Meet the Youth Advisory Council

Jaron Scribner (he/him)

Alberta & Saskatchewan

Jaron Scribner aspires to represent Canada’s prairies on DUC’s youth advisory council. Jaron grew up just outside of Coronation, Alta., on a small farm, where he learned how to hunt with his father. He then spent time in Maple Creek, Sask., his family’s hometown, before moving to Lethbridge, Alta., for school. Jaron holds a diploma in Natural Resource Compliance and is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Ecosystem Management degree at Lethbridge College. This summer (2024), Jaron will be working with DUC as a conservation technician in Alberta and hopes to one day work for DUC as a biologist.

Outside of school and work, Jaron can be found waterfowl hunting, ice fishing, or attending a DUC volunteer chapter meeting. Jaron has been involved with DUC’s Lethbridge College Student Chapter, where he was elected and served as treasurer for two years, then as president of the chapter and member of DUC’s Alberta Provincial Council. Being part of this chapter has given Jaron insight into the importance of youth engagement and volunteerism. Jaron is also active in many extracurricular activities such as baseball, hockey, curling and 4-H.

Over the next two years on the council, Jaron hopes to gain knowledge and share experiences to help Canada’s youth become more involved with DUC and help build a new generation of conservation leaders.

Joyce Ji (she/her)

Manitoba

Joyce Ji is currently entering her fourth year as an undergraduate student in the Environmental Science (co-op, Honours) program at the University of Manitoba. Joyce’s focus area is environmental assessment, with a minor in Indigenous Studies. Joyce is passionate about moving forward throughout her life in a spirit of reconciliation and awareness and strives to amplify underrepresented voices wherever and whenever possible. 

Some main priorities Joyce considers throughout her work are sustainability, accessibility and inclusion, and she is continuously developing her leadership abilities to reflect these priorities. Joyce has been involved with DUC for several years in various capacities, including volunteering since she was in Grade 10, working as a nature interpreter, and serving on the first iteration of the Ducks Unlimited Canada Youth Advisory Council. Alongside her studies, Joyce has also been heavily involved in the University of Manitoba’s student life, having acted as co-president for the Society of Earth Science and Environmental Students, as volunteer and recruitment co-chair for the University of Manitoba Wetlanders, and as a student member of the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association, the Society of Wetland Scientists, and the International Association for Impact Assessment. In the upcoming years, Joyce is looking forward to continuing her work with the Youth Advisory Council and is excited to act as the co-chair for the UMWetlanders.

Anna MacKinnon (she/her)

New Brunswick

Anna MacKinnon hails from Sackville, N.B., North America’s first accredited Wetland City by the Convention on Wetlands for its “exceptional efforts to safeguard urban wetlands for people and nature.” Anna feels this has been a very influential part of her life. When Anna started high school, she also began volunteering at the Tantramar Wetlands Centre. What started as a couple of days a month turned into a couple of days a week, and Anna ended up volunteering at the Tantramar Wetlands Centre throughout her entire time in high school. This volunteer work was where Anna’s love of conservation, as well as educating others, was nurtured. Anna then became a tour guide at the Tantramar Visitor Information Centre, where she was always eager to be involved in her town’s wetland marshes. 

Anna is currently attending college at the Maritime College of Forest Technology, where she is enrolled in both forest technology and fish and wildlife technology. Anna is interested in a long-term career in conservation as a forester. Anna is looking forward to collaborating with others who have a similar interest through the Ducks Unlimited Youth Advisory Council as she is very curious and loves learning all that she can, especially when it comes to something she is passionate about. When Anna is not in school or in a wetland, she also enjoys Mario Kart, roller skating, hiking and canoeing. 

Rae Landriau (they/them)

Ontario

Rae Landriau is a graduate student at Carleton University, where they are pursuing a M.Sc. in physical geography. Their research focuses on legacy drilling waste sites in the western Canadian Arctic. The project and objectives were established in collaboration with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Inuvialuit Land Administration, and NSERC PermafrostNet. A significant aspect of Rae’s work involves facilitating the training of environmental monitors to ensure that communities possess the necessary skills and capacity for ongoing initiatives. Passionate about sharing their enthusiasm for science and nature, Rae founded the Create Change Collective, a community-based organization committed to enhancing accessibility to environmental education. Over the past two years, Rae has initiated, led and developed more than 25 community engagement projects. These endeavours have involved forging partnerships with local, national, and international organizations working towards accessible and equitable environmental education.

Keira Grady (she/her) 

Nova Scotia 

Keira is from Halifax, N.S. and is pursuing a B.Sc. in environmental geoscience from Acadia University. She is committed to advocating for environmental conservation and sustainability and actively contributes her time to various initiatives promoting sustainable energy practices. Her engagement in community and environmental initiatives includes the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s CCC Flex-Conservation program, she’s a member of the inaugural Nova Scotia Youth Climate Council and held an internship with the N.S. Department of Natural Resources and Renewables this past summer. Keira is thrilled to now join the Ducks Unlimited Canada Youth Advisory Council and continue to expand her knowledge and reach into the communities she both lives and works within. “I am excited to bring my skills, enthusiasm, and perspective as an African Nova Scotian to the Youth Advisory Committee for Ducks Unlimited Canada. I look forward to learning so much with DUC and contributing to the committee’s efforts in conserving and restoring wetlands and habitats.”

Camille Desrosiers (she/her) 

Quebec

Camille was raised in a family that spent every summer weekend camping and hiking in various parts of Quebec. These experiences instilled in Camille a deep love for forests and natural spaces, which she associates with feelings of fulfilment and tranquility. This passion for green spaces influenced Camille’s academic path, culminating in a M.Sc. in biological sciences from the Université de Montréal, focusing on the decontamination of polluted soils through plant-based methods, known as phytoremediation. Camille is guided by her passion for environmental conservation, advocating for the integration of marginalized populations, and supporting initiatives in the social economy. 

Justin Langan (he/him) 

Manitoba 

Justin Langan is a 25-year-old Indigenous advocate from the rural town of Swan River, Man. Since he was 15, he’s been a leader for Indigenous youth. He sits on many local, provincial and national committees. Some of his achievements include the 2021 Métis Youth Indspire Award, the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award, the Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25, the National Champion of Mental Health for Youth, and more. He’s in his fourth year of majoring in political studies at the University of Manitoba. After graduation, he will attend law school to study Human Rights Law. He intends to become a lawyer and a politician, advocating for Canadians’ rights internationally.

Fares Mandour (he/him) 

Alberta 

Fares Mandour is in his first year of an M.Sc. in water and land resources at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on the impact that permafrost thaw and wildfires have on water quality in northern communities, with a specific interest in mercury and methylmercury. Fares’ study areas are the Hay River watershed in northwestern Alberta and the southern Northwest Territories, and the Dehcho (Mackenzie River) Region in the southern Northwest Territories, so he spends quite a bit of time up north. In his spare time, Fares enjoys hiking, playing video games, and trying out new restaurants in Edmonton with his friends!

Arianna Johnstone (she/her) 

British Columbia & Alberta 

Arianna Johnstone is a Métis Cree cis-woman. She has a B.Sc. with a double major in biology and environmental science through University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus. Arianna is very passionate about improving the aquatic and marine environments holistically, including health of peoples in those lands and waters. Her hope is to empower and to inspire more Indigenous youth voices in conservation.

Nicholas Ypelaar (he/him) 

Ontario

Born and raised in the suburbs of Toronto, Ont., Nicholas is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.Sc., having double-majored in conservation biology and history. Nick is a lifelong naturalist and camping enthusiast. He decided to pursue a career in biology after working as a park naturalist and heritage interpreter at Awenda Provincial Park in southwestern Ontario for eight exceptionally rewarding seasons. 
 
As part of the 2024-2026 Ducks Unlimited Canada Youth Advisory Council, Nick is excited to unite his passions for learning and science education to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands, restoration and applied conservation. When he’s not out birding, Nick enjoys wildlife photography, reading, stargazing, visiting museums and historic sites, and listening to an eclectic variety of music with the volume turned up to eleven.