In September 2018, we launched Canada’s first Parliamentary Internship for the Environment, a leadership development program that places young environmental stars with MPs from across the political spectrum. For nine months our interns immerse themselves and learn the inner workings of federal government, as well as attend workshops, committee meetings, leadership development training, and sit-downs with environmental champions.
We’re excited to introduce to you our five new interns taking part in the 2019-2020 Parliamentary Internship for the Environment! Read all about our young, ambitious leaders below.
Alison Gu
Alison Gu was born and raised on Coast Salish territory (Vancouver) and lived in Tiohtià:ke (Montreal) before recently moving to Algonquin Anishinaabe territory (Ottawa). She completed a BSc in Kinesiology at McGill University, where she also worked as the Sustainability Commissioner for the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and as a Residence Advisor for two years. During her time at McGill, she organized with Divest McGill, Cyclists in Solidarity, La Planète S’invite à l’Université (LPSU), and Climate Strike Canada (CSC).
Crystal Lewis
Crystal Lewis is a recognized mover and shaker within the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community (Squamish Nation) in B.C., running in her first council election when she was 19 and again when she was 23. She attended the University of British Columbia’s annual Institute for Future Legislators Program and earned a full scholarship to the Coady Institute of St. Francis Xavier University’s Indigenous Women’s Community Leadership Program. Crystal served as Volunteer Coordinator at the Kwekwecnewtxw Watch House for the Protect the Inlet Project in Burnaby, and currently sits on a Board of Directors for the Squamish Nation Youth Center Society and for the Squamish Nation Youth Advisory Committee.
Kirsten Snider
Kirsten Snider holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science and African Studies from the University of Toronto. In the 2018 Ontario provincial election, she ran as a candidate for the Green Party of Ontario in her home riding of Davenport, during which she looked for ways to include community leaders and lessons from grassroots activism in her campaign. Since her candidacy, she has remained active with the Green Party of Ontario while also seeking opportunities to engage leaders in other political parties and build multi-partisan relationships within Davenport.
George Philp
George Philp developed an appreciation for the natural world through exploring many of Canada’s lakes and rivers by canoe. George joins GreenPAC having recently completed his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Environmental and Sustainability Studies at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. At Acadia, he was active in a number of sustainability initiatives through the Acadia Students’ Union (ASU) and served as the organization’s elected President in his final year. His academic interests include climate change policy, carbon pricing, and municipal climate change planning.
Tesicca Truong
Tesicca Truong is a sustainability specialist, a community engagement innovator, and a serial changemaker. She co-founded CityHive, a nonprofit that is transforming the way that young people are involved in decision-making in their cities, and co-chaired the inaugural Vancouver School Board Sustainability Conference, now in its seventh year. She has served on Vancouver Mayor’s Engaged City Task Force, SFU Senate, and now advises BC’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the Climate Advisory Council. Tesicca has been named a “Top 30 under 30” by Corporate Knights and awarded Vancouver’s Greenest City Leadership Award. She holds a BSc (Honours) in Environmental Science from Simon Fraser University.