In today’s post, Anna Winge-Breen shares her journey from childhood visitor to Algonquin Provincial Park Discovery Ranger.
We all have at least one childhood experience, so crisp and profound that it has become nearly inseparable from our identity.
A memory that is so deep in your heart, thinking of it brings you right back to a feeling of excitement so exuberant it could be felt only by a child.
For me, this memory is my summers spent in Algonquin.
Today’s post comes from Victoria Reimer, Bronte Creek Provincial Park’s Green Jobs summer student and friend to birds everywhere.
If you asked me what a Green Jobs student was before I started, I wouldn’t have known myself.
Now, after being in the role, I can tell you it’s a wonderful opportunity to become intimately connected to your park. Every day, my job challenges me, but it also gives me so many opportunities to learn.
Happy International Youth Day!
Students and youth are the lifeblood of our parks — we couldn’t do without them!
Here are just a few stand-out students and youth from around the province:
Ontario Parks staff tackle a huge array of tasks and challenges.
Our days are diverse. You might find us researching rare species, applying First Aid to injured guests, maintaining safe and healthy water systems, building a boardwalk, or welcoming families to a busy campground.
We’re stewards of our province’s most treasured natural resources. We’re educators, instilling a love of nature in new generations of Ontarians.
Internationally, World Ranger Day celebrates their wonderful work protecting our parks, and commemorates park rangers killed or injured in the line of duty in park organizations with high-risk activities.
We’re proud to keep our parks safe and welcoming to visitors, while protecting our amazing natural world.
Take a look at just a few of our everyday heroes:
Well… it had to happen eventually!
Ontario Parks’ longest serving employee has retired after working 62 years at Killbear Provincial Park.
Eddie started working at the park in 1959 and helped to build the roads and campgrounds before the park officially opened in 1960.
After a full career training countless staff and keeping the maintenance department ticking, Eddie decided to hang up his chainsaw for good last summer.
Hats off to Eddie and we wish him a long and healthy retirement!
When most people think of a career, they might think of working 30, 35, or perhaps even 40 years before enjoying a well-earned retirement.
Eddie Ramsay doesn’t subscribe to that point of view.
Continue reading The remarkable 62-year career of Eddie Ramsay
Today’s post comes from Megan and Cora, two of Halfway Lake Provincial Park‘s discovery guides.
As discovery guides, part of our job is inspiring, encouraging, and motivating visitor to explore and discover nature everywhere!
Continue reading Hiking through Halfway Lake, discovery-style
Today’s post comes from Chris Stromberg, Acting Backcountry Operations Specialist at Quetico Provincial Park and Coordinator for the Heart of the Continent.
This August, backcountry and wilderness ranger crews from Quetico Provincial Park and the Kawishiwi Ranger District of the Superior National Forest joined forces to maintain and improve a number of shared portages along the Canada/US border near Carp Lake and Knife Lake.
Continue reading Portage partnership at Quetico Provincial Park
We’ve been celebrating the 125th anniversary of Ontario Parks all year, but did you know one of our signature programs celebrated a smaller anniversary and success?
Learn to Camp is only eight years old, but this season was a big one, marking our 20,000th milestone. That’s right: since the program began, we’ve introduced more than 20,000 people to the joys of camping!
Today’s post comes from Bev Cook, Chairperson of the Friends of Presqu’ile at Presqu’ile Provincial Park.
Every year, Ontario Parks hires hundreds of students to help run parks over the summer.
From maintenance to front gate staff to Natural Heritage Education, our students work hard to keep a smile on our visitors’ faces.
This year, the Friends of Presqu’ile launched an annual bursary program to recognize the efforts of the fine young people who work as summer student employees at Presqu’ile.
Continue reading Celebrating students at Presqu’ile Provincial Park
