Work in this sector encompasses a large range of professions. Possible work areas include:
- Environmental protection and preservation
- Geographic information system (GIS)
- Eco-friendly or green design
- Sustainable development
- Clean technology
- Renewable energy
- Environmental research and development
- Environmental policy and legislation
- Health care and social assistance
- Site assessment, remediation and reclamation
- Waste management and recycling
- Landscape architect
- Building inspection
- Regional planning and urban planning
- Air/water/land quality assurance
- Environmental education and training
- Environmental consulting
- Green economy
Typical Employers
Typical employers can be categorized into the following core areas:
- Environmental protection. Organizations in air quality, water quality, site assessment and reclamation, waste management, health and safety industry sectors. Typical employers include but not limited to, engineering consulting firms, government, chemical, petrochemical or utility companies, GIS firms, surveying and computer mapping companies.
- Resource management. Organizations in energy, fisheries and wildlife, natural resource management industry sectors. Typical employers include but not limited to, local, provincial and federal governments, national parks, commercial fish farms and hatcheries, and non-profit and inter-governmental organizations, consulting and business firms.
- Environmental sustainability. Organizations in education and training, research and development, policy and legislation, communications and public awareness industry sectors. Typical employers include but not limited to, general medical and surgical hospitals, colleges universities and professional schools, governments, legal services, social advocacy services, advertising and related services, non-profit organizations.
Industry Profiles
To learn more about this sector, visit the following web sites:
- Québec - Écotech Québec (Écotch Québec)
An overview of Quebec cleantech cluster: air, energy efficiency, green chemistry, renewable energy, residual waste, soil & groundwater, sustainable mobility and water. - ECO Canada Research (ECO Canada)
Labour market research reports on: labour supply, HR strategies, supply and demand, environmental employment, etc.
Career Profiles
To learn more about different career options in this sector, visit the following websites:
- Environmental Career Profiles (ECO Canada)
Career profiles categorized by envirostream: Air, animals, communication, governance, water, plants, communities, human use, and land. Each profile includes job duties, salary and related careers. - Careers in Forest Products Industry (The Greenest Workforce)
Job profiles, careers in the forest products industry, fast-facts on careers and more.
Career Books
Recommended books (available at CaPS):
- Career opportunities in conservation and the environment
- Green careers in energy
- Saving the earth as a career: Advice on becoming a conservation professional
- Career Books (Available in the McGill Library)
Job Resources
The following links provide a list of job boards, internships and volunteering opportunities.
Note: To find internships, you can also use keywords like "internship" in some of the job boards to find opportunities.
Associations & Groups
The following links provide associations and groups in the field.
Find an Organization
McGill, Quebec & Ontario
- Quebec - Environmental Industry Companies in Quebec (Environmental Expert)
Environmental companies in Quebec. Searchable by categories (air, health, soil, waste, energy, etc.) - Quebec - ICRIQ Directory (EnvironnementTechnologies Vertes)
Organizations in environment and green technologies. - Quebec - écotech Québec Companies (écotech Québec)
Companies that contribute to the transition to a green economy. Note: the site is a bit slow. - Ontario - Environmental Industry Association Member Directory (ONEIA)
Environmental groups, organizations, agencies and websites across Ontario, Canada. - Ontario - Environmental Directory (Ontario Environment Network)
Environmental groups, organizations & agencies across Ontario, Canada. - Ontario - Environment Business Directory (Ontario Environment Business Directory)
Companies in environmental business. Searchable by location, goods/services, industry type, etc.
Canada
- BC - British Columbia Environmental Industry Members (BCEIA)
BCEIA members. Category: air, consulting/law, energy efficiency, engineering, laboratory, water, etc. - Consulting Companies (Enviro-access Consulting)
Companies offering environmental solutions. Fields: Water, air, soil, waste management, renewable energies and more. - Canadian Water Directory
Companies in water supply and wastewater management. Searchable by province and sector. - Canadian Environmental Resource Guide (Canada's Information Resource Centre)
(VPN is required. 5-8 simultaneous users). Access is limited to 8 users at a time. Searchable listings of manufacturers, distributors, service companies, consulting firms, governmental offices, special libraries, trade representatives specializing in the environment.
International
- Environmental Industry Online (Environmental Expert)
A list of companies in environmental industry. Searchable by category and location. - Environment Directory (Goodnet)
A list of environmental agencies.
Wildlife/Conservation
- Quebec - Environment, Conservation and Protection (SBM)
A list of conservation and environmental protection groups. - Ontario - Wildlife Centres (Ontario Wildlife Rescue)
Interactive map to locate wildlife centres regulated by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. - Canada - Environment and Animals (Chairity Village)
List of animal or environment-related organizations. - Canada - Environmental Groups in Canada (GoodWork Canada)
Scroll down to see a list of conservation organizations. - Canada - Wildlife Habitat Projects (Wildlife Habitat Canada)
Listings of projects supported by the Wildlife Habitat Canada. - Animals & Wildlife Directory (Goodnet)
Listings of animals and wildlife organizations. - Marine Conservation Organizations (MarineBio)
This site list global marine conservation agencies by species.
Clean Technology (water, waste, sustainable Energy)
- Quebec - écotech Companies (Écotech Québec)
Businesses in the cleantech sector. Searchable by sectors: air, green chemistry, water, eco-mobility, energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste, soil and groundwater. - BC - Sustainable Energy Directory (BC Sustainable Energy Association)
Sectors: Bioenergy, solar energy, wind energy, geo exchange, consulting, etc. - Canada - Renewable Energy & CleanTech Canada Directory (Contact Canada)
List of companies, searchable by category and location. - Consulting Companies (Enviro-access Consulting)
Companies offering environmental solutions. Fields: Water, air, soil, waste management, agriculture, ecological products, etc. - Energy Directory (Goodnet)
Companies in energy. Searchable by topics such as energy, green tech, recycling, etc.
Forestry
- Canada - The Greenest Workforce Leading Companies (Greenest Workforce)
Leading Canadian forest product companies across Canada. - Canada - Forest Industries (Canadian Forests Website)
Companies in forestry and forest products in Canada.