The following series was composed by the Youth Knowledge Gatherer team as a part of their work for the Canadian Parks Collective for Innovation and Leadership. The Knowledge Gatherers were encourage to pursue topics they were passionate about, and several of the Gatherers conducted interviews with leaders to share parts of their stories of inclusion and equity in parks and protected areas agencies. The following seven interviews with leaders from across jurisdictions–and across regions–are just a few of the wide ranging experiences and identities present within the parks and protected areas community.
We acknowledge that many gaps still remain beyond these profiles. The interview series was conducted on a volunteer basis, and as such there are a number of perspectives yet to be shared. We extend our gratitude to the participants who have already given us their time and we are conducting more research in order to tell a fuller story of the diverse people who lead parks and protected areas.
This series does not need to be read in one sitting. In fact, we encourage you to take some time to engage with the content and let the interviews wash over you. After each interview, you will find reflective questions–take a moment to pause and reflect on what you have learned.
Daniella Rubeling (she/her) is the visitor experience manager for the Parks Canada Banff Field Unit. In this role, Rubeling oversees visitor experience across most of Banff National Park. She started in this role eight months ago, one day prior to the transition to working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Daniella has recently returned to her office in the Banff townsite, which is where I reached her.
Take a moment to reflect on your leadership approach.
Jane Park is a fire and vegetation specialist for the Banff Field Unit for Parks Canada. In accordance to CPCIL’s Inclusion and Equity profile series, here’s what she shared with us on her experience as a Korean Woman and Park Leader.
Take a moment to reflect on your career choice.
Marilynn Hay (she/her) is a municipal advisor with the Province of Nova Scotia and has been in this role since November 2019. She initially took a leave of absence from her role as a Municipal Advisor with the Kananaskis Improvement District (KID), Alberta Environment and Parks but has since left that position. With the KID, Marilynn was employed as a Municipal Advisor and spent a year acting in a dual role of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Manager of Emergency Services within the Kananaskis Region. She identifies as a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community. I reached Marilynn at her home office in Halifax, Nova Scotia to discuss her experience as an LGBTQ2S+ woman working in conservation.
Think about how some of the men in Marilynn’s story spoke about women.
Rike Moon (she/her) works for BC Parks as the Community Engagement Specialist on the Community Engagement and Education section at Provincial Services Branch in Victoria, BC. She has been in this role since May 2020. Rike is a native of Germany and identifies as a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community. She spoke to me about her experience in parks and protected areas from her home in Victoria, BC.
Think about the park or protected areas related to your work.
Sarah Boyle (she/her) is a project manager for the Protected Areas Establishment Branch of Parks Canada, which deals with establishing terrestrial and marine conservation areas. Boyle is currently working on the proposed national park reserve in the South Okanagan – Similkameen region of British Columbia, the unceded traditional territory of the Syilx Nation. She has been working in this position for the past two and a half years.
I reached Sarah at her home in Revelstoke, British Columbia to talk about her experience living and working in parks.
Sarah makes a powerful point about knowing when to engage in good followership to support your leadership.
Kayode Adeyemi is an Immigrant from Nigeria who currently lives in Calgary, Alberta and works as a Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator for Alberta Parks and Environment. In accordance to CPCIL’s Inclusion and Equity profile series, here’s what he shared with us on his experience as a Black Park Leader.
Reflect on your organizations hiring practices. Think of the language used, the process, and how you’re asking people to identify their relevant skills.
Dawn Carr (she/her) was the executive director of the Canadian Parks Council (CPC) and the principal consultant of her own consulting agency, CarrPark. She was the executive director of the CPC from 2012 to 2021. Since this interview, Dawn Carr has accepted a new role with the Nature Conservancy of Canada with she started in September, 2021. I reached her at her home in Peterborough, ON to talk about her experience as a woman working in parks.
Consider how your identity has shaped your leadership experience.
