Michaela Da Silva

An opportunity with Home Depot interests me from a basis of my love for the outdoors; an aspect of my life that takes up an immense deal of time in my daily schedule. I have an extensive compassion and drive to work in such external settings and most importantly give back to the land we reside on through projects, landscaping, woodworking, and related. I have been immersed in this atmosphere my whole life, growing up in an avid mountain biking, backpacking, boating, hiking, and camping family. 

My background in park attending with BC Hydro at Buntzen Lake in Anmore, BC will provide me with a strong foundation to build upon with this company. At the lake, I worked full time in the summer and into the off season to manage traffic control and traffic safety, enforce bylaws and public property management for users in the park, manage trails and physical environment upkeep, creating plans and implementing sustainability and waste management practices, landscaping and minor construction jobs, ensuring water safety and driving 10-12 ft boats, officiating garbage rounds and facilities maintenance, and driving F-550 and F-150 trucks for various jobs. This job has been a basis for what I would like to build my career upon and expand further into the municipal and city branches, and supports my degree program at SFU in Environmental Management. My future goals with education include finishing my bachelors in applied science, gaining Traditional Ecological Knowledge certificate and pursuing avenues in Adventure Tourism.

Starting in the Fall 2022 season I worked extensively with DiamondHead Consulting, an ecosystem management company that serves Surrey and Burnaby. We tended to various work sites planting trees and native plants, removing invasive species, mulching, and basic hand tool gardening with some use of hedge trimmers and brush saws. As one of my favourite jobs to date, I was able to get my hands dirty first hand and spend time with the plants and flowers that I adore. I am an avid plant mom of many species at home, and my windowsills speak for themselves! I look forward to exploring employment experience in the environmental systems, outdoor, botanical, and working ecology fields. I believe my strong people skills, knowledge of the outdoors and plant systems, and willingness to learn and work will make me suitable for this role in at Home Depot. 

I have built up a personal repertoire of being a dependable, hard working, motivated student with positive customer service skills and immense knowledge of outdoor systems. I am ready to bring the best parts of myself to the table. 

BC Hydro Parks Maintenance — 2022-2023

Patrolling BC Hydro Buntzen Lake property and ensuring park user safety, enforcing bylaws, maintaining trails and recreational areas, flagging and aiding with traffic laws, operating park equipment, basic horticulture and landscaping, waste management.

Diamondhead Consulting Ecosystem Labourer — 2022-2023

Working with the City of Surrey to restore and rehabilitate public areas in urban and forest settings in tree planting, tree management, city landscaping, and invasive species removal. Has sufficient knowledge with West Coast greenery and experience with tools.

Equestrian Coach & Barn Hand — 2017-2020

Helped run summer camps, managed finances, coordinated pick up and drop off, fed and ensured the health and wellbeing of horses, cleaned the barns and stalls, was an involved member of equestrian life and an avid show jumper.

Caffe Divano Barista — 2018-2022

Worked front of house cashier, assisted guests with food and hospitality, made bar drinks and caffe food in a fast- paced environment. Ran specific schedules and assigned supervising tasks. Opened and closed shop on a daily basis.

TALONS Outdoor Mentor — 2018-2022

Trained and mentored youth in bushcraft, outdoor skills, backpacking, orienteering in the field. Immersed in a classroom environment and learned teaching skills regarding Indigenous studies and sociology issues related to environmental science.

HIGHSCHOOL DIPLOMA 2022

BACHELORS OF ENV. MANAGEMENT (ONGOING)