Garden Assistant Summer Student

Company: Wilfred Laurier University - Indigenous Student Services

Garden Assistant

The Garden Assistant will play a key role in supporting the Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) gardens at Wilfrid Laurier University's Brantford Campus. This hands-on role involves working directly with the Indigenous Student Support Coordinator (ISSC) to cultivate, maintain, and steward the gardens, which provide plants, medicines, and vegetables to support Indigenous students and programming at Laurier.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with the care and handling of nursery stock, seeds, and
• Transplant vegetables and other plants, weed garden beds, and prepare fields for spring planting.
• Carry out summer garden maintenance, including watering, weeding, and harvesting
• Steward ISC medicinal plants, seedlings, and vegetables with care and respect for Indigenous knowledge and
• Support programming and events hosted by the ISC, and attend off-campus or inter- campus activities related to Indigenous and sustainability
• Provide progress photos and updates of the gardens for ISC social media and internal communications.
• Guide and direct volunteers and other gardeners assisting with garden

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled as a student at Wilfrid Laurier University (preferred).
• Demonstrated interest in Indigenous ways of knowing, food sovereignty, and
• Experience or strong interest in gardening, horticulture, agriculture, or related outdoor activities.
• Willingness and ability to work outdoors in various weather
• Physically able to perform required tasks, including lifting, bending, reaching, stretching, and carrying garden materials and
• Comfortable working independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to
• Positive attitude, self-motivation, and willingness to learn new skills related to gardening and Indigenous land
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to guide and direct volunteers
• Familiarity with social media is an asset

Working Conditions:

• Primarily outdoor work, often alone in a large outdoor
• Physical effort required: lifting, reaching, bending, and
• Exposure to varying temperatures, weather, sun, dirt, and garden waste
• Attention to detail required when using gardening

The ideal candidate is passionate about growing food and traditional plants, eager to learn about Indigenous land-based practices, and excited to contribute to a supportive and inclusive community environment.

Job Details:

Department: Indigenous Student Services

Reports To: Indigenous Student Support Coordinator, Brantford Campus Position Type:                          Part-Time up to 20 hours per week

Rate of Pay: $19/hour

Term: May 11th 2026-August 28th 2026

All applicants must register with the GREAT Student Office. To apply for positions, book your intake appointment with an ETC by calling 519-445-2222 or email us at studentoffice@greatsn.com