Minister launches recruitment process at roundtable on Parks Canada
Toronto, Ontario, January 16, 2012 -- The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today launched the formal recruitment process for the first two Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Parks Canada Youth Ambassadors. Minister Kent made the announcement during the 6th Minister’s Round Table (MRT) on Parks Canada. This year’s MRT theme is “Connecting Youth, from where they are, to our places that represent the very essence of being Canadian.”
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Parks Canada Youth Ambassadors Program will help build a stronger Canada by inspiring young Canadians to connect with our country’s treasured places,” said Minister Kent. “They will help us shape a national conversation about what it means to be Canadian – what it means to be young in Canada – what connections we still have to our geography and to our history.”
This new program will offer two young adults between the age of 18-25 a once-in-a-lifetime career-building opportunity to be youth ambassadors and experience and share with others Canada’s greatest national treasures.
The recruitment process for the youth ambassador program will be supported by Global Vision, a Canadian non-profit organization with over 20 years of experience in championing the enterprising spirit of young Canadians in the promotion of Canadian industry and culture. They have an established record for engaging Canadian youth and supporting the development of these youth.
“We’re looking for young Canadians who demonstrate leadership, good citizenship, a commitment to volunteering and an ability to use creative and innovative ways and media to engage their peers at Parks Canada places, in their communities and online,” concluded Minister Kent.
The youth ambassador program is one of a number of initiatives by which Parks Canada is working to connect youth to Canada’s natural and cultural heritage. Other programs include My Parks Pass, Xplorers, and broadcast initiatives such as Operation unplugged.
A world leader in managing protected areas, the Government of Canada, through Parks Canada, is committed to ensuring the protection and preservation of Canada's cultural and natural heritage. Through a network of 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites and four national marine conservation areas, Parks Canada sets the stage and invites Canadians and people from around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery of our treasured natural and historic places.
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:
Adam Sweet
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-953-8371
www.twitter.com/parkscanada
Backgrounders associated with this News Release.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Parks Canada Youth Ambassador Program
The Minister’s Round Table on Parks Canada
Youth Engagement at Parks Canada
