Starting this week, Grade 8 students across Canada, including those within the riding of Yorkton-Melville, will be receiving a very special pass to many of Canada’s natural and historical treasurers.

The “My Parks Pass” is a Parks Canada program partnering initiative with Nature Canada and The Historica-Dominion Institute. The program will allow over 400,000 Grade 8 students to enter Canada’s 27 national parks and 68 Parks Canada-administered national historic sites for free for the next year. The passes will also be accompanied by family discount coupons.

In addition to 12 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.

Saskatchewan is home to two National Parks, with Prince Albert National Park in the north-central region, and Grasslands National Park in the southwest. We also have a National Park in close proximity to the east with Riding Mountain National Park, south of Dauphin, Manitoba, and then of course there is Banff National Park to the west.

Even closer to home is the Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site near Abernethy, Sask. The site was the homestead of William Richard Motherwell, who was one of the first settlers in the area. After settling on the land, Mr. Motherwell became Saskatchewan’s first agriculture minister and eventually Canada’s Minister of Agriculture. Today, his homestead plays host to guided tours giving you a glimpse of life as it was for the pioneer farmer and politician.

A goal of Parks Canada is for all Canadian students to have an opportunity in their school careers to learn about the important stories and places that are represented by Canada’s national historic sites and national parks. The My Parks Pass program provides an opportunity to connect youth to their natural and cultural heritage at an influential stage in their life and school. Research has shown that reaching youth with unique opportunities to learn and appreciate heritage can influence them in adulthood.

I encourage everyone to visit www.myparkspass.ca to learn more about Canada’s natural and cultural heritage and to use the special code on their pass to enter a contest.

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