Employee Testimonials
Employee Testimonials
Read what former ABMI field technologists have to say about their experiences monitoring Alberta’s biodiversity across the province.
Clayton Temple
Student of Environmental Management at Lakehead University
ABMI Experience: 2 seasons, Oil Sands Monitoring & Ecosystem Health (Terrestrial)
Working with ABMI has given me the opportunity to see a wide variety of ecosystems while developing my field skills. Being from South-Western Ontario I hadn’t seen much of Alberta before working for ABMI. Now, I have climbed mountains in the south, hiked through deep snow in the west and flown in helicopters in the remote north. ABMI expanded my abilities in plant identification, quadding, game-camera setup/retrieval, and many other skills. In 2021, I was stationed at the Oil Sands Monitoring (OSM) base where I got to work with amazing people from across Canada. We worked in the oil-sands area near industrial activities, such as pipelines and wells, and in remote areas where I gained a lot of confidence.
I was also fortunate to work at the Ecosystem Health base. Ecosystem Health had different protocols which focused on different aspects of the environment to measure biodiversity and characteristics of the sites we visited. These protocols included moss and lichen collection, soil samples, tree surveys, and ecosite classification which helped me become more comfortable with data collection. The experiences I gained as well as the bonds I shared with my coworkers created some really great memories of working at ABMI.
Valérie Bérubé
Student of Natural Resources and Environmental Management at Laval University, Quebec City
ABMI Experience: 1 season, Ecosystem Health (Terrestrial)
One of the things I valued the most about ABMI is their scientific rigor. Quality of data collection is essential, and they ensure that each measurement is of the highest quality. This gave importance and meaning to my work in the field. The sentence I probably said the most was "I can't believe that I'm working right now". That was easy to say from a 2000 m altitude mountain or while I was doing some thrilling quadding. Bonus, it's as if ABMI was a magnet to the most awesome people you can work with. I can sum up my experience in three words: Wilderness, friendship and knowledge.
Ashley Hillman
Research Assistant, Applied Conservation Ecology Lab, University of Alberta
ABMI Experience: 4 seasons, North Terrestrial
Working as a summer technologist was one of my best working experiences. I was able to really develop my field skills and learn new ones. The field methods I learned, such as field navigation, plot measurements, ecosite classification, and forest stand measurements, are widely applicable skills for any future work. I was able to expand on and develop my vascular plant identification skills, which is an extremely valuable skill to have. These experiences have helped me in my current job as a research assistant, as I am responsible for designing and conducting my own field research, as well as assisting my colleagues’ with their research and field work.
In addition to the great learning experience, working as a summer field tech was the most fun job I’ve ever had! I flew in a helicopter for the first time, learned the best ways to get my quad unstuck, worked in remote places where few people had ever gone, swam in lakes high on the Canadian shield that were only accessible by helicopter, and saw species I’d never seen before. I formed lasting friendships with field partners and other technicians, and formed a network of peers and supervisors that actually helped me find work outside of the ABMI.
I would happily recommend this position to anyone looking for a great way to spend their summer, exploring remote areas of Alberta, building valuable field skills, and working with a great group of people!
Jeanette Goulet
Environmental Assessment Scientist, Parks Canada-Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay Field Unit
ABMI Experience: 2 seasons, North Aquatic
Working with the ABMI was a huge benefit to my life due to the work experience and new skills I gained. I learned to work on a wide variety of environmental elements, manage field work in remote locations, use and organize many different types of equipment and work effectively as part of a team. These experiences definitely helped me further my environmental career and helped me obtain my current position with Parks Canada.
I was a ground access (non-remote) aquatic tech, and I was responsible for conducting aquatic protocols in wetlands across the northern boreal region of Alberta. This position required quite a bit of field gear, including an inflatable kayak, all of which was packed onto an ATV or carried on my back through unexplored northern bogs to access the site for the day. I was responsible for using a GPS to paddle my boat in straight lines around the wetland, taking depth measurements at specific intervals which was very difficult to do when it was even a bit windy or when my paddling skills were lacking that day! There was a lot to do in the field, but after the field work was done, our work wasn’t complete. There were still daily tasks to do such as checking data, and disinfecting all of the field gear so it was ready for the next site. Some days could definitely feel long and tiring. But it was also so rewarding, especially when we had the opportunity to see some absolutely beautiful places that no one else gets to go to. My field partner and I even got to experience some rare magical moments. For example, on one particularly tough day that included a downpour and lightning storm, the dark clouds finally parted to reveal a big beautiful mother moose with her calf just across the wetland, feeding on aquatic plants right in front of us.
Even though it’s been a few years since I’ve worked with the ABMI, I still call my field partners some of my best friends and I keep in touch with so many of the other techs I worked with. We still get together for camping adventures each summer. Working as an ABMI field technologist was one of the best jobs I’ve had because it was challenging, fun, an amazing learning opportunity and I gained lifelong friends.
Liam Harrap
Reporter, CBC Edmonton
ABMI Experience: 3 seasons, North Remote Aquatic
Working as a summer field technologist with the ABMI was one of the best jobs I've ever had. Every day was an adventure and every day had a puzzle. It's hard to beat a job, where your "office" is a tent and the commute involves a helicopter. I made some really good friends, that I hold dear to my heart and will continue to do so until the end of my days. I'm now doing a master’s in journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa. My thesis for my masters is on oil and gas development in Alberta, an idea I was introduced to while working for ABMI where I had the opportunity to see how oil and gas impact the landscape. Who knows what I would currently be studying if it wasn't for ABMI, perhaps something drab like basket weaving. Thank you ABMI for adding much-needed colour and excitement to my life.
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