Summer jobs, Student jobs

Positions: Climate Motivator
Type: ages 18-25 / summer
Full Time Position: May 19th – July 10th, 2026

Program: Climate Motivators Program
Organization: United Church of Canada | St. Paul's United Church
Location: Riverview / Moncton, New Brunswick — plus other locations in Ontario, Manitoba, Yukon — see below

The United Church of Canada is hiring up to twenty Climate Motivators, ages 18-25, for an eight week full time contract from May 19th to July 10th, 2026.

Each Climate Motivator will be hosted in a participating designated Community of Faith, and be part of a national cohort of young adults.

There are five main goals for the Climate Motivator:

• Engage in climate education and advocacy
• Learn about and live out the denomination’s commitments to climate justice, including through completion of a local climate project
• Leadership development
• Engage with Indigenous, ecumenical and global climate activists
• Participate in spiritual/faith practices that explore intersections between ecological justice, social justice, and deepen eco-spirituality

The work of the Climate Motivator will include liaising with a local community of faith, team meetings, leadership development, action planning for local context, and advocating for climate justice with MP in Ottawa and in local ridings. The community of faith and mentor will help the Motivator to identify and learn more about local climate priorities, projects, connections, activists, and government officials. The Motivators will, at times, work remotely and will need capacity for online communication and learning.

The Motivator with the support of a mentor, will complete a project in and with a community of faith that aligns with one or more of the denominations Climate pillars - Putting our House in Order, Raising our Spirited Voices, Connecting with the Earth and Responding to Climate Impact.

St. Paul's United Church in Riverview is the designated Community of Faith. Their project will focus on biodiversity, climate and peace. Including,:

• Raising Our Spirits: Engaging a diverse group including, different faiths, ages and cultures to raise their voices and become catalysts for action on climate issues and peace.
• Connecting with the Earth: Learning about the connectedness to all living things through the creation of a peace garden and related activities.
• Responding to Climate Impact: Creating native gardens that are resilient in this changing climate, provide habitat and sequester carbon.

Remuneration: $22.50/hour for 35 hour work week for 8 weeks

Activities & Responsibilities

1. Learn and Prepare

1. Motivators will be responsible for submitting all employment paperwork and reading any necessary training materials at the beginning of their employment.
2. Motivators will 35 hours per week. On average, 25 hours/week will be carrying out an action plan on a local climate project developed by the community of faith, and 10 hours/week participating in the National program. The action plan aligns with the denomination's climate goals of: putting our house in order, raising our spirited voices, connecting with the earth, responding to climate impact, and how they plan to help the denomination in reaching their stated goals.

2. Build and Plan

1. Motivators will connect with other young people across the church who are engaging in leadership and decision-making related to climate justice and advocacy.
2. Motivators will work together to plan service and learning activities, as well as opportunities for worship and spiritual practice.
3. Motivators will learn skills in community assessment and engagement such as team building, community meetings, and launching neighbourhood-based projects with other community groups.

3. Engage and Act

1. Motivators will engage in service and learning activities, as well as opportunities for worship and spiritual practice.
2. Motivators will attend online training and project honing at the beginning of the summer, and then fulfill the rest of their summer contract through remote work, in a local setting, and engaging in experiential learning and engagement in Ottawa.

4. Learn and Develop

1. Motivators will learn about the ministry of the United Church in the area of climate justice and eco-theology.
2. Motivators will communicate the impacts of their project, resource, or plan to others in the church.

5. Debrief and Evaluate

1.  Motivators will participate in a debrief of the program that will include:
   1. A full review of the program – all activities, projects, and decisions made;
   2. Affirmation of work done, learnings made, and courage shown;
   3. Feedback on the continuation of the position and program for future.
2. Motivators will be open to providing insight, expertise, and mentoring of future programs.

Qualifications

• Be between the ages of 18-25 & legally able to work in Canada
• Have a government-issued ID acceptable for travel documentation within Canada
• Have experience, interest and passion for climate activism and care of Creation
• A Self-starter who takes initiative and can work independently to complete a project
• Good communicator (written and orally) with project planning skills and ability to work well as part of a team
• Participation in and connection to the local community of faith and The United Church of Canada (an asset)
• Basic technology skills to connect remotely as needed
• Motivated to be part of the local project as well as nationally organized formation and leadership program (faith, leadership and justice), and able to motivate others.
• Available for full time work at the Community of Faith from May 19th - July 100th, 35 hours per week, and to travel to and work in Ottawa from May 24th to May 29th to participate in week long orientation, training and advocacy (travel, room and board costs are covered)

To apply:

Apply directly to the Community of Faith where you live.

In Riverview / Moncton, New Brunswick, please submit your resume and an expression of interest to Karen Rogers, krgrs59@gmail.com

For other locations, please see links below. 

Successful applicants will then be recommended to the General Council Office to be considered for the Climate Motivator position. The GCO selection committee will invite top candidates to a hiring interview in April.

 

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Climate Action at the United Church of Canada
https://united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/climate-change

Climate Motivator Program
https:///thegoproject.ca/climate-motivators/

The Go Project —
Year-round oppportunities for you to change the world
https://thegoproject.ca/

Climate Motivator Locations for 2026...

New Brunswick

Sackville – Sackville United Church
Riverview – St. Paul’s United Church

Ontario 

Little Current – Little Current United Church
Greater Sudbury – St. Peter’s United Church and St. Mark’s United Church
Cambridge  – Trillium United Church and Saint Luke’s United
Kitchener – Forest Hill United Church
Guelph – Dublin Street United Church
Georgetown – Norval United Church
North York – Uganda Martyrs United Church of Canada
Toronto – Bloor Street United Church
Brighton – Trinity St. Andrew’s UC
Lindsay – Goodwood United Church
Stone Mills – Newburgh-Centreville Pastoral Charge

Manitoba 

Winnipeg – United Church in Meadowood (UCiM)
Brandon – Knox United Church

Yukon

Whitehorse – Whitehorse United Church

 

 

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Work for Climate Action, across Canada:
GoodWork.ca/Climate

Summer jobs in climate and environment: 
GoodWork.ca/Summer