Sierra's journey
Explore Sierra's journey from Ontario to the Yukon in becoming a natural resource officer and what she finds fulfilling about her work.
How it all started
Sierra’s experience and education is varied. It all nudged her towards a role as a natural resource officer even though she was not familiar with this career option.
She took pre-veterinarian courses before changing to a law enforcement-focused diploma. Application of the law was incredibly interesting to her, although becoming a police officer did not seem like the best fit. After speaking with a conservation officer, Sierra pursued another diploma in Ecosystem Management Technology from Fleming College in Ontario.
Through every opportunity, paid or volunteer, Sierra tried to learn as much from scientists and other experts in the field. From planting trees to picking seeds in a grassland to measuring fish in a hatchery, there was a wealth of knowledge for her to take in. She always spent extra time with the most experienced members of the team to learn as much as she could from each opportunity.
What she likes about her job
One of Sierra’s passions is to travel, so the 4 weeks of vacation that Government of Yukon employees start with was a great benefit to her. In addition, much of the work that natural resource officers do involves travel – whether by helicopter, boat or ATV. Being able to explore the corners of the remote, rugged territory that others only dream about is a great perk for those with wanderlust.
Sierra also noted how welcoming and helpful her colleagues were during her first few months living in the North. It did take a bit of time for her to adjust to living in the Yukon, but she's grateful to the team for making her feel at home!
Career highlight
The highlight in Sierra’s career as a natural resource officer was flying to an active mine near Mayo accompanied by a Department of Fisheries and Oceans biologist. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with a specialist in the field like that fulfils the value Sierra places in life-long learning.
Advice to applicants
Sierra encourages people to apply even if they feel they do not fulfil 100 per cent of the criteria or if they are not an expert at one of the expected tasks yet. There are lots of opportunities to learn, formally or informally, with the Yukon government. She says, “Don’t be afraid to apply. Learning through experience is part of the job.”
