Ontario axes Ontario Ranger program in MNR Transformation Plan
September 27th, 2012 | Posted in Misc. | 21 comments »
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is moving forward with a plan to modernize its business and operate on a more cost efficient basis.
With its transformation plan, the ministry is reviewing its operations to ensure a clearer focus on its core mandate of natural resource management.
The review process includes public consultations on a proposed framework for streamlining and automating permitting and licensing processes to help individuals and businesses access services faster and more efficiently.
Other modernization efforts include:
- Focusing service at Ontario’s most popular provincial parks and changing the designation at 10 provincial parks with very low visitation rates.
- Introducing a new day-based youth employment program, the Stewardship Youth Ranger Program, to replace the overnight Ontario Ranger Program.
- Modernizing the way the ministry supports community-based stewardship activities to ensure a clearer focus on ministry priorities.
- Issuing reminders for Outdoor Card renewals through channels other than mail, such as social media and magazine ads, saving on postage and printing costs.
- Focusing the structure of the ministry to support modernized service delivery.
These and other changes will result in the elimination of 28 full-time and 102 seasonal positions. They will also save the ministry $7.1 million each year and future capital costs of $12.3 million.
The 10 parks affected include Caliper Lake (Nestor Falls), Fushimi Lake (Hearst), Greenwater (Cochrane), Ivanhoe Lake (Foleyet), Mississagi (Elliot Lake), Obatanga (between Wawa and White River), Rene Brunelle (Kapuskasing), Springwater (Midhurst), and Tidewater (Moosonee).
Loss of the Ontario Ranger Program
The loss of the Ontario Ranger Program is devastating for so many who had the life altering experience of being a Ranger as a teenager.
The program was open to youth in their 17th year. Camps of 24 all-boy and all-girl camps were located in northern Ontario. The Rangers spent 8 weeks living in a camp, learning about natural resources, maintaining Ontario’s provincial parks, maintaining hiking and canoe trails, tree-planting, while learning valuable skills that would shape their careers, including team building, leadership, time management, along with first aid, and health and safety training. For many, it is the first time away from home, and for some – the first time away from southern Ontario.
The program, formerly called the Junior Ranger Program, first started in 1944 and was originally only open to boys. There were many more camps in the past, located throughout Ontario, including southern Ontario. Recently, just 13 camps were operating.
So many former Rangers still call their Ranger year the best summer of their lives, an experience that led them to a career in forestry, natural resources, or park maintenance.
The Ontario Ranger Program will be replaced by the Stewardship Youth Ranger Program. The workers will no longer stay overnight in camps.
Read the story of the Rangers of Wade Lake Camp, and how their summer changed their lives, as they headed home this past August.
Public Consultation
This proposal has been posted for a 47 day public review and comment period starting September 27, 2012. If you would like to submit your comments, please do so by November 13, 2012.
Were you an Ontario Ranger?
Leave a comment and tell us what your Ranger experience meant to you.
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Esker Lakes ’92 !
It is sad to think this experience will not be around for Ontario’s youth. It is such a valuable program, it should be operated from coast to coast. It helps kids grow up, be self-sufficient, and gain a strong work ethic as they learn that hard workers are admired, and lazy workers are not. And that no one else is going to get you up on time, or ensure you have clean clothes, or that you pack your lunch. So many of us went on to have careers in forestry, natural resources, and the outdoors.
~Lisa
Spent a summer at a camp in Thessalon & 42 years in P&P afterwards.
It was a life changing experience for a kid From Toronto. Sad ! day camps will not be more than babysitting service
also sad to hear about the decision. hearst,Rogers camp 1979, then went on to 30 years in the paper industry. One of the best summers i ever had. great experience.
Alan Boccinfuso
Alan: just on line researching JR program for my nephew, hoping decision would be reversed, unfortunately not.
I started my career with MNR in Hearst, park superintendent at Fushimi and Nagagamisis from 1976- 1981, you were probably at one of these parks during your Rogers camp outings- those were the days. Ron
Wade Lake ’09
You probably were on your way to Esker very close to or on my birthday. I know I was on my way to Wade on my birthday. It is a tragedy I hope the community raises it’s voice and at least tries to keep the program going.
Esker Lakes 09′!
This was the best summer of my life! I discovered so much about myself that I probably would not have if I had just spent the summer hanging with regular friends. I made 5 distinct friends and we still get together almost every year and reminisce over that summer we first met. This program helps kids who feel lost and have no one discover their true self and give them confidence to experience life. It’s also a good starter for kids who have never had a job before.
All in all if you tear down this program, your tearing down potential students hopes to develop into what the program helps them to be.
Please understand this. Thankyou.
What a sad day for Ontario youth. Simply another demolition plan of Northern Ontario by Baby Bart & McGuilty!
To keep up to date with information about the cancellation of the Ontario Ranger Program, join “Friends of the Ontario Ranger Program” on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/friendsoftheontariorangerprogram
White Lake – 1983.
I hope they reconsider. This was a life altering experience for me and for many others. You see I went on to become a high school teacher and always included a lesson on the Junior Ranger Program and all its other names. I would include how to apply, when and where and the many benefits of the program. I know of many students who applied and were accepted into the program. They would return and tell me about the wonderful experience. Again, I hope the team making this decision will reconsider and realize that programs such as this have a profound affect on individuals and their futures.
As a parent of a boy who went to Round Lake Ranger Camp 2 summers ago (2010) and had a young man return, I can tell you it was definitely a life altering experience for my son! Having just finished Grade 11 before setting out for Camp, he was struggling with his studies and grades, wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do for or get out of life. After his 8 weeks at Round Lake, he applied himself with more focus to his studies, and started sorting out what his next steps in life should be. He graduated this past June as an Ontario Scholar with an average just a hair below 85%, and is now at University where he is thriving! Man, what a difference a summer can make.
I was recently informed of the cancellation of the Ontario Ranger Program, and the replacement of it with the Stewardship Youth Ranger Program. What a sad consolation for my younger son and daughter who anxiously looked towards the hopeful opportunity to be selected for Rangers, and the slight chance to gain the same experience their brother enjoyed!
I don’t think any of us are naive enough to dismiss current economic issues, or how our Provincial Government needs to find ways to reign in spending. I just can’t believe this was one of their targets!
Well, here’s hoping smarter minds prevail and that the Ranger program can in some way be saved or restored. The folks at Queens Park may have found a way to save money in the short term, but they have lost an incredible opportunity to invest in our youth.
Sign me – A Concerned Parent
So very sad. My brother and I both were Junior rangers… I have told my children for as long as they could sit and listen about my amazing 17th year as a JR. I so looked forward to my children doing the program when they turned 17…well my son turns 17 this year and u can imagine my dismay when I read the program had been cut the year he would have been able to apply.
My father who is in his 70 now taught the boys when he worked for the MNRas a forester.
Tragic
This is so disappointing. There are not that many opportunities for youth at this age. This program benefited so many 17 year olds. My Husband and I were both Junior Rangers. I am sure this program changed the direction of many youth in a positive way. Will the Stewardship program be a good substitute?? I don’t know…..better than nothing I guess. But obviously it won’t be available in every city therefore limiting who has access to it.
I wish I saw this earlier I was a ranger in 2000 at the sandbar ranger camp in Ignace Ont. It was the best time and the best experience I’ve ever encountered. It defenatly has a peice of what made me a man today. It’s a shame that they have cancelled this amazing opportunity for so many teens. I hope they one day bring it back. I’d love for my children to experience it.
I was a Junior Ranger in 1986, and had just been describing the program to my niece. When I looked it up and found out sadly that it will soon be no more. It was the best summer I ever experienced as a teenager. Still have the album of pictures and the memories of the time and what I learned. Got to see a part of Canada that I probably would never had. You met so many other interesting kids with no pressure of school groups, you were all in the same boat!!! Really too bad.
JR @ Madeline Lake (Little Twin Lake – Thunderbay) 1976
What a sad day for Ontario! This program provided life and work experience for a lot of youth and benefited the parks/forests at a low cost to the government.
Ed T (Mississauga)
I was a ranger at Samuel de Champlain in 84. It was a great summer of hard work and a lot of time to just have fun in the wilderness. I was 15 minutes ago talking with my son about it and thought he should look into it. So low and behold there is no program anymore. Another liberal cut to programs and that’s coming from a supporter. So sad
I am 45 yrs. old and I was a Jr. Ranger and still have learning experiences and friends that I took away from this program that are in place today. I just logged into the Internet as I have a daughter that is about to turn 17 and just does not know where she is at in life and I know that this program would have done a lot for her, and the program would have got a lot back from her. Very sad to hear the program was shut down.. but not surprised based on the government that is in place today
I was a Junior Ranger at Lake Nipigon Provincial Park in1984. It was the best summer of my life and I had hoped my children could join the program when they came of age. Lots of hard work cleaning dumps, removing beaver dams, planting trees, and clearing brush with a sand vik along roadways and northern highways. Good times with good friends.
I was a Junior Ranger at Rogers Camp in Hearst during the summer of 1975. Definitely one of the best summers of my young life. Learned a lot about myself, and made a lot of good friends. Unfortunately I have lost contact with all those Ranger buddies, but still have great memories when I look at the pictures !! Too bad the Ontario government sees it as necessary to cut such a valuable program. Although my kids are now too old to experience such an adventure, I wish B.C. would implement a similar program. There is a lot of youth who could benefit.
What a shame to find out the program has been discontinued, I was hoping my son could go when he is 17. I was at the Sioux Lookout camp in ’79, at the time it had 60 girls (largest in Ontario), I too still have great memories of that summer, and often share with my kids various things I did that summer!
I was a Junior Ranger at Five Mile Lake in 1972. The first year the program came under the Ministry of Natural Resources, former Dept of Lands and Forests.My brother was a J.R. in 1967 in Gearlton Ont., myself in Chapleau Ont. All I can say, like many others of our alumni ,it was the best summer of my life, hands down! My son who just turned 17 tried to apply for the program . What a disappointment to learn that the program had been scaled back to a day program. This program taught me leadership, self respect, teamwork and life skills that I use today. Too bad the provincial government lost hundreds of millions of dollars by cancelling the gas plants to prevent lawsuits by the contractors. That money could have helped continue the ranger program for decades to come. and in return provided the Province of Ontario with men and women who would lead this province in years to come. but I’m still proud that I can say to my kids that I was once a Junior Ranger.