Workers in P.A. National Park prepare the fuel break in the winter. (file photo/paNOW Staff).

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Prince Albert National Park

Work continues behind closed gates at national parks

Apr 3, 2020 | 1:13 PM

While the COVID-19 outbreak has led Parks Canada to close facilities to the public, including Prince Albert National Park, staff are still at work.

Ed Jager, Parks Canada’s director of visitor experience said much of the work in the parks is infrastructure-related. This includes roadwork and ensuring water and wastewater operations are up to date.

“We’re really right now just a bit more focused just on critical functions,” he said.

Another area of focus is ensuring fire and law enforcement services are prepared, Jager said.

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced Parks Canada to make changes to its working environment. While Jager said staff members that can work remotely are doing so, frontline workers are staying busy getting ready for the summer season.

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“We’re kind of doing that in bit of a slower form just because we can’t have the same number of staff and staff have to adjust the way they’re working,” he said.

Jager said they are working to bring seasonal workers back on schedule, but said some may see changes to their duties.

When the time comes for parks to re-open to the public, Jager said operations would resume gradually in a step-by-step process.

An interesting result of the social distancing restrictions will be observing any changes a reduction of human travel in the parks will change animal behaviour, Jager said.

“It’s certainly going to be interesting to see what it does mean,” he said.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn