Green Jobs “Opens Doors” for Nova Scotia Youth

Lukah James faced few employment opportunities while growing up in the small town of Amherst, Nova Scotia. 

He had worked in a restaurant bussing tables and as a line cook, but James wanted a job that would give him tangible job skills to support his future career. In the summer of 2024, he found that opportunity when he was hired as a program facilitator for Easter Seals Nova Scotia’s Camp Tidnish – a position made possible by the CPRA Green Jobs Initiative, which is funded by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Skills Strategy Program. 

“This job gave me so many opportunities,” says James, who is now working in a Halifax school and hopes to someday become an RCMP officer. “It was a step in a new direction for me, and the skills I learned on this job opened up so many doors.” 

James focused on outdoor and environmental education as a program facilitator for Camp Tidnish, a barrier-free and fully accessible summer camp for young Nova Scotians living with disabilities. In his role, he organized and led many of the camp’s activities – particularly its outdoor activities which involved gardening and learning about the environment. 

He says that the camp itself removed barriers to outdoor learning for campers, many of whom face physical or learning challenges. 

“There are a lot of barriers they might face, but we got around them. We wanted to make sure our programming was fully accessible. When we played a game, for example, we found ways to change it to make it accessible for campers,” James explains. 

He says that this experience enabled him to develop job skills he now applies in his school role and will benefit him in a career in the RCMP. 

“I learned a lot of leadership skills, and the job gave me a much better understanding of how to adjust activities for people living with disabilities,” James says. “For a career in the RCMP, it has also given me a lot of interpersonal skills, and experience working with the public and kids as well.” 

He adds that the job also gave him a passion for gardening, and a better understanding of the environment.  

Alex Hart, director of Camp Tidnish, worked directly with James and says the Green Jobs funding had a “massive” impact on the organization. 

“As a not-for-profit, this funding put a huge weight off of us and allowed us to deliver awesome, accessible programming for children living with disabilities,” Hart says, adding that the camp will continue to build on the outdoor programming and activities that James helped develop. “Having this funding available allowed us to step in a new direction as well.” 

Hart says that James was a great fit for the role – helping all campers feel comfortable.  

“Some of our campers might have found it difficult to transition into camp, but from day one, Lukah created an environment that made them feel comfortable,” he says, adding that he was proud to be part of his career journey.  

“Because of the Green Jobs funding, Lukah is now off to do amazing things,” Hart says.