In Memory: Bob Mickelson

As written and read by Conservation Officer Kerry Hope:

Bob Mickelson dedicated himself to for much of his working years. The man behind the uniform is here because Bob was my mentor, my neighbour, one of my heroes and my friend.

Bob started working in Parks in maintenance. His drive and hard work was recognized by his supervisors and he was successful in competition to become a Park Ranger. Early in Bobs career the parks department decided that its Rangers should be educated to a certain standard. Bob and many of his contemporaries were thrown into what was called the basic parks course and the advanced parks course, a two year process that challenged many of the old-time park caretakers. Many did not make it through that process but Bob applied himself and succeeded. He told me that his family was the reason he made it through and joked that it was a humbling experience being helped by his teenaged daughter with his algebra. Hard work and Humility were lessons that Bob taught by example.

In the years that Bob was a Park Ranger the role was a real way of life and not just a job. That way of life included families who shared the isolation and the politics of living in the park and often being the only emergency contact. Because of Bobs dedication to parks, Irene was partly married to Parks. Bob didn’t tell me that he loved Irene (guys don’t usually use those terms) but it was apparent in many ways. He did tell me how important she was to him being able to do the job that he did. He was always very proud of his kids and from my experience that was with good reason. There are other people here who can talk about Bob the family man, so I’ll move on to telling you more about some of the other things he loved. The importance of family was a lesson that Bob taught by example.

Years ago when we had large teams of staff living in and around Parks they became communities that were built in the spring and dismantled to an extent in the fall. Bob had a way of pulling together a team and Irene had a way of building a community. Bob respected the guy who cleaned the toilets and he made you know that you were important to him. I remember his way of squinting a little bit and nodding as he listened to people intently. He was very good at figuring out, in his words, what made someone tick. Bob was a natural leader who cared about people and this was rewarded with dedication and a high standard of park operation. A sincere caring for people and how that converted to good leadership was a lesson that Bob taught by example.

Bob had a great sense of humour. When he thought I was being too serious he would lighten things up with one of his stories or some corny joke. I wish I could remember the things that we laughed about but I just remember laughing with Bob till tears came. His humour seemed spontaneous but it was also polished not to be hurtful to anyone. He had a self-deprecating sense of humour that cut through formality and lightened any situation. Joking about himself put people at ease and endeared himself to everyone who he contacted. Seeing the lighter side of life and not taking yourself too seriously was a lesson Bob taught by example.

Bob had a deep feeling for the natural world. You could see him light up when he talked about seeing griz tracks or if he saw a new moose calf in the park. He told me that the mountains are different every day and I know he appreciated them every day. It wasn’t unusual for Bob to come in to the office or the shop and say something like “did you see that sunrise this morning” or “did you hear that owl hooting last night”. Bob was one of the old style of Rangers who was on the land and was part of it all. His identity was tied up with the natural communities that he protected. Appreciation for nature was a lesson Bob taught by example.

Bob Mickelson was very widely liked and respected in the Alberta Parks organization. Sometimes he made his manager squirm a bit with his strong feelings and outspokenness. He also backed me up as young ranger with much less earned credibility when I got on a rant or two. Government is an environment where diplomacy and problem resolution are rewarded. These are good things and Bob was good at them but never at the expense of what was right. The courage to speak the truth when it is not convenient to do so was something that Bob had. Courage was not rewarded by the system but it was recognized by people around him. Courage and commitment are lessons that Bob taught by example.

I don’t think that Bob and Irene had a lot of money. Being a Park ranger didn’t pay all that well but I know that Bob was very rich in many ways. He had a partner who he loved and who loved him. He had a great family he was proud of and a deep appreciation for the important things in life. That was enough to achieve in one life but his influence lives on in untold ways. He touched and influenced many lives and now we tell the people who we supervise that there was an old ranger who told me something one time…. We pass it on. And they pass it on. For me, part of Bob is still out in Switzer Park and part of Bob lives in the people he touched.

Profile: Anita Schmidt - Camrose District

After surviving most of her life overseas (Trinidad, Iran, Egypt, and Scotland) as an ‘oil brat’, Anita came back to Canada and went to the University of Alberta. After the usual gruelling 4 years, she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry in 1990 and later completed an honours diploma in Landscape Architecture from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in 1992. Schooled and trained to be a ‘landscape forester’ (design pretty cutblocks), she was reviewing the bulletin boards her last year of University. The advertisement for a Seasonal Park Ranger was pointed out to her. On a lark, she applied for the job and has never really looked back.

Hired in 1990 as a Seasonal Park Ranger at Vermilion Provincial Park, she always wondered how a forestry graduate could be placed in a location with, comparatively speaking, not a heck of a lot of trees. Was it something she said in the interview?

Regardless, she survived her first summer and went to NAIT to continue with her schooling. The Seasonal Park Ranger gig was great and in 1991, she found a summer position at Pigeon Lake Provincial Park close to her family (aunts, uncle, cousins, etc.) on the other side of the lake in the Thorsby community.

After graduating from NAIT in 1992, Anita was at a bit of a loss as to where to go to become a landscape forester. It was back to Pigeon Lake for another adventure filled summer. For the winter, she volunteered to help with the development of new trails and stayed in one of the park residences. Time passed and before she knew it, Anita had worked for the summer of 1993 and was volunteering for a second winter period. Waaaay back then, the volunteering way of life was easier to come by and worked out great for on the job training. It also put one in the position to take on jobs that occasionally showed up.

In 1994, Anita was offered the Park Ranger II position at Pigeon Lake for the summer. This is where she started to learn some of the ins and outs of supervising. In August of 1994, Anita was approached and asked to consider a position at Fish Creek Provincial Park in Calgary. Hmmm…a full time position. Not a lot of thought required there. It was off to Calgary and a big city way of life.

With ticket book in hand and sitting proudly in the golf cart, the once shy and not overly assertive Anita got over herself the first two days at Fish Creek. Through a variety of events, eventually Anita took on a position as the Park Ranger for the Ghost and Waiparous area. Now that was a blast. Mountains, trees, winding gravel roads and pretty much alone…what more could a girl ask for? A year later, she was assigned back at Fish Creek. Amazing what a difference a year could make. Parks was now amalgamating with Fish and Wildlife. The job was changing and Anita was being introduced to a whole new way of doing business.

In March of 1999, Anita was called into the area manager’s office. The position was now permanent. No more ‘super wage’ as it was known at the time. It was also time to consider moving on. With the amalgamation and switch to Conservation Officer, positions were opening throughout the province. Almost through a comedy of errors, Anita found herself packing up and moving to Manning, Alberta right in time for the hunting season. Now we are talking trees…and lots of them! More than once that first year, the culture shock brought about comments of her being totally out of her element. From the big city to the far corner of Alberta at Bistcho Lake doing commercial fishing checks. It doesn’t get much different than that.

Wow…now a home owner too! Mobile home, but all Anita’s none the less. And a dog too! Life up north was wonderful. So much time spent outdoors. This is also where Anita got hooked on Search and Rescue and dog training. The bear work, seeing wolves, seeing the Chinchaga caribou, seeing a live lynx, communicating with hunters and trappers, and lots of driving…the north country was amazing. Writing this now brings a strong feeling of nostalgia.

But life must go on!! More changes occurred and Fish & Wildlife separated from Parks. With the changes came a new location in 2004. Literally having the house picked up and moved to Camrose, Anita is now the officer in charge of Miquelon Lake Provincial Park. As of June 2009, she will have been here for 5 years. That is the longest she has ever lived in one place since leaving Egypt in 1985. 2009 also marks her 20th summer with Parks. Not so bad for throwing your name in a hat and seeing what happens.

Anita is a member of Wetaskiwin Search and Rescue and also holds the Vice President position with Search and Rescue Dog Association of Alberta. One day, she hopes to become a search dog handler. She has maintained her interest in dog training and is the instructor for dog bite prevention for Conservation Officers and field staff for Alberta Parks. Anita is currently the Member at Large representative for ANROA and has filled the secretary position for one term.

Quote:
“By mistake, I have found my passion. This has been an incredible career that I continue to look forward to going to work every day. I have no regrets and highly recommend it.”

Profile: Donna Schley - Kananaskis Country

Originally from the Okanagan Valley in BC, Donna along with her three brothers were always outdoor enthusiasts. She pursued a career in parks after participating in the Canadian youth project Katimavik where she was introduced to the Natural Resource Officer functions in Yellowknife, NWT. After graduating in 1981 with a diploma in Wildland Recreation Management from Selkirk College in BC, she began her career with Alberta Provincial Parks as a seasonal Park Ranger in the Bow District of Kananaskis Country in 1982.

Donna worked seasonally in the Bow District for several summers improving her skills in enforcement, backcountry, resource management and public safety. As a Kananaskis Country officer she wanted to become a trusted member of the public safety program so she actively pursued skills on and off the job that would improve my backcountry skiing, avalanche assessment, search and rescue, climbing and mountaineering ability.

Following her Mom and Dad’s advice Donna worked hard to be an effective Officer unaware that she may have been breaking ground for future permanent female officers in a male dominant career. As part of a mutual training program with Kananaskis Country Public Safety Specialists, Donna became the first female to complete the Calgary Firefighters Aquatics Rescue Specialist training in 1987. In 2003 she was part of a group of Kananaskis Country Officers that received the Alberta Emergency Services Medal in recognition of our work to provide public safety and mountain rescue.

In 1985 she was successful in competing for a winter extension in the Bow District (who knew that all those days on my skis would be instrumental in securing fulltime employment). After working several years as a temporary salary officer she became a permanent officer in 1988. That same year Donna was selected as a member of the team of Park Rangers who would perform helicopter sling rescues during the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics at the Nakiska Ski Area, venue for the alpine skiing events.

In 1989 she met her future husband Paul Price who was also pursuing employment in Kananaskis Country. They have shared their lives, passions and dreams ever since. In October 2008 they spent twenty-three days trekking in Nepal; the views of Mt. Everest glowing in the jet stream are something she will never forget!

In 1993 Donna was transferred to Kananaskis District where she took over the responsibility in managing the large complex backcountry area including four backcountry patrol cabins. The opportunity to be a Conservation Officer and help to protect Alberta Parks and the people who recreate in Kananaskis Country has been a source of pride and has helped to define her personally. The Alberta Natural Resource Officers Association helps to form a “family” of support and shared goals with other Conservation Officers throughout the province. Donna is the present K-country rep for ANROA.

Profile: Glenn Harvey - Cold Lake District

After completing high school in St. Albert, Glenn overlapped his time attending Lethbridge Community College, with a previous commitment in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve – Maritime Command Pacific. Many exciting weekends and summer months were spent as a signalman aboard small training vessels, the McKenzie Class Destroyer Escort HMCS Saskatchewan and the Tribal Class anti-submarine Destroyer HMCS Algonquin. Glenn spent so many hours flying between Alberta and CFB Esquimalt in Hercules aircraft that he started to think that he was in the Air Force rather than the Navy. After attending classes in Renewable Resources Management – Enforcement for a year, he knew his true calling and the relationship with the Navy ended.

The next summer Glenn tried for a Seasonal Park Ranger position but was turned down due his incomplete Diploma (that’s what they told him anyways). However he found a terrific summer job as a Fishing Guide on Great Bear Lake.

Glenn graduated from college January 1980 and started work for Alberta Parks at Moose Lake Provincial Park, April 1980. As a Seasonal Park Ranger he was immediately challenged as there was no supervisory Park Ranger on site. Oh, the things you learn over the telephone! “First you need to hire booth and maintenance staff – all the forms are there somewhere. After you’ve done that order in the fuel, go to town for supplies, make sure that you schedule the staff so that they have the park cleaned and repaired and ready for the May Long Weekend. The booth staff needs to learn how to do the camping permits and deposits and how to direct visitors to park facilities. You’ll need to code and process all the bills for payment and don’t waste time getting them into the mail – the post office key is in a drawer or hanging on a nail with all the other keys that you’ll need. There’s a DPO book in the booth somewhere and a gas voucher book in your truck glove box. If you need tickets they are in the brief case. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks and by the way the fire hazard is extreme so there is a fire ban on and you had better get the fire equipment out and ready. Good luck!”

A week later things were progressing in the administration and maintenance end of things, and Glenn had hired a whole bunch of people from Bonnyville! Oh, and the park was on fire! You learn fast in Albert Parks.

So it went for the next few years: moving between Sir Winston Churchill, Long Lake, Cold Lake and then back to Moose Lake and Garner Lake. During those times full-time year-round work was available for wage staff and there were some challenging projects to get involved in.

In 1986, Glenn married one of the girls that he had hired to work at the booth in 1980. Glenn and his new bride set up house-keeping in all the glory and splendour of the “Permanent Ranger’s Residence” at Moose Lake. After a few days of living there it was not difficult to understand why Parks could not attract a permanent Ranger to this beautiful park. The mice and squirrels had invaded the mobile home years prior and left their mark. The trailer had no insulation left in its walls or floors since the squirrels had taken it all for their nests. In summer the temperature inside regularly passed 100 degrees and at the slightest hint of frost in the fall, the water and sewer lines froze. The squirrels had been kind enough to replace all the fibreglass insulation with dried mushrooms but they obviously didn’t have the correct R-value. The mice wore army boots and their marching back and forth to the kitchen kept Glenn up at night devising cleverer and more efficient killing machines. Despite a huge trap-line they continued to thrive. The bears were at the doors and the red ants attacked the residence in the millions.

In 1987 Glenn was asked to take on Garner Lake and all its PRA’s. The Permanent Ranger’s Residence there was nearly a dream house compared to the Moose Lake trailer. The cozy 742 sq. ft. bungalow had Roxanne sold on the move instantly since it came with a lawn, a vegetable garden and a garage, and the wildlife inside the house was minimal.

Finally, in 1990 through the long awaited competition, Glenn was hired on as a permanent Park Ranger III. Glenn and Roxanne stayed at Garner Lake and raised a family there until 1996 when they moved to a home outside of Parks. At this time the operations of Garner Lake by the Government was suspended and Glenn moved to an office in the Provincial Building in St. Paul.

There was no work in Parks for Glenn, so he worked with Fish & Wildlife for a couple of years until the official reorganization came about and formed the Natural Resource Service. He became a Conservation Officer and stayed in St. Paul and since the subsequent reorganization back to Parks, has stayed on as a CO with the Cold Lake District.

The majority of Glenn’s spare time is spent as a Scout Leader. He has enjoyed leading his Troops on all of the hikes and canoe trips and Jamborees over the past 25 years and plans on carrying on for another 25.

Profile: Scott Blake - Grande Prairie District

Scott graduated from Lethbridge Community College in the spring of 1977 and started with Alberta Parks in a six month seasonal position as a Horticulture Supervisor for three Provincial Parks in Southern Alberta. (Beauvais Lake, Taber and Police Outpost). After making contact with the Park Rangers that summer, he decided to pursue that the avenue with Parks. In the spring of 1978, he was offered a Seasonal Ranger in charge position at Woolford Park for another six month position.

Then in the spring of 1979, he started as the Senior Seasonal Ranger at Kinbrook Island. A very short time there ( 3 weeks) he was offered a bit of an advancement and transferred to Willow Creek Provincial Park as the Seasonal Ranger in charge. It was again a six month position.

During the winter Seasons, Scott took another job as an instrument operator at the Canadian Sugar factory in Taber. But a position in the Parks was still his desire, so he went back to Willow Creek Park in the same capacity in the spring of 1980. During the late summer of 1980, Alberta Parks ran a permanent competition for a very limited number of Park Rangers. Scott was successful in that competition and was offered a permanent position at Taber Park starting in the fall of 1980. He was there for only nine months and then was transferred and promoted to a Park Ranger II position at Wyndhan Carseland Provincial Park. He remained in that capacity until July of 1988 when he was transferred and later promoted to a Park Ranger III position and stationed at Young's Point Provincial Park.

In July of 1990, he was transferred to Saskatoon Island Provincial Park. His family lived at the Park for seven years. After that time they moved into the Town of Wembley for five years before purchasing acreage just west of Saskatoon Park where they remain today. The number of Parks, staff and contracts he has managed has been increasing steadily since 2002 when he took on the position as the Grande Prairie District Team Leader.

Scott was in charge of the Northwest portion of the recruitment committee for eight years starting about 1992. He also served on the joint worksite committee for many years at various times. Scott has always enjoyed his positions as Park Ranger/ Conservation Officer because he likes people and enjoys the freedom of the job and the wide variety of work that it entails. Scott is well known in his community and has volunteered in many capacities including the Saskatoon Ag. Society, Wembley Ag Society, Wembley Minor Hockey, Wembley Baptist Church Youth Group, Canada Winter Games, Camp Wapiti and various senior level hockey organizations.

Scott is very much a family man and enjoys his time with his wife and 3 boys. He enjoys riding quads, sleds and motorcycles. The family also has 4 horses on their acreage that they enjoy. Scott is very thankful that he has always had so many high quality people to work with and have fun with in a rewarding career with Alberta Parks.