Interpretation & Visitor Experience Assistants - Student & Youth

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

📌 If at any point you are struggling with your application or have questions about what we are asking for, please reach out to the contact listed at the bottom of this poster. Persons who are unable to apply on-line must contact the person listed below prior to the closing date.

📌 Parks Canada is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and is proud to be part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS). Park's Canada's YESS program supports the creation of additional job opportunities each year, with a particular focus on underrepresented youth. In support of this initiative, preference may be given to qualified candidates who self-identify as Indigenous, Racialized, or Youth with Disabilities, as well as youth facing other barriers to employment. Your self-identification information is confidential and will not affect your employment with Parks Canada.

Who can apply? To be eligible to the YESS program, you must be:
- Between 15 and 30 years old; and
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada.
Note: It is not required that participants be students.

📌Parks Canada housing is not available for youth/students occupying positions in Sidney or on Pender Island. However, affordable Parks Canada housing may be available for positions on Saturna Island. Youth/students are responsible for their own food, transportation, and other costs.

Duties

We are hiring for positions on two different teams: Interpretation and Visitor Services. You will be asked to identify which position you are applying for, and are welcome to apply for both positions. Please read job descriptions below carefully to determine your interest!

💫INTERPRETATION ASSISTANT (SU-01)
At Parks Canada, presenting, educating and sharing the stories of national parks and historic sites to the public is a key part of what we do. In a typical week as a member of the Interpretation team, you may find yourself at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea creatively engaging with visitors about the amazing ecosystems found within GINPR; on a weekend you may find yourself preparing in the office then heading out to deliver an entertaining and educational interpretive program at Pender Island, Mayne Island or Sidney Island; or you may attend outreach events in the Gulf Islands community, such as markets or fairs. Every day is an adventure with Gulf Islands National Park Reserve!

📋 Your duties will include:
• Delivery of different styles of interpretation programming (e.g., scheduled programs, roving, tabletop, etc.).
• Representing Gulf Islands National Park Reserve at partner venues such as the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea and at outreach events in the island communities.
• Assistance with special events, and programs.
• Responding to public questions, comments and concerns.
• Create engaging social media content. E.g. Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter).

⭐VISITOR SERVICES ASSISTANT (SU-02)
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve’s Visitor Services team is looking for individuals who are passionate about the outdoors, demonstrate a high degree of customer service, and are keen on educating visitors about the local natural and cultural history of one of Canada’s most unique places.

📋 As a Visitor Services Attendant, your work is focused on facilitating exceptional national park experiences by:
• interacting with local and international visitors,
• selling camping permits and firewood,
• registering boaters at mooring buoys and docks,
• cleaning and maintaining campgrounds,
• as well as providing information about the park reserve in person, by phone and electronically.

Your daily schedule involves working closely with other team members regularly on evenings and weekends as you travel by vehicle or boat to campgrounds and mooring locations throughout the national park reserve, the majority of which are in stunning and remote island locales.

Work environment

✨Parks Canada is a federal government agency responsible for the protection and presentation of Canada's outstanding natural and cultural resources through a system of national parks, national marine conservation areas, and national historic sites in all regions of Canada.

As part of the Visitor Experience team, you will deliver meaningful, captivating, and enjoyable interpretive presentations, programs and activities that provide visitors with opportunities to develop meaningful connections to the natural and cultural landscapes of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.

Are you motivated? Creative and energetic? A strong communicator? Do you enjoy nature and history? A summer job with Parks Canada’s visitor experience team might be right for you!

Intent of the process

📣 The intent of this process is to hire students and youth for the summer 2025 (approximately 13 to 15 weeks between May and August, 2025).

The results may be used in the future to fill other temporary vacancies that may arise in Coastal BC Field Unit, in various locations, with full or part-time hours for various tenures, depending on status of the selected candidate.

Successful candidates must commit to the entire work term.

Positions to be filled: 6

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

💼 EXPERIENCE:
• Experience providing information to and/or resolving complaints/problems for the public.
• Experience working in a team environment.
• Experience working, volunteering, or recreating in the outdoors.
• Experience handling cash and operating point-of-sales (SU-02 only).

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential
or Bilingual (English and French)

Information on language requirements

📚 KNOWLEDGE:
• Knowledge of communication techniques such as, storytelling, demonstration theatre, music and guided walks (SU-01 only).
• Knowledge of natural sciences, local flora and fauna (SU-01 only).

💡 ABILITIES AND SKILLS:
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a team.
• Ability to adapt to a variety of situations (SU-01 only).
• Ability to interact with and present to a wide variety of audiences (SU-01 only).
• Ability to provide high quality customer service (SU-02 only).
• Ability to problem solve (SU-02 only).
• Ability to take initiative (SU 02 only).

⭐ PERSONAL SUITABILITY:
• Personally connects with people.
• Exercises sound judgment.
• Dependable.
• Takes responsibility.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

📝 ASSET (ADDITIONAL) QUALIFICATIONS:
• Experience with and/or knowledge of traditions, culture and practices of Indigenous peoples in the local area.
• Experience writing articles, stories, and/or social media campaigns, e.g., for Facebook, Instagram and/or X (formerly known as Twitter).
• Experience working in and/ or recreating in a marine environment.

Conditions of employment

📁 OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Obtain and maintain Reliability Status security clearance (done at time of hiring).
• Willingness to use safe work practices and required personal protective clothing (training and terms of use provided).
• Willingness to wear a Parks Canada uniform, and occasionally, a mascot costume.
• Willingness to work outdoors and stand/walk for extended periods of time (sometimes in adverse weather conditions).
• Willingness to work shift-work, weekends, evening, overtime and statutory holidays.
• Willingness to set-up, take-down and move equipment (including large and heavy equipment, tables and tents, weighing approximately 22.7 kg / 50 lbs).
• Proof of valid driver's license (done at time of hiring).

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

📌 Parks Canada is established as a separate employer in the Federal Public Service under the Financial Administration Act. Persons appointed to the Agency continue to be part of the Public Service. Parks Canada operates under its own human resources framework outside of the Public Service Employment Act and in line with values of fairness, competence and respect, and its operating principles.

📌 You may be assessed using a variety of assessment tools, including but not limited to: written exams, interviews, reference checks, recent and past performance assessments, self-assessments and candidate achievement records, among others. All information obtained throughout the selection process from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates.

📌Each person is entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

📌For tips to navigate the application process step by step, refer to the following site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GW7P3g9hhI.

🏆The Parks Canada team is proud to be recognized by Forbes as one of Canada's Best Employers (2024).

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Contact information