Just in time for summer, the Ontario government is making it easier for people to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends by allowing adults to responsibly consume their favourite alcoholic beverages throughout provincial parks. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by building a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy, this change means alcohol will no longer be restricted to individual campsites, making it easier for people to relax and spend time with family and friends while supporting a stronger tourism industry that creates jobs and drives economic growth across the province.

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Build your skills, make new friends and gain valuable work experience while working in some of Ontario’s most beautiful locations.

Applications are now open for summer positions at parks across the province including:

🌲gate attendants

🌲 maintenance workers

🌲 Discovery rangers

View all opportunities on the Ontario Parks hiring map and learn how to apply on the Ontario Parks website at: OntarioParks.ca/careers

Every summer, Ontario Parks hires 1,600 students. By applying early, students will give themselves the best opportunity to secure their preferred job.

 

	Ontario Parks Snow Report From Quetico Provincial Park in Northwestern Ontario to Voyageur Provincial Park in Southeastern Ontario, winter is well underway with many Ontario Parks enjoying excellent snow conditions. Twenty-four Ontario Parks are featured in the Snow Report, sharing current snow depth and conditions for winter activities such as cross-country skiing, skating and snowshoeing. Visitors are reminded to purchase a day use permit ahead of time and check the snow report before heading out into the snow.

	Where to go Skating or Snowshoeing in Ontario Parks Looking for a fun winter adventure? Ontario Parks has you covered with plenty of parks offering skating and snowshoeing in winter. Snowshoe rentals are available at 7 different Ontario Parks for people who may be new to the activity. Read more at the links below. Where to snowshoe in Ontario Parks Where to skate in Ontario Parks

	Sleeping Giant Provincial Park – Now Open for Winter Camping New for this winter, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park has opened five electric campsites, allowing for more visitors to experience nature in the north. These campsites are in addition to the five rustic cabins that are also open in winter at the park. Availability: The electric campsites currently have great winter availability, including most weekends; while the rustic cabins have many available bookings for mid-week stays. Learn more about winter at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, and make a camping reservation on the Ontario Parks website.

	Photography High-resolution, credited photography can be downloaded from this photo library. For more photos, please contact OntarioParksMedia@Ontario.ca. Park Information Sources Our Travel Media website has background information, a media library, and more: OntarioParks.ca/travel. Keep up with Ontario Parks on Instagram, Facebook, and X. Visit the Parks Blog for up-to-date content.

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The Master Plan is a strategic document that studies the existing park, recreation, culture, and trails system, facilities, and programming. It provides both a long-term vision for the City’s system, as well as specific policies and standards to direct day-to-day decisions. 

“The Master Plan is ultimately about people, how they move, play, gather, and connect in our community spaces,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “That’s why your feedback is so important. Your voice helps ensure we’re investing in the right areas and creating spaces that truly serve the needs of our community today and in the future.”

Community members can have their say through various engagement opportunities including:

• Survey – Complete the online survey before Aug. 1, 2025. Hard copies of the survey are also available at City Centre and the Orillia Recreation Centre. Survey participants can enter for a chance to win one of three one-month FUN Passes to the Orillia Recreation Centre.
• Public Open House – Share thoughts and opinions with staff and the project consultants on the future of parks, recreation, culture and trails within the City at a public open house on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Orillia Recreation Centre.
• Vision Boards – Share your comments or ideas regarding the future of parks, recreation, culture and trails through the Vision Boards located at the Orillia Recreation Centre and Rotary Place arena starting this May.

In addition to public engagement opportunities listed above, there will also be meetings and focus groups with local culture, community, event and sports organizations to ensure their input and unique needs are captured in the process.

The information gathered through public consultation will be reviewed to identify key themes and priorities, helping to shape recommendations for the future growth and development of parks, recreation, culture, and trails in Orillia over the next 10 years. These findings will be summarized and shared with the community for further input and validation. A draft Parks, Recreation, Culture and Trails Master Plan will then be developed and is anticipated to be presented to Council for consideration in early 2026.

More information on the Parks, Recreation, Culture and Trails Master Plan, including links to the surveys, can be found online at orillia.ca/PRCTmasterplan or by phone at 705-325-4386.

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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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The Ontario government is making it easier to explore provincial parks and experience the benefits of spending time in nature by offering free day-use access on Friday, July 19, to mark Healthy Parks Healthy People Day. This annual celebration is part of a global movement to promote the incredible health benefits of getting outside in nature.

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“On July 21, 2023, Ontario Parks is once again offering free day-use access to provincial parks to celebrate Healthy Parks Healthy People Day.

This annual celebration is part of a global movement to promote the incredible health benefits of getting outside in nature. Studies show spending time in nature can improve our mental, physical, and social well-being, including lower blood pressure, increased self-esteem and reduced anxiety.

Ontario’s provincial parks have always been a place of comfort, relaxation and adventure for families, individuals and communities alike, making memories that last a lifetime. As the largest operator of outdoor recreational opportunities in the province, Ontario Parks offers programs and facilities to enjoy nature year-round, regardless of your outdoor experience. In most parks, you can go hiking, cycling, paddling, swimming and more! These activities promote physical health and contribute to our overall well-being and happiness.

I’m proud that Ontario Parks is a Healthy Parks Healthy People leader, offering numerous ways to engage with nature, including the following upcoming events:

• The 30×30 Challenge to encourage people to spend 30 minutes in nature for 30 days during the month of August
• Take a Hike Day on August 9, a brand-new event this year offering guided hikes at provincial parks around the province.

Our government is also expanding recreational opportunities for families by creating the first new all-season, full-service provincial park in over 40 years, located at Bigwind Lake Provincial Park near Bracebridge. We are also exploring the creation of a new urban provincial park near Uxbridge and recently announced Ontario’s first new conservation reserve in over a decade.

As the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, I encourage all Ontarians to take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, immerse themselves in the splendor of nature, and experience first-hand the restorative power of our provincial parks.

I hope you’ll join us at Ontario Parks on July 21. See you out on the trails!”

Additional Resources

• To guarantee access, visitors are strongly encouraged to obtain a daily vehicle permit up to five days in advance of the July 21 celebration at no charge for the 57 parks offering this service.
• Visitors can join in on one of the many events happening across the province to celebrate spending time in nature.
• Ontarians can comment on the design features for Ontario’s new operating park and share their thoughts and ideas on the proposed new urban park. Both surveys are available until September 4.
• Learn more about the benefits of spending time in nature.
• Use the Ontario Parks locator tool to find a provincial park near you.

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Review our list below for details (or see the PDF version).

In the months ahead, watch for details on additional investments we are making.

The post Investing In Gravenhurst 2023 – Parks-Related Projects appeared first on Muskoka411.

OTTAWA, ON, June 29, 2023 /CNW/ – Parks Canada administers a vast network of protected areas that is a gateway to nature, history, and 450 000 km² of stories from coast to coast to coast. National historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas represent the diversity of natural and cultural heritage in Canada and tell stories of who we are.

On July 1, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, invites Canadians and international visitors to connect with some of the most iconic destinations in Canada with free admission at all national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas.

Canada Day is an opportunity to celebrate what unites us, the diverse facets of history and culture in Canada, and to take time to reflect and talk to one another about how we can work towards a more inclusive and open-minded society. With opportunities to learn more about Canada’s history or to soak in breathtaking views, Parks Canada administered places allowing visitors to experience the country’s rich and diverse natural and cultural heritage. This includes learning more about the historic and contemporary contributions of Indigenous peoples, their histories, and cultures, as well as the special relationships Indigenous peoples have with ancestral lands and waters.

Parks Canada is committed to providing visitors with high quality and meaningful experiences across the country. 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.

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Working at Six Mile Lake Provincial Park is a great way to meet new people and get in some fishing, hiking, or paddling after a shift. Students have the opportunity to contribute to the protection and operation of this beautiful park. A variety of positions are currently available, any interested applicants can email their résumé OntarioParksJobs@ontario.cato start the application process.

For more information on working at Ontario Parks please visit OntarioParks.com/careers.

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The 2022 #ForTheLoveOfParks campaign aims to support this renewed interest by educating visitors and potential visitors on responsible behaviour, and addressing common visitation incidents that detract from both the enjoyment and conservation of Ontario’s treasured places. These incidents include:

• Littering and dumping
• Human-wildlife interactions – feeding of wild animals and approaching wildlife
• Off-trail hiking
• Removal of natural materials including flowers, rocks, driftwood, and more
• Swimming in undesignated areas
• Vandalism
• Visitor safety issues including lack of supplies, equipment, and knowledge of necessities for hiking or camping
• Visitor unpreparedness – lack of reservations and pre-booked parking or camping sites
• Illegal parking
• Aggression toward park staff

Last season, increased visitation and misbehaviour prompted a collaborative approach in
examining how Parks Canada and Ontario Parks communicate with and educate visitors prior to their arrival at parks in Ontario to support a safe and enjoyable visit. The new interest in parks and protected places was also an opportunity to connect with first-time visitors and Ontarians, to provide essential information around desired behaviours in protected areas.

This season, #ForTheLoveOfParks will comprise a coordinated social media campaign to be
shared, promoted and amplified by an expanding list of participating organizations, including Parks Canada, Ontario Parks, the Niagara Parks Commission, Conservation Ontario, and Camping In Ontario.

The goal of this campaign is to unite all visitors to natural areas in a shared goal of responsible stewardship and safety, #ForTheLoveOfParks. All of the protected areas administered by participating organizations provide amazing experiences for visitors, especially when they are well prepared for their visit. Park rules are in place to ensure visitor safety and the wellbeing of the species living within the park so that these places can continue to be enjoyed by current and future generations.

“We want visitors to enjoy their nature-based experiences,” said a joint statement from the organizations. “This is best accomplished with proper preparation which includes learning park rules, researching the places you wish to visit prior to travelling, and ensuring you have the necessary reservations, permits, supplies, knowledge and equipment.”

The organizations participating in this campaign support the protection of significant natural and cultural landscapes and foster visitor appreciation, inspiration, and enjoyment. When parks are crowded, or when visitors arrive unprepared and do not know or choose not to follow park rules, it hinders both their experience and that of others.

“We want Ontarians to love and respect these treasured natural places to provide current and future generations with the same opportunities they have,” said the statement. “We look forward to welcoming you and your family to parks and natural areas this season.
Please, plan ahead and enjoy these spectacular places responsibly.”

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