Discover Parks Canada

450 000 km² of stories

Spring 2026

In this edition

First-timer’s cheat sheet

New to Parks Canada? Make the most of your first visit with our insider tips. We’ll give you insight on the best times to visit, fun things to do, handy camping advice, and everything you need to know about entry and staying safe.

Step into spring

Two adults walk on a wooden boardwalk trail surrounded by green vegetation in sunlight at Rouge National Urban Park.

Ditch those winter blues—say hello to greening parks and reopening historic sites. Your spring adventure plans start here! Get inspired to head outside and uncover your own region’s hidden gems.

Summer dreamin’

The Canada Strong Pass is returning this summer! Parks Canada will be offering free admission and a 25% discount on camping and overnight stays from June 19 to September 7 inclusive. Dive into our top 10 insider tips and 10 do’s and don’ts to make the most of your visit at a national park, historic site or marine conservation area.

Cruise Canada’s historic canals with free lockage this summer! Stretch your visit and stay overnight—purchase a mooring permit on site.

From stream to worldwide spotlights

Parks Canada is hooked on salmon! We’re restoring healthy habitats and honouring the salmon’s deep cultural importance. Cutting-edge research is also helping these iconic fish make a comeback. Now, the world is taking notice! Our salmon restoration efforts have been named a United Nations World Restoration Flagship. Only a handful of projects worldwide have earned this honour!

Photo credit: Tom Brown

Reels, stories & more

Hikers having fun during their hike in Fairy Meadows in Nahanni National Park Reserve.

Soak up stunning photos: aurora borealis, sunsets, wildlife… and all without leaving your seat. Be part of the community and share your stories! Join us for nature tips, cool trivia, and stories that celebrate Canada’s treasured places and the people protecting them.

Parks Canada social media channels have it all. Check them out!

Spotlight on...

Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site

The birthplace of Norman Bethune, a medical pioneer, battlefront surgeon, and health care advocate of international significance.

Compassion meets global impact

Norman Bethune’s place of birth is north of Toronto. This talented physician profoundly shaped modern medicine. After surviving tuberculosis, he was driven to eradicate the illness by becoming a thoracic surgeon. Many medical instruments he invented are still used today.

During the Great Depression, he advocated for universal health care. He also risked his life serving in WWI, the Spanish Civil War and the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Women in period dresses walking in front of the Victorian home at the Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site.

Restored to glory

Thanks to recent preservation work, this house maintains its 1890s appearance. It has ornate wooden trim and steep gables. Using historic photos and researched colours, no details were missed!

Conservation efforts mixed traditional and modern materials and techniques. To maximize its lifespan, it got a new roof, an improved drainage system, climate controls and structural upgrades. Its charm will now be conserved for generations.

Visitors on a private tour at Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site.

Up close and personal

Uncover the story of a Canadian medical pioneer known worldwide. Book your private tour today!

Savour a warm cup of traditional Chinese tea as you delve into Bethune’s enduring legacy. Then, dive into an interactive exhibit revealing why generations of Chinese children have memorized the guiding values he lived by. Explore his innovative, life‑saving mobile blood transfusion service. Plus, find out which Hollywood starlet inspired one of his surgical inventions.

Gravenhurst, Ontario

Take part in conservation

Download the Parks Canada App

Start planning your adventure at parks.canada.ca or by calling 1-888-773-8888.

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