About the position
DutiesJoin a small but dedicated Parks Canada team at Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site! Working at Fort St. Joseph will give you a chance to learn and showcase a variety of skills. Historic activities, like lighting fires with flint and steel, baking in a wood-fired outdoor oven, finger weaving, and playing historic games are part of every day. Staff also support the nature conservation efforts of Parks Canada by monitoring monarch activity and sharing observations of local plants and birds. As a Visitor Experience Student, you will be part of the friendly team that helps visitors interact and connect with Fort St. Joseph NHS throughout their day.
Duties include:
✔️ Greet and orient visitors, respond to questions and provide information about Fort St. Joseph
✔️ Process admission fees and gift shop sales using a point-of-sale system
✔️ Participate in daily historical and nature-based programming. This includes costumed historic interpretation and demonstrations such as an outdoor fur trade encampment, his-toric musket firing, and/or nature-related programs
✔️Assist in organizing and delivering special events on-site or at outreach events
✔️ Create social media and website content
✔️ Regular cleaning/housekeeping of the visitor centre
✔️ Assist Visitor Experience staff on various projects as required
Work environmentBecome part of the team at Parks Canada, an internationally renowned agency dedicated to protecting Canada’s natural, historical and cultural treasures and presenting them for the world to appreciate and enjoy!
Situated at the southern tip of St. Joseph Island east of Sault Ste. Marie, Fort St. Joseph featured a thriving community of soldiers, fur traders, Indian Department officials and Indigenous peoples from 1796 to the War of 1812. Once the most westerly outpost of British North America, the garrison provided a vital military presence on the upper Great Lakes, strengthened the Indigenous alliance and supported the fur trade. Today the ruins of the fort, as well as the museum of authentic artifacts from the site, wooded nature trails, and beautiful Lake Huron vistas attract visitors from all over the world. The site is also recognized by Environment and Climate Change Canada as the St. Joseph Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
🏆 The Parks Canada team is proud to be recognized by Forbes as one of Canada's Best Employers (2025)
Intent of the process
The intent of this process is to hire students for summer 2026. Students will work between May and the end of August 2026. Work terms may be adjusted (i.e., longer or shorter) depending on both operational needs and student availability.
YESS (Youth Employment and Skills Strategy) opportunities available, but YESS qualification is not a requirement for hiring:
Are you 30 or younger? Do you face barriers to employment as a person living with a disability, due to your academic or social-economic status, race, gender identity, or for other reasons? If you answered yes to any of these questions, and are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee, then Parks Canada would like to talk to you! We have temporary opportunities to allow you to build your work experience and we would be happy to contribute to your employment journey! If you are interested in this job opportunity or know of someone that would be, please apply or spread the word. We want to count you among us!
To be eligible to the YESS, you must be:
✔ Between 15 and 30 years old; and
✔ A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada.
In addition, preference may be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous, Racialized Youth, or Youth with Disabilities, as well as youth facing other barriers to employment. As such, we encourage you to self-identify in your application.
Important messages
How to Apply
You can apply to this competition in one of two ways.
1. Online
a. Visit the GC jobs website and search for the following process number: 2025-CAP-FSJ-EA-SU-44
b. Complete the online application
2. By Email
a. Send in your resume and cover letter to
b. In your email please indicate you’re applying on process: 2025-CAP-FSJ-EA-SU-44
Operational Requirements
✔️ Have reliable transportation to Fort St. Joseph for regular weekly hours Wednesday through Sunday (transportation, relocation assistance or commuting allowance is not provided)
✔️ Work weekends, and/or statutory holidays and provincial/territorial holidays, when required
✔️ Wear a Parks Canada uniform as per the uniform policy
✔️ May be required to dress in period costume
✔️ Work and/or travel in varied terrain and weather conditions
✔️ Stand/walk/hike/sit for prolonged periods of time
✔️ Be in an environment where historic weapons are present
✔️ May be required to safely handle historic weapons after completion of Parks Canada training
You need (essential for the job)
Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following
EDUCATION
✔️Registered as a full time or part-time secondary or post-secondary student in an accredited academic program or a recent graduate in the last 4 months; or
✔️Participating in adult education and retraining programs at the secondary level, operated under the authority of an accredited academic institution
Learn more about degree equivalency.
EXPERIENCE
✔️ Experience working with the public to provide high quality customer service
✔️ Experience handling cash, debit/credit sales, and operating point-of-sales (POS) system
✔️ Experience working a team environment
Applied / assessed at a later date
KNOWLEDGE
✔️ Basic knowledge of Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site
ABILITIES
✔️ Ability to communicate clearly and confidently to expand awareness and appreciation of Fort St. Joseph to visitors
✔️ Ability to learn and willingness to participate in flintlock musket handling and firing demonstrations in a supervised context
✔️ Ability to work cooperatively as part of a team
✔️ Ability to perform tasks independently
✔️ Ability to work safely and identify hazards
PERSONAL SUITABILITY
✔️ Exercise sound judgment and strives for excellence
✔️ Has an interest in learning and sharing the cultural and natural history of Fort St. Joseph
✔️ Personally connects with visitors to provide enjoyable experiences
✔️ Takes initiative to support a small teamwork environment
You may need (asset qualifications)
May be applied / assessed at a later date
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CONSIDERED AN ASSET
✔️ Knowledge of local Indigenous cultures, practices, and/or languages
✔️ Ability to communicate in French
✔️ Possessing a valid G2 or G class Driver’s License
Our commitment
We're committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.
Learn more about assessment accommodation.