36 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

From June 20 to September 2, 2025, the Canada Strong Pass will offer expanded access to Canada’s nature and culture across the country, helping families discover and celebrate Canada throughout the summer.


https://www.canada.c...trong-pass.html



The Pass includes:

Parks Canada: Free admission for all visitors to national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas administered by Parks Canada and a 25% discount on camping fees.

National museums and the Plains of Abraham Museum: Free admission for children aged 17 and under and a 50% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24.

VIA Rail: Free travel for children aged 17 and under when accompanied by an adult and a 25% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24.

Selected participating provincial and territorial museums and galleries: Free admission for children and a 50% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 June 2025 - 08:58 AM.

[Bambam]

For anyone who happens to be in Halifax during this period I can't recommend the Halifax citadel highly enough as well as Fortress Louisbourg and the Annapolis Valley tour. All definitely worthwhile.

[Victoria Watcher]

Oh ya cool. Seems when I was a child we went to FRH lots. It’s cool.

[lanforod]

For anyone who happens to be in Halifax during this period I can't recommend the Halifax citadel highly enough as well as Fortress Louisbourg and the Annapolis Valley tour. All definitely worthwhile.

 

Plug your ears for the rifle demo though!

[Bambam]

Plug your ears for the rifle demo though!

 

A couple of pics from 2016 the last time we went to the Citidel; gives you a perspective of the size of the fortress and the cannons remind visitors of its purpose. I threw in the obligatory Peggy's Cove shot "just because" lol

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[Victoria Watcher]

Colwood

 

• A gathering called “Canada Day by the Sea” will be held at the Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse national historic sites from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesday.

 

The band from the 5th (B.C.) Field Artillery Regiment will play starting at 11 a.m. on the main field, and a 21-gun salute will be conducted by the ­regiment at noon.

 

Demonstrations of historic weapons will be held at 1:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m., including the ­firing of a Victorian-era field gun in the second session.

 

There will be drop-in ­programs, games and refreshments, and a performance by the Soul Shakers.

 

Free shuttle service from the Colwood park-and-ride will be available.

 

Details at Parks Canada.

 

 

https://www.timescol...island-10879131

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 July 2025 - 02:19 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Free admission and discounted overnight stays with Parks Canada

 

 

The Canada Strong Pass is back for the holidays and summer 2026! The Government of Canada is offering free admission and a 25% discount on fees for camping and overnight stays from:

• December 12, 2025 to January 15, 2026 inclusive
• June 19 to September 7, 2026 inclusive

Regular fees apply from January 16 to June 18, 2026 inclusive.

 

 

https://parks.canada...anada-strong-en

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 December 2025 - 12:48 PM.

[Matt R.]

Did you know you can book tent cabins at the park? I didn’t either. Free entry and half price camping, thanks Big Daddy!

https://parks.canada...gZ4E-Mle5Uv81Zw

[Tony]

There has been camping options there for a number of years. It was not well known.

[Matt R.]

Definitely not.

[Tony]

I disagree. This is not the first year that they have had this camping option at Fort Rodd Hill,

[Tony]

Many prople are like Matt and have not been aware of the unique opportunity for overnight camping at Fort Rodd Hill evan though it has been available for many years.

 

From a BOT ....

 

Public overnight camping at Fort Rodd Hill

 

Introduction of oTENTiks: In May 2013, Parks Canada officially reopened the fort to public overnight stays with the installation of five oTENTik structures.

[Matt R.]

Lots of comments on the original post I saw, nearly everyone saying the same - "I had no idea."

[Sparky]

I had no idea.

[lanforod]

Tony, Matt is agreeing with you that not many people know about it, not that there were options before this year.

 

I for one though, DID know about it.

[Victoria Watcher]

I remember the announcment and news items.

 

Glamping at Fort Rodd Hill - Shaw TV Victoria

 

https://youtu.be/kLE...u52mVmogpDYK_DA

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 February 2026 - 09:22 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Only the government can see a problem like this and not have a proper solution.



How can Parks Canada manage exploding visitation rates to Lake Louise?

It’s a question the federal agency is trying to answer with its final public engagement phase for a visitor use management plan in the iconic area.

Among the options being considered are a summertime ban of vehicles, a reservation system, parking time limits and maintaining the status quo of paid parking.

https://www.cbc.ca/n...anada-9.7073302




What you do is increase the parking rates at peak season, then use the extra cash to expand parking or provide bus parking and shuttle opportunities.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 February 2026 - 01:30 AM.

[Tony]

What seems like a simple answer to what is not a simple question as is outlined in the article.

[Blair M.]

I lived in Banff for a couple of years while an Intern at the Banff Centre. 

Because you can’t limit peoples access to the park (it’s the Trans Canada Hwy), and you can’t limit access to the townsite itself (the travel infrastructure is required, gas, food, camping, etc), you have to put a hard limit on vehicles travelling up the access roads to the “attractions”. 

Once that hard limit has been reached - the road is shut down to tourists for the day. 
 

Overcrowding was a major topic Banff locals spoke about when I lived there in the late ‘80’s, 35+ years ago - so it’s certainly nothing not a new discussion. 

I was through Banff a couple of years ago, during the summer. The traffic on the access roads was 5 times worse than when I lived there - and it was pretty bad when I lived there. 
 

Hard limits on physical access to the popular sites each and every day is the only answer, and may even serve to help spread tourist visits further into the shoulder seasons. 

[max.bravo]

What exactly is the problem with lots of people? Are they trampling tree roots? Then build boardwalks. Are they littering? Then charge enough to pay someone to clean up and fine litterers.
This idea that parks can’t have too many humans in them is nonsense.