Postcards from the Field: Nigel Finney
Internship: Canadian Rocky Mountains Stewardship Intern

Shell Conservation Intern Nigel Finney

Hello from the Mountains of BC!

The Canadian Rockies may be a far cry from Central Ontario, but the breathtaking landscapes and diversity of ecosystems here have quickly made this amazing part of Canada my new home.  After graduating this winter from the University of Waterloo, Ontario with a Bachelor of Environmental and Resource Studies and a Diploma of Excellence in Ecological Restoration and Rehabilitation, I welcomed the opportunity gain more experience in the field through the Shell Conservation Internship program.

As a Shell Conservation Intern, I have participated in a NCC pilot project monitoring ‘Restoration Effectiveness’ at Kootenay River Ranch (3311 acres), conducted noxious weed control programs in the Elk Valley (including the 22,000 acre Mount Broadwood Heritage Conservation Area), and facilitated the Pine Butte Ranch (1306 acres) baseline covenant monitoring.

Mount Broadwood, BC

Throughout the remainder of the summer, I will be conducting stewardship monitoring on other properties, as well as be involved in GIS mapping, creating interpretive plans and signage, photography, and our regional golf tournament fundraiser. In July, I will also be lucky enough to assist wildlife researchers to collect grizzly bear hair snags for DNA sampling on NCC’s Elk Valley properties. This collaborative effort contributes to a body of work aimed at identifying key wildlife corridors in need of protection on the western slopes of the Rockies.  

After the summer, I hope this experience will enable me to explore more of western Canada with further work opportunities, followed by volunteering abroad, and then continuing my education with a Masters in Restoration Ecology.

All the best,

Nigel Finney