Toronto, April 16, 2011 -- Parks Canada is marking its 100th birthday by bringing some of its most unforgettable visitor experiences into the heart of Canada’s biggest cities – and the celebration doesn’t end there. This year’s centennial will include free entry days and exciting events at Parks Canada's more than 200 national parks and historic sites, animating Canada's treasured places like never before.
Parks Canada CEO Alan Latourelle unveiled the first flight of the centennial festivities on stage at the Green Living Show during a performance by Sarah Harmer, her band and other musicians who are part of the National Parks Project, a series of 13 short films with original musical accompaniment being released to mark the centennial.
“Our centennial is a unique opportunity for Canadians to discover and rediscover some of the best that our country has to offer,” said Mr. Latourelle. “It will be an occasion for the Parks Canada team to bring our story to young people, urbanites and new Canadians in our largest cities, folks who may not be as familiar with Parks Canada as those living closer to our treasured places.”
One of these urban outreach efforts will be a Learn-to-Camp Weekend on June 18-19, a multi-city, overnight urban camping event aimed at introducing urbanites to camping and related activities. Two hundred participants from the Greater Toronto Area will learn through experience about setting up camp, camp cooking, canoeing, trail etiquette and much more.
Canada’s Parks Day, Saturday July 16, will be a highlight of the season, featuring free entry and special events and activities at Parks Canada national parks and national historic sites in all parts of Canada. Other highlights will include the traditional free entry to all Parks Canada places on Canada Day with special events taking place at dozens of national parks and national historic sites, and a “Fab Forts Weekend” on August 20-21 at Parks Canada’s historic fur trade and military posts. The weekend will feature various festivities from local musicians, singers and dancers to military history re-enactors and musicians to farmers markets to culinary events and children’s activities. The finale of the weekend will be a coast-to-coast Parks Canada 100-gun historic cannon salute.
Additional details and more urban events will be announced in the coming weeks, including a series of kick-off surprises on the Victoria Day weekend. “This summer’s centennial activities in our cities, national parks and historic sites will be an incredible opportunity to have fun, learn more about Canada’s treasured places, and make some lasting memories,” concluded Mr. Latourelle. “Come Celebrate and experience the unforgettable!”
Established in 1911 as the Dominion Parks Branch, Parks Canada was the world’s first national park and national historic site service and ever since has been a world leader in protecting and presenting treasured natural and historic places.
Parks Canada works to ensure that Canada’s natural and historic treasures are protected and presented for the enjoyment, education and benefit of all Canadians, today and in the future, offering them the opportunity for personal moments of inspiring discovery.
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Information:
Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-994-3023
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Backgrounder associated with this News Release.
Parks Canada’s Centennial
