Today’s post comes from Jill Legault, an information specialist at Quetico Provincial Park.
Quetico’s oral histories have been locked away on archival cassettes at the John B. Ridley Research Library — until now.
Courtesy of history enthusiasts from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, they have come out of the vault and into our ears.
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:
Buckle up for the ride of a lifetime! Interpreter, David Bree, is about to take us on a journey down memory lane.
After 32 years, the end is near.
Hi, my name is David Bree and I have worked at Ontario Parks as an interpreter (also known as a park naturalist) for over half my life.
As I go through my final year as an Ontario Parks employee, I have embarked on a retirement nostalgia tour of the parks I worked at.
Continue reading The great OP retirement tour: Charleston Lake
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
In today’s post, Daniel Miller shares his experience as a co-op student with Ontario Parks’ Northwest Zone Office.
Ever since I first started visiting Ontario Parks, I’ve been interested in the people who help them operate.
Continue reading Co-op student lives the dream with Ontario Parks
Today’s post comes from Isabelle Moy, a Discovery naturalist at Killbear Provincial Park.
As many faithful Killbear campers will remember, seven years ago our camping landscape changed dramatically with the felling of many American Beech trees due to Beech Bark Disease.
Unfortunately, Killbear has again been infested by an invasive species.
Continue reading Changing landscapes at Killbear Provincial Park
Happy International Women’s Day!
At Ontario Parks, we simply couldn’t do without our female team members. They work as biologists, instructors, wardens, superintendents, planners, managers and more.
Here’s the inside scoop on our staff:
Ontario Parks is nothing without our amazing staff. There are so many hardworking people behind each and every visit to our beautiful provincial parks.
One of them is Agnese Bortolussi.
On International Women’s Day, we would like to say thank you to Agnese (Aggie) for her years of hard work!
In today’s post, Assistant Superintendent Josie Grenier and other southeast zone staff give us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what our crews are up to during the winter months.
There’s a false assumption out there that Ontario Parks goes into hibernation in the winter, just like bears, but we are by no means just a summer experience.
Field staff are often asked, “What do you guys do in the winter or when you’re closed?”
Where can we even begin to answer this question!?
