People packed into the park, July 18, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Parks Day.
The event saw thousands of visitors descend on the information centre lawn, where the Friends of Jasper National Park set up a plethora of activities for locals and visitors alike.
There were guided hikes throughout the day, with local guides bringing people up to the peak of Whistlers Mountain, to Angel Glacier at Mount Edith Cavell and up Old Fort Point, and there were special deals for people to check out Jasper’s new planetarium, paddle boarding on Lake Edith and rock climbing with a local guide.
The info centre lawn also played host to all kinds of activities, from yoga to flower pot painting and tipi building. Kiki the Eco Elf was also on hand, in her signature green wig and rainbow stockings, to sing kids songs and make balloon animals.
There were also opportunities for kids to learn to rock climb on an artificial climbing wall and to learn about the ecological benefits of wildfires with Parks Canada interpreters.
Parks Day was created in 1990 and is celebrated in all of Canada’s parks on the third Saturday of July.
In Jasper, the event began small, with just a booth at Old Fort Point, but in recent years it has exploded into a full-day celebration, with endless opportunities to learn about the natural and cultural heritage of Jasper National Park.
Nicole Veerman
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