Parks Canada

Parks Canada was established on May 19, 1911, as the Dominion Parks Branch under the Department of the Interior, becoming the world's first national park service.[5] Since its creation, its name has changed, known variously as the Dominion Parks Branch, National Parks Branch, Parks Canada, Environment Canada – Parks Branch, and the Canadian Parks Service, before a return to Parks Canada in 1998. The service's activities are regulated under legislation such as the Canada National Parks Act, and the Parks Canada Agency Act, which established the current legal incorporation of the agency in 1998.[6]

To mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, Parks Canada offered free passes[7] to national parks and national historic sites for the year.

The Parks Canada Agency was established as a separate service entity in 1998 and falls under the responsibility of Environment and Climate Change Canada. Before 2003, Parks Canada (under various names) fell under the jurisdiction of the Department of Canadian Heritage, where it had been since 1994. From 1979 to 1994, Parks Canada was part of the Department of Environment, and before it was part of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (1966 to 1978), and the Department of the Interior.[8] With the organizational shifts and political leadership in Canada, the priorities of Parks Canada have shifted over the years more towards conservation and away from development.[8] Starting in the 1960s, Parks Canada has also moved to decentralize its operations.[8]

Parks Canada is currently headed by Ron Hallman following Daniel Watson, who was appointed in August 2015, following the retirement of Alan Latourelle, who had been reappointed on August 7, 2007.[9][10] As of 2004, the annual budget for Parks Canada is approximately $500 million, and the agency has 4,000 employees.[11]

• Parks Canada Agency Act (S.C. 1998, c. 31);[6]
• Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act (S.C. 2008, c. 16);[13]
• Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4),[14] which empowers the
  • Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada to create the
  • 167 National Historic Sites of Canada
• Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. 52),[15] which makes such structures fall under the Historic Sites and Monuments Board;
• Canadian Heritage Rivers System, which is defined under the Parks Canada Agency Act, and which governs
  • 37 Canadian Heritage Rivers
• Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, which governs the
  • Four National Marine Conservation Areas
• Canada National Parks Act, which creates
  • 46 National Parks of Canada, see also the List of National Parks of Canada
• Laurier House Act, R.S.C. 1952, c. 163
• Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park Act
• Historic Canals Regulations,[16] which governs the
  • Rideau Canal including the Tay Canal;
  • Trent-Severn Waterway including the
  • Murray Canal, which runs between Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte;
  • Sault Ste. Marie Canal;
  • Saint-Ours Canal;
  • Chambly Canal;
  • Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal;
  • Carillon Canal;
  • Lachine Canal;
  • St. Peters Canal.

The Department of Canadian Heritage, which runs federal Museums, and heritage and cultural programming, falls under the control of the Minister of Heritage.

A Parks Canada Park Warden badge

Park Wardens protect natural and cultural resources by conducting patrols of National Parks, National Historic sites and National Marine Conservation Areas. They ensure the safety of staff, visitors and residents, and conduct strategic enforcement activities aimed at public peace maintenance, resource protection, visitor enjoyment and administrative compliance. They are designated under section 18 of the Canada National Parks Act as Park Wardens and are peace officers pursuant to the Criminal Code of Canada. They carry firearms and non-lethal intervention options.[17]

The Minister may also designate provincial and local enforcement officers under section 19 of the Act for the purpose of enforcing laws within the specified parks. These officers have the power of peace officers only in relation to the Act.

In May 2012, it was reported that Park Wardens may be cross designated to enforce certain wildlife acts administered by Environment Canada. Should the designations go ahead it would only be for Park Wardens that are stationed near existing migratory bird sanctuaries.[18]

Essentially the intent of the change is to allow for a faster and lower-cost response to environmental enforcement incidents, particularly in remote areas in the north where Environment Canada does not have an ongoing presence, but Parks Canada has a Park Warden nearby who could act on its behalf, rather than have Environment Canada responded from a farther office.[19]

Parka, a female beaver, is Parks Canada's mascot.[20] A series of animated shorts starring her are hosted on the organization's website and have also been aired on television as interstitials.

• National Park Service
• Ontario Parks
• Pingo National Landmark

• Campbell, Claire Elizabeth, ed. Century of Parks Canada, 1911–2011 (University of Calgary Press, 2011), 447pp; essays by experts that trace the history of the agency
• Hildebrandt, Walter. Historical Analysis of Parks Canada and Banff National Park, 1968–1995 (1995)
• List of legislation for which Parks Canada is responsible
• Lothian, W.F. "A History of Canada's National Parks" Volumes I-IV (Ottawa: Parks Canada, 1976–1986)
• Lothian, W.F. "A Brief History of Canada's National Parks" (Ottawa: Environment Canada, 1987)
• Lothian, W.F. "Histoire des parcs nationaux du Canada" Volumes I-IV (Ottawa: Parcs Canada, 1977–1983)
• Lothian, W.F. "Petite histoire des parcs nationaux du Canada" (Ottawa: Environment Canada, 1987)

• Official website
• Parks Canada's channel on YouTube
• Park Wardens.com Information about Canada's ecozones
• National Park Warden Association
• Parks Canada Players
• 100 Years of Parks Canada, National Film Board of Canada website
• Claire Campbell, ed., A Century of Parks Canada, 1911–2011, Free eBook
• Parks Canada article in the Canadian Encyclopedia
• National Parks of Canada Electronic Library