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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
In his job, Jason Hudson has a big area to cover.

As a warden with Parks Canada, he is responsible for law enforcement in Wood Buffalo National Park and in Nahanni National Park Reserve, and supervises two other wardens.

Jason Hudson, a park warden, is responsible for law enforcement in Wood Buffalo National Park and Nahanni National Park Reserve. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"It's a challenge, just for the sheer size of everything," he said. "It's definitely a challenge, but that's why one of the main things I've been doing since I got here is try to develop relationships with other enforcement agencies."

Also, he is building relationships with various aboriginal organizations, environmental groups and members of the public.

"It's too big for us to be everywhere at once, so the more people I have willing to talk to me if they see something the better, because it only helps us," he said.

Hudson said he has received good co-operation so far.

"It's something you have to work on. You can't just do it once and it's done," he explained, noting there is always turnover of people in various positions. "So you got to keep reintroducing yourself and reminding people you're here."

Hudson and the other wardens enforce the Canada National Parks Act, and also applicable federal, territorial or provincial legislation for such things as liquor control and species at risk.

"Our main mandate is resource management protection and cultural resources. So primarily what we respond to is wildlife-related incidents," he said. "In the summer months, it's peace and enjoyment. So noise complaints in campgrounds and so on.

The RCMP takes care of Criminal Code matters, such as impaired driving and assaults.

"We can be the first responder, but at the earliest opportunity we would hand that over to the police service," Hudson said.

Park wardens have done strictly law enforcement since 2009 when the decision was made for them to become armed.

"Enforcement has always been part of our role," Hudson noted. "Previous to 2009, our role was public safety, resource management and law enforcement. So what they've done is they've basically plucked out the law enforcement component, made us the law enforcement specialists, and then the public safety aspect and the resource management aspect has stayed with people who chose not to become armed."

Those who chose not to become armed are now considered resource management and public safety specialists, and are not referred to as park wardens.

Hudson said becoming armed was not a huge change for him.

"I joined the warden service because of doing all three components," he said, referring to law enforcement, public safety and resource management. "But at the same time as I started working and developed my skills, I realized law enforcement was one that I particularly liked and did quite well, so it wasn't a huge leap to specialize in that."

Hudson, 40, is originally from New Brunswick. He has been a warden since 2001 and has served in Wood Buffalo and Nahanni for about three years.

In college in Ontario, he studied fish and wildlife technology, and afterwards worked as a wildlife technician for almost 10 years with the Canadian Wildlife Service.

"Parks was where I wanted to be," he said. "I just had to wait a few years until the opportunity showed itself."

Before coming to his current position, he worked in four other national parks in such diverse locations as Cape Breton Island and Ellesmere Island, and has worked in northern Canada since 2005.

"There is just something about the North," he said. "It's the idea that you're in such remote wilderness."

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