PEI National Park officially opens for visitor season

From: Parks Canada

News release

June 6, 2019                               Charlottetown, PEI                            Parks Canada Agency

Whether you’re looking for adventure, fun science activities for the whole family, a chance to explore history, or a break from the everyday, Parks Canada has 450,000 km² of protected areas with countless unique experiences to suit your needs.

Starting on June 12, PEI National Park’s gates will be staffed for the 2019 visitor season. This summer, Cavendish Beach will be accessible to all, thanks to a newly-constructed dune crossing with a gentle, graduated slope, mobility mats and beach wheelchairs. PEI National Park interpretative programming begins on July 2, with popular programs such as Sensational Sandcastles with Maurice Bernard, Canada on Canvas, and Campground Ceilidh. There is something for everyone to do, from youngest to wisest!

Working together with more than 300 Indigenous communities across Canada, Parks Canada and Indigenous peoples are partners in conserving, restoring, and presenting Canada’s natural and cultural heritage.

Indigenous languages are a part of the shared history and national heritage of all Canadians. They hold the keys to irreplaceable, knowledgeable worldviews and intimate understandings about the environment, intergenerational education, and Canada’s history.

In celebration of the International Year of Indigenous Languages, Canadians are encouraged to help support the revitalization of Indigenous languages in Canada, and are invited to visit Parks Canada’s places to learn about Indigenous languages, knowledge, cultures, and traditions. In doing so, together we create new opportunities for Canadians to better understand the histories of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The Mi’kmaq translation of Prince Edward Island National Park is Kanata Aqq Epekwitkewey Tepkistek Maqamikew Anko’tasik (Phoenetic pronunciation: Gah-nah-dah agh eh-puh-gwehd-aa-way deb-gihs-deck mah-hah-me-gow ahn-goo-duh-zihg). You can find other translations in the PEI National Park guide, where local flora and fauna are identified in both languages. Additionally, Parks Canada is pleased to collaborate with the Mi’kmaq of PEI in various activities such as A’tuken, a campground program that shares the rich culture of the Mi’kmaq people through story, song, and dance.

Parks Canada’s places belong to all Canadians. That is why the Government of Canada is pleased to continue to offer free admission to all Parks Canada’s places for youth aged 17 and under. By encouraging young people to discover nature and connect with history, we can help to inspire the next generation of stewards for these protected places.

In celebration of diversity, Parks Canada continues to offer free admission to new Canadian citizens for one year through the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s Canoo mobile app. Visiting Parks Canada’s national heritage places is a great way for Canadians, new and old, to experience the outdoors and learn more about our environment and heritage.

Parks Canada’s staff at PEI National Park are excited to welcome new and returning guests back to experience everything that the PEI National Park has to offer.

Quotes

“Warm weather is finally here. It’s the perfect time to head back outside and reconnect with the places we love. Parks Canada has so many wonderful places where Canadians and visitors to Canada can explore our wilderness and learn about our culture and history. The Government of Canada is pleased to offer free admission to all Parks Canada’s places for young people, 17 and under. So let’s get outdoors, visit our national parks, historic sites, or marine conservation areas, and take advantage of the breathtaking scenery and natural surroundings we are blessed with in Canada.”

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay,
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Cardigan

“Parks Canada is the country's largest tourism provider and are committed to providing visitors with high-quality and meaningful experiences. To make the most of your Parks Canada experience, I encourage visitors to plan their trip in advance. Visit the Parks Canada’s website, sign up for the e-newsletter, download Parks Canada’s mobile app, and follow them on social media for inspiration on places to visit and to help plan the perfect visit. Be sure to take in as many of the gems Parks Canada protects and presents in Prince Edward Island National Park such as the magnificent Greenwich Dunes Trail in the East, the 42km of sandy coastline and red cliffs throughout PEI National Park and Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish.”

The Honourable Wayne Easter,
Member of Parliament for Malpeque, Prince Edward Island

Quick facts

  • To have the best time possible during your next visit, check out the 2019 PEI National Park Visitor Guide for information and tips.

  • If you love PEI National Park, consider staying overnight! Campgrounds open on June 5.

  • PEI National Park Early Bird Season Pass sale ends June 15. Passes can be purchased at Ardgowan National Historic Site in Charlottetown, Stanhope or Cavendish campground, or Green Gables Heritage Place. Seasonal passes are also available for sale online.

  • Parks Canada is now offering a public electric car charging station in PEI National Park. The station is available for use without cost and is located at the Dalvay Trailhouse next to the parking lot.

  • Surf guard service will begin at select PEI National Park’s beaches on June 29. Visit the website for details.

  • Together with the Province of PEI, PEI National Park has decided to adopt the international flag system for surf conditions reporting. Beginning this summer, surf conditions can be found on PEI Now using a map and pin system: www.pc.gc.ca/peinow.

  • The latest Parks Canada’s app update makes trip planning for Parks Canada’s locations across the country even easier for first time visitors. Visitors can now find Learn-to Camp content in the app and can obtain information on proper camping equipment, tips, and recipes. Visitors can even plan their entire trip itinerary and create a camping checklist.

  • Canada’s network of protected areas play an important role in helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change by protecting and restoring healthy, resilient ecosystems and contributing to the recovery of species at risk.

  • Visitor safety is important to Parks Canada. Visitors can do their part by getting informed and being prepared by planning an activity and sharing that information with a friend or family before they begin. Learn about the wildlife in the park/site you will be visiting to help us keep wildlife wild by checking out our top ten tips: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/conseils-tips/faune-wildlife.

  • The possession and consumption of cannabis is now legal and is strictly regulated in Canada. For more information about cannabis in Canada, please visit: Canada.ca/cannabis. 

Associated links

Contacts

Kara Grant       
Communications Officer, PEI Field Unit
902-672-6389
Kara.grant@canada.ca

Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.medias-media.pc@canada.ca

Page details

2019-06-06