John Foster Email & Phone Number

Canada

Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Responsible for conducting primary research to ensure Ontario Parks understands the needs of existing and potential visitors. This role also involves maintaining best practices for visitor management and experience promotion, leading research-focused strategic visitor experience evaluation projects, and long-term strategic planning for Ontario Parks marketing program.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Served as the program lead for the Healthy Parks Healthy People program at Ontario Parks. This position was responsible for coordinating and developing barrier reduction initiatives to improve access to parks for all Ontarians by working to address economic, socio-cultural, and other barriers to accessing parks. This position is located within the Visitor Experience unit in the Marketing Section of Ontario Parks.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Species at Risk Policy Analyst Internship working on the implementation of the Caribou Conservation Agreement between Ontario and Canada with the Caribou Conservation Section of the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks.

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Completed a Master’s research project that studied the ways in which parks and protected areas agencies in Ontario communicate with park visitors on social media platforms. The project, entitled “The effectiveness of social media communications for visitor behaviour management in Ontario’s parks and protected areas” interviewed both park visitors and park managers about their experiences and preferences relating to social media communications issued by park agencies.

St Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Worked on the Trail Assets and Tourism Initiative, an innovative partnership between Brock University’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, the Ontario Trails Council, and the Niagara Parks Commission. The purpose of this partnership was to enhance the benefits of the Niagara Parks Commission’s parks and natural areas for residents and visitors of the Niagara region. The partnership team undertook the development of a visitor management plan for the Niagara Glen Nature… Show more Worked on the Trail Assets and Tourism Initiative, an innovative partnership between Brock University’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, the Ontario Trails Council, and the Niagara Parks Commission. The purpose of this partnership was to enhance the benefits of the Niagara Parks Commission’s parks and natural areas for residents and visitors of the Niagara region. The partnership team undertook the development of a visitor management plan for the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, an environmentally significant outdoor recreation area under the care of the Niagara Parks Commission. Show less

St Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Worked as a teaching assistant in the Department of Leisure Studies at Brock University for the Winter 2020 semester.Responsibilities included preparing and facilitating undergraduate course labs and seminars for two courses, RECL 1p99 and 2p07.

Sibbald Point Provincial Park

Esker Lakes Provincial Park

Killbear Provincial Park

Killbear Provincial Park

Master'S Degree, Parks, Recreation And Leisure Studies

Completed a Master's thesis studying the effectiveness of social media communications for visitor behaviour management in management.

Bachelor'S Of Recreation And Leisure Studies, Outdoor Recreation (Honours), Outdoor Recreation, Minor In Environmental Sustainability

This program was designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to be confident and competent leaders in the field of outdoor.