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:
Mark Read
From delivering high-quality educational programs to managing invasive species, Mark never knows how his day will pan out at Murphys Point Provincial Park.
One of his favourite aspects of the job is delivering a program about the threatened Gray Ratsnake, a species at the most northerly extent of its range. Visitors, local landowners, and the snakes, of course, have all benefited from Mark’s practical and passionate support.
Will Morrow and Julia Slabon
Will and Julia are park rangers at Komoka Provincial Park. They work hard every day to maintain the trails, keep the park clean, tackle park projects and provide a variety of upgrades and repairs. Will and Julia are pictured here ready to install a buoy line in the pond.
Will enjoys the fact that every day at Komoka is different. He loves that the work engages him in fulfilling efforts to keep the park healthy and the people happy.
Julia loves the diversity of wildlife she is able to experience on the job, and being able to have a hand in protecting their home.
Greg Ahern
Greg has been with Emily Provincial Park since 1989. The dedication of our maintenance foreman has to the visitors at Emily is evident in the fact that those who return year after year ask for him by name.
He is the first to lend a hand if something needs done and is always supportive of staff initiatives around the park, no matter which department. You can catch him rolling around in the big green tractor, probably his favourite part of the job!
Alicia Wellings
“I’ve been camping here my whole life and I want to give visitors the same experiences.”
A member of Pancake Bay Provincial Park‘s maintenance team, Alicia loves living on the shores of Lake Superior. She’s helped build a deck for the park cabin, and worked on repairing access bridges. A typical day includes cleaning, painting, and answering camper questions.
Phil Plamondon
“I like seeing progress in the park and knowing I was one of the responsible people to make it look beautiful and seeing the satisfaction of campers.”
Phil is the senior Ops Tech at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. This is his fifth season working for Ontario Parks. One of his favourite aspects of his job is its versatility. In a single day, he might do plumbing and electrical work, drive the tractor, hike the park doing trail maintenance, as well as working in the office to place orders and make schedules.
Kathleen Boston
“Three years ago I started working at Pancake Bay Provincial Park, one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Kathleen has spent time working as a gate attendant and on the maintenance crew. This year, she’s part of Pancake Bay’s Discovery team. She loves planning activities for kids and adults alike.
Mitch Stimac
Mitch has been the Learn to Fish Leader here at Earl Rowe for three summers, sharing his passion for the outdoors with our park visitors. He loves meeting new people and can strike up a conversation with anyone who walks by!
Ellen Rosswill
Ellen has worked for Ontario Parks for nine seasons. She started at Sibbald Point as a gate attendant and won the student bursary award for her excellent customer service. This is Ellen’s fourth season at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park where she currently works as Park Clerk.
“The best part of my job is getting to talk with the campers and working with a large team of amazing park staff! This job requires a lot of problem solving which I enjoy the challenge of.”
“This job makes me passionate because I want everyone to experience a great camping trip and to have more people spending time in nature.”