May 21, 2010

Kenora, ON – Announced by Environment Minister Jim Prentice on Earth Day, the “My Parks Pass” program gives Grade 8 students across Canada free access to Canada’s national parks and historic sites. Greg Rickford, MP for Kenora, was in Kenora today to share this news and to present passes to Grade 8 students at Evergreen and St. Thomas Aquinas Schools.

“My Parks Pass” is a program-partnering initiative with Nature Canada and The Historica-Dominion Institute, which will allow over 400,000 Grade 8 students to enter Parks Canada administered national parks and national historic sites for free over the next twelve months.

“I’m very pleased to be passing on this exciting news to our Grade 8 students,” said Rickford. “Parks Canada offers some of the most unique and relevant places to appreciate Canada. This new opportunity is a great way for students to connect with Canada’s natural and historical treasures.”

This initiative celebrates a legacy of 125 years of National Parks in Canada. The first park was established near Banff in 1885, covering 26 square kilometres. Today, national parks cover over 225,000 square kilometres – about 2% of Canada’s land mass. The goal of the national park service is to create a system of protected areas which represent all the distinct natural regions of the country.

• The passes provide access to 27 national parks and 68 national historic sites. In addition to twelve months of free access to the parks, beginning this September all new Grade 8 classes across Canada will be able to visit their national parks and Parks Canada-administered national historic sites for free when visiting as part of an organized school trip. Families will also receive a discount when visiting with a “My Parks Pass” holder.

“Canada’s future lies in the hands of its youth, Parks Canada and I are especially proud to place a key to the nation’s greatest treasures in those young hands,” said Minister Prentice. “The ‘My Parks Pass’ will open the doors to Grade 8 students to connect their hearts and minds to the places and events that embody the very essence of Canada.”

For additional information on Parks Canada’s the “My Parks Pass,” please see the accompanying backgrounder at www.parkscanada.gc.ca  under Media Room.