Dear WCA Member,
My name is Julia Coburn; I am a graduate student at the University of Waterloo with a focus on park management planning. To assist in our knowledge of park management plans in Ontario Provincial Parks, I am interested in understanding the perspectives of key park stakeholders, such as yourself. I hope that this information will help determine what visitor and tourism content stakeholders believe should be present in park management plans. I have sent an email earlier regarding this study and have decided to resend it for good measure. I am very interested to hear your valuable feedback on this topic.
I am requesting collaboration from you and your colleagues at Wilderness Canoe Association to complete our online survey (see below). For individuals with a particular interest in park management, we would also be interested in having the opportunity to interview them by phone, though this is optional.
(1) Filling out our online questionnaire. This questionnaire will ask you to rate the detail you believe various visitor and tourism policies should be stated in park management pans. It will take less than 10 minutes of your time by following the link below. Your feedback will be highly valuable.
QUESTIONNAIRE LINK (click on the link to the right): http://edu.surveygizmo.com/s3/487138/Ontario-Parks-Management-Plans-Policy-Detail-Questionnaire
(2) Participate in an interview (Optional). This phone interview will ask you more in depth questions about park management planning and park management plans. It will take less than 30 minutes time at your convenience. If you or one of your colleagues are interested in participating in an interview, please email Julia Coburn at jcoburn@uwaterloo.ca or call at (519) 501-6758.
Participant Information:
This study wants the perceptions of five stakeholder groups: 1) Visitors, 2) Local Residents, 3) Tourism Operators, 4) Park Staff and 5) Non-Governmental Organization Staff and Members. We are going to concentrate on the management plans of three prominent and highly used Natural Environment Class Parks – Algonquin, Pinery, and Sandbanks Provincial Park. Deadline for feedback is April 28, 2011.
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This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through the Office of Research Ethics, University of Waterloo. However, the final decision about participation belongs to individual participants.
If you have any questions regarding this study or would like additional information to assist you in reaching a decision about participation, please contact Julia Coburn at (519) 501-6758 or by email jcoburn@uwaterloo.ca. You may also contact my supervisor, Professor Paul Eagles at (519) 888-4567 ext. 32716 or by email eagles@uwaterloo.ca.
I hope that the results of my study will be beneficial to the Wilderness Canoe Association, to the individual participants, as well as the broader park management community. I very much look forward to speaking with you and thank you in advance for your assistance with this project.
Thank you kindly for your time and consideration.
Yours Sincerely,
Julia Coburn Julia CoburnMES Candidate
School of Planning
University of Waterloo Paul Eagles Professor Paul Eagles
Professor
University of Waterloo
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