The importance of mentorship in shaping the future of green architecture cannot be overstated. For African Nova Scotian youth like Zamani Millar, it can mean the difference between pursuing a career in a field that aligns with their values and interests, and feeling discouraged by the lack of representation. Millar was fortunate to have a family circle of friends who included Zahra Williams, an architect at Zwicker Zareski Architecture and Planning (ZZAP), who had a long-standing commitment to job shadowing. This program, which has been supported by One North End (ONE), provides opportunities for young people to gain hands-on experience in the green sector. While pursuing her studies in environmental design, Millar was introduced to the concept of job shadowing by Rodney Small, the executive director of ONE. Small reached out to her with an offer to participate in a job shadowing program, saying, “Rodney reached out and said, ‘would you like to be exposed to what actually happens in the day-to-day at an architecture firm?’”
Millar’s experience at Habit Studio, a women-led architectural and residential home design firm with over 20 years of experience in green building and Passive House design, was a defining moment in her journey. As she reflects on her time at the firm, she recalls, “I got to see who does what, I learned about Passive House design… We did a design charrette, and I went on a site visit and listened to clients and what their hopes were. And it was great to be in the room with a lot of very smart women.”
The job shadowing experience not only provided Millar with a deeper understanding of the architecture field but also gave her a sense of belonging. She notes, “I felt like I was part of something, I was contributing to something, and that was amazing.”
Through her experience, Millar gained a new perspective on the importance of community engagement and inclusivity in green architecture. She says, “As a firm, they take their responsibility for the future of the planet very seriously. Working in partnership with historically marginalized communities is another core value… They know they can’t just develop a solution and present it [to a community] as if they know all the answers. They have to be deeply involved.”
The importance of community engagement and inclusivity in green architecture cannot be overstated. Lorrie Rand, one of the founders of Habit Studio and the ReCover Initiative, emphasizes the need for a two-way approach. She says, “We know we can’t just develop a solution and present it [to a community] as if we know all the answers. They have to be deeply involved.”
The job shadowing program is not just about providing youth with hands-on experience but also about addressing the systemic issues that perpetuate the African Nova Scotian employment gap. ONE’s Small notes, “The jobs may be going green, but the gap remains. I want to help open the eyes of our youth to these environmental jobs.”
The gap between African Nova Scotian youth and the green job market is a pressing issue. According to Cheryl Hojnowski, Manager of Community Impact and Partnerships for ReCover, the jobs may be going green, but the gap remains. She emphasizes the need for youth to gain experience in retrofits, green design, and climate action to meet Canada’s climate change goals. Canada’s massive scaling up of deep retrofits is crucial to fight climate change. ReCover, a non-profit organization, has been awarded $17.5 million by the Federal Government to implement the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative in Atlantic Canada. The organization will use this funding to launch a new round of job shadowing, with ReCover, ZZAP, and other partners launching the initiative at the North Preston Community Centre. Youth — high school and college students alike — will have opportunities to see the ropes at ZZAP, BMR Engineering, and EFP Engineering through this hands-on job shadowing program. Through this experience, they will work side-by-side with architects, structural engineers, electrical and mechanical engineers, and sustainability specialists. Zamani Millar hopes that once she finishes her architecture studies and is working in the field, she can give back in a similar way. She says, “I’d like to be on the other end and show people who are like I was that this is an option as a career, and that there’s a lot it can do for our community.”
Millar also sees the job shadowing program as a two-way street. She notes, “The Black experience — as well as Mi’kmaw perspectives — have so much to offer design and architecture. Our concepts of beauty, of community, of resilience… I want to help bring those ideas to the design of the buildings that we all work and live in.”
The Climate Story Network is an initiative of Climate Focus, a non-profit organization dedicated to covering stories about community-driven climate solutions. The job shadowing program is an excellent example of how community-driven initiatives can address the systemic issues that perpetuate the African Nova Scotian employment gap. Through this initiative, ReCover is not only addressing the needs of African Nova Scotian youth but also contributing to the growth of the green building sector in Canada. By launching a new round of job shadowing, ReCover is providing youth with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the green sector, which will ultimately help meet Canada’s climate change goals. The job shadowing program is a testament to the importance of mentorship in shaping the future of green architecture in Nova Scotia. By providing youth with hands-on experience and addressing the systemic issues that perpetuate the African Nova Scotian employment gap, ReCover is helping to create a more sustainable future for all. The Climate Story Network is an initiative of Climate Focus, a non-profit organization dedicated to covering stories about community-driven climate solutions. By providing youth with hands-on experience in the green sector, ReCover is helping to create a more sustainable future for all. By addressing the systemic issues that perpetuate the African Nova Scotian employment gap, ReCover is helping to create a more sustainable future for all. One North End (ONE) is an organization dedicated to promoting economic development in the North End of Halifax. The organization has a long-standing commitment to job shadowing, which provides opportunities for young people to gain hands-on experience in the green sector. Zwicker Zareski Architecture and Planning (ZZAP) is a firm that has long supported job shadowing. The firm has a strong commitment to community engagement and inclusivity, and is dedicated to helping close the African Nova Scotian employment gap. ReCover is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development and addressing the systemic issues that perpetuate the African Nova Scotian employment gap. The organization has been awarded $17.5 million by the Federal Government to implement the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative in Atlantic Canada. BMR Engineering and EFP Engineering are two firms that will be partnering with ReCover to launch the new round of job shadowing. Building to Zero Exchange is a non-profit organization that is helping to grow capacity in the green building sector. The organization is working with ReCover to better understand what other training programs are needed for youth.

Zamani Millar hopes that once she finishes her architecture studies and is working in the field, she can give back in a similar way. Our concepts of beauty, of community, of resilience… I want to help bring those ideas to the design of the buildings that we all work and live in.”
The job shadowing program is an excellent example of how community-driven initiatives can address the systemic issues that perpetuate the African Nova Scotian employment gap.