Blog Posts
Back to School: Making this Semester your Best
For those going back to school or just beginning, the countdown till the start of the fall semester has begun.
September 2, 2025
Growing up in Alberta, I’ve been surrounded by the resource sector my whole life. But, through grade school and now post-secondary, there are some things I never learned about the sector. It was only through working with YCR that I learned just how impactful the energy and natural resource sectors are.
Here are 4 things school never taught me about natural resources (but probably should’ve):
When most people picture oil and gas careers, they think of roughnecks on rigs. The reality is far broader, and often much more white-collar.
The best-paying jobs span engineering, project management, geology, and safety oversight. Petroleum Geologists average over $160,000 annually in Canada. Project Managers earn about $82,808 (Ontario PMs top $93,000).
Salaries vary by region, but the takeaway is clear: oil and gas offers diverse, high-paying career paths beyond the drilling rig. From my perspective in marketing, that’s exactly why more people should know about it, no matter your degree, there’s a place for your skills in this sector.
You may not be drilling wells, but if you’re texting from a lithium-powered phone, sipping coffee made with clean water, or sitting in a heated apartment, you’re using natural resources.
Many everyday items including, clothing, cleaning supplies, plastics, rubbers, resins, synthetic fibers, adhesives, dyes, detergents, pesticides, paints, and coatings, trace back to petrochemicals from oil and natural gas. In 2016, petrochemical production accounted for roughly one-third of Canada’s natural gas liquids demand (about 1.1 million barrels per day)
The process starts with crude oil and natural gas, refined into feedstocks, then transformed into chemicals and thousands of end-use products. From the soles of your shoes to the device you’re reading this on, petrochemicals are embedded in modern life, often in ways we don’t think about.
From the nickel in EV batteries to the iron holding up our beautiful skylines, Canada’s minerals are everywhere, even in places you’d never think to look. In 2023 alone, we produced over 60 different minerals, with nickel and cobalt (both crucial for electric vehicles) seeing big gains, and iron ore production holding steady.
As one of the world’s top mineral exporters, Canada fuels everything from U.S. auto plants to factories overseas. So, the next time you’re cruising in an electric car, watching a new series, or stamping your passport, remember: Canadian resources are part of what makes it all happen.
Energy literacy isn’t just knowing where your lights come from, it’s understanding how energy choices shape our planet, economy, and daily lives. Not knowing how energy works in 2025 is like not checking the weather before leaving the house: you might be fine…until you’re stuck in the cold, caught in the rain, or hit with a utility bill you didn’t see coming.
It means recognizing that small actions, like reducing energy waste, can lower bills and emissions, while big-picture thinking helps us weigh trade-offs between energy sources. It’s also about spotting misinformation, holding industries and governments accountable, and pushing for solutions that work for both people and the environment.
Yet research shows most Canadians don’t prioritize energy policy, and many, especially in Indigenous communities, distrust traditional information sources. This makes independent, trusted voices more important than ever to cut through the noise. And with trade tensions rising globally, Canada’s resources aren’t just a domestic issue, they’re a strategic advantage and a central pillar of our economy.
The more we understand energy, the better equipped we are to protect that advantage and make decisions that keep Canada strong at home and competitive abroad.
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For those going back to school or just beginning, the countdown till the start of the fall semester has begun.