Interesting clouds in the sky west of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Where are Kevin and Ruth now? Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Where are Kevin and Ruth going next? Cancun, Mexico on November 1st.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Park Manager - $125,000 per year.

Parks Canada had an interesting advertisement on their facebook page, and it caught our attention...just for a second.

"Adventure is calling! You could be the next park/site manager at Tuktut Nogait National Park in the Northwest Territories."

So, given that we are currently working a five month contract as park managers, we clicked on the ad. Just out of curiosity's sake of course.

Tuktuk Nogait National Park is in Canada's Arctic.

Brrr.

So, doing some more research on the opportunity, I found out that you would live in the isolated community of Paulutuk, population 277, located 40 kms (28 miles) west of the park border. 

You would also earn a salary of between $62,000 and $67,000 a year. But there are other incentives. You also get  isolation pay of between $19,000 and $39,000 depending on if you have a spouse and/or dependents. Oh, plus a generous vacation assitance allowance of $9,000 each for you and your spouse.

But the question is...what do you do there? There are no visitor services. The place is frozen and dark (the sun doesn't rise for two full months) in the winter. It probably gets the odd visitor in the summer, but the park is huge...how would you keep track of the visitors and why would anybody care?

Your spouse might go crazy. They couldn't get a job and I guess that's why you get isolation pay for them. 

Actually thought about applying, just for the experience. I don't think anybody could last up there for more than a year, although in the summer there would be some fantastic back country hiking. 

Anyway, we thought it was interesting. But because it's a federal government job, look at the crap you have to go through to apply. Why do they make things so difficult???


Okay, back to the present.

We had more rain over the weekend. Things are wet! And muddy! There is a lot of work to be done over the next few days if things dry out, and although we have 60% rain in the forecast for today, things are looking dry for the next 3 days after today.

Our buddy the beaver came up on shore again last night.

Pretty landscape. All that rain has made things very green!

A beaver making his way through calm waters.

I bet you didn't now that we have white pelicans here in the middle of Saskatchewan, Canada!

Four days of heavy rain has made the lake level very high! Our rental boat dock is almost under water!

We've got a great edition of our "Blogger Interview" series almost ready for you, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. Looking forward to telling you about this interesting travel family!



28 comments:

  1. I don't think $125,000 is enough for that job. I'd rather see you go to Africa.

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  2. How does that go again? "Money can't buy happiness"? Well, no amount of money up there is going to buy any happiness, that's for sure. And I suppose the hiking would be tremendous, except of course when it's PITCH BLACK out.
    And if you meet all those goofy requirements, then you could probably get most any other job paying the same amount. I think I'd sooner go to Fort McMurray for good pay and a lousy social life.
    Gotta love the Feds!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right the winter months would be long and dark but it sure would be an experience! Kevin just figured that with the amount you would have to pay in taxes, it is much better to work here for 5 months and the travel somewhere warm for the other 7.

      Delete
  3. Hmm, I agree with Bob's comment.
    Keep your job now and head back south for the winter to enjoy awesome weather

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  4. All that money and nowhere to spend it!

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  5. Hmmm, I'm thinking. If you had lots of books piled up to read for at least the whole two months of near total darkness ...... You might be able to do it for one year, I'd think MAX. It's a lot of money if the work's not too hard. And, it is a different life experience. However, I do agree with all the previous comments about money vs what you want out of life. I guess you'd have to realign your thinking about work and play. Hmmm?

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    Replies
    1. It could be interesting but as you say one year would be our maximum. It might not be so bad if it was in a small city or big town but there is nothing around there, just total solitude.

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  6. What a beautiful spot you are in right now. Seems a very good decision for the summer. But if it rains anymore you'd better start working on your ark since the boat dock won't be available.

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    Replies
    1. We agree with you Sherry, it is really beautiful here and I think this will work for us much better. BTW, the rain seems to have stopped!

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  7. I wonder what the cost of food is there. Probably pretty darn expensive. Then you could take vaca during the no sun months...part of it. Ahhh just go to Africa!

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    Replies
    1. I think it would be expensive as everything has to be flown in. They do give you a generous vacation package that I am sure they want you to take in the winter months but I have to agree with you Africa sounds like a much better choice.

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  8. I knew there were white pelicans up there. ;)

    Too cold and dark in winter for that place to appeal to me.

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    Replies
    1. Yep, they have a nesting spot not too far away, so we should see them a lot over the summer.

      Yes, but in the summer the sun shines almost 24 hours a day.

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  9. well, on the bright side, think about the incredible stars and northern lights you could see from up there!

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    Replies
    1. You are right, the sky would be wonderful for sure.

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  10. Who in the world even visits a park that far North? Of course with a job like that, you could save a fortune, because there is no place to spend any money! ;c)

    I'm surprised you haven't yet come up with a way to put that beaver to work, after all, he is a builder...

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    Replies
    1. Photographers would go there and people who really like the outdoors and the untouched landscape and wildlife but not too many others. There certainly wouldn't be much to spend your money on but I bet the grocery bill would be pretty high.

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  11. If I were 30 it would be interesting, at 56, not a chance.

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    Replies
    1. We know what you mean Chris! I am sure that there is someone out there that would be perfect for this job.

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  12. I can't imagine anyone taking the job!

    Your park there is beautiful! You have wonderful photos that capture the beauty and peacefulness! Enjoy!

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    Replies
    1. I am sure there is someone who would love a job like this but it's not us. Would love to go there for a visit though, in the summertime obviously.

      It is a beautiful spot here at the park but by the end of next week it wouldn't be peaceful!

      Delete
  13. Sounds loney but thats the way we likey it!!! If there is internet it could be doable!

    You are in a gorgeous location now... HOLY guacamole

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    Replies
    1. Internet would have to be a definite, otherwise there would be no way we could do it.

      Yep, we are pretty happy here.

      Delete
  14. I had a friend that worked in the forestry service.
    He was quite young at the time, and manned an outlook tower for forest fires.
    He was so deep in the bush that he only had supplies helicoptered to him once a month.
    That was some serious isolation, he lived on the top of a mountain with nothing but a radio and some music. His only job was to sit in the tower at least 8 hours a day (with breaks), and watch for forest fires.

    He loved it for a few years, but eventually yearned for a family and a normal life. I'm sure there's someone out there (or a couple) that would love an isolated job like that.

    When do you hear about the contest????

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    Replies
    1. Yep, we agree with you. There is a job out there for everyone, it just may take a bit of time to find the right person but that person is out there.

      They are suppose to make an anouncement of the winner today (Wed. June 19).

      Delete

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