Ontario Parks Reward Youth Excellence

McGuinty Government Works With Partners To Recognize Exemplary Service
TORONTO, Nov. 28 /CNW/ – Forty Ontario students who worked in Ontario Parks have each received a $500 educational bursary to further their studies.
A partnership between Ontario Parks and supportive corporations and businesses, the Ontario Parks Partners Bursary Awards recognize excellence and leadership in student employees and promote post-secondary education. The winners were nominated by their peers, supervisors and Ontario Parks’ visitors.
Nineteen corporations and nine ‘friends of’ parks organizations provide all the bursary money. More than $151,000 has been awarded in the nine years since the start of the awards program. In addition to helping fund further study, the program also encourages youth interest in our natural and cultural heritage and working in public service.
“The young people receiving these partnership bursaries have shown outstanding customer service to our park visitors. I’m pleased to offer them this well-deserved recognition, and thank our sponsoring corporate partners who have so generously supported this program,” said Minister of Natural Resources Donna Cansfield
(http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/About/2ColumnSubPage/249086.html).
“We’re proud to support the program as many of our members rely on camping facilities and the work performed by these dedicated students. RVing is a lifestyle experience and these students help foster this growing phenomenon,” said Larry Boyd, Executive Vice-President, Ontario Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (http://www.ontariorvda.ca/).
“It is a pleasure to contribute to the bursary program awarded by Ontario Parks to students working in provincial parks and pursuing an education focusing on the importance of our environment and cultural heritage,” said Betty Pearce of The Friends of Bon Echo (http://www.mazinaw.on.ca/fobecho/).
QUICK FACTS
– There are 330 Ontario Parks
(http://ontarioparks.ca/english/index.html), many of which employ
young people each year in a variety of job opportunities.
– Ontario Parks receive more than 10 million visits per year.
LEARN MORE
– Learn how to apply for youth employment and other youth programs
(http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Youth/index.html) with
Ontario Parks (http://ontarioparks.ca/english/index.html) and the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (ontario.ca/mnryouthprograms).
BACKGROUNDER
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ONTARIO PARKS PARTNERS BURSARIES
The Ontario Parks Partners Bursary Program recognizes the leadership,
initiative and commitment of young people working in Ontario’s provincial
parks. Forty students will each receive a $500 education bursary funded by
this year’s Ontario Parks’ corporate partners.
This year’s corporate partners are:
– Canadian Tire Corporation Limited
– The Pepsi Bottling Group (Canada)
– Mountain Equipment Co-op
– Swish Maintenance Limited
– Johnson Outdoors- Eureka
– Brian Peck Management
– Wayfarer Insurance
– SC Johnson and Son
– Pentax Canada
– Coleman Canada
– Columbia Sportswear Company
– Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows
– Ontario Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association
– Bass Pro Outlets
– Neilson Dairy
– Shandiz Natural Foods
– Spectrum Marketing Corporation
– Van Houtte Inc
– The Edge Screen Studio
– The Friends of Algonquin
– The Friends of Awenda
– The Friends of Bon Echo
– The Friends of French River
– The Friends of Rondeau
– The Friends of Pinery
– The Friends of MacGregor Point
– The Friends of Sleeping Giant, and
– The Friends of Sandbanks
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Ontario Parks Partners Bursary Recipients 2008
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Student Name Home Town School Provincial Park
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1 Alex Clement Atikokan Laurentian University Quetico
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2 Brady Watterworth Blenheim Brock University Rondeau
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3 Paige Sheppard Bowmanville Carleton University Oastler Lake
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4 Evan Cleave Brighton Queen’s University Presqu’ile
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5 Julian Eckhardt Bruce Mines Carleton University Pancake Bay
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6 Jacob Gill Caledonia Sir Sandford Fleming Lake Superior
College
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7 Greg Allen Dunnville McMaster University Rock Point
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8 Nathalie Conners Fitzroy Algonquin College Fitzroy
Harbour
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9 Alyssa Arthur Goderich Trent University Point Farms
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10 Margaret Kelly Godfrey University of Guelph Algonquin
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11 Clark Steeves Hampton Sir Sandford Fleming Darlington
College
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12 Sarah Gauthier Hawkesbury University of Ottawa Voyageur
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13 Greg Potts Ignace McMaster University Sandbar Lake
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14 Meghan Olson Kenora Beaver Brae Secondary Rushing River
School
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15 Briana Steinke Massey Cambrian College Chutes
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16 Kara Wadsworth Maynooth Trent University Lake St. Peter
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17 Cady Moyer Midland Queen’s University Awenda
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18 Susan Agnew Millbrook Queen’s University Killbear
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19 Alicia Kirk Moonstone Georgian College Six Mile Lake
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20 Jake Barclay Oshawa Durham College The Shoals
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21 Pauline Sanderson Ottawa University of Ottawa Killarney
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22 Kristin Valois Ottawa Carleton University Emily
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23 Andria Richardson Perth University of Ottawa Silver Lake
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24 Kyle Scanlon Picton Sir Sandford Fleming Sandbanks
College
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25 Nicole Wilson Port Bolster Trent University Sibbald Point
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26 Devin Travis Port Burwell Fanshawe College Port Burwell
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27 Caitlin Underwood Port Elgin McMaster University MacGregor
Point
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28 Matthew Welwood Priceville Grey Highlands/ Finlayson
Secondary School Point
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29 Katie Kuruliak Red Rock University of Guelph Sleeping Giant
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30 Rebecca Ste. Simcoe Waterloo University Turkey Point
Croix
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31 Ashley Varcoe Stayner Lambton College Wasaga Beach
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32 Katelyn Barrett Thunder Bay Lakehead University Kakabeka Falls
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33 Lesya Roberts Thunder Bay Lakehead University Rainbow Falls
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34 Taisa Brown Toronto University of New Grundy Lake
Brunswick
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35 Allison Long Toronto Humber College Restoule
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36 Erica Robinson Toronto Trent University Main Office
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37 Justin Imeson Wheatley Leamington District Wheatley
Secondary School
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38 Shannon Frey Whitney Nipissing University Algonquin
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39 Kayla Pordonick Whitney Algonquin College Algonquin
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40 Kelsey McAnulty Windy Lake Laurentian University Windy Lake
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/For further information: Ivan Langrish, Minister’s Office, (416) 314-2212; Barry Radford, Communications Services Branch, (416) 314-2123/