April 29, 2010

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Grade 8 students across Canada are invited to experience Canada’s national parks and historic sites for free.  MP Brian Jean welcomes this announcement made by the Honourable Jim Prentice, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada. The launch of “My Parks Pass”, a program partnering initiative with Nature Canada and The Historica-Dominion Institute, will allow over 400,000 Grade 8 students to enter Parks Canada administered national parks and national historic sites for free for twelve months.

“I’m very pleased to be passing on this exciting news to our Grade 8 students,” said Mr. Jean. “Parks Canada offers some of the most unique and relevant places to appreciate Canada, and this new opportunity is a great way for students to connect with Canada’s natural and historical treasures.”

The “My Parks Pass” is a Parks Canada program partnering initiative with Nature Canada and The Historica-Dominion Institute that will allow over 400,000 Grade 8 students to enter national parks and Parks Canada-administered national historic sites for free for twelve months.

The passes, which will be distributed the week of May 17, provide free access to 27 national parks and 68 national historic sites. In addition to twelve months of free access to the parks, beginning this September all new Grade 8 classes across Canada will be able to visit their national parks and Parks Canada-administered national historic sites for free when visiting as part of an organized school trip.

“Canada’s future lies in the hands of its youth, and Parks Canada and I are especially proud to place a key to the nation’s greatest treasures in those young hands,” said Minister Prentice. “The ‘My Parks Pass’ will open the doors to Grade 8 students to connect their hearts and minds to the places and events that embody the very essence of Canada.”

For additional information on Parks Canada’s the “My Parks Pass,” please see the accompanying backgrounder at www.parkscanada.gc.ca  under Media Room.