My summer in the Ranger program was only my second year back in Canada, after having spent most of my life in my mother's home country. For this reason, I knew very little about my birth country, Canada.  As a Ranger, I worked with people from all over Ontario - from Toronto to Thunder Bay - all with their own stories. This helped me to learn more about this province and country.  For example, before then, I hadn't known there were French-speaking communities in Ontario.  Until I heard fellow Rangers and staff speaking together in French, I thought only people from Quebec spoke French.  I also never knew much about the Aboriginal people and their history until that summer. 

My time as a Ranger included my first visits to provincial parks, and to the city of Ottawa. Coming from Richmond Hill, I had almost never been further north than Newmarket.  As a Ranger, I got to be in a northern, natural environment, where I learned how to fish, and how to canoe.  I also received two co-op credits for high school through the program. 

The Ontario Ranger Program helped me to love Canada and to call myself a Canadian. It also led me to my love of the environment. I am currently in my last year at Fleming College: School of Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences, in the Environmental Technology program.  At college, I sometimes get to see former co-workers and other Rangers from years before and after me.  This program shows you that you can make friends for life. I love the Ranger program and am sad to see it cancelled for future generations.