Conference on Environmental Management: A platform for success and accomplishment

In a culmination of eight months of real-world experience, students in Lakeland College’s bachelor of applied science: environmental management (BASEM) program presented their capstones at the Conference on Environmental Management (CEM) in March.

BASEM student Cody Roberts’ capstone project highlighted publicly accessible conservation land throughout Alberta and permitted land use activities for each site. One of the primary goals of this project was to inform Metis citizens in Alberta where they can access lands and engage in traditional land use activities, such as harvesting.

“I've always been interested in conservation and restoration, and the public side of the environmental industry,” says Roberts, who completed his practicum with the Métis Nation of Alberta.

“Coming up with my capstone project was a collaborative effort between myself and my manager,” explains Roberts. “We came up with the idea for a dashboard using software to help promote and highlight the conservation lands in Alberta that are accessible to the public. There aren’t a lot of tools out there that show you accessible conservation land beyond going to a specific organization. It’s very segregated, so creating a tool that has it all together with the land uses permitted breaks that barrier.”

With Ram River Environmental Consultants, BASEM student Nathan Colford’s capstone project concentrated on a field screening method versus accredited laboratory data to determine if a similar trend for the values calculated could be seen.

“Thirty samples of selected subsoil types were analyzed. Values from a field probe were recorded in field notes,” says Colford. “The samples are then sent to accredited labs. The field readings were compared to lab readings. Comparing the results allowed me to determine if trend could be seen” says Colford.

The CEM is an annual event and a platform for Lakeland’s degree students to not only share their knowledge and findings, but to network with industry experts.

Collaborating with industry

Roberts’ and Colford’s practicum experience also yielded full-time employment with their practicum hosts.

Colford is a junior environmental technician with Ram River Environmental Consultants located in Vermilion, Alta., where he’s mastering skills in Phase One and Two environmental site assessments for remediation and reclamation.

“Many of our staff are Lakeland graduates. We offer practicum opportunities at Ram River Environmental Consultants to help them gain valuable industry experience, meet the requirements of the final hurdles of achieving their BASEM, and to for us to gain exposure to potential workers entering the workforce. We have found that Lakeland graduates have hands on experience to draw on in real world situations that they will face in their career. We are able to take students and, with some continued mentorship from experienced staff, help them get a well-rounded set of skills to contribute to all aspects of our work and the skills they will use throughout their career,” says Wade Holst, manager, Northeast Alberta, Ram River Environmental Consultants.

As a conservation assistant with the Métis Nation of Alberta located in Edmonton, Alta., Roberts manages, maintains and plans for environmental projects, specifically more towards conservation.

“The Métis Nation of Alberta’s Environment and Climate Change department has hosted two students from the BASEM program for their practicums. Both students were offered full-time positions upon completion of their programs. We have found BASEM students to have knowledge and experience that aligns with our environmental monitoring and conservation-focused projects. Participating as a host agency for the BASEM program provides our department with capacity to complete more work on behalf of MNA Citizens while providing the students with a unique opportunity to get experience working for a Métis government,” says Jordan York, environmental programs manager, Métis Nation of Alberta.

To BASEM and beyond

Prior to the degree program, Colford graduated from Lakeland with a diploma in conservation and reclamation.

“The Environmental Conservation and Reclamation diploma provided me technical and hands on skills which directly applied to my success in the BASEM Reclamation and Remediation program. Completing both programs from Lakeland has provided me great start in my current role in the environmental field and provided me a range of skills to begin my career.”

Roberts took advantage of Lakeland’s double diploma option, earning a credential in wildlife and fisheries conservation, and conservation and restoration ecology. He shares that the two diploma programs set him up for success in the BASEM program and in turn, the BASEM program set him up for success in the real world.

“The core teachings of the BASEM program are to teach you how to become an environmental manager and I think it does a great job setting people up for that. I feel like I had the knowledge I need to apply the skills once I was in my practicum,” says Roberts. “I think for people don’t think that university is for them, the BASEM program is really needed.”