I am so grateful to have had the incredible opportunity to complete an internship with the East Coast Environmental Law Association. I have always loved and admired the beauty, strength, and stability of the natural world. I have always cared deeply about the role the natural world plays in keeping the world not only healthy and balanced, but beautiful and meaningful. As such, I knew early on that I want to do everything I can to protect and restore the environment. As my education progressed, I also came to appreciate the deep importance of issues surrounding Indigenous peoples in Canada and how these issues so often intertwine with environmental issues. Eventually, I came to understand that law and policy play an integral role in both Indigenous and environmental issues. The law guides and influences everything that happens in our society. This means that if we can effect positive changes in the law, positive changes in society will follow. This is why my goal is to use the law as a tool for protecting the environment and pursuing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada throughout my legal career.

This summer, I had the opportunity to complete a 12-week internship with the East Coast Environmental Law Association, funded by the Schulich School of Law’s Academic Excellence Fund for Internships. I had the pleasure of working under the supervision of Lisa Mitchell, and my work this summer focused mostly on aquaculture regulation in Nova Scotia. My interest in environmental law and policy is what pushed me to apply to the Schulich School of Law and ultimately to reach out to East Coast Environmental Law for this summer internship opportunity. I value the work that this organization does, and I wanted to further my educational and professional development in the field of environmental law.

Summer 2020 has certainly been an odd summer. One thing that COVID-19 has not changed, however, is the increasing risk to coastal areas of Nova Scotia as a result of sea level rise and storm surge from climate change. Despite the pandemic, I was lucky enough to be one of East Coast Environmental Law’s summer student interns this year—safely, from a distance—and focused my work broadly on coastal issues.

When I started law school four years ago, I knew that I wanted to study environmental law and human rights. I also knew that I wanted to develop skills, strength, and power that would help me to fight for and with vulnerable communities that needed capable allies in the face of environmental and climate injustice.

In this Summer Student Retrospective series, four law students who worked with us last summer reflect on their experiences.

In this Summer Student Retrospective series, four law students who worked with us last summer reflect on their experiences.

In this Summer Student Retrospective series, four law students who worked with us last summer reflect on their experiences.

In this Summer Student Retrospective series, four law students who worked with us last summer reflect on their experiences.