Cohen completed her undergraduate degree with a double major in environmental studies and anthropology at UVic, and previously worked with Parks Canada as a co-op student on three separate work terms, several of which included an archeological focus in the Haida Gwaii region. She followed her passion for anthropology into a Masters’s degree; her thesis research involves exploring organic plant-based materials like twine, weapons, wood tools and more to compile a paleoenvironmental reconstruction for a more complete record of life at the time.

“Jenny’s personal academic research aligns perfectly with Parks Canada’s goals—it’s been a collaborative process that has led to real progress,” says Fedje. “Jenny has some amazing skills in terms of understanding stone tools and the ability to create technical drawings, which were honed through her co-op experiences.”

Cohen’s work with Parks Canada is allowing her to to learn from Fedje and make real progress on her thesis project. “Not only was I able to learn skills not taught in the classroom, such as archaeological methods, but I’ve been able to create long-term relationships with experts in my field,” she says. “I’m an experiential learner, and co-op has helped me add a hands-on component to my degree.”

Fedje has also seen the benefits of co-op students on their work terms. “Co-op students are able fit their academic developing agenda with Parks Canada’s research interests, and with their help, we’ve been able to cover a lot more ground. We’re big supporters of co-operative education.”