Sparking a Career
Mike Soloducha had never given a thought to understanding wildfire behaviour in BC. However, as a Camosun College co-op student, a summer placement with the Ministry of Forests and Range Protection ignited his interest in a fire management career.
Learn what you love by DOING it
Mike's love of nature and being outdoors led him to enrol in the Environmental Technology program. Initially unsure about being in school and unclear of the path ahead, the co-op program enabled him to define his direction.
"My current position as a Wildland Fire Science Technician is turning out to be exactly what I was looking for: an exciting mix of travel and training, field work and lab activities. I never would have thought about working for Fire Protection unless I’d explored work opportunities through environmental co-op," says Mike.
Mike suggests that students should not judge the co-op process right away. "I thought I knew how to apply for jobs but I did need help and I gained valuable experience by applying to positions and going to interviews."
Introduce students to a great career
Tasked with managing wildfires on both Crown and private lands, the Protection Branch protects life and assets, giving priority to fires in areas where communities and forests interface.
"Fire management is a very interesting and exciting field but very little is taught about it in colleges and universities. It is always rewarding to see students like Mike who, exposed to it for the very first time, become interested in a line of work that they may otherwise have never considered," says Nathalie Lavoie, Leader, Fire Sciences.
Mike's co-op term experience inspired him to write an essay that won an Air and Waste Management Award for a "strong commitment to an intended profession". Mike now hosts his own website where Environmental Technology students can share ideas and discuss environmental issues with other internet members.
Find out more
Learn more about co-op education and internships from Camosun College’s Co-op department website or email coop@camosun.bc.ca
Interested in Camosun’s Diploma in Environmental Technology?
