THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - Rob Kent, the new superintendent at Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP), says now is a unique time in the history of the park.

Rob Kent: an exciting time at Wood Buffalo National Park. - photo courtesy of Rob Kent

That's because the park is about to launch a new five-year management plan, after going 26 years without updating the previous one.

"It's new. It's modern," Kent said of the new plan.

It is expected to be approved by Parliament sometime this summer.

One of the new plan's core principles is co-operative management of Wood Buffalo with the 11 aboriginal organizations – seven First Nations and four Metis groups – in and around Wood Buffalo.

"I would have to say my focus in the next year is to get that off the ground," said Kent. "It's a challenge, but I think that's the exciting part."

Kent's official title with Parks Canada is field unit superintendent for the southwest NWT – an area which includes WBNP and Nahanni National Park Reserve.

Kent assumed the role in late January on a year's assignment from Environment Canada, where he was manager of the national water quality monitoring office.

The former park superintendent, Ed Coulthard, is about to leave for a new job with Agriculture Canada in Regina, but has helped Kent during the transition into his new role.

"He's been there to provide some rather sage advice for me," Kent said of Coulthard.

Kent, 49, has never worked with Parks Canada before accepting the year's assignment in the NWT, although he said he has worked closely with the agency during his 22 years at Environment Canada.

Of the 42 national parks in Canada, he said he collaborated on programs in well over half of them.

Plus, he noted he was a warden in provincial parks in Ontario when he was younger.

Kent said, when the opportunity arose to come North with Parks Canada, he figured he would try it for a year and see how it goes.

"The work is quite challenging and quite rewarding," he said, adding he is also working with a great group of people.

As for Nahanni National Park Reserve, Kent said it is a different situation than Wood Buffalo.

There are not as many aboriginal groups and there is a well-established co-operative mechanism with Dehcho First Nations.

However, Nahanni has recently gone through a major expansion, Kent noted. "Obviously, that comes with its own challenges."