Colleen McNeil: Analyst

Colleen McNeil has seen the value of collaboration over the course of her 26-year career with ECCC. Holding various positions, she has worked with employees from across the organization as well as those from different government departments, non-governmental organizations, academia and Indigenous communities. In every role she’s had, Colleen has been motivated by the knowledge that her work is making a difference to Canadians and improving the environment. 

From 2000-2008, Colleen was the Coordinator of the Atlantic Coastal Action Program. Part of her role was organizing capacity-building workshops for non-government watershed groups and ECCC staff. Each year, a group would host the event in their community and showcase their environmental work and local culture. Colleen credits these events with helping her learn about the many beautiful communities across the Atlantic provinces and their environmental issues of concern.

Today, Colleen is working on blending water science with policy and concentrating mostly on management of the Wolastoq/Saint John River in New Brunswick. This role allows Colleen to work with like-minded people inside and outside of the organization; all of them sharing a passion for ensuring there is clean water for current and future generations.

To learn more about Colleen’s work, please visit the Water and the Environment web page.

Here are a few random facts about Colleen:

• What was your first job? I worked retail as a high school student.
• If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? Hawaii.
• If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Sushi.
• If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to? 1988 – I would love to re-live the cool 80s trends and music.
• What are your hobbies? Camping, spending time at the cottage, taking care of my flower gardens.
• What is your favourite flavour of ice cream? Hoof prints.
• Summer or winter? Summer. Winters in Nova Scotia have changed from snowy to mostly wet and icy.
• If you could share a meal with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? My grandfather who was a Cape Breton coal miner. He died when I was young.
• What's your favourite holiday? Thanksgiving.
• Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Retired! Hopefully spending the winters somewhere warm and summers in Nova Scotia.