Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site -- Solar Energy Funding and Infrastructure Project Completion

Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site

With 381 km² of rolling hills and waterways, Kejimkujik is a gentle wilderness where generations of families have canoed, camped and connected with nature. Not only does the park protect a unique sample of the Acadian forest, it also preserves and presents a unique cultural landscape, celebrating the presence of the Mi'kmaq and sharing the stories of their ancestors and history in this place. The rich Mi'kmaw heritage, rock carvings known as petroglyphs, traditional encampment areas and canoe routes contributed to the designation of Kejimkujik as a National Historic Site.

Government of Canada Greening Government Fund

The Greening Government Fund has been established as part of the Greening Government Strategy and is managed by the Centre for Greening Government at the Treasury Board Secretariat. This initiative promotes and shares innovative approaches to reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs), and provides project funding to federal government departments and agencies to reduce GHG emissions in their operations.

The fund targets projects that are expected to reduce GHG emissions in federal operations, that test or implement innovative approaches, that can be reproduced within or across departments, and that pursue solutions in areas where GHGs are difficult to reduce.

Please click here for more information on the Government of Canada’s Greening Government Strategy.

Investments to Solar Energy Infrastructure

Funded through the federal Greening Government Fund, a centralized photovoltaic (PV) array will be sized to offset camper electrical use in Jeremy’s Bay Campground, located in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. The solar array installation will begin this spring, with completion expected for spring 2022. It will be located on currently unused, cleared land near the main electrical line for grid tie-in, using a net metering system with Nova Scotia Power.

The average monthly consumption from the electrified campsites is 12,000 KWh. To achieve a 100% offset for the campground, a 100 KW PV array consisting of 250 x 400W per panel, with an estimated 4 hours of peak sun per day, would generate 12,000 KWh per month. As the campground is operated seasonally; outside of the visitor season, the solar array will offset general power usage for the park.

According to Canada Energy Regulator, Nova Scotia produces over 670 grams of CO2 per KWh, which is 4 times the national average. The proposed reduction from the power grid will achieve reduced GHG emissions, and lower the campground’s operating costs for Parks Canada. With a 35 year projected lifespan for PV panels, the return on investment for this initiative is anticipated to be 20 years with $22,000-$33,000 annual electrical cost savings from the Nova Scotia net metering program.

Parks Canada’s Infrastructure Investment Project Completions

Through the Federal Infrastructure Investment program, significant upgrades totalling over $10 million have been made in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site.

In Jeremy’s Bay Campground, all ten washroom buildings have been replaced with washroom/shower facilities. The function of these new facilities is a critical step forward in increasing accessibility, through inclusivity, at Parks Canada administered places. They are among the first national park facilities in the country to be gender-neutral, geared to the needs of families for increased personal privacy and to offer improved accessibility.

As well, five new Ôasis camping units add to the diverse accommodations available at the campground. Perched in the trees overlooking Kejimkujik Lake, these waterdrop-shaped units on stilts provide a new way for visitors to experience overnight stays at Kejimkujik and help Parks Canada meet the needs of a new clientele.

This project also involves refitting the campground’s power and sewer utilities, and building a new water treatment facility to bring these systems up to today’s required standards. The design is for long lifespan, low maintenance, and environmentally-efficient facilities.  

The addition of Ukme’k, Kejimkujik’s first new trail in decades, links the park’s day-use areas and the campground on a single shared-use trail. The project includes enhancements and upgrades to existing trails, as well as the addition of 6.5 km of new trail, designed for low ecological impact and low-maintenance construction. The trail includes optional mountain biking features, which will appeal to a broad range of skill-levels within the mountain biking community. This new tourism opportunity will draw new visitors, entice current users, and support the local economy. By providing new ways to enjoy Kejimkujik, Parks Canada is providing visitors even more reasons to connect with Southwest Nova Scotia, and the province as a whole.  

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