Samantha Hillier is looking forward to beginning her career as a fish and wildlife officer in the Sundre area.
At age 26, it is her first job as a fish and wildlife officer and she is looking forward to seeing a grizzly bear and a cougar for the first time.
Prior to landing the job in Sundre, she worked in High Prairie as a seasonal parks service ranger for two seasons.
She moved on her own to Sundre in January to start the job and has been enjoying it so far.
"It's gorgeous here. I love the area. It's very nice,î said Hillier.
"I'm looking forward to working with the wildlife here. There are lots of grizzly bears in the area and I've never seen one in real life, or a cougar.
"I really can't wait to get my hands in and work with these animals, and meet the public, and get to know the area more.î
She has worked at Hilliard's Bay Provincial Park and was also a part of the resource conservation team with Point Pelee National Park.
"I really liked that part, protecting the resources and studying it. But I wanted to do more,î she said.
She then got into the conservation environmental law enforcement program at Fleming College in Ontario.
In August of 2013 she attended the Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy in Hinton.
She was there for four months, along with recruits from Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Alberta.
"It's really the greatest job in the world. You get to be outside,î she said.
"I like dealing with the public as well, and talking to hunters and anglers, and getting to see wildlife that a lot of people don't get to see.î
Outside of work, she lives an active lifestyle and enjoys recreational sports, such as baseball, downhill skiing and horseback riding.
She moved out west from Ontario about two years ago.
"I couldn't see myself going back and working in Ontario. I love it out here too much now,î she said.
She believes it's important to protect wildlife and crack down on poaching.
"I think it's important to protect animals because they're a resource for everyone and people abuse their rights or the resource by poaching,î she said.
"What does that leave for our future generations? Nothing. We have to stop it now so that our children and our children's children can enjoy fishing or hunting.î
She is not big on hunting and has only hunted small birds, like ruffed grouse. She has been deer hunting and elk hunting before, but has not shot one.
"Maybe this year will be the year. I'd like someone to take me out and show me how,î she said.
"But I do fish a lot.î
