Kelsey
Johansen

This is an image of Kelsey Johansen

Kelsey Johansen is a proud Lakehead University Graduate! After completing her undergraduate degrees in Anthropology, Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism, and Philosophy in May 2008, Kelsey went on to graduate from the MES – NBRT program in May 2011. At the undergraduate level, her Honours Thesis examined scuba diving and dive tourism impacts on marine environments; this ultimately lead into her graduate work studying effective environmental communication with scuba divers. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies, Kelsey received encouragement and support from her Advisor, Dr. Rhonda Koster. During her graduate studies at Lakehead, she also worked as a Research Assistant for Dr. Harvey Lemelin on his SSHRC funded project studying the current and historical barriers to insect conservation through content analysis of journal articles.

In addition to her academic studies, Kelsey completed an internship with the Corporation of the Town of Marathon. As the Recreation and Tourism Development Coordinator, Kelsey gained hands-on experience in the areas of tourism and recreation development in a rural community. This built on her experience researching rural community boating tourism and marina development (completed as a Community Service Learning project for OUTD 5733 – Rural Community Tourism Development). While completing her internship, Kelsey focused on specific projects, aimed at building recreation and tourism capacity in Marathon and secured a Celebrate Ontario Grant, valued at $32,000 from the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, to promote the development of the Marathon Summerfest tourism festival. Kelsey also had the opportunity to survey the community to determine their recreation needs, and to research and draft policies aimed at increasing recreation access for persons with disabilities and to facilitate a variety of recreation and tourism programs in partnership with organizations like Parks Canada.

After leaving her internship, Kelsey branched into the field of community and government sustainability. She currently works as the Acting Community Environmental Action Plan Coordinator for the City of Thunder Bay, and facilitates the implementation of an integrated community sustainability plan (ICSP), helping the City of Thunder Bay meet its commitment to reduce greenhouse gases, address issues related to environmental sustainability and food security, and ameliorate the effects of climate change along the North shore of Lake Superior. This work is being completed through EarthWise® - a partnership between the City of Thunder Bay and the community and a participant in ICLEI's Partners for Climate Protection Program.

Kelsey is also worked as a Contract Lecturer for the School of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, teaching OUTD 3312 FA/ FB, Risk Management & Legal Liability in Outdoor Recreation.

Kelsey also volunteers as the Publicity Director for the Voyaguer Trail Association's Coordinating Council and sits on the Kinghorn Rails to Trails Project Committee. She is an SSI certified Master Diver and when not working, Kelsey can be found traveling the world or hiking, paddling (canoe, kayak, SUP), snowshoeing or scuba diving in North Shore communities.

  • MES – Nature-Based Recreation and Tourism (Lakehead), 2011
  • HBOR – Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism (Lakehead), 2008
  • HBSc – Anthropology (Lakehead), 2008
  • BA – Philosophy (Lakehead), 2008