17. What made the Warden Service such a unique organization?
The specialist/ generalist rolls. The common base level skill level that we were trained at. Each of us could perform general tasks in wildlife, fire, public safety, and law enforcement, but there was also a need for specialization for the higher level tasks. The same individual that could respond general call requiring all hands on deck to search for an avalanche victim, could be in the middle of a statistical analysis of wildlife movement data. It was fun and efficient at the same time.
18. Do you have any lasting memories as a Warden? Favourite, park, cabin, horse, trail, etc.?
My whole career is a lasting memory, between my jobs with Yukon Forest Service, and Parks Canada, I have logged many flying hours over incredible remote landscapes. I have worked on fire-lines with bison wandering casually behind me. I’ve run wild rivers by canoe, raft, or jet boat—the Nahanni and the Firth were two of my favourites. I’ve worked on horseback in all kinds of weather conditions, heading out to boundary patrols, research and monitoring sites, or district cabins. I’ve climbed at high altitude in Kluane, started early dark mornings on avalanche control at Lake Louise skiing with a backpack full of bombs. I’ve captured and radio-collared bears, wolves, cougars, moose, and elk for research and monitoring. I’ve spent countless hours and analyzing and presenting wildlife data to contribute to park management decisions. I’ve had the privilege to work with dozens of wonderful people all along the way. So many memories.
19. What aspects of the Warden’s job do you miss most about being a Warden?
In retirement, you miss the daily camaraderie, and you miss working on the ecological restoration projects that you had been invested in. I also really miss working with my group of bright young wardens (and some not so young), grad students and field crews.
20. What year did you retire? What do you enjoy doing now in retirement?
I retired in 2012 at age 55. I started working immediately on some long overdue renovations on our home in Canmore. I enjoy carpentry, so it was a good way to ease out of the job and feel useful and it was a great learning experience for all aspects of home renos. Thank heavens for you-tube DIY videos and occasional advice from Frank Burstrom! For recreation, a group of us Canmorites, including Cliff and Dave, with our partners, tackled the Great Divide mountain bike trail from Banff to Mexico. It was completed in two-week stints over a 5 year period, though Bronwyn and I were only able to join the gang for the last 3 years. As an avid sailor, I’ve been fortunate to crew with friends on several sailing passages between Florida and the Caribbean. With Ian Pengelly and others, I’ve canoed or rafted the Green, San Juan, and John Day rivers in Utah and Oregon. In 2019, with the kids grown and independent, we moved to Powell River, on the west coast. We had always enjoyed spending time at a cabin that we had built in 2003 in Desolation Sound, so the move to Powell River was like moving to a second home. We continue to mountain bike and hike both locally, and also seasonally in places like Utah and California, and we enjoy cruising the Salish Sea in our sailboat. At home, we have both really enjoyed learning to grow a big veggie garden, a bit easier here than it was in Canmore, and I admit to becoming a serial putterer in my new workshop.
21. Would you recommend the Park Warden’s job to anyone today?
Yes, with reservations. My youngest son, Gavin, is currently working in Banff as a Resource Conservation Specialist. He is very enthused about the job, though it seems that the emphasis on travel skills, self-sufficiency, and a basic level of training in multiple disciplines has waned a bit with the outfit becoming more siloed and isolated. I personally believe this is an inefficient use of personnel, and that some return to the generalist/specialist combination would be beneficial for everyone, besides making the job more fun.
Tom and Cooper – post retirement
