News Releases
Minister Kent leads planning with key stakeholders
Toronto, Ontario, November 9, 2011 — The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today launched the public planning process to create Canada’s first national urban park in the Greater Toronto Area’s Rouge Valley by welcoming committed and valued partners at a workshop to help shape a vision for the park.
“It’s exciting to be opening today’s important workshop that will help frame the future of a national urban park in the Rouge Valley,” said Minister Kent. “A first of its kind in Canada, it will allow us to protect the park’s rich natural and cultural heritage, while at the same time offering a park for the people in Canada’s largest city to enjoy for generations to come.”
The Rouge National Urban Park will also provide Parks Canada the opportunity to better engage with residents in the Greater Toronto Area and help build more meaningful connections to Canada’s network of parks and iconic landscapes.
The Harper Government announced its commitment to create a national urban park in the Rouge Valley in the 2011 Speech from the Throne. An innovative conservation and management approach will ensure the park’s unique urban context offers a unique visitor experience.
The national urban park establishment process will be guided by consultations with a broad range of stakeholders, including the Province of Ontario, local municipalities, Aboriginal communities, community groups and other non-government organizations. As a first step, today’s workshop will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share their experience and views on a concept and vision for the management of the Rouge National Urban Park.
“The Rouge Valley is within easy reach to residents of Canada’s largest city and has a rich diversity of heritage that deserves to be protected for the benefit of all Canadians,” added Minister Kent. “Rouge National Urban Park will build upon our government’s significant conservation achievements across Canada.”
For additional information on today’s announcement, please see the accompanying backgrounders at www.parkscanada.gc.ca under Media Room.
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Information:
Office of the Minister
of the Environment
819-997-1441
Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-953-8371
Backgrounders associated with this News Release.
Parks Canada Agency
Working together to create a national urban park in the Rouge Valley
