conseiller

archiviste

Ontario Parks

My time at Ontario parks is enjoyable. The work is rewarding, especially at my smaller park where all hands are on deck and we get to experience many different roles and tasks.  Bigger parks don't get the same experience as staff are segmented and tend to stay in their own department and rarely get to perform jobs outside of their department. 

The worst part of the job is probably dealing with members of the public, I would say 30% of my interactions with the public are just okay, 30% are pleasant, and 30% and really good. out of the remaining 10%, 9% of which are terrible and that last one percent of people who make it their objective to make your day terrible and you have to call the warden to get them off your back. 

the only part of the job that is bad (that Ontario parks can control) is the compensation.  while 15.85 an hour is okay, as a university student it is not enough. especially since the work that I do is the same that the manual workers (full time positions) works and they get roughly 5-7 more an hour.  additionally, my biggest gripe with parks is that staff do not get free staff passes which do not costs parks anything at all. I understand still charging us for camping because that is a major revenue source for parks, but to not even let us use day use for free when visiting parks is ridiculous.  there is no good reason to not give us passes. 

Start in the morning on weekdays at 9am-4pm and weekends at 8am-3pm or sometimes the afternoon shift from 1pm-8pm. Clean the bathrooms and showers, weed wack, cut grass (can't do it yet), fix picnic tables, pick up recycling bins,clean up garbage at the beach, trim hedges, or on Sundays it consist of cleaning up the camp sites.
 I learned how to handle some tools, and general carpentry. The manager that I work for is a great guy he's easy going and a lot of fun but you still want to do your very hardest. Co workers are great people, usually you stay with your partner for the duration of the day or you switch. Their all fun to be around, and they help you if necessary. 
Hardest part of the job, cleaning bathrooms/showers in the morning when its the busiest time of the day at the Parks. However, people don't always listen therefore, it gets stressful or if a toilet is backed up (thats never a good day). The most enjoyable part of the job working with all the great people and being outside!

Absolutely amazing coworkers and supportive management.

You get to do a variety of tasks, from cleaning washrooms to trimming/lawn mowing to patching roads to painting, etc. You also do have the occasional customer service. Customers are generally really nice/understanding though. Some of the tasks might not be ideal (like cleaning up fecal matter in unexpected places and just being out on a really hot day), but the coworkers and supervisors really help get you through it.

Unfortunately you don't get weekends off but you do get your typical 5 on / 2 off, just that your days off are during the week (you can still ask for occasional weekends off if you really need them).

Being outside all day in a beautiful park, can't get much better than that! You will meet amazing people and make lifelong friends. 

Unfortunately, management is absolutely terrible at Ontario Parks. I worked for one park for 3 years and moved to a different park for 1 year and the same unorganized, biased management follows. I loved my co-workers, loved working outdoors, but I unfortunately had to leave due to the lack of support from management. 

Definitely recommend to students for a fun summer! Definitely do not recommend trying to find a career with them unless you know someone more "high up".

A typical day at work was cleaning the park. I would collect garbage, clean rest rooms and vault toilets, cut grass, use brush saw to remove brush, clean beaches, and I always help campers with whatever problems they might have. Working at Bon Echo I learned how to work in a team based setting at well as how to use many tools and different machinery. Management was sometimes difficult to deal with but on the most part good people. All of my co-workers were great people and new there jobs well. The hardest part of the job was the messes left in the washrooms and vault toilets to clean but the most enjoyable part of the job was the park its self, its a very beautiful place to work.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Being able to work under minimal supervision and with other employees.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
It’s all weather dependent, if the power goes out were to lock all public spaces and shut off the water

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Amazing, very collaborative and inclusive 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Clean the beach in the morning, take garbage from parking lots and dispose in our dump, complete tasks given from supervisors, clean comfort stations and restock when needed

I adored working at three different Ontario Parks over four summers. The staff are so friendly, projects are fun, and the NHE (Natural Heritage Education) department focuses on nature, which I love. I just wish there were more permanent, full time positions available so more people like myself can work there for a living. The naturalist position (might be called something different now) is amazing for students who are in school for something nature related.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Meeting people from all over the world and making sure they have a great experience. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Confrontation with intoxicated people

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Sometimes it can be a struggle but overall positive

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
For me it is paperwork and patrols. Making sure that my coworkers are safe and help them in their departments as much as possible.

I’ve worked as a Woodlot attendant at Bon Echo park and my time there was simply amazing. I worked standard 7 hour shifts with good pay for my age and the environment I worked at was amazing. It was great to meet and interact with the customers/campers at the park and the interactions with my coworkers were all friendly and positive, which allowed for a great work environment.

A typical day as a gate attendant at Ontario Parks involves welcoming visitors, collecting entry fees, and providing information and assistance to park guests. You'll likely spend your day in a booth or at a gate, interacting with a variety of people, such as campers, hikers, and day-trippers. Your duties may also include ensuring park rules are followed and addressing any visitor concerns or questions.

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Archiviste 1 salary reported	$26.92 per hour

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