I am happy to announce that I accepted a new job position as an Environmental Officer with Transport Canada…in Edmonton! This means being closer to family and old friends AND the Rockies!!!
This decision may sound like a no-brainer, but it was surprisingly tough to make. I’ve grown a rather close attachment to my coworkers and PFRA, especially when the whole of my career, up until now, has been with them (7 years!). From being a low-paid intern at the start of my career, they gave me the much needed support and career development opportunities that helped shape who I am today. I will forever be grateful.
The other tough component of this decision was the change in career path. This new position involves the regimented work of ensuring that development projects are assessed on their potential environmental effects as directed by the federal legislation- the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Less in the field of applied research than what I am used to. But after a few sleepless nights thinking about it, the employment prospects in environmental assessment and regulation are growing and will continue to be in high demand. The applied research field that I am in now is limited in employability, and I eventually would have to advance to a Master’s degree to specialise in a research field in order to advance my career.
So I decided that I wanted it all and found a way how to potentially get it all- i.e. move to Edmonton, get a Master’s degree (distance degree from the UK with a dissertation/research project), be close to family, and perhaps when the time is right, start my own family. I got a few busy years ahead of me now!
I’m so very excited to start this new career path and new life in Edmonton- although it feels more like a merge of the old (reconnecting with family and old friends) and the new. I haven’t been back since I graduated in 2001! Of course what could make life more complete than to have a loving partner to share it with? Tim will be joining me too! His company (Squareflo) has agreed to still keep him on and have him work remotely. Awesome!
Just so you are aware, getting the Transport Canada job wasn’t a shoe-in: the recruitment process took approximately 4 months to complete, from the time I took that 3 hour exam in October to enduring a 3 hour-long interview (including a writing component) in late November. But I managed to pull through and impress them in the interview (so I was told). Anyway, point being- even though you are in the federal public service, you have to study and work just as in hard getting a federal job than any other person!
This month will be busy, busy, busy- with my move and arranging for a new place to stay (hoping for an apartment downtown so I can bike to work). I am also currently taking French training and so have been spending alot of my evenings and weekends studying. I’m sad to leave my language course unfinished (ends April 1st) especially when I worked so hard to get departmental funding for it! Oh well, hopefully I can continue my French learning in Edmonton.
à la prochaine/Until next time!
