Parks Canada is committed to providing visitors with high quality and meaningful visitor experiences and supporting tourism in communities across the country, all while organizing national park operations for highest efficiency and responding to visitor demand. Parks Canada will enter into a Licence of Occupation with Landmark Cruises for the operation of a boat shuttle service for five (5) operating seasons starting May 2026.

For many visitors, Georgian Bay Islands National Park represents their first experience in a national park and in a relatively wild, natural environment. As the park is accessible only by water, the journey by boat to Beausoleil Island (Bimadinaagogi) is not only essential, but a part of the quintessential Georgian Bay experience. A reliable and efficient boat shuttle service is therefore vital to ensuring visitors can access and enjoy the island on a day trip.

With extensive experience providing boating services on Georgian Bay, Landmark Cruises Inc. brings local expertise and a strong track record of certified and dependable operations. This partnership will enhance transportation services for day visitors while maintaining high‑quality access to Beausoleil Island (Bimadinaagogi) and will support Parks Canada’s commitment to safe, sustainable, and memorable visitor experiences.

Parks Canada is working closely with Landmark Cruises to ensure a smooth transition. The service provided by Landmark will include an increase in both the number of roundtrips to the island and the capacity on the shuttle boats. The proposed schedule for the day visitor boat shuttle will be weekends (Friday to Sunday and Holiday Mondays) in the fall and spring seasons and Friday to Tuesday in the peak summer season. The schedule may be adapted throughout the season based on operational needs and visitor demand.

For more information to plan your visit, including a full schedule, reservations, and fees, please visit the Landmark Cruises website.

We would love to share this news with your audience. Should you wish to arrange an interview with a representative from Parks Canada, please contact Kelsey Bowles at ec-ont.communications@pc.gc.ca. To speak with a representative from Landmark Cruises Inc. please contact Brenna Urbanek at brenna@landmarkcruises.com.

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As part of the Canada Strong Pass, the Government of Canada is offering free admission to national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada and a 25 per cent discount on camping fees from June 20 to September 2 inclusive. Visitors are encouraged to take this opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of Canada in even more depth this summer with enhanced programs and guided tours at Bethune Memorial House.

National historic sites like Bethune Memorial House reflect the rich and varied heritage of Canada and provide opportunities for Canadians and visitors to learn more about diverse histories and experiences. Visitors are invited to join a Parks Canada guide for an in-depth look into the fascinating and complex life of Dr. Norman Bethune.

Programming this summer

May 16 to June 30, 2025, Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
July 1 to Sept 1, 2025, open daily, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• At Bethune Memorial House, Parks Canada presents the story of a small-town boy who became one of the most recognized Canadians in the world. Through the visitor centre, guests get a chance to explore Bethune’s achievements through stories, artifacts, images, videos, artwork and statues.
• Then, to experience his roots, you can also explore his actual 1890 birthplace, a home that was a church manse. Restored to reflect the 1890’s time period, the house also contains some original family artifacts. It is a great year to visit Bethune Memorial House – see the historic home in the first year after a major exterior restoration that took place in 2024!
• Visitors can also immerse themselves in history with our WWI trench exhibit. Try the equipment to test your battlefield skills, balance and speed.  You can train like you are going to be a stretcher bearer, just as Norman Bethune did in 1915.
• PLUS! Starting this year, private guided tours at Bethune Memorial House can now be pre-booked through Parks Canada’s reservation system:https://reservation.pc.gc.ca/. While admission to the national historic site is free this summer, please note that reservation fees and fees for the guided tour still apply.

Whether you’re a history buff seeking in-depth analysis of the life of Norman Bethune or someone just looking for a memorable outing, Parks Canada’s experienced staff members tailor each experience to suit your interests and preferences. Parks Canada team members are passionate historians and storytellers, ready to guide you through Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site’s captivating narrative with depth, insight, and enthusiasm.

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The daily admission fee will be due upon arrival. For day visitors, campers, and those staying in roofed accommodations in the Cedar Spring Campground, daily admission fees can be paid at the Parks Canada kiosk at Honey Harbor or at the Visitor Centre on Beausoleil Island. Please note that the daily admission fee will not be collected online when reserving the DayTripper, campsites, or roofed accommodations.

Boaters mooring at Tobey Dock, by the Cedar Spring Campground, can pay their mooring and daily admission fees at the Visitor Centre on Beausoleil Island. For boaters docking at outlying sites and backcountry campers, self-registration and payment forms will include daily admission fee options. These forms are available at the self-registration deposit boxes at each location.

The daily admission fee for Georgian Bay Islands National Park is $6.50 for adults, $5.50 for seniors, or $13.50 for groups/families. Admission to all Parks Canada administered places remains free for youth 17 and under. Repeat visitors or visitors who are staying for longer periods of time, may find it more economical to purchase an annual admission pass for Georgian Bay Islands National Park, or the Parks Canada Discovery Pass. For a full list of pricing visit parks.canada.ca/gbi.

Parks Canada is funded through a combination of annual budget appropriations and service fees. Visitor fees do not exceed the costs of delivering the service to visitors; they only recover a portion of the costs. Fees are re-invested in the same places where they are collected to support operations. Specifically, the revenue is reinvested in operations and programs such as:

• Visitor safety
• Maintenance of visitor facilities and infrastructure like trails, parking lots, visitor centres, washrooms, and waste collection
• On-site signage, maps, interpretive panels and exhibits
• Salary expenses for providing orientation, guided tours and heritage presentation programs

The collection of an admission fee at Georgian Bay Islands National Park is consistent with the approved admission fee structure for Parks Canada. The decision to apply an admission fee to all visitors will increase the sustainability of the visitor experience offer at Georgian Bay Islands National Park and better position Parks Canada to continue to maintain this level of service.

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Parks Canada released the 2.5-kilometre route for Fairy Trail on northern Beausoleil Island in mid-July. The speakers are knowledge-holders from Anishinaabe First Nations, including Trish Monague, a cultural teacher and member of Beausoleil First Nation, and Erika Wabigwan, a member of the Georgian Bay Islands Cultural Advisory Circle and a former Parks Canada employee. The third speaker, Shawn Corbiere, works as an Indigenous liaison and naturalist in the park. Corbiere said many visitors have an interest in history and culture, so the app allows them to experience the park in a deeper, more personal way. 

“You’re going to learn a little bit about the Canadian Shield because, here in the park, we straddle two ecozones where the St. Lawrence lowland region meets the Canadian Shield,” Corbiere said. “We also have a little lake up in the Canadian Shield as well on the north end of the park. It’s steeped in legends, so we share that legend on that app as well.”

Along with the legends of Fairy Lake, Corbiere and the other speakers talk about the animals, plants and history on the island. Monague starts the tour by asking participants to walk with reverence as they hike through the park. 

One of the creatures visitors may encounter is the Massasauga Rattlesnake. Though it’s the only venomous snake in Ontario, it’s not much cause for concern given its shy demeanor and threatened status. On the tour, Corbiere talks about the rattlesnakes’ history of helping promote balance, rattling their tails to tell gatherers when to move on from a patch of berries. 

They also touch on the plants and sacred medicines used on the island, including tobacco or Semaa, as it’s known in the Anishinaabe language. They talk about the role of juniper in creating harmony with other plants and how First Nations mothers used sphagnum moss to create absorbent diapers. Monague also talks about the role of women as waterkeepers.

The tour can be done in the park, where prompts will pop up as participants walk the trail. Visitors can also use the tour while they boat, bike or otherwise enjoy the park, but for people who can’t make it there in person, the tour can be done virtually from anywhere in the world. It doesn’t fully serve it justice, Corbiere said, but it paints a picture of the park and its storied past.

“When I heard it, I wasn’t in the park, but it still brought me there, which is really neat,” he said. “It’s hard to do. But everybody has a cell phone nowadays, and it’s really, really accessible.”

Corbiere said sharing the culture and the landscape is what it’s all about for him. The first tour is just the tip of the iceberg for the stories on the island, so he looks forward to putting together more guided tours in the future, especially after getting good feedback on the first one.

As a traditional flint knapper, he hopes to showcase the sounds and stories behind the creation of stone tools. Flint knapping is the art of shaping rocks into tools by chipping away at the excess material, and it has a history on the island that goes back over 5,000 years.

He also oversees several cultural programs as the park’s Indigenous liaison and naturalist. The park team offers a waterbug adventure for children and families, a natural cultural history hike, and an art of fire program that shows three methods of building a fire. Corbiere also does flint knapping demonstrations and talks on bear safety.

The park often gets visits from organizations like the Ontario Native Women’s Association, and another way their team connects with the community is through archeological digs. It’s essential to get youth and elders alike out to these digs, Corbiere said, because it goes back to the ancestors who lived on the island thousands of years before.

“The archeologists are there to mitigate the cultural resource management,” he said. “We have a trail that’s been heavily used and these artifacts are coming right to the surface, so they come in there and they extract it and then we protect it.”

More than anything, Corbiere wants to urge Canadians to visit their national parks. He said too many people forget that these spaces are there for them, so he hopes people enjoy the parks and help protect biodiversity along the way.

Whether it’s camping, hiking or taking the DayTripper for a ride with park staff, there are dozens of ways to explore Georgian Bay Islands National Park, and now the tour is one of them.

“We’re also the smallest national park in Canada, and we’re the only island park in Canada that has all its amenities in the park,” Corbiere said. “You can glamp, you can bike, you can hike, you can primitive camp. All those beautiful things.”

Download the Parks Canada app to take the tour, and visit the Parks Canada website for more information on Georgian Bay Islands National Park.

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There are countless opportunities to enjoy being outdoors at these treasured places, however it is important to plan your trip in advance by reserving day-use parking or campground access Reservations are required for parking at the Grotto, Halfway Log Dump, and Little Cove (which must be reserved through the Municipality), as this allows visitors to fully enjoy their time. Visitors travelling the parks without a confirmed reservation may be disappointed as they will not be able to access these areas of the park. The Singing Sands beach area and the Parks Canada visitor centre area offer parking on a first come-first served basis, parking spaces often fill up quite quickly each morning.

Parks Canada is a recognized leader in conservation and takes actions to protect national parks and national marine conservation areas. Help Parks Canada safeguard the ecosystem by only using park-provided or locally sourced firewood. Wood from elsewhere may introduce invasive species.

Make the most of your visit by reviewing the Bruce Peninsula National Park (https://parks.canada.ca/bruce) and Fathom Five National Marine Park (https://parks.canada.ca/fathomfive) websites for safety guidelines, registration/permits, Vessel Operating Restriction Regulations, and how to prevent invasive species with equipment cleaning and boat decontamination methods.

Two local boat companies offer trips to Flowerpot Island, which is the only land area that can be visited in Fathom Five National Marine Park. Capacity is limited, so again, travellers should plan and book before coming up to the parks.

Hours of operation

Parks Canada Visitor Centre: May 1 to October 31, daily, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cyprus Lake Campground Office:

May 17 to September 15, daily, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

September 16 to Oct 31, daily, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Flowerpot Island (access by tour boat operator)

May to October 31, 2024, daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

If you’re still looking to make plans, plan your visit for less busy periods like during the week in the shoulder seasons. To book a stay, please visit the Parks Canada website at reservation.pc.gc.ca or call 1-877-RESERVE (1-877-737-3783). Please note, parking reservations are required.

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Visitor Centre Hours on Beausoleil Island:

1. May to June 13, and September 3 to October 14, from Friday to Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
2. June 14 to September 2, from Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
3. Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

If you’re still looking to make plans this summer, consider spending a night to rest and recharge at Georgian Bay Islands National Park! The Parks Canada’s Reservation Service allows visitors to plan your trip with confidence, ease, and knowledge that you’ll have a guaranteed spot waiting for you. If your favourite campsite is booked on your preferred days, check back regularly for cancellations, or plan your visit for less busy periods like during the week or the shoulder seasons. To book a stay, please visit the Parks Canada reservations website at reservation.pc.gc.ca or call 1-877-RESERVE (1-877-737-3783).

Please remember that firewood should be purchased locally or at the park to prevent the spread of invasive species into the area. The Parks Canada team at Georgian Bay Islands National Park is excited to welcome new and returning guests back to experience everything the park has to offer.

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To enhance your visit, we encourage visitors to download the Parks Canada App before arrival. Dive deeper into the rich history of Bethune Memorial House with our new mobile guided tour, providing invaluable insights and context as you explore the site and its surroundings.

Historic sites like Bethune Memorial House serve as gateways to Canada’s diverse heritage. Through self-guided exploration or participation in the Parks Canada Xplorers program, visitors can engage with history in meaningful and interactive ways. For those seeking a more personalized experience, private guided tours are available for a small additional fee, led by knowledgeable Parks Canada interpreters.

Hours of operation

Open Thursday through Monday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

May 16 to June 30, 2024

Open daily, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

July 1 to August 31, 2024

Open Thursday through Monday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

September 1 to October 31, 2024

Historic Places Days are an opportunity to learn more about Canada’s many diverse historic destinations and the role these places have in their communities. This year, Historic Places Days begins on July 10. Travel back in time and find out about the stories of the past. Hundreds of fascinating historic places, including Bethune Memorial House, are waiting to be discovered!

To make the most of their Parks Canada experience, visitors are asked to plan their trip in advance, by visiting the Parks Canada website and signing up for the e-newsletter, to be among the first to find out about new and noteworthy events and activities, special offers, trip planning ideas and much more – all delivered directly to their inboxes! Visitors can also download the Parks Canada app, listen to Parks Canada’s podcast ReCollections, and follow Parks Canada on social media for destination inspiration and to help plan their perfect visit.

The Parks Canada team at Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site is excited to welcome new and returning guests back to experience everything the site has to offer.

Parks Canada Special Offers

1. Enhance your next visit with a mobile guided tour. Discover untold stories with these interactive self-guided experiences featuring automatically triggered stops, audio, video, quizzes, and more. Download in advance and go offline with these tours available exclusively on the Parks Canada App.
2. With its podcast ReCollections, Parks Canada is pleased to provide new opportunities for Canadians and people around the world to discover national historic sites, people, and events and learn more about the diverse natural and cultural heritage in Canada.
3. Admission is free for youth 17 and under to all Parks Canada administered places. Heritage places are a great way for youth to experience the outdoors and learn more about nature and history.
4. Feel good, look good. Revenues generated from Parks Canada official merchandise are reinvested to support Parks Canada administered places.
5. Visitors can purchase their Parks Canada Discovery Passes online or at Parks Canada administered places and partner retailer locations across the country. Please visit passes, permits and fees for more information.

The post Bethune Memorial House Officially Opens For The Summer Visitor Season May 16 appeared first on Muskoka411.

Join the Parks Canada team: Embark on a rewarding journey surrounded by the breathtaking landscapes of Georgian Bay! Parks Canada is seeking passionate individuals to join the Georgian Bay Islands National Park team as Vessel Operators, Visitor Service Attendants, among other positions. Seasonal team members play a crucial role in creating unforgettable experiences for park visitors.

If you possess fluency in French and/or have knowledge and experience in boating on Georgian Bay, we strongly encourage you to apply online, through Vidcruiter at http://tinyurl.com/3unn3ke3.

Volunteer: Make a meaningful impact and become a vital part of conservation efforts at Georgian Bay Islands National Park. Parks Canada is calling for dedicated volunteers who are passionate about environmental stewardship, engaging with visitors, while spending time in picturesque scenery.

Plan your visit:

Secure your spot early to embark on an unforgettable adventure amid the pristine landscapes of Georgian Bay. To plan a trip, we encourage visitors to visit the Georgian Bay Islands National Park website at www.parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/georg, or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GBINP. It is updated regularly and contains all the information needed to plan a visit. Reservations for this coming season can be made, beginning on February 5, at: www.reservation.pc.gc.ca.

Parks Canada is committed to employment equity and to providing an inclusive and barrier-free environment. For assistance with a reservation, a job application, or to inquire about volunteer positions, please reach out to info.gbi-ibg@pc.gc.ca.

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Starting on May 19, Georgian Bay Islands National Park officially opens for the 2023 summer visitor season. This year, Georgian Bay Islands National Park continues to offer the opportunity to stay overnight in an oTENTik or waterfront cabin or campsite, to hike beautiful trails and join an enhanced guided tour of the park.

National parks and national marine conservation areas are gateways to discovering, learning about, and connecting with nature. There are countless opportunities to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of being outdoors at these treasured places. This season at Georgian Bay Islands National Park, visitors are invited reserve a seat on the park’s Daytripper boat service to explore the park. Parks Canada’s Club Parka and Xplorers’ programs are available for families, as are enhanced guided tours on Beausoleil Island. Enjoy the park trails on foot or with the park’s bike rental offer. Visitors are encouraged to visit the park’s website for more information and to make reservations.

Visitor Centre Hours on Beausoleil Island:

• May 19 to June 15, and Sept. 4 to Oct. 9, from Friday to Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  
  
• June 16 to September 3, from Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

If you’re still looking to make plans this summer, consider spending the night to rest and recharge! Parks Canada’s Reservation Service allows visitors to plan their trips to a wide variety of national parks and national historic sites across Canada with confidence, ease, and knowledge that they have a guaranteed spot waiting for them. If your favourite spot is booked on your preferred days, check back regularly for cancellations, or plan your visit for less busy periods like during the week or the shoulder seasons. To book a stay, please visit the Parks Canada website at reservation.pc.gc.ca or call 1-877-RESERVE (1-877-737-3783).

To make the most of their Parks Canada experience, visitors are asked to plan their trip in advance, by visiting the Parks Canada website and signing up for the e-newsletter, to be among the first to find out about new and noteworthy events and activities, special offers, trip planning ideas and much more – all delivered directly to their inboxes! Visitors can also download the Parks Canada app, listen to Parks Canada’s new podcast ReCollections, and follow Parks Canada on social media for destination inspiration and to help plan their perfect visit.

The Parks Canada team at Georgian Bay Islands National Park is excited to welcome new and returning guests back to experience everything Georgian Bay Islands National Park has to offer.

The post Georgian Bay Islands National Park Opens For The Summer Visitor Season appeared first on Muskoka411.

To support its role in providing meaningful experiences to visitors, Parks Canada collaborates with tourism partners, including Indigenous peoples, local partners, businesses, service providers and industry leaders, such as Destination Canada.

Earlier this month, Parks Canada and Destination Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will enable both organizations to collaborate on complementary priorities within their respective mandates to support a sustainable and resilient tourism sector and offer Canadians and visitors to Canada meaningful opportunities to connect with nature and culture.

This continued collaboration allows Destination Canada and Parks Canada to collectively support both rural and urban communities across Canada as they develop destinations and create and enhance tourism products and experiences. Combining the strengths of both organizations, through leading market research and strategic promotional initiatives, this partnership will also build on existing marketing collaborations and ensure development of new domestic and international markets for Canadian tourism products.

“The lands, waters and historic sites administered by Parks Canada are a source of shared pride for all Canadians. Visitors are always looking for more sustainable tourism experiences and for destinations which involve meaningful social, economic, and ecological benefits for the local communities. Parks Canada’s collaboration with Destination Canada ensures that treasured protected spaces across Canada remain sources of inspiration for all.” –The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

“Tourism provides unique experiences to Canadians as well as international visitors and drives economic growth for communities from coast to coast to coast. This partnership between Parks Canada and Destination Canada will not only help create memorable and sustainable outdoor experiences for visitors from all horizons all year long, but it will also showcase and develop authentic world-class attractions this place, our home, has to offer.” –The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

“As we highlight Tourism Week in Canada, Parks Canada recognizes that partnerships and collaboration with tourism industry leaders, such as Destination Canada are key elements in delivering on its important mandate to protect and share national historic sites, parks and marine conservation areas. Together with Destination Canada’s support, we will further our efforts to foster greater connection to protected places for the enjoyment of visitors and Canadians, now and into the future.” Ron Hallman, President & Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada Agency

“Canada is world-renowned for the beauty of its wide-open space, awe inspiring parks, marine life and majestic wildlife. As an industry, we must help protect our greatest tourism assets. This collaboration with Parks Canada is another step towards building a more resilient and regenerative future for tourism. We truly believe that tourism can only flourish in the long-term when supported by a healthy environment and welcoming communities. When tourism thrives, we all thrive.” Marsha Walden, President and Chief Executive Officer, Destination Canada.

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