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Alberta | Alberta and British Columbia | British Columbia | Manitoba | New Brunswick | Newfoundland and Labrador | Northwest Territories | Nova Scotia | Nunavut | Ontario | Prince Edward Island | Quebec | Saskatchewan | YukonALBERTA
Banff National Park
ECOART - Minnewanka Solar Powered Washroom
You won't be sure if you've walked into a washroom or an art gallery! Banff National Park's new state-of-the-art, solar-powered facility at Lake Minnewanka is a showpiece of visual innovation and environmentally sensitive design. Park messages of connection, health, and stewardship are woven through the building's funky “EcoArt", incorporating vivid graphics of local animals, plants, landscapes and activities. This eco-friendly washroom relies solely on the sun to generate heating, lighting, and hot water, saving an estimated 175 gigajoules of energy each year. The new construction is undergoing finishing touches and will open to the public in Spring 2008. EcoArt will soon be springing up in new washrooms at Lake Louise and Bow Lake, too!
Banff’s Heritage Spas
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Upper Hot springs Building and Pool.
© Parks Canada / P. Sawyer, 1994
Banff has 125 years of Spa-going heritage! From the early development of the Cave and Basin and the Banff Springs Hotel to the later additions of the Banff Upper Hot Springs and the Banff Sanatorium, “taking the waters” to benefit one’s health is a long standing tradition in Banff. The story of Banff’s spas and the creation of Canada’s first National Park are intertwined and feature vivid characters, hot arguments and governmental decisions that changed Canada and its place in the world forever.
Introducing the newly refreshed Miette Hot Springs
After spending a year and a half undergoing renovations, Miette Hot Springs is looking better than ever with a newly expanded lobby, two new cool pools and a new pool deck layout offering an enhanced view of the wonderful surrounding scenery. Visitors wishing to enjoy a meal or go shopping for a souvenir will find a bright, fresh café and gift shop space that is accessible from poolside or garden entrance.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/index_e.asp
Bar U Ranch: A Real Western Experience
At the feet of the Rockies, the Bar U Ranch is a legend in Canada’s ranching history. Famous cowboys worked here in the late 1880’s, including former slave John Ware and outlaw Henry Longbaugh, nicknamed the Sundance Kid. In the early 1900’s, the ranch manager George Lane - who helped found the Calgary Stampede - turned his 62 000 hectare (155 000 acre) ranch into the world’s largest Percheron breeding operation. Thanks to his intensive breeding efforts, this sturdy horse breed survived the shortage created by World War I. In 1919, the ranch received a special guest, Edward, Prince of Wales, who enjoyed his stay so much at Bar U that he bought a ranch nearby. Now a National Historic Site, Bar U Ranch offers a real cowboy experience to visitors. So, saddle up!
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ab/baru/index_e.asp
ALBERTA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA
Canada Celebrates its Greatest Explorer
Everyone, even detractors, agree that David Thompson was the greatest North American land geographer of his time. Between 1784 and 1850, he explored and mapped 3,9 million sq km (1.5 million sq mi) of North America. A truly multi-cultural North American, he lived among the English, French and Native peoples. Perhaps his greatest achievement was establishing an overland northwest passage to the Pacific via the Columbia River. Until the construction of the railway 75 years later, it was an important travel route for traders, settlers, and gold diggers. Between 2007 and 2012, the David Thompson Bicentennials Project commemorates the 200th anniversary of Thompson’s dramatic journey across the Rocky Mountains. Discover Canada's greatest explorer at national parks and national historic sites throughout British Columbia and Alberta.
http://www.davidthompson200.org
BRITISH COLUMBIA
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Sunset at Hole-In-The-Wall, West Coast Trail.
© Parks Canada / J. McCulloch, 2006
Get ready for a wild trek on Vancouver Island’s West Coast Trail
Celebrate the centennial of the West Coast Trail and venture into the most beautiful and challenging hiking paths of Canada. Along the rugged southwest coastline of Vancouver Island, plunge into the rainforest and follow the ancient trails of the first nations. Learn why sailors named these hazardous waters the “Graveyard of the Pacific” and how the West Coast Trail helped save lives. Scrambling slippery ocean boulders, you might catch sight of whales or sea lions offshore. And, as the sun streams through the gigantic cedar branches, you’ll discover pristine waterfalls, or gaze into the eyes of wolves and cougars. Welcome to the wilderness of the Pacific Rim!
Where Ancestral Haida Culture Blends with Nature’s Beauty
The new Haida Heritage Centre in the Queen Charlotte Islands provides a raven’s eye view of Haida history and culture. A celebration of 12 000 years of Haida connection with the land and sea, the Centre offers a unique opportunity to witness a living culture, and catch a glimpse of the remote Gwaii Haanas (National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site). There, immersion in nature is a spiritual experience. In such a landscape, you walk softly with sharpened senses. Listen and let the moist green landscape, heavy with the scent of seaweed and cedar, open up your soul. Your eyes enter the spirit of the ancient moss-covered mortuary poles of SGang Gwaay, while Raven the Trickster speaks from the cedar branches overhead. Gwaii Haanas is a whimsical world, a world where art and beauty lovers come to relax and where inspiration is born.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/index_e.asp
In Yoho, Nature Runs the Show
Driving west from Calgary and Banff on the Trans Canada Highway lays a perfect location for those seeking small-town charm and big-time adventure. The mountain resort of Field, developed in the 1880s when Sir William Van Horne, general manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway, built mountain hotels and chalets, attracts wealthy tourists and free spirits. From Field, many roads and trails across the mountains of Yoho National Park lead to turquoise lakes, rivers and waterfalls. From Yoho Valley Road, hike along the trails to discover Takakkaw Falls, the third-highest in Canada! Visit the Burgess Shale, one of the world's most important fossil finds. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1981, it contains the fossilized remains of more than 120 marine animal species dating back 515 million years!
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/yoho/index_e.asp
MANITOBA
Join a field camp in the Arctic and study the effects of climate changes
You’ve always wanted to observe polar bears and belugas but are not a fan of traditional guided tours? Now, there is a great alternative for you. The town of Churchill, Northern Manitoba, is a meeting place for researchers who study the Arctic wildlife and the effects of global warming on the environment and on humans. If you are not risk-adverse and have a taste for science, join them on a field camp along the shores of the Hudson Bay and see for yourself what the impact of climate change is. This is definitely a lifetime experience!
York Factory NHSC, Hudson’s Bay Company at Prince of Wales Fort, at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre - Heartland Fur Trade Tours
Parks Canada is proud to be a destination for Manitoba’s Hudson’s Bay Company Historical Fur Trade Tour organized by Heartland International Travel & Tours of Winnipeg. Heartland Tours is owned and operated by Don Finkbeiner.
A customized two-day “post to post” tour: fly from Winnipeg to Norway House - experience a rare York boat ride - spend an evening with Samuel Hearne, Governor of Hudson’s Bay Company at Prince of Wales Fort during the 18th century – fly back to Churchill for a “rendez-vous” with Parks Canada staff at the York Factory and tour the historic Depot building with more historic surprises.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/mb/yorkfactory/index_e.asp
Are Polar Bears Walking on Thin Ice?
Climate change may be the newest threat affecting one of the world’s largest polar bear maternity areas. Wapusk National Park in northern Manitoba was established in 1996 to protect an estimated 1 200 polar bears and their habitat, an 11 475 sq km (7 100 sq mi) area of low-lying permafrost and peat bog along the shores of Hudson Bay. "Wapusk" means "white bear" in Cree. Parks Canada is collaborating with the Canadian Wildlife Service to study the bears and the changes that are occurring in their environment. Bears are coming ashore with less fat and giving birth to fewer cubs. Local outfitters service this vast polar bear habitat.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/mb/wapusk/index_e.asp
Riding Mountain’s Elk-Tracking Tour
After a long history of hunting, fishing and intensive fur-trading, Riding Mountain National Park is now devoted to the conservation of species and ecosystems. This large park located three hours north of Winnipeg is home to black bears, cougars, wolves, moose, elks and bison herds. The park’s former lead naturalist organizes elk-tracking day trips. With a wildlife biologist, you will learn how to study the movement of elks by tracking their hoof prints. Depending on what you learn, you might be able to approach and take a closer look or a photograph. Wolf tracking tours and special star-gazing nights are also available in the park, one of North America’s best dark sky reserves.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/mb/riding/index_e.aspNEW BRUNSWICK
The Voyageur Canoe Marine Experience in Kouchibouguac
Have you ever been close enough to look a 250 kg (500 lbs) grey seal straight in the eye or have you ever been scolded by a swarm of common terns? You haven't! Well then, now is the time to experience a heart pounding memorable adventure. Join other daring paddlers in a grand canoe and explore sandy barrier islands in Kouchibouguac National Park. The Voyageur Canoe can accommodate 4 to 9 participants. Let yourself be captivated by the sight and sound of grey seals and common tern colonies. Be on the look-out for ospreys and bald eagles. To fully enjoy the natural wonders of the park, spend the night on a canoe campground along the Kouchibouguac River. This is the ultimate experience!
Kouchibouguac Wigwam Gatherings
Experience the Migmag culture with Marilyn Simon-Ingram, a local Migmag Elder and a Kouchibouguac park interpreter. She will greet you at the Wigwam, a representation of her aboriginal home, with her legendary warmth and hospitality. A great storyteller, Marilyn uses humour with taste. By the campfire, she will tell you about her family story as inscribed by the artwork on her leather dress, and introduce you to traditional furs such as caribou, beaver, wolf and wolverine. Listen to the aboriginal drums and learn a native craft by creating your own Friendship Necklace. Enter the Wigwam and follow your aboriginal guide!
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nb/kouchibouguac/index_e.aspNEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Welcome to Vinland!
Did you know the first Europeans to set foot on Canadian soil were Vikings? Over 1 000 years ago, descendants of Eric the Red landed on «Vinland», now known as Newfoundland. Thanks to their sagas - ancient stories passed on by oral tradition - remnants of their settlements were discovered in L’Anse aux Meadows. In this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Viking encampment shows the lifestyle of the Norse and sagas are still told around the campfire. Learn how the Vikings built their ships and sod houses, how they lived in this New World, and why they had to leave it.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/meadows/index_e.aspNORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Do You Know What a Pingo Is?
On the shores of the Beaufort Sea, the Pingo Canadian Landmark is home to the Inuvialuit people. A Pingo, which means "hill" in their language, is an ice-cored hill that is unique to the Arctic. For centuries, Inuvialuit hunters have used them as navigational aides and vantage points from where they spotted caribous and whales. Citizens from the neighboring community of Tuktoyaktuk often camp on the open tundra and enjoy communal meals at the feet of Pingos. Nearly 1 400 Pingos, the world's highest concentration, are located on the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula along with Ibyuk Pingo, the second highest Pingo in the world.
NOVA SCOTIA
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Firing of the guns.
© Parks Canada / A. Cornellier, 1988
Experience the re-enactment of a siege at the Fortress of Louisbourg
This summer, hundreds of history enthusiasts from across North America will participate in the re-enactment of the historic 1758 siege at the Fortress of Louisbourg. During the weekend of July 26 2008, special activities will commemorate the clash between the French and the British Empire, which marked a turning point in Canada’s history. There is no better time to experience Louisbourg!
Louisbourg’s Murder Mystery Play named best in Canada
Louisbourg’s 18th-century eerie fortress is the best possible setting under the moon for a murder mystery. Imagine: the Fortress of Louisbourg has closed its doors for the night, and you have the rare privilege to tour the town by candlelight. That night, a murder is committed, and your help is requested to find the assassin. In this outstanding atmosphere, the play goes off script, and you are suddenly part of the investigation. Named best Murder Mystery Play in Canada, it is a unique way to discover what kind of fishy events happened behind the closed walls of Louisbourg.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/louisbourg
18th Century Wine Evenings in Louisbourg
Join us as we present an evening of 18th century food, wine, and history. This educational tasting, hosted by a historian and a sommelier, is inspired by the 1744 wine collection of Governor Du Quesnel. The 18th Century Fortress Louisbourg Wine Evenings offer a unique opportunity to experience a variety of classic wines selected by a professional sommelier. These unique and delicious wines will be paired with a selection of 18th century French recipes researched specifically for this event. Add a tour of the Governor's apartments, and you have one of the most interesting (and delicious) ways to spend an evening.
http://www.fortressoflouisbourg.ca/WinePairing_Aug.html
18th Century Wine Evenings in Louisbourg
Join us as we present an evening of 18th century food, wine, and history. This educational tasting, hosted by a historian and a sommelier, is inspired by the 1744 wine collection of Governor Du Quesnel. The 18th Century Fortress Louisbourg Wine Evenings offer a unique opportunity to experience a variety of classic wines selected by a professional sommelier. These unique and delicious wines will be paired with a selection of 18th century French recipes researched specifically for this event. Add a tour of the Governor's apartments, and you have one on the most interesting (and delicious) ways to spend an evening.
http://www.fortressoflouisbourg.ca/WinePairing_Aug.html
Louisbourg Historic Chocolate
Thanks to trade links with the West Indies, France and New England, the 18th century Louisbourg elite was fortunate enough to discover the delights of chocolate. The Louisbourg Historic Chocolate is now available to everyone! After years of research, Parks Canada and the Colonial Chocolate Society are introducing the modern public to one of the most interesting commodities inherited from our ancestors. Recreating the form and flavour of the chocolate served at the Fortress, this "new" historic chocolate awaits you in Louisbourg this summer. Everyone with a taste for history is welcome to stop by the engineer's kitchen to learn more about this delicacy. Samples of this exotic marvel are available in the gift shop to bring home for your historic chocolate cravings!
http://www.pc.gc.ca/louisbourg
Louisbourg Public Archaeology Program: Unearth the Past of New France!
In Louisbourg archaeology enthusiasts have a unique opportunity to join supervised digs or visit shipwrecks in one of Canada’s best preserved National Historic Sites. A major military stronghold and trade post, this 18th century French colonial fortress was also one of the busiest seaports in North America.In the harbour, scuba divers can enjoy guided tours of French warships sunk in 1758 by the British fleet. In the fortified city, field sessions led by professionals will allow a crew of 10-12 amateurs to excavate a portion of the de La Vallière property. Occupied by French, British and New Englanders between 1720 and 1758, this house was home to military officers and to a governor. Participants will learnarchaeological field and lab techniques, and will attend presentations addressing current historical research at the Fortress.
http://fortressoflouisbourg.ca/archaeologyE/
Geniuses Meet on Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton was a fertile soil for scientists in the late 19th century. In his Baddeck estate, Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, lead kite-flying experiments and set a world speed record in 1919 with his hydrofoil craft. In a unique exhibit complex devoted to Bell, Montessori-style experiments for children allow a hands-on approach to science. In 1902, further east in Glace Bay, Guglielmo Marconi sent the first official wireless message across the Atlantic Ocean to England. Follow the scenic Marconi Trail along the coast to Louisbourg, and discover the first transmitting stations. Thanks to radio operators, you’ll find out about Marconi's role in the development of today's network of global communications.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/grahambell/index_e.asp
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/marconi/index_e.asp
NUNAVUT
Spring Ski or Summer Backpack in Sirmilik, a “Place of Glaciers"
One of Canada’s newest national parks and the third largest in the country, Sirmilik – which means "place of glaciers" in Inuktituk - is a photographer’s paradise. High above the Arctic Circle, it features extraordinary landscapes such as mountain ranges, deep fjords and inlets, tundras, glaciers and steep granite walls. The park includes Bylot Island, an 11 100 sq km (4 285 sq mi) bird sanctuary with the world’s largest population of Greater Snow Geese. Located at the gateway to the Northwest Passage, it is home to seals, polar bears, caribous, narwhals, belugas and bowhead whales. The park lies between the communities of Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet where accommodation and experienced outfitters can be found.
ONTARIO
Black and Native Heroes in Fort George during the War of 1812
The Niagara Peninsula, known today for its famous waterfalls, its ice wine and its theatre festival was not always a peaceful territory. During the War of 1812, fierce battles raged along the Niagara River especially around Fort George. Built to protect the portage route around Niagara Falls, the fort was the headquarters of the Central Division of the British Army. Black, Native and Loyalist soldiers joined the British forces, and their destinies were changed forever. While some gained freedom and land, others saw their communities torn apart as a result of this Anglo-American conflict.
The Rideau Canal Turns 175!
The Rideau Canal, already known as the world’s largest skating rink in winter, is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. Nominated as a UNESCO Heritage Site, it is the oldest continuously operated canal in North America. Completed in 1832 after six years of intensive works, it has been recognized as one of the greatest engineering projects of the 19th century. Stretching 202 km (125 mi) between Lake Ontario in Kingston and the Canadian capital Ottawa, the canal runs through scenic lakes, rivers and wetlands. Commercial barges and steam vessels have given way to pleasure boats, but the canal’s historic locks are Canada’s oldest locks still operated by hand. This year, villages and historic sites along the canal will welcome you for a series of festivals, exhibits, interactive games, lectures and theatrical performances. Join boaters, skaters and canal enthusiasts from around the world!
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/rideau/ne/ne1_e.asp
http://www.rideau175.org
Bellevue House, a Quiet Haven for Canada's First Prime Minister
Knighted by Queen Victoria for bringing about the Canadian Confederation in 1867, Sir John A. MacDonald was the first prime minister of Canada. During his formative years as a lawyer and politician in Kingston, MacDonald wanted a safe haven for his wife Isabella who was often sick. He was seduced by the "complete and quiet seclusion of Bellevue House, which is completely surrounded with trees and has a fresh breeze ever blowing on it from Lake Ontario". Inspired by Italian villas, this charming estate and its historic gardens were preserved in the spirit of the 1840’s and commemorate the man who was able to turn a fractious regional hodgepodge of colonies into a coherent and spunky nation.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/bellevue/index_e.asp
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Dreamland Vacation at the “White Sands Hotel”
If you’re looking for a real getaway vacation on Prince Edward Island, look no further than the majestic seaside resort of Dalvay-by-the-Sea. Located at the east end of the national park, this 26-room hotel overlooking the beach was built in 1895 as the summer home for an American oil tycoon. An outstanding example of Queen Anne Revival architecture, it was featured as the "White Sands Hotel" in the popular Anne of Green Gables series. Rooms furnished with antiques or executive cottages are available from $190 to $560. Prices include breakfast and a 3 course dinner by an award-winning chef. A very popular destination, the island offers world class golf courses, beach walks, kayaking, cycling, and tours in beautiful Prince-Edward-Island National Park.
QUEBEC
Unknown Fact: Jewish refugees at Ile-aux-Noix (1940-1943)
Canadian history books often remind us of the strategic role of Ile-aux-Noix and of its fort as a defensive post against American invasions along the Richelieu River. But its use as a reform school for juvenile delinquents in 1858, and then as an internment camp for Jewish refugees during the Second World War is widely unknown.
Discover the fascinating story of the 300 Jewish refugees who lived on this island located between Montreal and the US border. Learn how many of these men escaped from the Holocaust and later built a successful life in Canada.
Two hundred years of history in Quebec’s Chateau Saint-Louis
As Quebec City celebrates its 400th anniversary, the remains of the old Chateau Saint-Louis are exceptionally open to the public. Under both the French and British regimes, the Chateau served as the official residence and the seat of power of several governors. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover the past glory of Quebec City under the guidance of five historical characters who lived in its walls.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/saintlouisforts/index_e.asp
Witnessing North American History along the Richelieu
From Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence River, the swirling waters of the Richelieu River have carried their load of human sweat and blood, lumber and coal. For centuries, forts, canals and bridges were built along the Richelieu to separate, then unite, emerging nations. Come and listen to the river, it has so many stories to tell!
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/saintours/index_e.asp
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/chambly/index_e.asp
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/lennox/index_e.asp
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/fortchambly/index_e.asp
The Revival of a Gentleman Farmer’s Gardens
Considered as one of Lower Canada’s political heroes, Louis-Joseph Papineau was also an avid gardener. He dedicated the last 15 years of his life to his Montebello estate and manor located along the Ottawa River. Often compared to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Estate, it was famous for its beautiful park. Abandoned for years, the historical gardens that Papineau himself designed over 150 years ago will gradually come back to life thanks to archaeological and historical research.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/papineau/index_e.asp
Discover the Underwater Marvels of the St. Lawrence River
Each year, thousands of scuba divers flock to Les Escoumins, a "hot spot" located in the beautiful Saguenay - St. Lawrence Marine Park, north of Quebec City. At the confluence of the St. Lawrence River and the Saguenay Fjord, this unique marine environment offers magnificent views of the seabed and its flamboyant biodiversity. Now, thanks to the Marine Environment Discovery Centre, you don’t need to dip your toes in freezing waters to discover the unsuspected marvels of underwater life: a live broadcast displayed on a giant screen allows you to follow the divers and communicate with them as they explore the estuary.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/amnc-nmca/qc/saguenay/index_e.asp
SASKATCHEWAN
Grasslands National Park is one of the largest contiguous prairie habitats left in North America. Sitting Bull and his Sioux followers took refuge here after the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. Riding on horseback is one of the best ways to discover this virtually untouched landscape in southern Saskatchewan, north of Montana. Outfitters offer day and overnight guided horseback tours. Hiking, bird watching, and nature photography are other popular park activities. Spectacular park features include the Red Rim Buttes, the Kildeer Badlands and ancient tipi rings left by native peoples dating back 10 000 years.
The Legacy of Grey Owl, "Protector of the Beaver People"
In the 1930s, the world knew him as Grey Owl. He sought to protect over-trapped beavers and wrote articles about wilderness protection. Known for his books and his "beaver family", he was hired as the first naturalist in Mount Riding National Park, Manitoba. He then lived for seven years with his Mohawk wife Anahareo in a log cabin by Ajawaan Lake in Prince Albert National Park. He gave lectures in England about the threat that modern civilization posed to native peoples and wildlife. His sudden death in 1938 revealed his well kept secret. His buckskins and dyed black hair hanging in braids had masked who he really was: a British white man named Archie Belaney! Grey Owl was buried by his cabin, Beaver Lodge, which can still be visited today.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/sk/princealbert/index_e.asp
2007 Story Ideas - Printable Version (38 Kb, PDF)
YUKON
© Parks Canada / B. Dixon 1983
Janice and Gordon celebrating their 25th anniversary at the SS Klondike!© Parks Canada / J. Williams 2008
In 1983 friends and loved ones gathered at the SS Klondike to watch Janice and Gordon say two very important words, “I do”. The whole day was everything Janice and Gordon wanted it to be – a romantic location, perfect weather, and great friends and family having a wonderful time. The SS Klondike National Historic Site of Canada is the ideal spot for an outdoor ceremony – a beautiful setting with a historic backdrop, which creates a peaceful and magical atmosphere. The couple now live happily ever after. You can too!
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