In the Age of COVID-19

By Svenja Hansen

For the health and safety of Canadians, visitors, and its team members, Parks Canada followed the advice of public health experts, and suspended all visitor services and closed visitor facilities at its heritage places, in order to encourage Canadians to stay home and limit the spread of the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

The past few months have been full of uncertainty, anxiety, and maybe even fear or grief. Through it all, Parks Canada has tried to stay connected, to you, our friends and colleagues, as well as to our visitors from far and wide. Thankfully, modern technology has made it easier to communicate in the age of COVID-19. Check our website for the latest information on Parks Canada’s response to COVID-19.

The Government of Canada is calling on all Canadians to support the national effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 by staying home. Parks Canada staff have also been directed to work from home.  Some personnel were identified to continue to deliver a number of critical functions, including highway management, fire response, Law Enforcement, dam operations and water management on historic waterways, among others.

Parks Canada has suspended all pass sales and new reservations until further notice. Reservations until May 31, 2020, are being refunded in full, and the end date of Discovery Passes will automatically be extended for the full duration of the suspension period. That means for each month, or part of a month, that visitor services are not offered due to Parks Canada's efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, a full month will be added to the end date of the annual pass.