Green Jobs Program Launches BC Youth into a Promising Recreation Career

Kassandra Duchesne has officially begun her career in recreation and parks, securing a permanent position as a recreation receptionist with the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN). The B.C. youth has always wanted to dedicate her professional life to the sector, and she considers her job as a parks program assistant an important stepping stone to achieving her goal.  

“Being a parks program assistant helped and has definitely made the transition to this job much easier,” says Duchesne. The position, made possible through the CPRA Green Jobs Initiative and funded by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Skills Strategy program, offered her invaluable experience in the sector.   

Duchesne, who attended university for leisure and recreational services, had previously worked in child and youth recreation programs for the region and wanted more experience working specifically in parks. As a parks program assistant, she took on social media and marketing efforts and helped transport residents to local parks. Duchesne also worked on a variety of important projects which taught her new, valuable job skills.  

“I hadn’t had the opportunity to do a lot of the back-end programming before. In previous recreation jobs, I was usually brought in when the programs were already implemented. This job gave me a better understanding of the recreation field,” she says. 

She adds that she also knew the RDN was an inclusive workplace, and as a 2SLGBTQ+ youth, she appreciated the opportunity to work in a safe space. 

“From my previous experience working with the RDN, I already knew it was a welcome community where I was comfortable,” she says. 

Christina Finnie, recreation coordinator for the RDN and Duchesne’s supervisor and mentor, says it was wonderful working with Kassandra, whose previous recreation experience and creativity made her a great fit for the role.  

“Her willingness to learn, coupled with all the things that she already knew about recreation, made her a great fit here,” Finnie says. “She was always willing to jump into whatever we offered.” 

Finnie adds that Duchesne’s work will have lasting impacts on the community.  

“Kass did a huge amount of work on many different projects, and I think her work will benefit a lot of people in the community.”  

Finnie is also confident that Duchesne has a bright future in recreation and parks.  

“We were incredibly grateful to have Kass on our team,” she says. “With her dedication and skills, she was a great fit! It was a pleasure working with her, and I look forward to seeing all she will accomplish in the future.” 

Kassandra’s journey highlights how meaningful opportunities can shape careers and strengthen communities, demonstrating the far-reaching benefits of initiatives like the CPRA Green Jobs Program.