Reflections from Whitehorse: Another CLA Intern Weighs In
Our second intern guest blogger, Stephen Hedley from UBC's Faculty of Law, reflects on his time with the Yukon Conservation Society in Whitehorse, Yukon:
Flying back from Whitehorse to Vancouver last week I was leaving behind sunny, 29 degree weather to return to grey skies and rain. Still, I won’t miss Whitehorse for the weather. I'll miss the community, made up of environmentalists, scientists, artists, local businesspeople, politicians, bird-watchers, adventurers and citizens from all walks of life, that has coalesced around the Yukon Conservation Society since it opened its doors in 1968.
YCS is a non-profit environmental organization and its mandate is to pursue ecosystem well-being throughout the Yukon and beyond, recognizing that human well-being is ultimately dependent upon fully functioning healthy ecosystems. YCS has an incredibly diverse range of projects on the go. It plays a big role in a number of community organizations/coalitions and also maintains an influential presence in territorial and national media. YCS regularly comments on or intervenes in mining and water licence applications. It makes appearances at the territorial legislature and city council, collaborates with educators to create environmental resources for teachers and organizes guided hikes for tourists and locals. YCS headquarters is a gathering place, resource centre and friendly drop-in for environmentalists, the environmentally curious, random passers-by, locals, newcomers to the Yukon and just about everyone else.
On a hike in Kluane National Park
As YCS’s Legal Intern I was given a lot of freedom and responsibility considering my fresh-out-of-1L status. I conducted background research for potential legal arguments, liaised with territorial and federal government employees, wrote memos and reports for internal use and for use in the wider community, assessed legal opinions and did an analysis of the Yukon’s environmental legislation. Much of my work involved identifying existing and suggesting additional legal safeguards in territorial or federal legislatures and in the common law. It was interesting to find that many of these safeguards are also those which protect democracy, as the entrenchment of meaningful mechanisms for public participation, transparency, accountability and the rule of law are preconditions to effective environmental law and policy. YCS is well-aware of this, and all of their work exemplifies a deep commitment to collaboration and community involvement. For this reason YCS is not just known to local environmentalists but has the respect of the wider Whitehorse and Yukon communities.
The CLA summer internship was an amazing complement to my first year classes. It was a very powerful experience to take some of the law learned in the classroom and see it applied in the real world. More importantly, some of the people I met and worked with this summer had a profound impact on my view of the world and what I hope to accomplish with my law degree. What impressed me more than anything was the positivity that my coworkers brought to the job. They focused on the victories, on building community, on applying themselves to the promotion and development of renewable energy sources and better laws for Yukoners and Canadians, and on raising awareness and advocating for a truly sustainable future, environmentally and economically. It is amazing what five hard-working people in a little blue house in Whitehorse can accomplish.
The Yukon Conservation Society Office