Celebrate Canada’s Parks System

Saturday, July 16th is Canada’s Parks Day, and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is encouraging Canadians to get out and celebrate our spectacular parks system. And given that this year is the 100th birthday of the world’s first parks agency – Parks Canada – there is an even greater reason to celebrate!

“Whether you go camping in one of our national or provincial parks for the weekend, or take a walk in an urban nature park, it’s a great day to enjoy and to reflect on how important these special protected natural spaces are to us as individual Canadians and to our country,” says CPAWS National Conservation Director, Alison Woodley.

Parks provide opportunities for families to spend time together, learning about nature and enjoying healthy outdoor activities in a beautiful natural setting.  They are places of refuge in busy lives, providing places to slow down, breathe deeply and restore our balance.  

Canada’s parks are important sanctuaries for wild plants and animals, including species at risk. They protect healthy ecosystems that provide Canadians with clean air and clean water. For example, the source of drinking water for Calgary is the Mountain Parks of the Rockies. Park ecosystems help stabilize our climate by absorbing and storing carbon in our forests, grasslands and wetlands, and produce oxygen for us to breathe.

“Our parks are important to our sense of identity as Canadians, protecting many of our most cherished land and waterscapes, like Banff, Fundy, Nahanni and Algonquin,” says Éric Hébert-Daly, CPAWS National Executive Director.

Canadian parks also have a significant impact on the Canadian economy. A new study released today by the Canadian Parks Council finds that Canada’s national, provincial and territorial parks support 64,000 jobs across Canada, and contribute $4.6 billion dollars per year to the Canadian economy.

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society is committed to continuing to work with partners nationwide to expand and protect Canada’s park system: one of the world’s oldest and most extensive parks systems. With over 90% of Canada’s land and ALL of our oceans and great lakes publicly owned there is great opportunity for Canadians to get involved in their protection.

Help celebrate Parks Day today by sharing your national park dreams at parksdreams.ca and help build Canada’s first national parks bucket list.