National Parks Archive
2013-04-19 Fewer Winter Trails Will Help Jasper Caribou
AWA's letter to Parks Canada supporting their proposal to restrict winter recreational access, from November through the end of February, within the habitat of three sensitive Jasper National Park caribou populations. AWA also urges reduced winter access into the Maligne caribou range and preventing ski hill expansion into caribou range.
2013-03-01 Rare Plants and Rare Plant Communities in Alberta Face an Uncertain Future
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2012, by Dr. Kevin Timoney. Timoney presents a case study of a prescribed burn near Saskatchewan River Crossing, and looks at the rare plant communities in the area, comparing the health and threats to those communities both before (in 2007) and after (in 2009 and 2011) the burn. He finishes by making recommendations to the government regarding the future of the prescribed burn program.
2013-01-02 AWA Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders: Mt. Norquay Proposal to Break Banff Park Wildlife Assurances
The federal government is seeking public comments until January 4 on a proposed plan to allow summer chair lift operations and tourism into what is now secure grizzly habitat in Banff National Park. We hope you will take a moment to ask decision makers to protect Banff Park wildlife and keep this important summer wildlife habitat secure, as was promised as part of a previous expansion of the ski hill’s footprint.
2012-11-27 Mt. Norquay Proposed Long Range Plan
A long range plan proposal by Mt. Norquay ski hill operators to Parks Canada, to establish summer operations in the ski hill area.
2012-11-00 EIA for Proposed Mt. Norquay Long Range Plan
A consultant's report prepared for Mt.Norquay ski lift operators, submitted to Parks Canada, assessing environmental impacts of a proposed plan to expand summer operations in the ski hill area.
2012-10-17 Howse Pass Highway: The Ridiculous National Park Highway Proposal that Refuses to Die
Wild Lands Advocate update, August 2012, by Nigel Douglas. Five years after it was last put to bed, the idea of a new highway cutting through the glaciers of Banff National Park rears its head once again.
2012-10-03 Canadians Willing to Make Sacrifices to Recover Caribou in our National Parks
Wild Lands Advocate update, August 2012, by Nigel Douglas. A recently-released Parks Canada report reveals the findings that Canadians support renewed efforts to recover threatened caribou in the Rocky Mountain National Parks, even if that means some compromises have to be made.
2012-09-19 AWA Letter: GranFondo Event in Banff National Park
AWA's letter to Parks Canada in response to the GranFondo race held in Banff National Park on August 25. AWA does not support events of this magnitude whether they be sporting, recreation or for other purposes being conducted within National Parks or provincially protected areas. Such events are inappropriate in that they do not interpret park values and are incompatible with a mandate to protect and interpret natural systems.
2012-09-07 AWA Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders: National Parks Need Protection
On Friday September 7, 2012 the Jasper Environmental Association is inviting friends of the National Parks to start gathering at noon to peacefully protest federal government decisions that compromise the natural character of our National Parks system. Click through to the article for details about this event.
2012-07-03 AWA News Release: Canadians Willing To Make Sacrifices to Recover Caribou in our National Parks: New Parks Canada Report
Canadians support renewed efforts to recover Threatened caribou in our Mountain National Parks – and we are willing to make sacrifices to allow that recovery to take place. This is one of the significant findings from a newly released Parks Canada report, Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou: What we Heard.
2012-06-26 Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou: What We Heard
Parks Canada report, detailing the results of a public consultation process. Canadians were asked for their reviews on the 2011 draft Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou. The results are summarized here.
2012-02-09 ENGO News Release: Approval of Jasper Development Ignores Public Outcry
Over the objections of almost 200,000 citizens, the federal government has approved the proposed “Brewster Glacier Discovery Walk” in Jasper National Park.
2012-02-00 Bow Valley Parkway: Parks Canada Puts Wildlife Ahead of Commercial Interests
Wild Lands Advocate update, February 2012, by Nigel Douglas.
2012-01-31 Southern Mountain Caribou Conservation Strategy
AWA 's letter to Parks Canada commenting on the proposed Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou in Canada's National Parks.
2012-01-18 Connecting Youth to Nature at The Palisades Centre
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2011, by Niki Wilson
2012-01-09 A Tale of Two Banffs
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2011, by Jim Pissot, looks at the future of Banff National Park and "catering to commercialism, mission drift, and flirtation with frivolity over substance."
2011-12-16 Bow Valley Parkway Travel Restrictions
AWA offers its congratulations to Parks Canada on the recent decision to introduce enhanced travel restrictions on sections of Highway 1A, the Bow Valley Parkway.
2011-12-15 AWA Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders: Time to Oppose “Contrived Thrill-Seeking Development” in Jasper National Park
Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders will be familiar with the proposal by Brewster (an Arizona-based entertainment company) to construct a huge glass walkway beside the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park. Opposition to this development, entirely inappropriate in such an important National Park, has been extensive. Parks Canada is now providing limited opportunity for the public to comment on one aspect of the development. Despite the fact that the consultation period is very restricted (closing date for comments is December 16, 2011) it is important that they hear from those people who believe that this proposal should be rejected immediately.
2011-12-14 Environmental Assessment for proposed Brewster “discovery walk”
Letter from AWA to Parks Canada, concerning the proposed "discovery walk" construction in Jasper National Park.
2011-11-25 AWA News Release: Habitat focus needed for Alberta's caribou
Parks Canada’s newly-announced Southern Mountain Caribou Conservation Strategy, including a captive breeding and reintroduction program, will fail in Alberta without a stronger focus on habitat protection and restoration. Alberta Wilderness Association calls on federal and provincial governments to deal with the root cause of Alberta’s plummeting caribou populations: habitat destruction by human disturbance.
