Parks Canada’s CEO Award of Excellence is the most prestigious honour awarded by the agency to recognize Parks Canada team members and partners who have demonstrated a high level of excellence. The awards are presented annually, and celebrate the outstanding achievements of employees as they work to fulfill Parks Canada’s mandate, vision and goals.
On Tuesday June 11, Jasper National Park employees Kim Weir and Shelley Bird were each presented with a 2013 CEO Award of Excellence in the category of Engaging Partners, for their work as part of a project team that developed an innovative urban outreach program to connect Calgary Zoo visitors with Parks Canada’s places and stories.
The program, now in its third year, hires summer students to provide accessible and engaging programs at the zoo on key themes such as bears, fire, caribou, whooping crane and bison.
The students wear Parks Canada uniforms and usually work in the Canadian Wilds section, alongside the species they are describing, which provides Calgary Zoo visitors with a deeper experience and a unique way to learn. Parks Canada’s theatre group Mountain WITT also rotates on the schedule, providing their highly entertaining approach to public outreach and engagement.
The Parks Canada team members who negotiated, developed and deliver the Calgary Zoo program embody the best practices in public outreach and engagement. Partnering with the Calgary Zoo allows Parks Canada to reach out to urban audiences and families, helping over 30,000 people each summer connect with national park animals and landscapes.
The Calgary Zoo program is now being used as a model for the urban outreach programs that will take place at partner venues in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver this summer.
Congratulations Kim and Shelley!
