Conservation Areas 鈥� Opening Preparations for the 2023 Conservation Areas Operating Season听
With the longer days and warmer temperatures of spring comes a familiar reminder for conservation听area (CA) staff: May 1st opening day is getting closer. While eyes are focused on opening day, there are many steps required to get Fanshawe, Pittock and Wildwood CAs ready for opening day.听
During February and March, we focus on recruitment which is听crucial as we cannot operate our CAs without seasonal staff. CA Supervisors began working with Human Resources and Marketing staff to get the various seasonal听positions posted and advertised. It should be noted that between the three CAs we听annually hire approximately 60 seasonal staff, so the collaboration between CA, Human听Resources and Marketing staff is key to getting our staffing message out there. April becomes very busy with interviews and subsequent job听offers.听
Prior to seasonal staff beginning work, they are involved with an extensive training process which, again, involves collaboration between Human Resources, Health and Safety, and CA Supervisors.听Each seasonal staff member receives, as part of their hiring package, training modules to cover off听elements of health and safety and the UTRCA Personnel Regulations. These are completed by staff听electronically and tracked for completion by Human Resources staff. 听
Staff will gather at the CA they have been hired at, for a common orientation day and a听chance to meet their co-workers. While this orientation day will have a few more elements of training from Human Resources and Health and听Safety staff, the focus begins to turn to the CAs听themselves. A key part of the day is introducing the staff (new and returning) to their CA听and what it has to offer for programs and services as well as receive job specific training. 听
The final part of the puzzle to getting the conservation areas ready for the May 1st opening is getting听鈥渂oots on the ground,鈥� the operational side of things. This means having staff work together to develop听skills acquired through orientation and training and getting the properties ready. There are sticks to move,听garbage to collect, campsites to prepare, grass to cut, tables to move, docks to go on the reservoirs,听facilities to open, drinking water systems to start up and get samples to the lab, risk management听inspections to undertake, and many questions from prospective patrons to answer. 听
Key to this听operational process is the weather, which at times sees staff still dealing with rain and cold听temperatures or high water events, which slows up the timing for work to be completed. Fortunately,听the outlook for the remainder of April looks favorable, with conditions perfect for having our听CAs in prime condition to welcome patrons back for the 2023 operational season.听
听Contact: Damian Schofield, Conservation Areas Coordinator