying for these contracts?
00:31:43.750 --> 00:31:57.980
I guess, you wanna, at least carefully look at, the qualifications they're looking for in job applications, and then I look at the different experience I've had and what one will tailor specifically to each qualification.
00:31:58.579 --> 00:32:11.440
So, like I said, it doesn't even have to be something that's directly related to the field, but, you know, like, oh, if I was working in a service industry, being like leadership skills you got there, or communication skills that you earned in those roles.
00:32:11.869 --> 00:32:13.730
You also put that in your resume.
00:32:14.269 --> 00:32:18.914
You definitely tailor to what they've written on their own page and what they're looking for.
00:32:19.394 --> 00:32:42.890
I, I also have quite a few certifications that I've done over the years and so mentioning ones that, go well with what they're looking for in skills-wise is also something, and yeah, highlighting your relevant experience for sure when you're applying is, uh, yeah, really beneficial.
00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:46.069
What, certifications did you go for that you found helpful?
00:32:47.220 --> 00:33:02.539
So in the stewardship line of work, when I was in University Arei Society of Ecological Restoration, had a chainsaw horse and so I found that was very useful.
00:33:04.450 --> 00:33:08.859
Also having first aid and I also had wilderness for aid.
00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:11.230
which is good for remote jobs.
00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:24.220
They always appreciate that you like, have a different, skillset set on that front or like a way of thinking, because first aid when you're near an urban center is usually like, make sure they're breathing, call an ambulance.
00:33:24.549 --> 00:33:31.119
But when you're in a remote setting, it's like, okay, what's the best option to keep this person alive?
00:33:32.049 --> 00:33:33.640
But we still need to be able to move them.
00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:44.750
So yeah, so those are both, really valuable courses that I got early on and I found made a difference in my application, in our work as well.
00:33:45.089 --> 00:33:51.323
We also get exterminator licenses so that we use, herbicide in some applications.
00:33:51.873 --> 00:33:55.323
It's just part of the invasive species world when they take over.
00:33:55.323 --> 00:33:58.143
So, uh, incredibly well.
00:33:58.502 --> 00:34:05.238
so in order to get rid of those huge monocultures, when you're doing an integrated pest management program, you have to use herbicide sometimes.
00:34:05.238 --> 00:34:11.547
So that certificate, I feel has also really bolstered my application for stewardship placements.
00:34:12.938 --> 00:34:13.297
For sure.
00:34:13.297 --> 00:34:17.077
The chainsaw for the wilderness first aid, those were really useful.
00:34:18.398 --> 00:34:22.958
And I don't know, there's so many more I want to get It's always ever growing.
00:34:24.097 --> 00:34:24.788
I know.
00:34:25.418 --> 00:34:25.597
Yeah.
00:34:25.597 --> 00:34:26.588
Benthic monitoring.
00:34:26.648 --> 00:34:32.547
I don't have that, but I know that's can be valuable in a lot of, ecosystem health assessments.
00:34:32.907 --> 00:34:40.018
Yeah, I have mine, but I've never actually used it in a, like, employable setting only in like volunteer in school settings.
00:34:40.617 --> 00:34:43.018
But yeah, that's definitely a really popular one.
00:34:43.972 --> 00:34:49.858
Um, if you had to get only one spray license, what do you think would be the most valuable one?
00:34:50.097 --> 00:34:50.818
That's a hard question.
00:34:50.818 --> 00:34:52.108
You don't have to answer that if you don't want to.
00:34:53.498 --> 00:34:57.112
Uh, I guess it, I guess it depends, uh, what, ecosystem you wanna work in.
00:34:58.402 --> 00:35:00.492
Uh, well, there's aquatic.
00:35:00.498 --> 00:35:02.092
I have my aquatic vegetation license.
00:35:02.902 --> 00:35:10.012
I also have an industrial license, which is for more, um, public, public areas and roadside.
00:35:10.222 --> 00:35:29.463
And then I also have a landscape license, which is also kind of like public private lands, but I would say, so if you're doing, aquatic ecosystems, then aquatic vegetation, there's also people that do an aquatic license for mollusks and fish and lamp pr.
00:35:29.543 --> 00:35:33.922
But that's, if you wanna go into fishery systems, that's definitely valuable.
00:35:34.552 --> 00:35:36.188
if not the aquatic vegetation.
00:35:36.188 --> 00:35:48.047
And then if you are just doing the on land environmental, I would say forestry is super good because landscape, you're only limited to a certain size of forest.
00:35:48.527 --> 00:35:48.797
Yeah.
00:35:48.887 --> 00:35:52.967
And then you're no longer able to, so yeah.
00:35:52.967 --> 00:35:56.358
I honestly have no idea there were differences in licensing.
00:35:56.358 --> 00:35:59.858
I thought you just did a sprayer course and then you could just have at everything.
00:35:59.887 --> 00:36:01.538
I didn't know there was like different branches.
00:36:02.197 --> 00:36:02.527
I wish.
00:36:02.532 --> 00:36:03.568
There's a lot of differences.
00:36:05.478 --> 00:36:10.248
Yeah, there's a lot, there's way more you can get aerial, structural licenses.
00:36:11.637 --> 00:36:18.438
There's, there's quite a few categories and within those categories there's different licenses as well.
00:36:18.443 --> 00:36:18.827
So
00:36:19.608 --> 00:36:23.507
Ariel would be a cool one that's, I didn't even, again, I didn't, I didn't even know that existed.
00:36:24.527 --> 00:36:24.737
Yeah.
00:36:24.742 --> 00:36:30.818
So a lot of, if it farmers want to, spray their fields from a plane, they need an aerial license.
00:36:31.402 --> 00:36:32.422
Uh, that makes sense.
00:36:32.422 --> 00:36:37.853
So we do use a aerial application, for the, huge water patches.
00:36:37.913 --> 00:36:45.813
Um, a and so we do Nina a, a helicopter pilot that is licensed in, aerial, pesticide application.
00:36:45.818 --> 00:36:46.112
So
00:36:46.380 --> 00:36:47.130
Very cool.
00:36:47.278 --> 00:36:51.688
What is an example of positive change that you're hoping to create?
00:36:51.922 --> 00:37:00.556
Well, I like the feel of, conservation biology for the reason that you're kind of always working towards a positive change.
00:37:00.856 --> 00:37:23.246
But for me, I just really love educating people that are not in our field, and the reason for that is, in order for us to really make change and continue to protect, the native ecosystems that we all enjoy, is to inspire that love in other people.
00:37:24.146 --> 00:37:27.476
If people don't care about something, they're not gonna wanna protect it.
00:37:27.476 --> 00:37:29.217
They're not gonna wanna dedicate time to it.
00:37:29.757 --> 00:37:36.177
So the most positive change I wanna make is trying to get more people to fall in love with nature.
00:37:36.686 --> 00:37:41.036
The way that a lot of us biologists are, we're like crazy, for it.
00:37:41.036 --> 00:37:57.737
But, you know, just like trying to encourage people to go outdoors and connect and, you know, when I took an ornithology course and then I could identify the birds in my backyard, I was like, whoa, I'm seeing this world in a whole new way.
00:37:58.356 --> 00:38:05.282
and I just really wanna give other people that feeling where they could be like, oh, you know what, that's a white oak.
00:38:05.311 --> 00:38:06.271
Why do I know that?
00:38:06.277 --> 00:38:13.061
Because I hung out with these biologists and they told me why it's a good species, you know?
00:38:13.422 --> 00:38:26.657
And just like, yeah, if we're, we're moving towards, while we're even living in a time where, you know, we, it's important to protect natural areas, with climate change and decreases in biodiversity.
00:38:27.257 --> 00:38:37.967
And so just getting people to wanna go outside, I wanna learn about nature is something that I really hold close to my heart and really wanna.
00:38:38.851 --> 00:38:39.976
getting people involved.
00:38:39.976 --> 00:38:45.702
And so I have a little social media that I do I just love being able to tell, like show my friends what I'm seeing.
00:38:45.706 --> 00:38:52.692
And so that's why I kind of got into the nature photography so that I could then post a photo and be like, this is the species I'm talking about.
00:38:52.882 --> 00:38:56.652
I saw it in real life, so you can too, you know?
00:38:56.652 --> 00:38:59.021
And then why is this species awesome?
00:38:59.382 --> 00:39:03.282
And so, yeah, I think that's like the biggest change I hope to make.
00:39:03.581 --> 00:39:14.472
I also hope to give habitat to important native species and protect endangered ones, but I think in order to do that, we really need to get the general public on board.
00:39:14.472 --> 00:39:19.902
And so making them also love nature is what my main goal is.
00:39:21.851 --> 00:39:22.902
That's an amazing answer.
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I love it.
00:39:24.371 --> 00:39:25.331
Yeah, that's a great one.
00:39:25.402 --> 00:39:30.952
If someone wanted to get involved with N CCC or learn more about what you do, where should they go?
00:39:32.222 --> 00:39:38.606
So Nature Conservancy canada.ca, we have a lot about our, a mission and our values.
00:39:38.936 --> 00:39:47.677
And then we also have a lot of conservation volunteer events planned coming up, just across the organization as a whole, and they're posted on that site.
00:39:47.737 --> 00:39:51.007
And so there's some really cool ones that I know that I run.
00:39:51.106 --> 00:40:02.251
There's some grassland prairie, initiative and then, I ran a garbage cleanup, not, that's not glamorous, but there's those kinda events on there as well.
00:40:02.251 --> 00:40:15.947
And so I think it's a really good way to, connect with people in your local area, across Canada and just figure out a little more about what our organization's all about and what each job kind of entails.
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It's a nice way to network, but also not a lot of pressure on you when you're there at a conservation volunteer event.
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So you're just having fun being out in nature with other people who like to do the same.
00:40:27.617 --> 00:40:28.036
Yeah.
00:40:28.041 --> 00:40:28.606
Awesome.
00:40:28.956 --> 00:40:30.726
Well, thanks so much for sitting down with us today.
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Thank you so much for tuning into Emerging Leaders for Biodiversity.
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How do I do this?
00:40:36.001 --> 00:40:37.652
An environmental queer podcast.
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Be sure to follow us on social media and our website using the handle EL number four, biodiversity to get the latest news on upcoming events and other exciting opportunities.
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We can't wait for you to tune in to our next episode.
