Edmonton discussing possibilities to build a new national park located where people live

Within 10 years, Canada may have 15 more national parks. For many Canadians, these parks are located where they live.

Parks Canada has begun conversations in Edmonton, Victoria, Saskatoon, Windsor, Winnipeg and Halifax as part of the federal government’s obligation to build a new network of national city parks.

According to Miriam Padrski, Head of City Parks and Ecosystem Corridors in Parks Canada, it is expected that there will be at least one in every state and territory by 2030.

“For Canadians, it’s an opportunity to connect with nature closer to where they live,” Paddleski said during his recent visit to Edmonton.

You can hear more For the love of the park At 4:05 pm on Monday, May 23, at CBC Radio One and Sirius XM.

At the announcement National city park In last summer’s project, the government listed many benefits, from protection to recreation and physical and mental health.

Paddle skis will chime more. “Protect biodiversity, help mitigate and adapt to climate change, and seek reconciliation with indigenous peoples.”

She states that “ambitious” projects are developed in a flexible process and that park models vary from city to city.

Last summer’s announcement included $ 130 million to start the project. Edmonton has not yet set a specific budget, park boundaries, or schedule.

Public consultation will be part of the process that follows ongoing discussions with environmental groups, local government leaders and indigenous peoples, Paddleski said.

Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation Chief Tony Alexis says sitting at the table from the beginning of the process speaks a lot about respect.

“Establishing a city park on the territory of the Treaty 6 is the first step in the right direction for reconciliation,” says Alexis.

“They came to us as land price experts to help create a national city park.”

According to Alexis, Parks Canada will continue to collaborate after the park opens, “to introduce indigenous peoples’ management and provide opportunities for land connections, based on indigenous peoples’ knowledge and values.” I guarantee that.

Currently, Canada has 48 national parks. Only – Rouge National Urban Park — Despite recognizing that about 80% of Canadians are urban dwellers, they are in an urban environment.

Rouge, a 78-square-kilometer green ribbon, is located in the country’s largest metropolis, overlapping the Ontario cities of Toronto, Markham, and Pickering.

“It’s wild. It’s home to more than 1,700 species of flora and fauna,” says Larry Noonan, a friend member of Rouge National Urban Park and a trail guide who manages much of the park’s history.

As the “concrete jungle” of the Greater Toronto Area approaches, he says, citizens involved in the 1970s formed a group to save Rouge.

What followed were decades of political debate, heated public conferences, and land movements and deals.

Rouge was officially established as a national park in May 2015.

“I hope it goes even smoother in other places that are already of interest, such as Edmonton and Halifax,” says Noonan.

Parks Canada officials had to consult with fewer people when building rural parks, some of which were founded over 100 years ago.

That’s a different story in today’s densely populated urban environment.

“Literally thousands of people are back in the park and they all have their own ideas about what should happen,” says Noonan.

Marcia Scott lives near Rouge. She says plans to develop more national city parks like Rouge are “great ideas.”

“Being in the woods allows us to relax and solve all our problems,” says Scott, a member of. sistaz4PANA hiking group formed during a pandemic.

PAN stands for Positive Attitude with Nourishment.

“We picked this up and it became a daily routine for us,” says Scott. “It’s in our genes. We have to do this every day.”