Caribou conservation and enhanced winter recreation
On Friday, July 26, Parks Canada announced the decision to offer new and enhanced winter recreational opportunities and implement new caribou conservation actions in Jasper National Park.
To meet a key action from the Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou in Canada鈥檚 National Parks, Parks Canada will delay winter recreational access to important caribou habitat in three areas of Jasper National Park to reduce the threat of packed trails helping wolves hunt caribou. Starting in winter 2013鈥�2014, recreational access will be delayed until Feb. 28 in the A La Peche (northern Jasper) and Brazeau caribou ranges (southern Jasper) in the park, and until Feb. 15 in the Tonquin caribou range.
Based on input received through workshops, public comment and stakeholder meetings, Parks Canada made changes to the boundaries and timing of the original caribou conservation proposals and committed to new and enhanced winter recreation hubs in two areas: Decoigne (Highway 16 West of Jasper) and Pyramid Lake. New winter services will be available at Decoigne starting this winter. Parks Canada will involve regional recreational users in planning future expansions for both Decoigne and Pyramid Lake, to help develop these as outstanding winter recreational areas as quickly as possible.
For additional information, visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca/jasper under What鈥檚 New.
Royal connections
This year鈥檚 Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Parks Canada Youth Ambassadors will be in Jasper next week to take part in an anniversary celebration that has royal connections.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award program is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Canada. One of Canada鈥檚 premier youth development programs, it was founded by His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to encourage personal development and community involvement for young people. To celebrate this anniversary, 50 youth (aged 14鈥�25) were selected from across Canada to take part in 鈥淓xpedition 50鈥�. In recognition of its national leadership in experiential education, the Palisades Stewardship Education Centre was selected as the host for this event.
Participants will complete their awards right here in Jasper National Park from Aug. 4鈥�11. Three levels of award can be achieved, bronze, silver and gold, based on age, experience and level of commitment required. During the week, bronze participants will learn about aquatics and will head out for an overnight kayak journey on Maligne Lake; silver participants will venture into the Tonquin Valley in search of woodland caribou; and gold participants will set out on a Columbia Icefield expedition to climb Mount Castleguard.
You can follow the Youth Ambassadors鈥� adventures on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OMGParksCan.
