About the CPC

Vision and Priorities

The Canadian Parks Council provides a Canada-wide forum for inter-governmental information sharing and action on parks and protected areas that:

• promotes excellence in parks and protected areas planning and management;
• advocates parks and protected areas values and interests;
• encourages cooperation and provides support to member agencies on parks and protected areas issues and initiatives.

Vision

The Canadian Parks Council has a vision of parks and protected areas networks that are recognized, appreciated and managed as a vital part of Canada’s environmental, social, cultural and economic fabric.

Shared Interests

Member jurisdictions share interests that, while not of the same relative importance to each agency, none-the-less guide the Council’s choice of priorities and initiatives. These shared interests are:

• Protection - To protect representative and significant natural and cultural values in parks and protected areas.
• Heritage Appreciation - To provide opportunities for exploration, appreciation and understanding of natural and cultural heritage values in parks and protected areas.
• Outdoor Recreation - To provide outdoor recreation opportunities in parks and protected areas, consistent with the protection of the natural and cultural values.
• Tourism and the Economy - To promote the tourism and economic benefits represented by the natural and cultural values of Canada’s parks and protected areas.

Strategic Directions

Six Strategic Directions guide the work of the council.

• Advance the protection efforts of member agencies
• Promote heritage appreciation and communication about protected areas values
• Support agencies’ efforts to address Aboriginal peoples’ interests in parks and protected areas
• Support ecologically sustainable tourism related to parks and protected areas
• Foster Engagement of young people in parks and protected areas stewardship
• Facilitate effective management of parks and protected areas