Government of Canada Announces FREE ADMISSION ON CANADA DAY TO PARKS CANADA SITES

June 26, 2009

CALGARY, ALBERTA, JUNE 26, 2009 - Celebrate Canada Day by visiting Canada’s natural and cultural treasures. The Honourable Jim Prentice, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today announced that Parks Canada is offering free admission to all national parks, Parks Canada-administered national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.

“Canada Day is the ideal time for Canadians and visitors from around the world to experience Canada’s national heritage,” said Minister Prentice, the Regional Minister for Southern Alberta. “I’m inviting everyone to learn and experience something special about Canada by visiting one of our country’s treasured natural and historic places.”

Minister Prentice is also reminding the public of the Parks Canada fee freeze on entry fees, camping at national parks, lockage and mooring at historic canals and several other national fees for basic services.  The two-year freeze will make some of Canada’s major tourism destinations more affordable to the millions of Canadians and international visitors who visit Canada’s national parks and national historic sites each year, as well as to support local communities and Canada’s tourism industry.

”People from all over the world think of Alberta’s natural beauty when they think of Canada,” added Minister Prentice.  “Indeed Alberta offers many spectacular natural landscapes as well as interesting historic treasures, and I hope families and individuals from all over take the opportunity this Canada Day to experience a Canadian moment.”

Parks Canada is Canada’s largest provider of natural and cultural tourism products and its iconic destinations form the cornerstones of the Canadian tourism industry. Through a network of 42 national parks, 162 national historic sites, and three national marine conservation areas, Parks Canada sets the stage and invites Canadians, as well as people from around the world, to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery at these treasured natural and historic places.

More information on the national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas managed by Parks Canada, and how to get there, is available on the Agency’s Web site at www.pc.gc.ca/voyage-travel/evenement-event/index_e.asp or by calling 1 888-773-8888.