Emilie DeRochie
River Strategy Coordinator and an Educator at the River Institute
In 2019, I graduated from Carleton with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Biology. Throughout the summers of my undergraduate degree, I worked at the River Institute, a research, outreach and education institution focused on the St Lawrence River, located in Cornwall, Ontario. I began by being a nature camp counsellor, followed by supporting Jr. Scientist camps and fieldwork focused on fish and freshwater ecology. Even during the school year, I would volunteer to support projects in the lab and did my fourth-year practicum at the River Institute, as well. This work brought me to declare my minor in Biology and made me very passionate about fish and freshwater ecology.
After graduating, I pursued a Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa. I became qualified to teach Intermediate and Senior grades, with teachable subjects in science, biology and geography. I graduated with this degree in 2021, which led to teaching a ‘quad-mester’ of grade 10 math and grade 11 marketing fully online. At the time, I was focused on working my way to permanency in my local school board. During the summer of 2021, I took on a short contract back at the River Institute with the plan of going back to teaching come the Fall. I ended up staying for a one-year contract at the River Institute to be a sub-contracted biology instructor at St Lawrence College for the Environmental Technician program and to support a project called the Great River Rapport. I took on this contract with the plan of only being in this position for one year, to then go back to teaching in the school board, but I have now been there ever since!
I am currently the River Strategy Coordinator and an Educator at the River Institute and continue to teach Biology for the Environmental Technician program at St Lawrence College. Like my undergraduate degree, my role at the River Institute is diverse. My role entails public outreach, facilitating communication and collaboration among partners along the St Lawrence River, event planning and coordination, education material development, report writing, field research assistance, facilitating workshops, social media coordination, and more. I feel very fortunate to do work that relates to the St Lawrence River and to share my passion and care for the river with others.
Beyond the River Institute, I am also a student in a Master of Education in Environmental and Sustainability Education at Lakehead University. I am doing this degree fully online to allow me to continue working full-time. In 2022, I was an Ocean Bridge Ambassador in the Great Lakes Cohort and am currently on the Canadian Water Network’s Student and Young Professional Committee. I’ve learned that expanding one’s network is key in this field, so I am always looking for opportunities to network and meet new people!