Building the Future of Environmental Leadership: PIE 2024/2025 Recap

The 2024/2025 cohort of the Parliamentary Internship for the Environment (PIE) program brought bold ideas, big energy, and deep commitment to their placements on Parliament Hill. Over the course of the year, these youth leaders immersed themselves in the heart of Canadian politics.

From drafting speeches to amending legislation, organizing workshops to representing Canada on global stages, this year’s interns made a meaningful impact not only in their placements, but in the broader conversation around environmental leadership and youth civic engagement.

Here’s a snapshot of what they got up to this year!

📍 Junan Adam-Gordon | British Columbia

Junan’s placement took him from committee rooms in Ottawa to international forums in New York and Norway. He attended the Arctic Frontiers Summit and the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum, while also supporting his MP on the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. He drafted committee interventions, speeches, and speaking notes focused on climate.

“Government-led climate work isn’t just about emissions, it touches infrastructure, transport, housing, agriculture, and Indigenous reconciliation, all in complex and interdependent ways.” - Junan

📍 Jennifer Jaeger | Ontario

Jennifer combined on-the-ground policy research with community-level engagement. She led workshops on political literacy and how youth can effectively engage with elected representatives, while also analyzing feedback from 500 constituents to help shape her MP’s outreach and policy work.

“My key takeaway from this internship is a reignited confidence that I can make a difference and that meaningful change is possible.” - Jennifer

📍 Sara Salad | British Columbia

Sara’s contributions ranged from legislative work like drafting a Private Members’ Bill to representing youth perspectives at the Starfish Young Environmental Leaders Summit, the Kingston Climate Change Symposium, and as a youth delegate at UN ECOSOC.

“MPs don’t just work in Parliament; they play key roles in their communities and can help you understand where your voice fits into the bigger picture.” - Sara

📍 Sophia Arellano | Ontario

Sophia’s focus included legislative advocacy, policy writing, and supporting community priorities. She helped amend bills C-61 and C-65, supported calls for a First Nations Clean Water Act, and drafted letters backing arts funding and the Canada Disability Benefit.

“No meaningful advocacy is in an echo chamber. Politicians often work with NGOs and individuals in their community, and love to hear from them and use their input to shape their work.” - Sophia

📍 Sophie McCafferty | Québec

Sophie’s work saw her supporting the agriculture committee, contributing to national food policy research, including writing recommendations for new farmer policies and supporting the work of Young Agrarians. She also participated in the Food Secure Canada Convening and the Starfish Young Environmental Leaders Summit.

“MPs are people, and they are there to serve you. If you‘re their constituent, your opinion should matter to them, so reach out!” - Sophie

📍 Emily Martin | Manitoba

Emily worked closely with the Status of Women Committee. Additionally she supported speechwriting and social media development, and attended the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools.

“Working on Parliament Hill makes you realize how strong the colonial structures still are, but hearing the voices of Chiefs, Indigenous youth, and all those fighting to have their voices heard are so much more powerful.” - Emily

📍 Daniel Aitkin | Alberta

Daniel advocated for Canada to sign onto the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at the UN and helped prepare for the upcoming 2025 Canadian Youth Climate Assembly. He also supported his office with briefing notes and survey analysis.

“Citizen participation is an absolutely essential part of government. If you want something to happen you can’t just wait for a politician to make it happen.” - Daniel

📍 Nicola Schmidt | Ontario

Nicola played a key role in organizing advocacy events on Parliament Hill and drafted briefing notes and letters to ministers spotlighting local environmental concerns. She also suggested committee questions and drafted a white paper on establishing a Canadian Office of Environmental Justice.

“The big debates make headlines but there’s a lot of quiet, bipartisan work that moves important files forward behind the scenes.” - Nicola

📍 Hayden Gilmour | Manitoba

Hayden focused on protecting local waterways and advocating for clean rivers and lakes in Manitoba. He also contributed to environmentally conscious infrastructure projects such as highway and construction expansions, and built up his skills in policy analysis and research. He also participated in the Food Secure Canada Convening and the Starfish Young Environmental Leaders Summit. 

“Changemakers like the PIE cohort just need to keep infiltrating the system and fighting for the future we all deserve. One filled with connection, collaboration and community.” - Hayden