From Student Ranger to Ranger 

Daniel is one of BC Parks’ former student rangers who is now working as a park ranger. He worked his first season in 2019 as the student ranger crew lead for the Sunshine Coast, returning to that position in 2020. After finishing his degree, Daniel went to work as a park ranger for the Sunshine Coast in 2021 and the Pemberton area in 2022.

Daniel enjoys many aspects of working for BC Parks, especially being on-the-ground and out in the parks. “It feels like I’m getting things done and helping to improve our parks in a very real way,” said Daniel.

He also really appreciates working with others who are like-minded and are passionate in this line of work. “When the field days are long and exhausting, it’s the people I’m with that keep me going,” Daniel said. “Working in the Sunshine Coast and in the Sea to Sky – I just fell in love with it all.”

Daniel has a degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences from McMaster University. He says he’s always been passionate about environmental issues and conservation. He enjoys the diverse amount of crossover from his academic work. This includes invasive species management, human-wildlife interactions, conservation of endangered species, and working with other environmental agencies.

He also expressed an appreciation for the learning that came from working with other BC Parks staff. “Everyone has so much to offer and to learn from. In my experience I’ve had amazing mentors along the way, including other student rangers, park rangers, supervisors, and others. This did a lot for my career development and definitely set me up for success down the line.”

An extra bonus was the many friendships he made along the way. “The environment is very conducive for creating comradery, and I’ve made many good friends through my work in BC Parks.”

Daniel initially just wanted a summer job in B.C. but got so much more: “It was just supposed to be a fun summer and I didn’t really know what to expect. By the end of that first summer, I knew I wanted to stay.”

Park rangers have a variety of duties including constructing trails, cleaning of park facilities, compliance and enforcement, and public outreach. If you are interested in becoming a park ranger with BC Parks, we encourage you to visit our website and become familiar with the typical ranger duties and the mandatory training and certification – visit us here.