National Park Learning Package:
Write a Proposal To Establish a New National Park in Canada
Written By: Sara Edmison, Opeongo High School - Renfrew County District School Board
Susan Staple, Education Specialist - Parks Canada.
Curriculum Expectations - for a listing of curriculum expectations, see Appendix A
Overview:
This National Park Learning Package provides students with the opportunity to learn
about Canada’s national park system. Students will study a specific ecozone; learn
about the process for establishing new national parks; and are tasked with writing a
proposal to establish a new national park in Canada.
Duration:
2-3 days for background on national parks (sample activities provided)
5 in-class research days, plus personal student time to complete proposal
Materials Included in this Package:
Background Information
Sample Activities
Culminating Task and Rubric
Map - Completing Canada’s National Park System
Canada’s National Park Quick Reference Chart
Establishing New National Parks in Canada - 5 Step Process
Case Study: The Creation of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
(Note: teachers need to download the national park fact sheets from Parks Canada’s
“Teacher Resource Centre” website: www.pc.gc.ca/education )
Useful Resources:
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Parks Canada’s web site (www.pc.gc.ca)
Parks Canada’s fact sheets for each of Canada’s 41 National Parks (www.pc.gc.ca/education
click on “Teacher Resource Centre”)
Fact Sheets on Canada’s 15 terrestrial ecozones (www.pc.gc.ca/education click on “Teacher
Resource Centre” )
“Canada’s National Parks and Terrestrial Ecozones” Map (www.pc.gc.ca/education click on
“Teacher Resource Centre”)
“Completing Canada’s National Park System” Map
“Canada’s National Parks - Quick Reference Chart”
“Establishing New National Parks in Canada” reference sheets for teachers
“Case Study: The Creation of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada”
“Canada and the World Atlas” (© Prentice-Hall Canada: Scarborough, ON: 1995)
Updated: July, 2005
Background Information
Introduction to Canada’s National Parks
Open discussion on national parks with your students to determine prior knowledge:
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Can anyone name a national park?
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Has anyone visited a national park?
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Why are these areas of Canada protected?
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What are some reasons for protection?
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Why are national parks important?
Canada’s National Parks System
National parks are part of a country-wide system of representative natural areas of Canadian
significance. Canada’s national parks system began in 1885 with the creation of Banff National
Park, and has since expanded to represent many of Canada’s unique landscapes.
There are currently 41 national parks and national park reserves in Canada, located in every
province and territory. They include areas on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, throughout the
interior mountains, plains, Shield Lakes, the Great Lakes, and in the far north and south of
Canada. They range in size from 8.7 km2 to 44 802 km2. The parks and reserves include such
well known names as Banff, Jasper and Fundy, but also such little known names as Ivvavik,
Vuntut and Aulavik.
Extent of Canada’s National Parks System
The goal of the national park system is to have at least one national park located in each of
Canada's 39 natural regions. To achieve this, 13 additional national parks are needed. Work is
underway to create these new parks in co-operation with provinces, territories, Aboriginal
Peoples, other federal departments, interest groups, and the public. Currently, the national parks
system encompasses about 224 466 km2 or about 2% of Canada's land mass. When the system
is complete it will protect just over 3% of Canada.
By law, Canada’s national parks are protected for public understanding, appreciation and
enjoyment, while being maintained in an unimpaired state for future generations. However,
there is increasing realization that simply designating an area is not enough to protect it. Parks
must be established and managed in new ways if they are to protect Canada's wild ecosystems
in the long term.
In most cases this means that to be effective, management actions go beyond park boundaries
to a wider zone called a “Greater Park Ecosystem”, and involve cooperative actions by many
conservation partners. A high priority for Parks Canada is to protect the ecological integrity of
Canada’s national parks. What does this mean? Ecosystems have integrity when their native
components, those which should be located in the defined area (e.g. plants, animals and other
organisms), and the processes (such as growth and reproduction) are functioning and are intact.
Page 2
One key benefit of national parks is that they provide excellent opportunities for the study of
natural environments and their components. Studies and research are not only of value in
assisting park management and interpretation, but they contribute to the growing body of
scientific knowledge concerning our natural world. Scientific studies in national parks are seen
as increasingly important because they provide long term benchmarks and can help reveal
changes occurring in ecosystems as a result of human intervention or nature.
Canada’s national parks compared to Ontario provincial parks
Canada’s National Parks System
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Goal: to protect representative examples of Canada’s natural landscapes and natural
phenomena. Parks Canada would like to have one national park in each of Canada’s
39 natural regions
administered by the Parks Canada Agency, under federal government jurisdiction
41 national parks located in each province and territory across Canada
currently the national parks located in Ontario are:
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Bruce Peninsula National Park of Canada/Fathom Five National Marine
Park of Canada
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Georgian Bay Islands National Park of Canada
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Point Pelee National Park of Canada
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Pukaskwa National Park of Canada
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St. Lawrence Islands National Park of Canada
Ontario’s Provincial Parks System
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Goal: to provide a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities and to protect provincially
significant natural, cultural and recreational environments in a system of Provincial
Parks. (Ontario Provincial Parks: Planning and Management Policies, 1992)
under provincial jurisdiction; a division of Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources
over 375 provincial parks in Ontario
for additional information, visit the Ontario Provincial Parks web site at:
www.ontarioparks.com
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Sample Activities
Sample Activity A - National Parks Information Search
Required Resource: “Canada and the World Atlas” - pages 55-56
“Canada and the World Atlas”. Prentice Hall Canada: Scarborough, ON :1995
Sample questions:
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Which ecozones have more than 15% protected area?
Which ecozones have less than 5% protected area?
How much protected area does the ecozone we are located in have? Name the
national parks located in this ecozone.
Which wildlife species were most at risk in 1990? Suggest why.
Which ten year span had the greatest increase in federal, provincial and territorial
protected areas?
What is the current amount of protected area in Canada?
What was the national park attendance in 1955?
What did it increase to in 1990? Why do you think this increase occurred?
Which national park receives the largest number of visitors?
Describe the location of four of the five national parks which receive the greatest
visitation. Why do you think they receive such high attendance?
Sample Activity B - National Parks Features Search
Have the students examine the “Canada’s National Parks - Quick Reference Chart” to
discover specific information for various national parks.
Have the students identify parks that meet the following criteria:
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largest and smallest national parks
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oldest and youngest national parks
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are home to unique wildlife
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made up of islands
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located in the Taiga Plains ecozone
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ecozones that contain only 1 national park
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ecozones that contain 5 or more national parks
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Sample Activity C - Getting to know Canada’s National Parks
Using the national park fact sheets (available at www.pc.gc.ca/education in the “Teacher
Resource Centre”), match the correct national park with the descriptions provided below.
Banff National Park
Kluane National Park Reserve
Elk Island
Nahanni National Park Reserve
Fundy National Park
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Georgian Bay Islands National Park
Point Pelee National Park
Glacier National Park
Pukaskwa Pelee National Park
Grasslands National Park
Quttinirpaaq National Park
Gros Morne National Park
Riding Mountain National Park
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Terra Nova National Park
1.
2.
3.
4.
This national park has the highest tides in the world. _______________________________
This national park is situated in the world’s largest freshwater archipelago ______________
Canada’s first national park, established in 1885. _______________
This national park protects some of the last remaining original mixed-grass prairie of its kind.
___________________________
5. This national park is Canada’s most northerly park, and contains 900 metre thick icefields.
____________________________
6. The first natural site named to the UNESCO World Heritage List _________________
7. This national park is located in the Canadian Shield on the north shore of Lake Superior
____________________________
8. The word “mountain” is in this park’s name, however, the park is located in the Prairies
____________________________
9. Canada’s easternmost national park. _________________________
10. This national park is noted for its outstanding geological features and deep-sea fjords
____________________________
11. Located on Vancouver Island, this national park contains some the biggest and oldest trees in
Canada. ____________________________
12. Rogers Pass is located in this park - the park’s name means “large chunk of ice”. _______
13. The word “island” in my name but I am not an island. _______________
14. This national park is the most southerly point of mainland Canada - as far south as northern
California. ___________________________
15. This national park protects the Garry oak system - one of Canada’s most endangered
ecosystems. ________________________________
16. This national park contains Canada’s highest mountain peak. ____________________
Write a Proposal to Establish a New National Park
Culminating Activity
TASK: Write a proposal to establish a new national park in Canada.
Procedure
1. Choose an ecozone to research. No more than two students will examine the same ecozone.
2. Gather the necessary information on the ecozone, as outlined in Part A.
3. Use the information of your ecozone to choose a specific area within the ecozone that should be
protected.
4. Write a proposal for a new national park, ensuring to include the required items as outlined in Part B.
Refer to “Establishing New National Parks in Canada” while completing this section.
5. Use maps, chart, graphs and pictures to support your proposal, as outlined in Part C.
The focus of the report should be on creating a convincing proposal.
Necessary Items To Be Included in the Student’s Proposal
Part A - Information on the Ecozone
Part B - Proposed National Park Features
Part C - Maps
Part A: Information on
the Ecozone
Physical Features
T Location
T Landforms
T Vegetation
T Climate
T Wildlife
Human Features
T Population
T Human characteristics
T Major cities
Part B: Proposed National Park Features
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
Location
Key features for protection
Size
Zoning
Attractions, services, activities
How visitors will reach the park
Rules and regulations
Threats to the park
Impact the park will have on the area
Part C: Maps
T Map of Canada showing the ecozone and the
location of the proposed park
T A map to show the proposed park and its features
Requirements:
‘ title page
‘ typed
‘ double spaced
‘ size 12 font
‘ paragraph form
‘ list of resources used
Activity Rubric - Proposal for a New National Park
Name: ___________________________________
Level 4
Level 3
Critical think ing sk ills
(conducting analysis,
detecting point of
view and bias)
... with a high degree
of clarity and
effectiveness
Uses critical thinking
sk ills with considerable
clarity and
effectiveness
... with m ode rate
clarity and
effectiveness
... with limited clarity
and effectiveness
Creative thinking
skills (problem
solving)
... with a high degree
of effectiveness
Applies creative
think ing sk ills with
considerable
effectiveness
...with m ode rate
effectiveness
... with limited
effectiveness
Inquiry skills
(formulating questions,
organizing and
conducting research,
analysing, interpreting
and evaluating
information, drawing on
conclusions)
... applies all or almost
all of the skills
Applies moste of the skills
involved in the inquiry
process
... appplies some of
the skills
... applies few of the
skills
Communication of
information and ideas
... with a high degree of
clarity
Communicates
information and ideas
with considerable clarity
... with moderate
clarity
... with limited clarity
Use of symbols and
visuals, including the
use of technology
...with a high degree of
accuracy and
effectiveness
Uses symbols and visuals
with considerable
accuracy and
effectiveness
... with moderate
accuracy and
effectiveness
... with limited
accuracy and
effectiveness
Written communciation
for different audiences
and purposes
... with a high degree of
effectiveness
Communicates in writing
for different audiences
and purposes with
considerable
effectiveness
... with moderate
effectiveness
... with limited
effectiveness
Making predictions and
planning for courses of
action
... with a high degree of
effectiveness
Makes predictions and
plans courses of action
with considerable
effectiveness
...with moderate
effectiveness
... with limited
effectiveness
Page 7
Level 2
Level 1
Page 8
Canada’s National Parks - Quick Reference Chart
National Park Name
Year
Established
or Year of
Ag ree m ent
Area
(km2 )
Location
Description
Ecozone
Website URL
Aulavik
1992
12 200
North end of Banks Island in the Northwest
Territories
Home to the endangered Peary caribou and to the
highest density of muskoxen in the world
Northern Arctic
www.pc.gc.ca/aulavik
Auyuittuq
1976
19 089
Within the Arctic Circle, northeastern shore
of Baffin Island, Nunavut
Classic alpine glacial landscape: mountains, deep
fjords and glaciers
Arctic Cordillera
www.pc.gc.ca/auyuittuq
Banff
1885
6 641
Southwest Alberta, Rocky Mountains
Mountain landscape comprising alpine, subalpine
and montane sceneries
Montane Cordillera
www.pc.gc.ca/banff
Bruce Peninsula
1987
154
Lake Huron, Southern Ontario
Jetty of land and rugged cliffs advancing in Lake
Huron forming Georgian Bay to the east
Mixedwood Plains
www.pc.g.ca/bruce
Cape Breton
Highlands
1936
950
Northern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Spectacular cliffs and coastal wilderness between
the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Maritime
www.pc.gc.ca/capebreton
Elk Island
1913
194
Central Alberta, east of Edmonton
Rolling hills oasis surrounded by cultivated lands,
towns and industries
Prairie
www.pc.gc.ca/elkisland
Forillon
1970
240
Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec
Ecologically-rich mountainous peninsula extending
into Gulf of St. Lawrence
Atlantic Maritime
www.pc.gc.ca/forillon
Fundy
1948
206
On Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick
Acadian forests and site of world’s highest tides
Atlantic Maritime
www.pc.gc.ca/fundy
Georgian Bay Islands
1929
12
In the “Thirty Thousand Islands”, along
Georgian Bay’s eastern shoreline
Forest transition zone and time-worn rock faces
Mixedwood Plains
and Boreal Shield
www.pc.gc.ca/georgianbay
Glacier
1886
1 350
Southeast British Columbia
Mountains, interior rain forest and glaciers
Montane Cordillera
www.pc.gc.ca/glacier
Grasslands
1988
907
Southern Saskatchewan, bordering on the
United States
Represents some of the last remaining original
mixed-grass prairie
Prairie
www.pc.gc.ca/grasslands
Gros Morne
1973
1 805
On Newfoundland’s west coast
Freshwater inland fjords and dramatic scenery
Boreal Shield
www.pc.gc.ca/grosmorne
Gulf Islands
2003
34
In southern Strait of Georgia, British
Columbia
Unique climate and ecosystems
Pacific Maritime
www.pc.gc.ca/gulfislands
Gwaii Haanas
1988
1 495
Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia
West Coast mountainous islands
Pacific Maritime
www.pc.gc.ca/gwaiihaanas
Ivvavik
1984
9 750
Northwestern corner of Yukon Territory
Home of the Porcupine caribou herd
Taiga Cordillera
www.pc.gc.ca/ivvavik
Jasper
1907
10 878
In the Rockies in west-central Alberta,
bordering British Columbia
Largest and most northerly of the six Rocky
Mountain parks
Montane Cordillera
www.pc.gc.ca/jasper
Kejimkujik
1974
403
Southwest Nova Scotia
Home of several endangered and unique species
Atlantic Maritime
www.pc.gc.ca/kejimkujik
Kluane
1976
22 016
Southwest Yukon Territory
Home of Canada’s highest mountains
Boreal Cordillera
and Pacific Maritime
www.pc.gc.ca/kluane
Kouchibouguac
1969
239
On the shores of the Gulf St. Lawrence in
New Brunswick
Protects New Brunswick Lowlands
Atlantic Maritime
www.pc.gc.ca/kouchibouguac
Kootenay
1920
1 406
Southeastern Rockies in British Columbia
From glacier-clad peaks to semi-arid grasslands
Montane Cordillera
www.pc.gc.ca/kootenay
Year
Established
or Year of
Ag ree m ent
Area
(km2 )
La Mauricie
1977
536
In the Laurentian Mountains, Quebec
Forests and lakes in the heart of ancient mountains
Boreal Shield
www.pc.gc.ca/lamauricie
Mingan Archipelago
1984
151
In the Jacques Cartier Channel, northeast
Quebec
Home to rare plants and a multitude of birds
Boreal Shield
www.pc.gc.ca/mingan
Mount Revelstoke
1914
260
Southeast British Columbia, adjacent to the
city of Revelstoke
Rainforest of 1 000-year-old cedars and spectacular
mountains
Montane Cordillera
www.pc.gc.ca/revelstoke
Nahanni
1976
4 766
Southwest Northwest Territories
Canyons, Mackenzie Mountains, wild rivers
Taiga Cordillera and
Taiga Plains
www.pc.gc.ca/nahanni
Pacific Rim
1970
510
Southwest coast of Vancouver Island
Rich marine life, beaches and coastal forests
Pacific Maritime
www.pc.gc.ca/pacificrim
Point Pelee
1918
15.2
On Lake Erie in Southwestern Ontario
Staging ground for numerous bird species and
monarch butterfly migrations
Mixedwood Plains
www.pc.gc.ca/pointpelee
Prince Albert
1927
3 875
Central Saskatchewan
Forested and grassland plains. Home to a freeranging plains bison herd.
Boreal Plains
www.pc.gc.ca/princealbert
Prince Edward Island
1937
27
On the gulf side of Prince Edward Island
Sand dunes protecting the piping plover.
Atlantic Maritime
www.pc.gc.ca/pei
Pukaskwa
1978
1 878
Northeast end of Lake Superior
Rugged Lake Superior shoreline and boreal forest
Boreal Shield
www.pc.gc.ca/pukaskwa
Quttinirpaaq
1988
37 775
North end of Ellesmere Island - the northern
extremity of the Arctic Archipelago
Driest polar desert in the Northern Hemisphere
Arctic Cordillera and
Northern Arctic
www.pc.gc.ca/quttinirpaaq
Riding Mountain
1929
2 969
Southwest Manitoba
Grassland, boreal and mixedwood forests
Boreal Plains
www.pc.gc.ca/ridingmountain
Sirmilik
2001
22 200
Northeast Baffin Island and Bylot Island
“The Place of Glaciers”; spectacular rugged
mountains, icefields, glaciers and coastal lowlands
Arctic Cordillera and
Northern Arctic
www.pc.gc.ca/simirlik
St. Lawrence Islands
1904
9
Thousand Islands area, eastern Ontario
Vital link of an important natural corridor
Mixedwood Plains
www.pc.gc.ca/sli
Terra Nova
1957
397
On eastern shore of Newfoundland
Northern end of the Appalachian Mountains
Boreal Shield
www.pc.gc.ca/terranova
Tuktut Nogait
1998
16 340
Northeastern region of the Northwest
Territories, on the Nunavut border
Calving grounds for the Bluenose caribou
Southern Arctic
www.pc.gc.ca/tuktutnogait
Ukkusiksalik
2003
20 558
South of the Arctic Circle, around Wager
Bay, Nunavut
Glacier-carved tundra and Hudson Bay influence
Northern Arctic
www.pc.gc.ca
Vuntut
1995
4 345
Northwestern corner of Yukon Territory
Northern Yukon’s unique non-glaciated landscape
Taiga Cordillera
www.pc.gc.ca/vuntut
Wapusk
1996
11 475
Northern Manitoba, on Hudson Bay
One of the world's largest polar bear denning areas
Hudson Plains
www.pc.gc.ca/wapusk
Waterton Lakes
1895
505
Southwestern Alberta adjoining Glacier
National Park in Montana, USA
The place where the Rocky Mountains meet the
prairies
Montane Cordillera
www.pc.gc.ca/waterton
Wood Buffalo
1922
44 802
Straddling Alberta and the Northwest
Territories
World’s largest free roaming bison herd
Boreal Plains and
Taiga Plains
www.pc.gc.ca/woodbuffalo
Yoho
1886
1 313
Southeastern British Columbia, on the
Alberta border
Rockwalls and waterfalls
Montane Cordillera
www.pc.gc.ca/yoho
National Park Name
Location
Description
Ecozone
Website URL
Establishing New National Parks in Canada - 5 Step Process
National parks are special types of public lands administered by the federal government under the
provisions of the National Parks Act. The focus of Canada’s National Park System Plan is to protect
diverse natural landscapes for the benefit of present and future generations, with the first priority being
maintenance of ecological health.
Identifying, selecting and establishing new national parks can be a long and complex process. Although
there is a sequence of steps followed for identifying, selecting and establishing new national parks, each
situation is different, and the final result reflects the individual circumstances and the involvement of all
those parties that are directly affected.
STEP 1 Identifying Representative Natural Areas
Because the goal is to represent each of Canada’s 39 terrestrial natural regions in the national parks
system, efforts to create new parks are concentrated on those natural regions that do not have a national
park. In these regions, studies are carried out to identify areas worth consideration. To qualify, such
areas must first contain a good representation of the natural features and processes characterizing the
region, including its wildlife, vegetation, geology and land forms. The second criterion is that human
impact should be minimal; that is, the area should be in a natural state.
STEP 2 Selecting Potential Park Areas
Once representative natural areas have been identified in a natural region, further studies and
consultations are undertaken to select one of these areas as a potential national park. In comparing
possible areas at this stage, a wide range of factors are considered, including:
<
quality of natural region representation
<
potential for supporting viable populations of native wildlife species
<
ecological integrity of the area’s ecosystems
<
exceptional natural phenomena, and rare, threatened or endangered wildlife and vegetation
<
significant cultural heritage features or landscapes
<
opportunities for public understanding, education and enjoyment
<
competing land and resources uses
<
possible threats to the long-term sustainability of the area’s ecosystems
<
complementary with objectives of other existing or planned protected natural areas in the region
<
potential for establishing an adjacent national marine conservation area that is representative of
its marine region
<
implications of Aboriginal rights, comprehensive land claims and treaties with Aboriginal peoples,
and
<
international criteria for national parks (IUCN - The World Conservation Union)
Page 11
STEP 3
Assessing Park Feasibility
When a potential park area has been selected for the natural region, a new park proposal is prepared
as the basis for a detailed feasibility assessment, including public consultations. The factors listed above
are now studied in greater detail, with the direct involvement of the provincial or territorial government
and in consultation with local communities, Aboriginal peoples, non-government organizations, relevant
industries, other government departments and the interested public. Alternative land uses are
sometimes explicitly considered and compared and, on lands under federal administration, a Mineral and
Energy Resources Assessment is undertaken.
Possible boundaries of the potential national park are drawn to:
<
protect ecosystems and landscape features representative of the natural region
<
accommodate the habitat requirements of viable populations of native wildlife species
<
include an undisturbed area which is relatively unaffected by impacts originating from the
surrounding landscape
<
maintain the integrity of natural communities and drainage basins
<
protect exceptional natural phenomena, and vulnerable, threatened or endangered wildlife and
vegetation
<
offer opportunities for public understanding and enjoyment
<
minimize possible disruption of the social and economic life of the surrounding region
<
include significant cultural heritage features or landscapes; and
<
exclude permanent communities
If this assessment shows that a national park is feasible and that there is public support for this land use
option, the governments may decide to proceed with negotiation of a park agreement. If a national park
is not a feasible option, other representative natural areas are considered elsewhere in the natural
region.
Proposed national park lands are sometimes “reserved” through appropriate federal or provincial
legislation at some point during the feasibility assessment in order to provide interim protection pending
final decisions.
STEP 4
Negotiating a New Park Agreement
For the National Parks Act and Regulations to apply, it is a constitutional requirement that national park
lands must be federal government property. Within the provinces, where the provincial governments
administer most lands, a federal-provincial agreement is usually negotiated whereby the province
transfers administration and control of the land to the federal government for a new national park. Within
the northern territories, it is the practice to seek the concurrence of the territorial government for a new
national park through negotiation of a federal-territorial agreement. Where lands are subject to a
comprehensive land claim by aboriginal people, a new park can be established as part of a negotiated
claim settlement or a national park reserve can be established pending the resolution of the claim.
Page 12
New park agreements cover many different topics depending on the circumstances. These may include:
<
final park boundaries
<
cost-sharing for land acquisition
<
details of land transfer
<
traditional resource harvesting
<
planning and management for the park and surrounding area
<
composition and role of a park management board or park advisory board
<
regional integration
<
economic benefits
STEP 5
Establishing a New National Park in Legislation
Once the responsible parties have agreed to create a new park with the lands to be administered by the
federal government, the proposed new national park must be formally established under legislation of
the Parliament of Canada so that the National Parks Act and Regulations apply. In areas affected by
an unresolved comprehensive native land claim, a national park reserve is established. The Act and
Regulations apply, but traditional native hunting, trapping and fishing continue. Boundaries and park
establishment conditions will only be finally set on resolution of the claim.
Sometimes it takes years after signing of an Agreement for the federal government to obtain full title to
the lands required for a national park. Reasons can include complications related to clearing land title
and the time it takes to negotiate and purchase properties. In these cases a variety of alternative
legislative tools are used in the interim.
Completing the System
Establishment of new national parks is becoming increasingly complex and time-consuming. Little land
exists now in Canada that does not have some kind of interest or commitment for uses such as oil and
gas development, mining, hydro-electricity, forestry, agriculture and private recreation. Land-use and
jurisdictional conflicts have to be resoled in co-operation with the provinces and territories, and the
concerns of local residents have to be addressed. In some natural regions the resolution of
comprehensive land claims presents a timely opportunity to create new national parks with the direct
involvement of native people.
Completion of the national parks system will not be achieved through the actions of the federal
government alone. It will require consensus and determination on the part of all Canadians and all levels
of government, and a recognition of the important contribution that national parks make toward the
quality of our environment and the quality of our lives.
References:
Parks Canada web site:
www.pc.gc.ca
Parks Canada. “National Parks System Plan (3rd edition)”.
Services Canada, 1997.
Page 13
Ottawa: Minister of Supply and
Case Study: The Creation of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada
STEP 1
Identifying Representative Natural Areas:
<
Gulf Islands national park reserve represents the Strait of Georgia Lowlands natural region
<
the park is located in one of Canada’s most biologically diverse and endangered natural regions
<
the goal of the park is to protect small island ecosystems, as well as representative examples of
headlands, shorelines and uplands of larger islands
STEP 2
Selecting Potential Park Areas:
<
Gulf lslands national park reserve has a total area of approximately 33 km2 in the southern Strait of
Georgia, with lands on 16 islands, including over 30 islets and reefs
<
located in the protected waters of the southern Strait of Georgia between Vancouver and Victoria,
forming part of the rocky archipelago that extends into Puget Sound in the United States.
<
many plant species in the Gulf Islands are at the northern extreme of their range, and are not found
elsewhere in Canada.
<
Garry oak and arbutus trees are unique in Canada to this small area of British Columbia.
<
the Southern Gulf Islands are a haven for many threatened and endangered species - there are
currently 15 endangered species within the Gulf Islands.
<
the national park reserve includes habitat for great blue heron, numerous shorebirds and waterfowl,
and haul-outs for harbour seals and sea lions
STEP 3
Assessing Park Feasibility
Parks Canada engaged the process of identifying the optimum national park candidate for the Strait of
Georgia Lowlands Natural Region in 1992-93. The regional analysis undertaken as part of this process,
identified four “preliminary areas of interest”, including:
•
the Southern Gulf Islands;
•
south-east Vancouver Island;
•
the Middle Gulf Islands; and
•
the Quadra Archipelago.
<
a more detailed analysis of these four areas of interest, accompanied by extensive field work, was
undertaken in 1994 in order to select the best candidate.
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the Southern Gulf Islands was selected as the best candidate due to its high representation score
and the enhanced ability, through the acquisition of entire islands, to ensure the maintenance of
ecological integrity over the long term. It was also evident that significantly more older forest (in the
60-100 year age class) remained in the Gulf Islands.
<
the public consultations showed widespread public support for the proposed national park in the
southern Gulf Islands.
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the widespread public support demonstrated was tempered with a legitimate and widespread public
concern for the possible impacts from park management on users and the impacts of additional
tourist traffic on the islands.
<
a park concept/vision document was also included as part of the public consultation
<
consultations/meetings were held with stakeholder groups like BC Ferries, Capital Regional District,
Islands Trust, Highways, Council of BC Yacht Clubs, fish and wildlife groups, etc. , and over 20 First
Nations bands/groups with potential interests in the Gulf Islands.
STEP 4
Negotiating a New Park Agreement
<
the Pacific Marine Heritage Legacy (PMHL) was a federal-provincial agreement to enhance the
system of protected areas on the Pacific Coast. Funds from the PMHL have been used to purchase
lands for both the national park and for the provincial system of parks and protected areas.
<
it took more than seven years from the signing of the Pacific Marine Heritage Legacy Program to
declare Gulf Islands national park reserve.
<
the final Memorandum of Agreement to establish Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada was
signed by Canada and British Columbia on May 9, 2003, officially declaring Canada’s 40th national
park
<
currently, all of the Gulf Islands are subject to unresolved land claims
STEP 5
Establishing a New National Park in Legislation
<
although Gulf Islands national park reserve has been officially declared as a national park, it has yet
to be formally established under legislation of the Parliament of Canada.
<
until the federal government obtains full title to the lands required within the national park reserve’s
boundaries, a variety of alternative legislative tools (such as BC Environmental and Land Use
Committee orders) will be used in the interim.
Reference: Parks Canada Staff - Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada, September 2003.
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Appendix A - List of Curriculum Expectations
Alberta Grade 7 Science (2003)
Unit A: Interactions and Ecosystems
•
identify examples of human impacts on ecosystems, and investigate and analyze the link between these impacts and the
human wants and needs that give rise to them.
•
analyze personal and public decisions that involve consideration of environmental impacts, and identify needs for scientific
knowledge that can inform those decisions.
•
identify intended and unintended consequences of human activities within local and global environments.
Attitude Outcome (Stewardship)
•
Defend a given position on an issue, based on their findings (e.g., make a case for or against on an issue).
•
Demonstrate sensitivity and responsibility in pursuing a balance between the needs of humans and a sustainable
environment.
•
Seek and apply evidence when evaluating alternative approaches to investigations, problems and issues (e.g., consider
observations, ideas and perspectives from a number of sources during investigations and before drawing conclusions and
making decisions).
Alberta Biology 30 (1998) Unit 4: Change in Populations and Communities
•
The ability and responsibility of society through science and technology, to protect the environment and use natural
resources judiciously to ensure quality of life for future generations.
•
Appreciate the diversity in populations and communities.
•
Value the knowledge that all organisms have an important role in maintaining the life of the planet.
•
Develop optimism about the human ability to learn to function within the limits of sustainable development.
•
Develop an attitude of participation in planning and shaping the future.
British Columbia Grade 7 Science - Life Science
•
analyse the roles of organisms as part of interconnected food webs, populations, communities, and ecosystems
•
assess the requirements for sustaining healthy local ecosystems
•
evaluate human impacts on local ecosystems
British Columbia Grade 8 Science
Life Science
•
describe the environmental conditions in the major biomes
•
compare and contrast how various organisms have adapted to the conditions in each biome and how these organisms
interact with each other
Global Ecosystems
•
evaluate how major natural events and human activity can affect local and global environments and climate change
British Columbia Grade 11 Resource Science/Forests
Forest Ecology
•
define ecology, environment and ecosystem
•
describe processes in and components of ecosystems
•
demonstrate awareness of forests as complex ecosystems
Forests and Society
•
demonstrate awareness of a variety of perspectives and values related to forests and forest use
Land Use Planning
•
describe sustainable development an its relationship to land use
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Ontario Grade 9 Geography of Canada (2005)
Overall Curriculum Expectations
•
demonstrate an understanding of the regional diversity of Canada’s natural and human systems
•
analyse the ways in which natural systems interact with human systems and make predictions about the outcomes of these
interactions
•
use the methods and tools of geographic inquiry to locate, gather, evaluate, and organize information about Canada’s
natural and human systems
Specific Curriculum Expectations
•
describe the characteristics (e.g. complex, interconnected) of natural systems (e.g. climate, biomes)
•
describe the characteristics (e.g. complex, interconnected, affecting natural systems) of human systems
•
outline the criteria used to define selected Canadian ecozones and describe the processes and interactions that shape
those ecozones
•
explain how human activities (e.g. parks development) affect, or are affected by, the environment
•
describe how natural systems (e.g. climate, soils, landforms, natural vegetation, wildlife) influence cultural and economic
activities
•
identify the role of government in managing resources and protecting the environment
•
assess the value of Canada’s key natural resources, including agricultural lands and wilderness
•
analyse different perspectives on a geographic issue and present arguments supporting a point of view
•
gather geographic information from primary sources and secondary sources to research a geographic issue
•
provide appropriate and sufficient geographic evidence and well-reasoned arguments to support opinions and conclusions
•
analyse a regional or national geographic issue on the basis of information gathered through research
Quebec Secondary Cycle 1 - Social Sciences - Geography
Subject-specifics Competencies 1 and 2
Understands the organization of a territory
Interprets a territorial issue
Content: Protected Territory: A natural park in Québec or Canada
Concepts: Planning and development, environment, regulation
Cultural references: Natural attractions, fauna and flora
Technique: technique for interpreting a map
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