PARKS CANADA EXTENDS SUSPENSION OF CAMPING RESERVATIONS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY UNTIL AT LEAST MAY 31, 2020

Parks Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians, visitors, and its employees. The Agency is calling on Canadians to stay home and help limit the spread of COVID-19. Camping, group activities and events at all national parks, national historic sites, heritage canals and national marine conservation areas are suspended until at least May 31, 2020. The current suspension of visitor services and vehicle access by visitors, as well as the temporary closure of visitor facilities, will remain in place until further notice.

Camping reservations, Fees and Events

·  Parks Canada will not be taking new reservations until at least June 1, 2020. All existing reservations for camping, accommodation or activities set to take place prior to May 31, 2020 will be automatically cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Visitors do not need to cancel their reservations.

·  If visitors have a reservation after May 31, 2020, they do not need to cancel their reservation. However, they are encouraged to check back closer to their date of arrival regarding cancellations.

·  All events, group and interpretive activities planned until at least May 31, 2020 are cancelled.

·  Parks Canada will automatically extend the end date of Discovery Passes for the full duration of the suspension period. For each month or part of a month that visitor services are not offered due to Parks Canada’s efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, a full month will be added to the end date of the annual pass.

Visitor services and facilities

·  All visitor services, including reception, information, lockage and mooring are suspended until further notice.

·  All visitor facilities, including parking lots, washrooms, day use areas and visitor centres are closed until further notice.

·  All camping facilities including backcountry camping, oTENTiks, and other roofed accommodations remain closed until further notice.

·  Many trails across the Parks Canada Network are closed for public safety, for the protection of ecological or cultural resources, because of human-wildlife interaction concerns, or limited search and rescue capacity. However, in general, pedestrian and bicycle access is not affected by this closure.

·  Parks Canada continues to deliver services critical for Canadians, including highway maintenance, fire response, dam operations and water management on historic waterways, avalanche control, among others.

Visiting Parks Canada Places

·  Parks Canada is asking our visitors to help us support Canada’s efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 and stay home. Anyone planning to visit a Parks Canada location should cancel their plans.

·  Parks Canada asks all Canadians to follow the Public Health Agency of Canada’s guidelines including keeping a healthy distance of 2 metres from others.

·  Anyone participating in recreational activities should be extra cautious to avoid injury and/or getting lost to help minimize the demands placed on our search and rescue teams and on the health care system.

·  All Canadians should leave no trace when they are in any outdoor space. Please take all your garbage with you and keep these places clean.

Detailed information on Parks Canada places and the measures the Agency is taking to limit the spread of COVID-19 can be found at pc.gc.ca. Please check regularly for updates.

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