Parks Canada Kicks-off Canada 150 Celebrations at Rouge National Urban Park
News Release
May 20, 2017 Markham, Ontario Parks Canada Agency
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the Government of Canada is very pleased to offer free admission to all Parks Canada places in 2017. The FREE Parks Canada 2017 Discovery Pass provides unlimited opportunities to enjoy national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas across the country.
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, and Gary Anandasangaree, Member of Parliament for Scarborough – Rouge Park, hosted an event at Rouge National Urban Park to celebrate the opening of Parks Canada’s 2017 visitor season across Canada. During the event they launched Parks Canada’s new smartphone app. The app will help visitors plan their visit to Parks Canada places, including Rouge National Urban Park.
This year, Rouge National Urban Park is offering many free educational programs and public events to enable more Canadians, including youth and newcomers, to experience and connect with the rich natural, cultural and agricultural heritage of Canada’s first national urban park.
Parks Canada places will play a big part in the celebration of Canada 150. Special events happening at Rouge National Urban Park in 2017, include:
BioBlitz Canada (June 24th and 25th, 2017) This Canada 150 event brings together scientific experts, citizen scientists, and the general public to inventory all species (plants, animals, fungi and more) over a 24-hour period. The event features an in-park festival with activities, entertainment and food.
Taste of the Trail (Aug. 26th, 2017) Walk, taste, and learn more about the Rouge and its diverse past, present, and future through food. What an appetizing way to explore Canada’s first national urban park!
Fall Walk Festival (Oct. 3rd-9th, 2017) The Rouge is the best place in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to enjoy fall colours. Join us for more than 30 free public walks and programs.
And much, much more including our Expanded Learn-to Camp Program throughout the GTA. Participants of all ages are encouraged to learn more about camping, hiking, camp cooking, and the outdoors at one of our free workshops at public libraries across Mississauga, Toronto and Markham.
To ensure the best possible experience, visitors are encouraged to plan their visit ahead of time. For more information about all of the above events, as well as many others happening at the Rouge this year, please visit: www.parkscanada.ca/rouge.
The FREE Parks Canada 2017 Discovery Pass is available from the Parks Canada Website as well as at Parks Canada entry gates and visitor centres. Partners such as Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) and CIBC will also be distributing passes for Parks Canada.
Please note that only admission is free for 2017. There are fees for enhanced interpretative programs and recreational services and products such as camping and firewood, fishing permits, and overnight backcountry use.
Quotes
“National parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas represent the very best that Canada has to offer and tell stories of who we are, including the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples. As Canada turns 150 this year, the Government of Canada’s gift to you is free admission to all Parks Canada places. The Parks Canada team looks forward to welcoming you in 2017.”
The Honourable Catherine McKenna
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
“I’m very excited to be here in Rouge National Urban Park today to mark the official opening of the 2017 visitor season as we are celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation. The 2017 season at Rouge National Urban Park promises to be better than ever. Parks Canada, in collaboration with many partners and volunteers, will host many special events and programs to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation.”
Gary Anandasangaree
Member of Parliament for Scarborough – Rouge Park
Quick Facts
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The new Parks Canada’s mobile app provides visitors with tips and information to plan their visit and share their experiences on social media using fun and interactive Parks Canada-themed filters and stickers. Visitors can even find out about hundreds of events planned for 2017 all across the country.
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Once completed, the Rouge National Urban Park will be more than 79 km2 in size, making it one of the world’s largest protected areas in an urban setting – 19 times larger than Stanley Park in Vancouver and 22 times larger than Central Park in New York.
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The Rouge National Urban Park is the first of its kind in Canada – a nationally protected area in an urban setting. Within a one hour’s drive of 20 per cent of Canada’s population and accessible by public transit, the park provides unprecedented opportunities for Canadians to experience protected nature and Canada’s cultural and agricultural heritage.
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The Rouge National Urban Park is home to more than 1,700 species of plants and animals, over 10,000 years of human history and cultural heritage, and some of the rarest and most fertile farmland in Canada.
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In addition to two new welcome areas opened in the Toronto and Markham areas of the park, several education and orientation centres, visitor facilities, interpretive panels, and signage will be added to the national urban park. Parks Canada is also planning to significantly expand the park’s trail network and link up with trails outside the park located in the cities of Toronto, Markham and Pickering, and in the Township of Uxbridge.
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As part of Canada 150 celebrations, Parks Canada will offer over 300 free public events in the Rouge, including Frog Watch, weekly guided walks, Art in the Park, Landmarks, Illuminations, and many more.
Associated Links
Contacts
Sabrina Lavi
Public Relations and Communications
Rouge National Urban Park
647-938-4071
sabrina.lavi@pc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca