Mackenzie Yendall: Information Management and Information Technology Technologist

Meet Mackenzie Yendall! Having graduated from university in 2020, Mackenzie’s career with Environment and Climate Change Canada has just begun. Mackenzie works out of the nation’s capital as an Information Management and Information Technology technologist, in the newly created Emerging Technologies Team. He values the opportunity to make a positive difference through research and learning about emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. As a new employee, Mackenzie feels fortunate to be part of a team where his skillset is valued and his opinions recognized.

Here are a few random facts about Mackenzie:

• If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? Since I was a little kid I’ve been fascinated by Greco Roman Mythology, which I learned about by reading the Percy Jackson books. My love for mythology was revived when I recently played the video game Hades, which is faithfully based on much of the mythology I learned about as a child. I would love to visit Greece in order to learn more about this culture of legends.
• If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? I would probably say Italian pasta. You can do so much with it!
• If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to? I would visit the late 1980’s, so I could witness the rise of Dungeons and Dragons, and live in a time when rock music was still one of the biggest genres.
• What are your hobbies? Dungeons and Dragons, video games, travelling and writing short stories.
• What is your favourite flavour of ice cream? Pistachio gelato!
• If you were a super-hero, what powers would you have? It would absolutely be the power to stop time for everything going on outside of whatever room I’m standing in, whenever I wanted.
• What form of public transportation do you prefer? (Air, boat, train, bus, car, etc.) I prefer air travel, because whenever I’m flying it means I’m going somewhere relaxing or interesting!
• If you could share a meal with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? J.R.R. Tolkien.
• What's your favourite holiday? When I was younger, it was without question always Christmas. As I’ve gotten a bit older, I have discovered that my new favourites are Saint Patrick’s Day and Canada Day! These holidays allow me to see my friends from school, without the stress of having to help plan a large celebration.
• What's your favourite movie? The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. That film inspired me to take up writing.
• Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Living on my own, potentially with a spouse, in a house, in a higher-level job with the government.