Charles Paradis
Coordinator, Partner Engagement at Let's talk Science
I was born/grew up in: Pointe-Claire, QC but moved to Burlington, ON
I now live in: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
I completed my training/education at: Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB. Earned a BA (Honours History).
Describe what you do at work.
The main duties of my job are two-fold. First, I help make sure that the groups and people that support us have a chance to volunteer with us. This might mean that they get involved in activities that help them better understand what we are all about. This helps the folks who want to support us understand the impact of their efforts on youth from coast to coast to coast. I also help organize activities for youth to explore different career options, in particular those that are alternative career pathways. I try and help teens understand that there are STEM jobs all over the place and showcase ones that might not jump to mind right away. It's great fun interacting with youth across Canada, making connections with them, and talking about their futures!
When I was a student I enjoyed:
How does your job affect peoples lives?
For me, I feel that the greatest part of my job is getting youth to think about the future. This means helping them understand that regardless of what they do, at least one of the letters in STEM will be relevant to their lives!
What motivates you in your career?
I'm all about creating things that will help the public better understand their world around them. I love teaching people things and making complex topics fun and relatable for them. I love seeing people make connections and experience "aha" moments. It’s so great when you can practically see that light bulb go off above their heads.
When I was a student, I would have described myself as someone who:
Describe your career path to this career.
When I was in high school I never realized that people would pay you to do the jobs I’ve had! And, if I thought my work life was going to be an easy and straight path, I was way off! I absolutely love what I do, but before this, I spent about 10 years in museums and science centres. Even though I loved museums, I don't think I ever imagined that one day I'd be doing collections work at a golf museum. I certainly never thought I would be excavating Roman ruins in North Africa. And I certainly never thought I’d be talking chemistry at an oil sands museum, or going over the history of Canada and WWII aboard a warship. Those might seem like a big leap from what I do now, but in reality their quite similar. It's all about researching, creating, and developing things to help people of all ages better understand complex topics.
What activities do you like to do outside of work?
I mostly play board games or video games. Sometimes I collect sneakers And I follow a lot of soccer matches.
What advice or encouragement would you give others seeking a similar career?
Remember that there are no wrong moves in your career. It might be bumpy at times, but as long as you keep moving, you'll be fine.