Ecology Tour Guide
North Pacific Cannery, National Historic Site
Port Edward, British Columbia
16 weeks / May 8 – August 24, 2018
$14-15/hour depending on experience
Position subject to Young Canada Works funding – applicants must register with YCW and ensure eligibility under the program guidelines.
Please send resume and cover letter to:
Deadline to apply for position will be April 19th, 2018
Job Description:
North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site is seeking a full time friendly, organized, and hard-working individual to oversee our visitor experiences. The main objective of the Tour Guide is to provide a meaningful visitor experience through conducting skilled interpretive tours of our National Historic Site from arrival to departure. This including welcoming general visitors to the site, providing information on the a variety of tours available and highlighting the significant historical aspects as well as Ecological history of the site and what North Pacific Cannery represented to the Salmon Canning industry and the Ecology of the local habitat.
The incumbent will work closely with the General Manager and conduct evaluative surveys to ensure all visitors have a rewarding heritage experience. The Tour Guide will also assist with collecting information relating to visitor statistics and approach candidates who might participate in our new oral history project.
This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in customer service, build skills in public speaking and knowledge of Ecology, managing/ engaging large groups, building social competencies and performing museum visitor evaluations, as well as contributing to meaningful visitor experiences while working with a team of enthusiastic heritage professionals in pristine wilderness heritage surroundings.
Accommodations are available for those living outside the Prince Rupert / Port Edward region at subsidized rates. It is highly recommended that applicants have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle, though not required.
Qualifications:
The successful candidate must be a student, currently enrolled in a post-secondary program in Ecology, Canadian History, Museum studies, Performing Arts, Education, Museum Studies, or a relevant field, with a keen interest in and /or knowledge of heritage interpretation. He/she must have strong interpersonal and communication skills, experience in coordinating and collaborating with a range of different groups. He/she must have experience working with the general public, demonstrate strong public speaking skills, can manage and engage large groups and have strong social competencies. The ideal candidate will demonstrate an ease at managing the general public while conducting tours. He/ she will be comfortable engaging with the local community, visiting public and interested in BC regional history and be willing to learn.
Applicants must be eligible under the Young Canada Works program in order to be considered for the position: legally allowed to work in Canada, currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution, between the ages of 15-30, and returning to school in the fall.
Application Details:
Eligible applicants must register online with Young Canada Works, and submit a cover letter and resume to Laurie Davie: - include the position you are applying for in the subject line.
Orientation & Training
Orientation will include an extensive tour of the heritage site, where the incumbent will be briefed on North Pacific Cannery’s history, past programs and events, strategic goals, interpretive plan, policies, and procedures. During this orientation the candidate will be introduced to staff and management, and key board members they will work with throughout the contract. He/she will learn procedures for liaising with other site service staff and trained to coordinate and implement visitor evaluations effectively.
Supervision
Supervision will be provided for orientation, hands-on training and then job shadowing to ensure the Tour Guide can confidently and successfully complete their projects. He/she will have guidance and supervision from the General Manager and a select group of board members. Contact info for General Manager: Laurie Davie
Characteristics of City / Region
North Pacific Cannery is located in pristine wilderness surroundings on the Skeena River in the town of Port Edward, located 20km south of Prince Rupert with a population of 544. Prince Rupert is a port city with a population of 12,000 and serves as the land, air, and water transportation hub of BC’s north coast. The region is characterized by temperate rainforest, resource-based industry, and cultural diversity.
Post Project
One of our goals is to build lasting relationships through the Young Canada Works program. After the project is finished, it is expected the student can rely on the organization to provide a character or professional reference as needed, in addition to guidance and consultation as he/she continues academic or professional pursuits. As much as possible, we hope to ask students back for future opportunities, continuing to benefit from their contributions while helping them gain crucial work experience.