Press Release
From: Parks Canada
Feedback will inform the development of a sustainable people‑movement plan for Banff National Park
December 5, 2022
Parks Canada manages national parks in trust for all Canadians to ensure these special places can be enjoyed by present and future generations. In collaboration with others, Parks Canada remains committed to protecting ecological integrity within national parks while providing high-quality and meaningful experiences to visitors.
Today, Parks Canada shared the final report from the Expert Advisory Panel on Moving People Sustainably in the Banff Bow Valley. Parks Canada thanks the members of the panel for their hard work, expertise and insight.
For the next 60 days, from December 5, 2022, to February 2, 2023, interested Indigenous communities and individuals, stakeholders, and other members of the public are invited to review the final report and provide their feedback directly to Parks Canada. Please visit LetsTalkMountainParks.ca to read the report and share your thoughts. Concurrently, Parks Canada will work with Indigenous partners to review the report to determine how to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into how we move forward.
While much work for Parks Canada remains to be done, the Panel’s report identifies eight key strategies to move toward a more sustainable future. The advice and recommendations in the final report, along with the feedback from this engagement process, will be key considerations for Parks Canada as it implements the 2022 Banff National Park of Canada Management Plan. Planning for the sustainable movement of people to, from, and within Banff National Park must be integrated with planning for other strategies in the park management plan related to reducing impacts of climate change on park resources, and true-to-place visitor experiences, with ecological integrity as a cornerstone.
Millions of visitors from across Canada and around the world choose Banff National Park as their destination every year. This is a source of pride for Parks Canada and for Canadians. Parks Canada is committed to working with other jurisdictions, Indigenous partners and stakeholders to explore and advance safe, effective, and sustainable approaches to visitation, while helping people to enjoy the park now and in the future.
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Quotes
“On behalf of the advisory panel, I would like to thank those groups and individuals who shared their thoughts and passion for the future of Banff National Park. Our report is a result of these discussions and the collective expertise and experience of the panel. Many of the suggested solutions are bold and may take some time to implement, others are fundamental to better understanding visitor behaviour and expectations. We hope our report can serve as a guide for how to move people sustainably in the busiest national park in Canada and perhaps become a model for other protected areas to consider.”
Bill Fisher,
Chair, Expert Advisory Panel on Moving People Sustainably in the Banff Bow Valley
“I would like to thank the members of the expert advisory panel for their time, expertise and thoughtful input. Parks Canada accepts this report with great appreciation. The report builds on Parks Canada’s efforts towards identifying potential future and practical measures to address the long-standing need and desire to improve the movement of people in Banff National Park. I am confident that their work – together with planned further engagement with and involvement from Indigenous partners, the public and stakeholders – will inform future decision making aimed at making positive changes to the way that people access and move through the Bow Valley in Banff National Park.”
Ron Hallman,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada<
Quick facts
o Kelly Gibson (Town Manager, Town of Banff),
o Dr. Emily Grisé (Assistant Professor, University of Alberta),
o Jen Malzer (Transportation Engineer, Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers)
o Jamie McCulloch (Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Adaptive),
o Selby Thannikary (Team Lead, Transportation Planning, WSP), and
o Dr. Dan Wicklum (CEO, Transition Accelerator).
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Media Relations
Parks Canada
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca
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