Parks Canada Celebrates Successful Canada 150 Season in Cape Breton

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

November 28, 2017                          Louisbourg, NS                     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 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.

Canadians and international visitors embraced Parks Canada places on Cape Breton Island and in Canso with more than 580,000 visitors passing through our gates and creating lasting memories. More Canadians than ever were able to experience this country’s rich history and heritage in a special way, making 2017 a banner year. Specific visitation highlights include:

·  Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site – an increase of 48% from 93,820 to 139,255 visitors

·  Cape Breton Highlands National Park – an increase of 10% from 302,827 to 333,746 while camping increased by 32% and oTENTiks rentals by 28% year-to-date

·  Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site – an increase of 35% from 82,115 to 110,635 visitors

·  Marconi National Historic Site – an increase of 41% from 3206 to 4516 visitors  

In 2017, Parks Canada introduced a number of new programs and experiences that tell the stories of this country, including the history, cultures and contributions of Indigenous peoples. A new Mi’kmaw Interpretive Centre was launched at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site as well as Indigenous programming in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. At Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, Cape Breton’s first virtual reality experience was introduced in collaboration with the Alexander Graham Bell Foundation, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum Association and other partners.

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 incredibly 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.