WHAT IS PARKS CANADA?

It is the steward of 171 national historic sites, including 9 heritage canals that represent over 625 kilometres of waterways, 47 national parks, 1 national urban park and 5 national marine conservation areas. And a whole lot of passionate people.

Canada was the first country in the world to establish a national parks service. We’ve been around since 1911. Our Agency is responsible for approximately 470,000 square kilometers of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage areas.

From rugged ocean views to soaring mountain tops, from learning about Indigenous histories and cultures to action-packed adventures, our Agency brings Canada to life. Parks Canada welcomes Canadians in some of the most remote parts of the country as well as destinations right at their front door, making memories that last a lifetime for millions of visitors every year.

Parks Canada works hard every day to protect these special places. Informed by the best available science and Indigenous knowledge, Parks Canada and its partners monitor and restore ecosystems, protect and recover species at risk, and conduct important research that contributes to our understanding of climate change and biodiversity. We are working with others to ensure that protected areas across the country are better connected, and provide havens for plants and animals to persist and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.

Parks Canada is a world leader in cultural heritage, commemorating over 2,100 persons, places, and events of national historic significance, and cares for 31 million artifacts. National historic sites bring to life the stories of Canada’s diverse history. They provide a space where Canadians can better understand the full scope of history from many perspectives, including the difficult periods that are part of Canada’s past. This includes tragedies such as the residential schools program and the enslavement of African people in Canada, both designated as events of national historic significance. These periods in Canada’s history have created harmful lasting legacies that have shaped our present-day. By working with communities to share these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster a better understanding of history and work towards a better future.

Parks Canada is also one of the Government of Canada’s largest administrators of federal lands and manages one of its biggest infrastructure portfolios. It oversees the maintenance of all types of infrastructure, from campsites and visitor centres, to canal locks, highways, bridges and dams – over 18,200 built assets worth more than 26.5 billion dollars.

The Government of Canada is investing 4.2 billion dollars, over the period of 2015 to 2022, to support infrastructure projects across the Parks Canada network. These investments have helped to conserve historic sites, renew visitor facilities like campgrounds and picnic shelters, and restore important transportation infrastructure such as highways and waterways, all while protecting species and the environment.

Parks Canada is also one of the country’s largest tourism provider. There were 25 million visitors to Parks Canada places in 2019.

We are helping grow the economic sustainability of hundreds of communities across the country, creating jobs and supporting tourism in every corner of the country.

Parks Canada’s spending and the spending of millions of visitors creates some 46,000 jobs each year. The Agency’s operations generate an estimated 5 Billion dollars in GDP and the lands and waters protected and managed by Parks Canada contribute hundreds of millions of dollars in eco-system services for the well-being of Canadians and communities.

Young people are a big part of Parks Canada. The Agency is a popular employer of Canadian youth, and our youth ambassador program helps build communities of engaged young people, from coast to coast to coast, who care about the planet. Parks Canada also offers free admission to anyone aged 17 or under.

Parks Canada has over 5,500 full-time employees, and during peak visitation periods, its workforce increases by as much as 25%. There are teams dedicated to: protected areas establishment and conservation, cultural heritage conservation, Indigenous relations, visitor experience and connecting with Canadians, law enforcement, and internal services.

At Parks Canada, visitor safety is a top priority.

We have dedicated search and rescue teams and front-country avalanche controllers. Fire management teams conduct prescribed fires and fire mitigation activities in the places we administer. The Agency is also a leader in wildfire readiness and response and a proud member of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, collaborating with other Canadian fire management agencies to provide support to our provincial, territorial and international partners when they require assistance.

These high-risk jobs are a necessary part of keeping our visitors and the places that we care for safe.

Parks Canada is responsible for the management and the establishment of new national parks and new national marine conservation areas, in collaboration with Indigenous communities and partners.

Parks Canada works with Indigenous partners across the country to conserve and restore natural and cultural heritage and share the stories of these treasured places. Our objectives are to strengthen Indigenous connections with traditional lands and waters, expand the commemoration of Indigenous histories and cultures, and increase economic opportunities for Indigenous communities and businesses.

Many heritage places administered by Parks Canada have seen a transition over time from a past where Indigenous peoples were separated from their ancestral lands and waters to our current context where Indigenous stewardship plays a critical role in maintaining and protecting these special places.

Parks Canada has launched a new program to work with partners, including Indigenous communities, to create a network of national urban parks. More than 80% of Canadians live in urban centres. National urban parks will provide new opportunities for Canadians to enjoy natural places close to home.

For over a decade, Parks Canada’s underwater archaeology team has worked in collaboration with Inuit in the exploration and recovery of artifacts from the ill-fated Franklin expedition in Canada’s arctic waters – one of the largest and most complex underwater archaeological undertakings in Canadian history. Inuit knowledge, science, and archaeology together contributed to the discovery of the wreck sites of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror.

Parks Canada is also committed to the development of programs and services that encourage Canadians to experience the places that we administer.

We also run programs like Learn-to Camp, helping Canadians acquire the skills to safely enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature like never before. The Agency has strong brand recognition. Almost 2 million people follow our social media channels, the uniforms are instantly recognizable, and Parks Canada mascot, Parka, is beloved by kids across the country. We are working to form a greater part of communities, by hosting many citizenship ceremonies in Parks Canada administered places. Thousands of new Canadians have received their Canadian citizenship on the grounds of a Parks Canada place.

Removing barriers, fostering participation, and embracing diversity and inclusion are fundamental to the fulfillment of the Agency’s mandate. Parks Canada works with partners and experts to strengthen inclusion and make sure that national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas can be appreciated and enjoyed by all Canadians.

We are committed to fostering a representative workforce, developing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all team members, and removing barriers experienced by racialized communities, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ2+ communities, and people living with disabilities.

We are guardians, of national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas. We are guides, to visitors the world over. We are partners, building on the rich traditions of Indigenous peoples and others throughout this country. We are storytellers, sharing the history of the land and the people – the stories of Canada. Parks Canada is a living legacy, connecting hearts and minds to a deeper understanding of the essence of Canada.