wardens communicate information such as the geological and cultural histories of the parks, as well as messages dealing with safety and accident prevention. In peaceful Prince Edward Island National Park, for instance, they have to constantly warn visitors against the dangers of one of the park’s main attractions, its beautiful cliffs (made of red sandstone, they are crumbly and give way easily). And in remote Nahanni National park, which attracts mainly adventurous canoeists and rafters, wardens go through a detailed registration process with all visitors at the outset of their trips. This briefing covers issues such as respect for natural and cultural objects, proper fishing and food-storage practices, flash-flood precautions, the navigation of perilous rapids – and what to do if a bear suddenly appears on the horizon.

When accidents happen, or a visitor is in danger in any way, the wardens have to respond swiftly. As it is, advances in telecommunications like cell and satellite phones bring news of incidents much more rapidly than before. One warden puts it succinctly: “This is the kind of job where