By: AJ, BC Parks Interpreter in Skagit Valley Park BC Parks cares for 1,037 provincial parks, conservancies, protected areas, and ecological reserves that represent the incredible diversity of ecosystems found within this beautiful province. Some of these parks and protected areas lie along borders with other jurisdictions including Alberta and Yukon, as well as the …
Guest blog by Finn McGhee Beginning in 2019, the BC Parks iNaturalist Project has employed teams to conduct biodiversity surveys throughout the province, focusing on protected areas including provincial parks, ecological reserves, and conservancies. This project also aims to promote community engagement with biodiversity through iNaturalist, a community science platform. The iNaturalist website allows users …
The Myra Canyon Trestles, part of what once was the Kettle Valley Railway, are an international destination for cyclists and hikers within Myra-Bellevue Park. The path follows the old railway and offers incredible canyon views. BC Parks is responsible for providing safe access to the trestles and every 15 years, the trestles need significant maintenance …
“It was the beginning of a relationship, and the beginning of this nebulous thing called reconciliation. People brought beautiful food, and it was a spectacular gathering. The connections that were made were so deep.” Last July, a very special event took place at Squitty Bay Park on Lasqueti Island. It was led in part by …
As a continuation of our ‘BC Parks in the news’ stories series, we wanted to highlight some recent projects and events that were featured this spring. From acknowledging the work of a recently retired BC Parks employee to the raising of a welcome pole in a popular park, there have been some great news stories …
Everyone working in, partnering with, and visiting the 1,000+ parks and protected areas in B.C. plays a role in the conservation of these incredible places. Within BC Parks, we are lucky to have a skilled conservation team to help guide us in meeting the conservation focus of our triple mandate of Indigenous reconciliation, conservation, and …
The Park Enhancement Fund (PEF) is a dedicated special account created to enhance provincial parks and support community partners and volunteers alike. Revenue from the sale of BC Parks Licence Plates goes into PEF and supports programs such as Community PEF. Each spring, BC Parks welcomes applications from community groups, volunteers and Indigenous partners to …
Seeing bears is an exciting experience for park visitors. And how you behave in the park has a direct impact on the safety and wellbeing of bears and other wildlife. Bears that come into conflict with people, especially those that have learned to associate people with food, may pose a threat to public safety and …
Park rangers are directly responsible for delivering services that support the public’s use of the park system and protecting park values. To showcase the diversity and breadth of work park rangers do, we asked six rangers from across B.C. to share their experiences. Thompson Cariboo: Rae I started my career as a backcountry ranger in …
In the past year, BC Parks established a program of ongoing design research that provides direct access to feedback from the people who use our services. We regularly share what we learn from our research sessions on this blog. In December 2022, we conducted usability testing with people who volunteered to take part in design …