Each season we hire 14 to 18 leaders from various backgrounds who are qualified and enthusiastic. Please join us in welcoming our 2024 leaders!
Calgary
Leader - Alyssa (She/Her) Sub-Leader - Stella (She/Her)
Alyssa: Hi, I'm Alyssa! I'm in my final year of my Bachelor of Education at Western University and aiming to fuse my passion for the outdoors with teaching. In my free time I enjoy rock climbing, hiking, camping, snowboarding and personal fitness along with travelling. I am from Ontario and looking forward to my first time living out west. I can't wait to get to know my crew this summer and work together to accomplish epic projects.
Stella: Hi, I'm Stella, the Sub-Leader for the Calgary crew! I'm super excited to be part of the program once again, as I was a crew member in 2021. I'm passionate about the outdoors, camping, hiking, ski patrolling, and travelling. I'm looking forward to meeting our awesome crew and having a one of a kind summer!
Peace River
Left: Leader - Jessica (She/Her) Right: Sub-Leader - Emileigh (She/Her)
Jessica: Hey, my name is Jessica! I am originally from Saskatchewan but have spent the last few summers in Alberta working as a wildfire dispatcher and most recently as a JFR crew sub-leader. I have a Bachelors Degree in Law, Crime, and Justice from the University of Alberta and have just completed my first year of law school at the University of Idaho. I look forward to spending the summer outdoors and sharing my love for fire, coffee, and the radio with everyone!!
Emileigh: Hey everyone! My name is Emileigh and I'm super excited for my first JFR season and I'm stoked to meet you all! I am very passionate about biology, the brain, conservation, and animals. I am a 3rd year undergrad in Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Victoria. In my free time you can find me racing sail boats, exploring the forest/beach, playing field games, volunteering at a vet clinic, or teaching youth about biology and conservation. You'll also catch me hiking, biking, bouldering, or relaxing by a fire.
High Level
Leader - Liam (He/Him) Sub-Leader - Dylan (He/Him)
Liam: Greetings! I previously worked for the BC Parks Student Ranger program, and before that I worked in a welding shop and aquatics. I've also volunteered for many years with the Alberta Reptile and Amphibian Society, and my local Scout troop in Calgary. My hobbies include tabletop RPGs, tarantula keeping, hunting, target shooting, and hiking/camping. I greatly enjoy getting to work outdoors, and getting to make a positive difference in the ecology and community around me. As far as I'm concerned, working out in the wood is the best feeling in the world.
Dylan: Hi everyone! My name is Dylan, and I am the Sub-Leader for the High Level crew this summer. I am going into my fourth year of Conservation Biology at the University of Alberta, which has been tremendous thus far! My hobbies include kayaking, climbing, running (once a year*), hiking, and watching hockey. I am passionate towards learning new skills, exploring the world, and teaching the younger generations how to sustainably live. As I look forward to this summer, I am excited to learn about different cultures, meet my motivated crew members, and make unforgettable memories. Cheers to the 58th parallel!
Hinton
Leader - Matt (He/Him) Sub-Leader - Evan (He/Him)
Matt: Hey guys, my name is Matt, I'm excited to be your leader this year for the JFR program out of Hinton, Edson Forest District. I currently live in Nelson, British Columbia where I like to spend time hiking through the mountains, camping, fishing, hanging out with friends, going to music events, jamming and being creative with my community, and advocating for forest protection. Basically, if it involves forests, getting active or art of any kind, count me in! I graduated with a degree in Forestry in 2019 and have been working in the industry ever since. I've got 3 seasons of tree planting experience, 1 season of forest surveying and I spent 3 seasons fighting wildfire in Alberta with a unit crew out of the Slave Lake district. All this experience has allowed me to get familiar with lots of different parts of forest work and am excited to pass on what I've learned so far.
Evan: Hi, my name is Evan. I am currently going into my third year of schooling at Red Deer Polytechnic. I am in the Bachelor of Education program, and I am going to specialize in the secondary years (high school students). My major that I will be in is physical education and my minor will be social studies. I also play hockey for the college as a goaltender, and we have won the championship the last two years in a row. I am from St. Albert (Edmonton) but have been many places around the world due to hockey. This will be my first time working as a sub-leader for the JFR program and I am super excited to be working here and working with you all. Some interests of mine other than hockey is working out, doing physical activities outdoors and video games. I am huge into mythology; one example would be Norse mythology. I am also big into sci-fi and horror movies or shows. Can't wait to meet you all and have a great and fun summer!
Grande Prairie
Leader - Tim (He/Him) Sub-Leader - Hunter (He/Him)
Tim: Hello, my name is Tim and I am the JFR Crew Leader this summer in Grande Prairie. It's my first year working for the JFR program and the Alberta Ministry of Forestry & Parks, and I look forward to meeting you all this July at member training. I finished my Bachelor's of Science in Biology in May 2023 and since than have been working as a trail crew worker until May 2024. I enjoy backcountry camping, lifting, hiking, and travelling. I've lived in Ontario, Alberta, Germany, and Texas, and can speak Greek and German.
Hunter: Hey guys! I'm the Sub-Leader for the Grande Prairie Forest Area this year! This is my first year working for the Government of Alberta and I can't wait for the summer ahead of us. I'm currently in my first year of biochemistry at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna. Living in the mountains I spend most of my time skiing, hiking, and hanging at the lake. Growing up I played pretty much any sport I could, which has allowed me to travel all over the world! I can't wait for this life changing opportunity with JFR.
High Prairie
Leader - Steve (He/Him) Sub-Leader - Jack (He/Him)
Steve: Hey! This is my second year being a leader in the JFR program and it is easily one of the best experiences I have ever had. I love working in the outdoors and collaborating with others and working as a team. I graduated from university with a degree in Environmental and Resource Studies and have been interested in nature and the environment for a very long time. I love to hike, travel, play/listen to music, and play a variety of sports. I have learned so much since joining the JFR program and hope to pass down my knowledge to others. I look forward to meeting everyone!
Jack: Hey, I'm Jack, one of the High Prairie JFR Leaders this summer. I'm born and raised in Edmonton, and a 2nd year Civil Engineer at the UofA. I'm big into climbing and biking, but also playing music and making friendship bracelets. I'm looking forward to sleeping on the ground, tossing lures and working hard with my crew this summer!
Rocky Mountain House
Right: Leader - Kelsey (She/Her) Left: Sub-Leader - Sara (She/Her)
Kelsey: Hello! I’m Kelsey, your JFR leader for the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area. This is my first year with the JFR program and I couldn't be more excited for the opportunity to work for Alberta Wildfire. To share a bit about myself: I have a bachelor's degree in general science, and I am starting nursing school this fall. When I'm not working or studying you can find me hammock camping and/or fly fishing in the Crowsnest Pass. I believe that the best part of this job will be that everyone will bring their own unique skill set and experiences to the team and we will all have the opportunity to learn from each other. I can’t wait to meet everyone!
Sara: Hey! I am the Rocky Mountain House Crew Sub-Leader and I am so excited to be working for JFR this year. I am from right here in Central Alberta and enjoy camping, hiking, travelling and working horses in my spare time. Currently, I am finishing my degree in business administration in Calgary which has been a fun and rewarding journey that has led me to pursue a research project on Alberta agribusiness. I am looking forward to combining these passions with my work as well as meeting the awesome crews this year!
Whitecourt
Leader - Leonora (She/Her) Sub-Leader - Julia (She/Her)
Leonora: Hey! My name is Leonora, and I am so excited to join the JFR team for the first time! I love ditching cellphone reception and anything outdoors, whether it is by doing a chill activity like reading a book in my hammock, or going up a mountain, I'm all for it! I love going backpacking and camping, mountain biking, hiking, paddleboarding and swimming. I am so excited to explore the Whitecourt Forest Area, gain new knowledge from this experience, have fun, and make long lasting good memories!
Julia: Hello! My name is Julia, and I am the JFR Sub Leader for Whitecourt! I am thrilled to be working with JFR and Alberta Wildfire this summer. I am an avid hiker and love to spend my days in the outdoors no matter the season. In my free time I love to read, explore the outdoors and I love to bake treats for my family and friends. This fall I am going to be studying environmental sciences and I hope to pursue a career in forestry. I am so excited for the incredible summer ahead!
Fort McMurray
Leader - Isabel (She/Her) Sub-Leader - Veronica (She/Her)
Isabel: Hi! My name is Isabel and I am the Fort McMurray Crew Leader for 2024. I am from Montreal and it is my first time in Alberta. I am currently in college pursuing a degree in Environmental and Wildlife Management. I am an avid outdoorsman and have lots of backpacking and canoe camping experience. Wetland ecology is one of my favorite things to study and is very much a hobby for me. I hope to one day specialize in herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians). Fun fact about me: I have a pet gecko named Pancake and also own 50 snails.
Veronica: Hi friends! My name is Veronica and I am the Sub-Leader for Fort McMurray. I have a B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Alberta and have completed my first year of the JD program at the University of Calgary. More importantly, I love working outdoors and you can find me in the mountains or down by the river pretty much any chance I get. I love to rock climb, run, hike, and camp. A fun fact about me is that I’m a certified yoga instructor, but admittedly the least bendy yoga instructor you will ever meet.
Curious about what we look for in our leader candidates? Read more about the role here!
Want to get involved? Our leader job postings open in early December and will be found on our applications page. We are no longer accepting applications for the 2024 season. Thank you to everyone who showed interest!