What better place to celebrate Parks Day than in Jasper National Park? This Canada-wide event highlights how visitors and local residents can enjoy their parks while ensuring these special places remain unimpaired for future generations.
Parks Day began in 1990, and thanks in large part to our Friends of Jasper National Park, community organizations and volunteers, Jasper’s annual celebration is one of the biggest and best across the country.
Parks Day is fun for everyone, and is a good opportunity to learn more about the natural and cultural heritage of Jasper National Park, Parks Canada and the Friends of Jasper National Park. Parks Day also raises money to support programs and projects in the park via a barbecue and donations.
We invite visitors and locals alike to join the celebration by coming out and enjoying any or all of the activities.
Here are just a few of the highlights:
- Remembering World War I Hike: Strap on your hiking boots and join us to learn about the history and stories underlying the names of Jasper’s iconic Victoria Cross Range peaks. This is a moderately difficult hike. Bring water and wear sturdy footwear.
- Morning yoga session at Whistlers Campground: Wake up Saturday morning and make your way to the Xplorer’s tent (beside the shower building) by 9 a.m. to join Park Interpreter Dominique for a 45-minute morning stretch and a chance to catch up on what’s happening in the park this weekend. Not camping? No worries—all campground activities are open to everyone.
- “The Mountains Are Calling” campfire program at Wilcox Campground: Camping near the Columbia Icefield? You can still participate in Parks Day.Grab a seat around the campfire at 7:30 p.m. to hear how—having little prior knowledge of the area but an incredible sense of adventure—many European explorers found their way across the challenging landscape of the Rockies through routes first used by some of Canada’s Aboriginal people.
- “Voices Around the Fire” campfire sing-a-long at Wabasso Campground: Join a park interpreter for a lively hour of conversation and original, made-in-Jasper songs. Starting at 7:30 p.m.
- Get moving by attending the Métis Dance program, “Steps of the Jig, Echoes of the Fiddle”: With a unique blend of First Nations culture and European reels and jigs, our Métis interpreter shares an eclectic culture through the teachings of Canada’s unique heritage of the Métis people. Program starts at 9 p.m. at the Whistlers Campground Outdoor Theatre.
Many other activities are taking place over the weekend, including a demo with our local search and rescue dog and displays on fire management and travelling safely in bear country. For complete information on the weekend’s events, refer to the Friends of Jasper’s pullout in today’s paper, or visit the Friends website at www.friendsofjasper.com. See you this weekend!
Parks Canada
Special to the Fitzhugh
