Green Jobs Helps Edmonton Youth Find Belonging

Baljot Banipal had always loved animals and spending time outdoors, but she never imagined conservation biology as a career. 

“I always loved being in nature and exploring the outdoors, but I had never thought of it as a career,” she said. “Then in Grade 12, I met a student teacher who told me about the conservation biology program at NAIT, so I applied, and from there my interest just kept growing.” 

Baljot went on to study conservation biology at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton. Like many graduates entering the field, however, she quickly learned how difficult it could be to secure relevant work experience — particularly in an urban setting. 

“Coming out of NAIT, I struggled to find a job in the field. I was applying everywhere without much response,” she said. “Environmental or conservation-related jobs are hard to come by — especially within the city. A lot of positions are rural or far away, so this was a really unique opportunity.” 

That opportunity came in the summer of 2025, when Baljot was hired by the City of Edmonton in a position supported by the CPRA Green Jobs Initiative, funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) program. 

The City of Edmonton manages approximately 2,500 hectares of natural areas across the city — a vast network of environmentally significant land overseen by a relatively small team. 

“Our team oversees the restoration and ecology of natural areas across Edmonton,” said Courtney Teliske, Ecologist with the City of Edmonton. “The work is extremely important to ensure these areas continue providing ecosystem services for our citizens.” 

Baljot’s role supported the City’s ecological monitoring program, focused on collecting in-field data to guide long-term management, restoration, and preservation efforts. 

“This position helped us start collecting really important ecological data to inform how we preserve and manage our natural areas moving forward,” Courtney explained. “Students were out in the field collecting monitoring information, using GIS and other technology, and helping us understand the overall condition of our natural areas.” 

That work plays a critical role in the City’s broader environmental objectives.

“A lot of the monitoring information collected this summer will be used to support the City’s climate action goals related to natural areas over the next four years,” Courtney said. “The City of Edmonton is working to be a leader in climate adaptation, and this data is a key part of that effort.” 

For Baljot, the placement marked her first full-time field role — and the difference between classroom learning and daily, hands-on experience was immediate. 

“This was my first actual field job. We did some of this stuff in school, but you just pick things up so much more quickly in the field than when you’re learning it in class,” she said. “An internship is probably worth a full year of schooling.” 

Throughout the summer, Baljot took part in wildlife sweeps, ecological monitoring, and species identification. According to Courtney, her confidence and skills grew noticeably over the course of the placement. 

“She was a bit timid at the beginning,” Courtney said. “But as the season progressed, she started asking more questions, became much more confident in the field, and her identification skills really improved.” 

Baljot also took initiative outside her core responsibilities, independently creating a video that showcased the work she and her teammates were doing — a reflection of her growing confidence and pride in the role. 

During her studies, Baljot became aware of how underrepresented people like her were in conservation biology. While no one ever made her feel unwelcome, the lack of representation sometimes made her question whether she belonged in the field.  

At the City, that wasn’t her experience, she said “I felt comfortable, supported, and had a real sense of belonging.” 

Courtney was proud to hear that feedback. 

“It’s really important to us that students feel supported and comfortable asking questions,” she said. “We want them to feel like they belong here, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see a young person grow and gain confidence through the experience.” 

The work Baljot and her team were doing didn’t go unnoticed. Community members frequently stopped to ask about the wildlife sweeps taking place in their neighbourhoods. 

“It was the first time many residents were actually seeing people out looking for wildlife before operational activities,” Courtney said. “They didn’t realize the City was doing this work, and the feedback we received was very positive. People were genuinely happy to hear that wildlife was being actively protected.” 

Before the placement, Baljot assumed her future would always involve fieldwork. While she enjoyed the hands-on outdoor experience, exposure to geographic information systems (GIS) — tools used to map and visualize environmental data — sparked an unexpected new interest. 

“I really enjoyed doing field work for the summer — I always knew I would like that,” she said. “But I’m so glad I had the opportunity to get hands-on experience with GIS. I just loved seeing everything come together on the map, and it’s helped give me clearer direction for my future career.” 

Reflecting on her experience, Baljot encourages other young people considering a Green Jobs–funded role to approach it with curiosity and openness. 

“I would say go into it with an open mind,” she said. “You learn so much more than you expect — not just about the work, but about yourself and what you’re capable of achieving.” 

For Baljot, the experience offered more than practical skills. It gave her confidence, a sense of belonging in a field she loves, and clearer direction as she continues building her career. At the same time, her work contributed to the protection of Edmonton’s natural areas — showing how meaningful opportunities for young people can strengthen both communities and the environments they steward for the next generation.