This September, nine youth leaders arrived in Ottawa to kick off their 10-month journey as part of the Parliamentary Internship for the Environment! With a shared commitment to environmental action, they are ready to make a difference. Meet them here!
Junan Adam-Gordon (he/him/il) - Salt Spring Island, BC
Junan holds a degree in International Relations, with a Minor in Smart and Shared Cities from Leiden University. Being Canadian-French and growing up on Salt Spring Island, BC, Junan has been fascinated by the natural world since an early age. That interest later materialized into pursuing climate leadership activities in school - from climate walkouts to founding a student council. Junan also attended United World Colleges, where he participated in initiatives such as leading an arts camp for youth from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Russia. Seeing youth bond over music, dance and theatre, despite coming from such politically opposing places, was incredibly special - especially as a musician. At university, Junan wrote his thesis on state secession in international law with a focus on Abkhazia and Quebec. He is excited to learn the realities of environmental policy formation and looks forward to contributing this year.
Daniel was born and raised in Calgary on the unceded Treaty 7 territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Tsuut'ina, and Stoney Nakoda Nations, as well as the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. He received a BASc in Climate and Environment from St. Francis Xavier University. Having been privileged enough to spend much of his life in close proximity to nature, Daniel developed an unending fascination with the natural world and the countless ways it intersects and conflicts with human society. In recognizing the dire consequences of the climate crisis, Daniel seeks to learn, develop, and support new strategies for navigating a rapidly-changing world.
Sophia Arellano (she/her) - Scarborough, ON
Sophia Arellano is a Filipina-Canadian born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario, which is Treaty 13 Land. As a student in Environmental Studies at the University of Ottawa, Sophia bridges her love of nature with art, education, and most recently, politics. Her previous experience includes a co-op position with NRCan’s Canadian Forestry Service, and working as a camp counselor with the Pine Project. She also developed Project Waterway, a sustainable fashion show. Over the course of this internship, Sophia hopes to understand how local communities are advocated for at the federal level.
Hayden Gilmour (he/him) - Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, MB / Specialized Stream for Indigenous Interns
Hayden recently graduated from the University of Manitoba with a diploma in Agriculture specializing in livestock management. He has spent the past few years deepening his understanding of Canada's agriculture industry and its impacts on the environment. Alongside his studies at the University, he has worked on his home reserves food sustainability project since 2021. This project aims to combat increasing food costs and a growing number of diabetes cases seen on Indigenous reserves by offering cheaper, healthier food choices then currently available on reserve. In his personal time he can be found volunteering in community events, participating in climate rallies and spending time with family.
Hayden is a strong advocate for Indigenous rights, sustainable agriculture and combining Indigenous knowledge with new technology to help make Canada's agricultural sector more sustainable for the future generations. Hayden is thrilled to join PIE Cohort 7 and experience environmental and Indigenous federal policy making first hand.
Jennifer Jaeger (she/her) - Port Elgin, ON
Jennifer recently graduated from the Balsillie School of International Affairs with a Master of International Public Policy. She also holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in International Development from the University of Waterloo and a Certificate in Environmental Management from Durham College. She previously worked as a research fellow with Global Affairs Canada and a peace research intern with Project Ploughshares. Her diverse policy interests include human security, disability inclusion, gender equality, environmental justice, and climate action. Through this internship, Jennifer is most excited to learn about the role of politics in policy research and development at the federal level.
Emily Martin (she/her) - Winnipeg, Manitoba / Specialized Stream for Indigenous Interns
Emily Martin was born and raised in Manitoba. In 2023, she completed her BA(Hons) in Sociology, with a double minor in Political Science and Applied Disaster and Emergency Studies at Brandon University. While completing her studies, she worked with an environmentally conscious building products company, marketing sustainable building practices. Simultaneously, she was a researcher with the Employment Equity Working Group to help define EDI in Brandon University’s collective agreement. After her studies, she moved to Winnipeg to pursue an internship at the Manitoba Legislature to gain firsthand experience in politics at the provincial level and is excited to begin building that knowledge within Parliament. The intersectionality between gender, race, and the environment has been at the forefront of Emily’s work and she is excited to continue working in these areas to make a difference in the lives of those who are most vulnerable.
Sophie McCafferty (she/her) - Saint-Lazare, QC
Passionate about food, community and the land, Sophie (she/her) can be found with her hands in the ground. She completed the Pathy Foundation Fellowship working alongside the Tingathe Women’s Goat Cooperative to explore the potential of livestock agriculture in improving livelihoods and regenerating soil in Chilanga, Malawi. Following this she went on to work in her hometown for the Hudson Food Collective aiming to educate locals on the importance of food sovereignty. Her agroecological experience is complemented by her background in feminism grown through decolonial feminist trainings, gender-based violence policy analysis and community programming. In the off season, Sophie can be found hiking, swimming or crocheting! Sophie is excited to be a Parliamentary Intern for the Environment to learn how federal politics and public policy can be leveraged to further support grassroots work.
Sara Salad (she/her) - Victoria, BC
Sara is a Somali-Canadian from Vancouver, BC, living on the unceded territories of the Musqueam people. She holds a degree in Forest Resource Management from UBC, where she co-founded the Black Muslim Collective and contributed to the African Awareness Initiative. Her work as a Plant Interaction Research Assistant, studying plant-pollinator relationships, deepened her passion for environmental conservation. Sara joined the Parliamentary Internship Program to advance stronger environmental policies in Canada, aiming to protect natural ecosystems and create more sustainable communities.
Nicola Schmidt (she/her) - Toronto, ON
Nicola Schmidt is passionate about environmental advocacy, community well-being, and social equity. With a degree in Environmental Ethics and minors in Religion and Diaspora Transnational Studies from the University of Toronto, she brings a diverse academic background to her environmental work. Her experience with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network in Washington, D.C., advocating for stronger tree protection policies, shaped her understanding of grassroots organizing. She further honed her research and outreach skills at the Toronto Environmental Alliance, where she focused on reducing single-use waste and promoting a circular economy. Nicola is committed to building a greener, more just world and is excited to explore how environmental policy can create meaningful change through the PIE program.
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