Graduate Profiles

Stephen Elgie graduated in 2010 with a BA in Geography and continued working with the Geography department to earn an MSc in 2012 with Dr. Wanhong Yang as his advisor.  Stephen found a career initially as a GIS technician with a large green energy developer in Toronto, and has since moved on to a career as a hydrologic data management sales and support manager with KISTERS North America, a global leader in time series and environmental data solutions.

"After completing my degree I continued building my resume within the environmental data field, relying on the skills developed during my time at UoG to provide cost effective and efficient solutions to a wide range of clientele. My work with KISTERS North America has heavily drawn upon the relationships and skill set I began to develop at the University and were a crucial factor in providing me with this opportunity. I currently support all of Canada and a few northern States on large scale environmental projects and get to work closely with large firms like ESRI, Microsoft, IBM, Environment Canada, the EPA, and like agencies. "


AGraduate Amie Melnychukmie Melnychuk graduated in 2009 with a BSc Env (Guelph). Amie continued with her education to earn an MSc Geography in 2012 at Guelph, with Aaron Berg as advisor. Amie found a career as IT Project Coordinator with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association in Guelph ON.

"I project manage and coordinate the efforts of an IT group within an agricultural non-profit organization. We are a delivery partner for the Canada-Ontario Program called Growing Forward 2 and other environmental and agricultural stewardship programs across the province.

My IT group develops and maintains a robust online delivery system for agricultural producers, processors, organizations and collaborations to access cost-share and education opportunities applicable to their businesses and geographical regions. I act as a business analyst, gathering and developing project deliverables, timeline, schedule, scope. I manage various projects’ risks, stakeholders, communications, schedule and deployment ".


Graduate Kim DuhnKimberly Duhn (MSc 2011) is a LiDAR project manager.  Kim works for the surveying company, Vieworx in Grande Prairie Alberta.  Her main responsibilities are the calibration and overall accuracy assessment of the LiDAR units they have in house and asses the clients projects needs in order to deliver on spec products. Her duties include:

•    Develop and implement data collection methodologies
•    Test, operate and support LiDAR systems
•    Develop quality assessment and control practices
•    Provide technical support to staff
•    Provide field staff with spatial data to assist in field scouting
•    Develop specialized GIS procedures
•    Create and manage GIS based datasets, data stores and workflows


Graduate Gustavo OliveiraGustavo de Oliveira graduated in 2011 with a M.A. in Geography at Guelph and is working for the Government of the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife as Manager of Industrial Initiatives.

"After completing my degree in Guelph I worked a couple of odd jobs before embarking on a northern adventure in January 2012 when I moved to Iqaluit, Nunavut. Two years later I landed a job in Yellowknife. In my role as Manager of the Industrial Initiatives Unit with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, I lead a team of three in the negotiation and implementation of Socio-Economic Agreements. These agreements are negotiated with resource developers in the territory to maximize socio-economic benefits for residents of the Northwest Territories. Canada's North is a really interesting place to work and live in. There are endless opportunities to fast-track your career and to do things that you'd never otherwise have a chance to do in the "South." As an added bonus to an incredible benefits package, I am surrounded by pristine wilderness - an outdoor lover's paradise."


Graduate Tara HollandAfter receiving her PhD in Geography at Guelph in 2014, Tara Holland worked as a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at Quest University Canada in Squamish BC.  Tara taught interdisciplinary environment-themed courses and supervised undergraduate research projects.

Tara was recently hired as a faculty member in the Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS) Department at UBC. She is working as a Science Teaching and Learning Fellow, which entails promoting innovative pedagogies in science teaching across all departmental disciplines. In this role, she gives consultations and workshops for instructors, conducts science education research, and teaches environmental science courses.


Sara ImperaSarah Impera graduated in February 2013 with an M.Sc. in Geography at Guelph. She is an Environmental Planner specializing in Reclamation work at TERA Environmental Consultants (a CH2M Hill Company) since May 2013. 

Based out of Calgary Sarah, develops Environmental Protection and Reclamation plans. She also conducts Soil Productivity Effects Assessments of proposed pipeline projects. In the summer field season, Sarah participates in weed surveys and soil sampling throughout western Canada.

 

 

 


Stephanie Wood at work.Stephanie Wood (BA 2014) is putting her lessons from her geomorphology classes to use in her position with Summit Liability Solutions. Stephanie claims she actually reviewed her old class notes to help her through her interview.  Her work involves environmental phase I, II, and III processes, environmental remediation, DSAs, soil survey mapping with GIS and reclamation certification.