Lesson 17: Maintenance
Completion requirements
Unit 5
Attraction Effectiveness
Lesson 17: Maintenance
"Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." ~ Albert Einstein
In 1911, the Government of Canada established the Park Canada Agency as Canada's largest provider of natural and cultural tourism, protecting heritage areas that are important cornerstones of Canada's local, regional, and national tourism industry. The Agency protects and presents these national treasures as living legacies that tell stories of who we are, including the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.
As a national treasure and a symbol of Canada's identity, it must be maintained, protected and wisely managed in order to provide Canadians with opportunities to discover and enjoy the nature and culture for years to come.
Below are four potential issues that Parks Canada is addressing to achieve Park sustainability.
Overcrowding
Free admission in 2017 to Canada Parks led to an increase in visitors at some Parks Canada places, resulting in longer line-ups and challenges in booking campgrounds, thereby compromising visitor experiences. Furthermore, overcrowding at popular heritage places impacted natural and cultural resources. While there are some locations that consistently experience high visitation, there are others that have the capacity to welcome more visitors.
Working to balance visitation across the Parks Canada network will help to ensure that more Canadians have memorable experiences at Parks Canada places while managing high rates of visitation at some of the high traffic places.
Guest Safety
Parks Canada's Investment Plan for 2015-2020 contributed over $3 billion towards improving the condition of Parks Canada's built asset portfolio and reducing risk to public safety across its network of heritage places.
In 1911, the Government of Canada established the Park Canada Agency as Canada's largest provider of natural and cultural tourism, protecting heritage areas that are important cornerstones of Canada's local, regional, and national tourism industry. The Agency protects and presents these national treasures as living legacies that tell stories of who we are, including the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.
As a national treasure and a symbol of Canada's identity, it must be maintained, protected and wisely managed in order to provide Canadians with opportunities to discover and enjoy the nature and culture for years to come.
Below are four potential issues that Parks Canada is addressing to achieve Park sustainability.
Overcrowding
Free admission in 2017 to Canada Parks led to an increase in visitors at some Parks Canada places, resulting in longer line-ups and challenges in booking campgrounds, thereby compromising visitor experiences. Furthermore, overcrowding at popular heritage places impacted natural and cultural resources. While there are some locations that consistently experience high visitation, there are others that have the capacity to welcome more visitors.
Working to balance visitation across the Parks Canada network will help to ensure that more Canadians have memorable experiences at Parks Canada places while managing high rates of visitation at some of the high traffic places.
Guest Safety
Parks Canada's Investment Plan for 2015-2020 contributed over $3 billion towards improving the condition of Parks Canada's built asset portfolio and reducing risk to public safety across its network of heritage places.
Ecological Damage
The magnitude and rapid pace of environmental forces, adaptation, and climate change may affect Parks Canada's ability to maintain the integrity of its ecosystems, cultural resources, and infrastructure.
The Government of Canada has responded to these risks by:
- undertaking assessments, planning and monitoring to identify specific potential threats to further take action to mitigate those impacts
- undertaking ecological restoration projects focussing on improving ecological integrity
- applying the lessons learned related to climate change adaptations required in Canada's North to other national parks
- developing and sharing best practices for monitoring the condition of cultural resources in all protected heritage places
- continuing to implement resilient designs and construction materials
- undertaking ecological restoration projects to build ecosystem resilience
- continuing to review emergency and business continuity plans and providing Parks Canada personnel with ongoing emergency management and response training
- helping to restore Canada's reputation for environmental stewardship
Indigenous Peoples' Reconciliation
There is a risk that Park's Canada's actions towards reconciliation may not fully satisfy both the rights and interest of Indigenous Peoples and other Canadians.
The Government of Canada is responding to this risk by implementing a reconciliation framework composed of three pillars:
- strengthening Indigenous connections with traditionally used lands and waters in a manner that respects Aboriginal rights and treaty rights in all heritage places
- expanding presentation and commemoration of Indigenous histories and cultures in Parks Canada's heritage places and programs, including responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report and Call to Action #79
- increasing economic opportunities related to Indigenous tourism in heritage places and raising the profile of Indigenous tourism products across the network of heritage places