What would Canada be without our glorious parks? It is only fitting, therefore, that we recognize Canada’s Parks Day each year on the third Saturday of July (the 17th in 2021) to honour these beautiful, protected landscapes, which we’re privileged to share.
From coast to coast, Canada boasts 49 national parks of vast expanse, including our very own Rouge National (Urban) Park in the northeast end of Toronto. The Parks Canada Agency itself also manages 171 national historic sites, three national marine conservation areas, and one national landmark.
There’s so much to see and do in national parks, each with their own unique splendour, that it would be a shame if you didn’t visit at least one national park this year. Typical activities include hiking, rock climbing, camping, swimming, wildlife watching, snorkeling, canoeing, and of course, nature observing.
From our city, you can easily reach four of the remaining five Ontario-based national parks within a half-day’s drive. These include:
- Bruce Peninsula National Park
- Georgian Bay Islands National Park
- Point Pelee National Park
- Thousand Islands National Park
(The remaining Ontario-based national park is known as “Pukaskwa” and is located 716 kilometers from Toronto, near Marathon in north-central Ontario.)
Did You Know? (Double Shot)
- Canada was the first country in the world to establish a national parks service. The Parks Canada Agency was officially launched on May 19, 1911.
- The Alberta-based “Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada” was the first national park formally established in Canada, in the year 1885. These days we know of it affectionately as the world-famous Banff National Park.
