Parks Canada celebrates successful Canada 150 season at Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site

More Canadians than ever before enjoyed amazing experiences at Parks Canada’s places in 2017

November 15, 2017                      Gravenhurst, Ontario                      Parks Canada Agency

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.

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada offered free admission for all visitors to Parks Canada’s places, to encourage Canadians to experience their rich history and heritage in a special way. Parks Canada is pleased to have welcomed more visitors to our treasured places than ever before, and to have played an important role in the celebration of Canada 150.

Parks Canada welcomed a record number of visitors to Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site this season. Over 30,000 visitors came through the doors during the sesquicentennial celebration. Throughout the summer, many visitors took part in interactive programming, including guided tours and a new enhanced exhibit featuring personal belongings of Dr. Norman Bethune, instruments used in surgery, and family heirlooms. An annual Canada Day party featured the unveiling of a new children’s outdoor activity area honouring Canadians, including Bethune, who served during the First World War. The season wrapped up with thousands of Chinese visitors flocking to Bethune Memorial House, as Bethune’s contributions to health care have made him a revered Chinese cultural icon. Canada 150 led to the revival of formal educational programming at Bethune Memorial House. As a result, many local students will learn about Norman Bethune’s legacy and Canadian society in the late 19th and early 20th century.

While Bethune Memorial House is now closed to daily visitation, special guided tours of the national historic site are available by reservation on weekdays until December 15th. Visitors can see the house in all its Victorian Christmas splendour on Saturdays from November 25th until December 9th and are encouraged to bring a donation to the Gravenhurst Food Bank.

The Government is committed to preserving our national parks, while making them more accessible so that Canadians, including youth and newcomers, can experience the outdoors and learn about our environment. Parks Canada continues to ensure the best possible visitor experience for people coming to our places, and has effectively managed 2017’s increased visitation.

To help visitors plan their experiences, Parks Canada launched a mobile app earlier this season. The app is very popular and, to date, there have been over 150,000 downloads. The Parks Canada Mobile App is a great planning tool which offers up-to-date information and resources to help visitors plan their visit and discover breathtaking locations, including a list of hidden gems, and other unique and memorable experiences at national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas.