Waterton Lakes Field Unit Welcomes
New Superintendent, Carmen Hancock

Carmen brings a variety of lived and professional experience from her leadership roles across Canada to Waterton Lakes National Park and Bar U Ranch National Historic Site as the new Field Unit Superintendent. In the early years of her career as she and her husband raised their three sons, she built her leadership skills in community, social and private sectors in Labrador before joining Parks Canada in 2017. 

In her role as acting Park Superintendent for the newly designated Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve, Carmen led the establishment of the cooperative management structure with Indigenous partners, and through consensus based approaches, developed the first operational plan for the park.

In 2020, Carmen transitioned to Kingston, Ontario where she managed a portfolio of National Historic Sites across the province. One of her personal highlights during this time was the renewal of the historic home and site interpretation at Bellevue House National Historic Site. She then served as Field Unit Superintendent for the Northern Prairies Field Unit, which includes Prince Albert National Park and its vibrant townsite of Waskesiu as well as Elk Island National Park.

Most recently, Carmen was the Director of Strategic Programs and Policy within the Real Property and Assets Directorate for Parks Canadas national office, gaining experience in national program management, inter-agency governance and broader intergovernmental approaches.

Over the coming weeks and months, Carmen is looking forward building a strong foundational understanding of the priorities and opportunities at both Waterton Lakes and Bar U with a focus on forging relationships with her Parks Canada teams, Indigenous partners, community and business stakeholders and neighbours who care deeply for and are stewards of these places.

Carmen and her husband currently reside in Calgary and will be in the park and at Bar U Ranch regularly this winter, moving to Waterton full time come spring. She is looking forward to embracing this unique place, the work and the community for the years to come.