Grant was born and raised on a mixed farm in central Saskatchewan and loved working with horses and cattle, but saw there was little future in it. After working a couple summers at other ranches, Grant went to college in Vermilion at what was then Vermilion Agricultural and Vocational College (VAVC). During college Grant got a summer job with the Horticulture Crew based in Edmonton and traveled to several parks throughout the Province planting trees. In the summer of 1975 after graduation, Grant worked as a Park Ranger Trainee in Jarvis Lake Prov. Park under the direction of Bob Mickelson and in the fall was placed on the eligibility list for permanent placement as a Park Ranger I-II. During the winter of 1975/76 Grant worked at Crimson Lake Prov. Park on a Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) for $4.00/hr cutting firewood for several parks in the West Central Region.
In the spring of 1976 Grant was given his first permanent posting in Crimson Lake Provincial Park under the guidance of Wayne Pedrini. In February of 1978 Grant was reluctantly transferred to Aspen Beach Provincial Park and learned the art of dealing with the depreciative human behaviour without the luxury of self defense training or related equipment. His supervisor, Erv Allen was a master at dealing with the public and Grant has many stories to tell of his two years there. As he would say “Aspen Beach is a good park to come from”.
In February of 1980 Grant and his new bride Carol, moved north as a Park Ranger II at his request, to Winagami Lake Prov. Park. There Grant got his first taste of operating his own park and became very involved with the local community. The mid 80’s were trying years for the Parks Division, between contracting out, privatization and downsizing there was much strain on the department, staff and their families. In the fall of 1987 political decisions were made to seasonalize several of the smaller parks in the province, one of which was Winagami Lake, so Grant with his now very young family were moved to Carson – Pegasus Prov. Park. During this relatively brief period Grant oversaw the Thunder Lake park operation (a satellite park of Carson-Pegasus) and in 1988 filled in as the acting Park Ranger III for the Young’s Point satellite park group. In spring of 1989 the decisions to seasonalize parks had been reversed and Grant was given the chance to return to Winagami, an opportunity that he jumped at. Although Grant and his family loved Winagami Park and the High Prairie area, the management practice of the day was to move Ranger staff every few years, and after about 8 years in the area, the writing was on the wall.
In the spring of 1990, with an attempt to hone his interview skills, Grant applied on a group of Park Ranger IV positions throughout the province. Grant was surprised to be offered the position in charge of the Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park and satellite operation and in August the family moved to Slave Lake. Grant greatly enjoyed the larger land base park and opportunities to work with oil and gas facility development and extraction activities and in particular problem bears. In 1998 came rumors of a merger of Parks and Fish and Wildlife and as part of this process the new title of Conservation Officer was born. Another less tasteful part of the process was for those in charge of their various responsibilities to compete and vie for the in charge status, and in November of 1998 Grant learned that he was unsuccessful in his bid. Once the initial shock wore off the following couple of years became a revelation to Grant of what he had really got into Parks for; field work, and that he never wanted to go back behind a desk again. Late in 2001 management decided that the amalgamation of Parks and Fish & Wildlife wasn’t working and the divisions were again split apart, and Grant was reluctantly cajoled into running the Lesser Slave Lake Park operation again. He had his taste of resource work again and he did not want to go back to a world of staff and contract supervision, phones, meetings, complaints and politics.
In 2002 Grant saw a light at the end of the tunnel; a Conservation Officer II position in the Hinton District. Not only did this posting promise resource field work with plenty of mountainous backcountry, but they were looking for someone who could set up and oversee an equestrian patrol program for their backcountry, mainly in Willmore Wilderness Park. When Grant was advised of his successful application for this job he was ecstatic. After 28 years in Alberta Parks he finally had his dream job, and moved in April of 2003. This did not come without some family sacrifices however. Grant’s family stayed back in Slave Lake until September to allow his daughter to complete her schooling in familiar surroundings. Grant remains currently in charge of the backcountry and equestrian program areas in the Hinton District and is also the West Central Area’s Firearms Committee Representative and Instructor. Grant has assisted in putting on several basic equitation courses and parks horse packing clinics.
Grant has been a firearms instructor since 1991, and was instrumental in getting a review of parks policies and procedures with respect to firearms and problem bear management after the tragic fatal mauling of a teenage boy in Marten River Campground in Lesser Slave Lake Prov. Park in 1991. Grant also pioneered some of the standard conditions of industrial activities in provincial parks (which are much more stringent than that of our Land Use counterparts). Grant has fulfilled his role in Hinton by getting an equestrian patrol program established and running smoothly including the acquisition of horses, tack, trailers and other equipment.
Grant is eligible to retire with 35 years of service in 2010. I guess we will have to see if he is having too much fun to call it quits or hang around a while longer.
In the spring of 1976 Grant was given his first permanent posting in Crimson Lake Provincial Park under the guidance of Wayne Pedrini. In February of 1978 Grant was reluctantly transferred to Aspen Beach Provincial Park and learned the art of dealing with the depreciative human behaviour without the luxury of self defense training or related equipment. His supervisor, Erv Allen was a master at dealing with the public and Grant has many stories to tell of his two years there. As he would say “Aspen Beach is a good park to come from”.
In February of 1980 Grant and his new bride Carol, moved north as a Park Ranger II at his request, to Winagami Lake Prov. Park. There Grant got his first taste of operating his own park and became very involved with the local community. The mid 80’s were trying years for the Parks Division, between contracting out, privatization and downsizing there was much strain on the department, staff and their families. In the fall of 1987 political decisions were made to seasonalize several of the smaller parks in the province, one of which was Winagami Lake, so Grant with his now very young family were moved to Carson – Pegasus Prov. Park. During this relatively brief period Grant oversaw the Thunder Lake park operation (a satellite park of Carson-Pegasus) and in 1988 filled in as the acting Park Ranger III for the Young’s Point satellite park group. In spring of 1989 the decisions to seasonalize parks had been reversed and Grant was given the chance to return to Winagami, an opportunity that he jumped at. Although Grant and his family loved Winagami Park and the High Prairie area, the management practice of the day was to move Ranger staff every few years, and after about 8 years in the area, the writing was on the wall.
In the spring of 1990, with an attempt to hone his interview skills, Grant applied on a group of Park Ranger IV positions throughout the province. Grant was surprised to be offered the position in charge of the Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park and satellite operation and in August the family moved to Slave Lake. Grant greatly enjoyed the larger land base park and opportunities to work with oil and gas facility development and extraction activities and in particular problem bears. In 1998 came rumors of a merger of Parks and Fish and Wildlife and as part of this process the new title of Conservation Officer was born. Another less tasteful part of the process was for those in charge of their various responsibilities to compete and vie for the in charge status, and in November of 1998 Grant learned that he was unsuccessful in his bid. Once the initial shock wore off the following couple of years became a revelation to Grant of what he had really got into Parks for; field work, and that he never wanted to go back behind a desk again. Late in 2001 management decided that the amalgamation of Parks and Fish & Wildlife wasn’t working and the divisions were again split apart, and Grant was reluctantly cajoled into running the Lesser Slave Lake Park operation again. He had his taste of resource work again and he did not want to go back to a world of staff and contract supervision, phones, meetings, complaints and politics.
In 2002 Grant saw a light at the end of the tunnel; a Conservation Officer II position in the Hinton District. Not only did this posting promise resource field work with plenty of mountainous backcountry, but they were looking for someone who could set up and oversee an equestrian patrol program for their backcountry, mainly in Willmore Wilderness Park. When Grant was advised of his successful application for this job he was ecstatic. After 28 years in Alberta Parks he finally had his dream job, and moved in April of 2003. This did not come without some family sacrifices however. Grant’s family stayed back in Slave Lake until September to allow his daughter to complete her schooling in familiar surroundings. Grant remains currently in charge of the backcountry and equestrian program areas in the Hinton District and is also the West Central Area’s Firearms Committee Representative and Instructor. Grant has assisted in putting on several basic equitation courses and parks horse packing clinics.
Grant has been a firearms instructor since 1991, and was instrumental in getting a review of parks policies and procedures with respect to firearms and problem bear management after the tragic fatal mauling of a teenage boy in Marten River Campground in Lesser Slave Lake Prov. Park in 1991. Grant also pioneered some of the standard conditions of industrial activities in provincial parks (which are much more stringent than that of our Land Use counterparts). Grant has fulfilled his role in Hinton by getting an equestrian patrol program established and running smoothly including the acquisition of horses, tack, trailers and other equipment.
Grant is eligible to retire with 35 years of service in 2010. I guess we will have to see if he is having too much fun to call it quits or hang around a while longer.
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