Project Learning Tree Canada Celebrates Investment in Future Forest and Conservation Leaders

August 11, 2023

Ottawa, ON — The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, and the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, have announced $7.54 million in funding over two years to employ youth in natural and cultural heritage conservation with partner organizations.

The Government of Canada has provided this funding to Parks Canada under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) to employ youth in the conservation and enjoyment of natural and cultural heritage in Canada. As a partner organization with Parks Canada, Project Learning Tree Canada (PLT Canada) will support hundreds more green jobs and training opportunities for youth to gain valuable on-the-job experience and advance careers in the forest and conservation sector.

“We welcome this investment by Employment and Social Development Canada to fuel our work to grow a resilient and diverse workforce in the forest and conservation sector. Since 2021, PLT Canada has supported more than 1,800 Parks Canada Green Jobs placements through this program, achieving gender balance and providing over 15% of these opportunities to Indigenous youth. These jobs inspire leadership in environmental stewardship, foster a passion for science-based research and education, and help young people gain skills and experience so that they can transition successfully into future careers. We look forward to building on this work by supporting an additional 650 jobs over the next two years and inspiring the next generation of green leaders,” said Kathy Abusow, President and CEO, Sustainable Forestry Initiative and PLT Canada.

PLT Canada is a not-for-profit charitable organization whose mission is to advance environmental education, forest literacy, and career pathways using trees and forests as windows on the world. PLT Canada is committed to engaging youth in learning about the world around them—in rural, Indigenous, and urban communities—and using trees and forests to inspire action and grow the next generation of future forest and conservation leaders.