The National Parks of Canada

THE NATIONAL PARKS OF CANADA

Canada shares with the United States the distinction of possessing one of the finest systems of national parks in the world. Set aside for the perpetual use and enjoyment of her people and guests from other lands, Canada's National Parks, like those of her neighbor, have been established with a common ideal. They are helping to conserve the wildlife of the country under natural conditions; to maintain, so far as possible, the landscape in its original state; and to preserve for present and future generations sites of national historic interest. With their diversified scenery and wealth of recreational attractions, the National Parks also offer unequalled opportunities for the enjoyment of outdoor life and recreation.

Canada's system of National Parks began with the setting apart, in 1885, of ten square miles around the hot mineral springs at Banff, Alberta. It now includes twenty-six units having a combined area of more than 29,000 square miles. For purposes of description the parks may be grouped in three main divisions. The scenic and recreational parks extend in a great chain from the mountains of British Columbia to the Atlantic sea-board; the wild animal parks were established as sanctuaries for certain big game species threatened with extinction; and the national historic parks, which contain sites memorable in the history of the nation.

The first group includes Banff Park (2,585 sq. m.), Jasper Park (4,200 sq. m.), and Waterton Lakes Park (204 sq. m.), in Alberta; Kootenay Park (543 sq. m.), Yoho Park (507 sq. M.), Glacier Park (521 sq. m.), and Mount Revelstoke Park (100 sq. m.), in British Columbia; Prince Albert Park (1,496 sq. m.) in Saskatchewan; Riding Mountain Park (1,148 sq. m.) in Manitoba; Point Pelee Park (6.5 sq. m.), Georgian Bay Islands Park (5.37 sq. m.) and St.Lawrence Islands Park (190 acres) in Ontario; Cape Breton Highlands Park (390 sq. m.) in Nova Scotia; and Prince Edward Island Park (7 sq. m.).

A new national park has been established in New Brunswick. Title to an area of nearly 80 square miles, mainly in Albert County, has been provided by the Provincial Government. The park area lies between the Goose and Upper Salmon (Alma) Rivers and extends northward from the Bay of Fundy for a distance of about nine miles.

The wild animal preserves or parks include Elk Island Park in Alberta, (75.2 sq. m.) and Wood Buffalo Park, (17,300 sq. m.) straddling the boundary between Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

The National Historic Parks include Fort Anne Park (31 acres), Port Royal Park (17 acres), and Fortress of Louisbourg Park (340 acres) in Nova Scotia; Fort Beausejour Park (79.78 acres) in New Brunswick; Fort Lennox Park (210 acres) and Fort Chambly Park (2.5 acres) in Quebec; Fort Wellington Park (8.5 acres) and Fort Malden Park (5 acres) in Ontario; and Fort Prince of Wales Park (50 acres) in Manitoba.

The parks are administered by the Department of Mines and Resources through the National Parks Service, and the local administration is carried out by resident superintendents or other officials. In addition to the protection of the wildlife, forests, and natural features of the parks, provision is made for the comfort and convenience of visitors. Within the parks nearly 700 miles of highways and 3,000 miles of riding and hiking trails have been constructed to provide access to outstanding scenic regions. Picturesque townsites, in which the style of architecture is required to harmonize with the beauty of the surroundings, have been developed at the administrative centres of the larger parks. Hotels, chalets, bungalow camps and other tourist accommodations provided by private enterprise have been supplemented by the construction of equipped public camp-grounds which are available to visitors.

The delights of the mountain national parks in Canada are almost limitless. From the moment the visitor enters he is swept into a world of enchantment. Peak after peak rear their massive forms into the blue of the sky, their marvellous colouring changing with the shifting of light and shade, are a joy and a revelation to the beholder. Everywhere one finds the same combination of wild grandeur, the same perfect harmony of peak and cliff, snow-field and glacier, forest, lake, cataract, and stream which make of the Rockies and Selkirks a vast scenic wonderland.

Banff National Park, on the eastern slopes of the Rockies, contains the two world-famous resorts, Banff and Lake Louise. The townsite of Banff, the park headquarters, forms the starting point for many interesting motor trips, and is also the main outfitting centre for trail excursions into the Central Rockies. Forty miles northwest of Banff is Lake Louise, one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the world. Other outstanding points of interest in Banff Park are Moraine Lake, Paradise Valley, Mount Assiniboine, Johnston Canyon and Lake Minnewanka.

Jasper National Park, adjoining Banff Park on its northern boundary, contains magnificent mountain ranges, glaciers, and icefields; remarkable canyons, and brightly coloured lakes. The park is also noted for the beauty of its alpine valleys, watered by streams which have their source in the vast icefields of the Rockies. From the townsite of Jasper, the park headquarters, may be reached such well known points as Mount Edith Cavell, Athabaska Falls, Miette Hot Springs, Maligne Lake and Tonquin Valley. Jasper Park is one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries on the North American continent. It is linked directly with Banff National Park by the Banff-Jasper Highway. Threading its way for 186 miles through the very heart of the Rockies, this road opens to the motorist regions of scenic grandeur formerly accessible only by trail. In addition to providing connection between the world-famous resorts of Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper, the road gives access to the great Columbia Ice-field.

Waterton Lakes Park, in southern Alberta, adjoins the United States Glacier National Park, and forms the Canadian section of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. The Waterton Lakes region is noted for the beautiful colouring of the mountain peaks, and the many recreational facilities provided in the park are enjoyed by increasing numbers each year. The Chief Mountain International Highway links Waterton Lakes and Glacier National Parks.

On the western slope of the Rockies in British Columbia are situated Kootenay and Yoho Parks, whose eastern boundaries adjoin Banff Park. A unique system of highways links the three parks, providing a remarkable circle tour by motor. Yoho Park (Yoho is an Indian expression meaning wonderful) contains the famed Yoho Valley, with numerous magnificent waterfalls cascading down the steep mountain slopes. Other noted scenic areas are Emerald Lake and Lake O'Hara. Kootenay Park has as one of its premier attractions, Radium Hot Spring, where the National Parks Service operates a large outdoor swimming pool.

The most westerly of the National Parks of Canada are Glacier and Mount Revelstoke Parks in British Columbia. Glacier Park is accessible only by railway and its chief claims to fame are its lofty peaks; its deep valleys clothed in dense forests of giant cedar and Douglas fir; its glaciers, of which the Illecillewaet is the largest; and its Nakimu Caves, interesting underground caverns formed by erosion. Mount Revelstoke Park, situated on the rolling plateau atop Mount Revelstoke, provides beautiful alpine scenery and in winter is a noted skiing centre. It is reached by a picturesque road which winds up the slopes of the mountain.

In addition to the mountain parks, beautiful areas in the Prairie Provinces have been set aside for park purposes. Prince Albert Park in Saskatchewan, with its wonderfully connected waterways and inviting white sand beaches, forms a typical example of the beautiful lake country of northwestern Canada. Riding Mountain Park in Manitoba, situated 2,200 feet above sea level, is a charming contrast to the surrounding plains. Both these parks have been developed as summer resorts, and contain many facilities for outdoor recreation.

The national parks in Ontario serve as national recreational centres. Point Pelee Park, stretching southward into Lake Erie, has miles of broad sand beaches, fine camp-sites, and interesting flora usually found in more southern latitudes. It also contains extensive marshland areas, which provide sanctuary for thousands of waterfowl on their annual migrations. Georgian Bay Islands Park and St. Lawrence Islands Park are, as the names imply, island park units in the Georgian Bay section of Lake Huron and in the St. Lawrence River. They offer remarkable opportunities for camping, fishing, bathing, and boating.

In the Maritime Provinces will be found two interesting seaside parks. Cape Breton Highlands Park in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It combines the attractions of fine sea beaches and rugged coastline with a high mountainous tableland which forms the interior of the park. Accessible by a scenic highway called the Cabot Trail, which girdles its northern part, the park offers vistas of land and sea that are delightful and inspiring.

Prince Edward Island Park extends along the northern shore of the Island Province for nearly twenty-five miles. It includes magnificent sand beaches which stretch along the Gulf of St. Lawrence and provide delightful salt-water bathing. The park also contains Green Gables, the farmstead made famous by the novels of L. M. Montgomery, around which a picturesque golf links has been developed.

As fields for outdoor recreation, the national parks are unsurpassed. Riding, motoring, fishing, mountain climbing, boating, swimming, hiking, and tennis are among the most popular summer sports. The mountain slopes of Banff, Jasper and Mount Revelstoke Parks provide unexcelled opportunities for alpine skiing. Many of the lakes and streams in the parks have been stocked with game fish. Species native to or introduced to western park waters include the rainbow, cut-throat, Dolly Varden, Eastern brook, and Lake Trout. In Eastern National Parks waters are found the fighting black bass, the maskinonge, pickerel, and great northern pike. Two of the finest golf courses in Canada are located in Banff and Jasper Parks, and excellent golf may also be enjoyed on the park courses in Riding Mountain, Waterton Lakes, Prince Albert, Elk Island, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton Highlands Parks.

Miles of modern highways within the larger parks offer an easy means of viewing the natural wonders from an automobile. One of the most satisfying means of exploring the parks is on horseback over the numerous and spectacular trails which have been constructed through the wilderness. Outfitters in the administrative centres of the parks are prepared to equip parties for short or extensive "rides". Annual outings, which are adequately supervised, are also conducted each year in the mountain parks by The Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies.

The growing accessibility of the National Parks has been a prime factor in their increasing popularity with the public. More than one million persons visit the parks annually. Many of the parks are served directly by the Canadian National or Canadian Pacific railway systems, or have highway connection with the nearest rail points. Most of the parks are either traversed by or are linked with the main arteries of motor travel. Air line and bus services also provide convenient means of access to most of the parks.

The value of sanctuary conditions in the conservation of wildlife has been clearly demonstrated in the national parks. These areas throughout Canada provide breeding places for many species of wildlife that spread beyond park borders and help stock the surrounding districts. The prohibition of hunting has largely freed the wild animals from the fear of man, and they are becoming noticeably tamer each year. Deer and bear now come within a few yards of human habitation, Rocky Mountain sheep graze along the highways, elk frequent the mountain golf courses, and other creatures of the wild are often encountered. While hunting is not permitted and the possession of unsealed fire-arms forbidden, "shooting with a camera" is a very popular pastime, and in the national parks the camera hunter is reasonably assured of a fine bag of trophies.

Canada's experiment with the buffalo has assured the future of this magnificent animal which less than fifty years ago faced extinction. Elk Island Park, east of Edmonton, Alberta, contains a herd of more than 1,000 head and in Wood Buffalo Park there is a herd of buffalo estimated to contain at least 9,000 head. Small exhibition herds are also maintained at Banff, Prince Albert and Riding Mountain Parks.

In addition to the maintenance and development of scenic, recreational, and wild animal parks, the National Parks Service has been entrusted with the preservation, restoration, and marking of places of national historic importance throughout Canada. In the selection of sites worthy of commemoration, the National Parks Service is assisted by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, an honorary body whose members, resident in various parts of the country, are historians of recognized standing. A number of the more important sites, particularly those containing the remains of early fortifications and surrounded by considerable areas, have been set aside as National Historic Parks.

The National Parks of Canada conserve for the future outstanding regions of natural beauty and places of national interest. They also ensure that Canadians will have access to them for all time. They are inalienable national possessions of which a country should be vastly proud. Their value to the nation grows more apparent every year, for not only do they add to the economic wealth of the country, but they are serving to meet the aesthetic, educational, and recreational needs of all the people.