MANNVILLE, AB – MAY 10, 2011 – Once again, Grade 8 students across Canada are invited to experience Canada’s national parks and historic sites for free. Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright welcomes this announcement made by the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada. The continuation of “My Parks Pass”, a program partnering initiative with Nature Canada and The Historica-Dominion Institute, will allow over 390,000 Grade 8 students to enter Parks Canada administered national parks and national historic sites for free for one full year.

“I’m very pleased to be passing on this exciting news to our Grade 8 students,” said Benoit. “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 provide over 390,000 Grade 8 students with a pass to enter national parks and Parks Canada-administered national historic sites for free for twelve months. Students will also receive an information kit outlining many exciting opportunities to experience Canada’s parks and sites.

Benoit explained that the passes provide free access to 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites and four national marine conservation areas. “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,” states Benoit.

Every pass has a unique VIP code that will allow students to enter contests on www.myparkspass.ca to win great prizes. These contests aim at engaging youth in the program as soon as they receive their pass. The goal of this contest is to entice active participation opportunities for students who visit Parks Canada locations as well as those that do not. Teachers (and parents) will find resources on the website such as pre and post visit information to support potential class visits. The My Parks Pass can also be used to purchase a Parks Canada Family/Group Discovery Pass at a discounted price.



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