The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation:

100 Years and Counting – Parks Canada Celebrates Centennial

I rise in this Honourable House today to acknowledge the 100th anniversary of Parks Canada.

Established in 1911 as the world’s first national park service, Parks Canada today manages 167 national historic sites, 42 national parks and four national marine conservation areas. For the past 100 years, Parks Canada has protected and preserved the environment, educated visitors, and provided a variety of programming.

Newfoundland and Labrador is home to 12 of these national parks and historic sites. There are of course our breathtaking and picturesque parks located in Gros Morne, Terra Nova, and the Torngat Mountains of Labrador. Then there are our ever popular and well known historic sites – Signal Hill, Hawthorne Cottage, the Ryan Premises, L’Anse aux Meadows, Port au Choix, Red Bay, Castle Hill, Hopedale Mission, and Cape Spear Lighthouse, the most easterly point in North America.

Year after year residents and tourists alike continue to visit these beautiful, historic places to learn about the history and culture of Newfoundland and Labrador, and to gain insight and knowledge into our incredible national heritage.

In celebration of this historic occasion, Parks Canada will be hosting a wide range of events and activities to be enjoyed by all ages, coast to coast. In this province, the celebration started on May 19 and will continue with events at various sites from June right through to September.

I encourage those who live here, along with those who will be travelling to Newfoundland and Labrador in the near future, to be sure to visit as many of our national parks and historic sites as possible in recognition of Parks Canada’s centennial anniversary.

I invite the members of this House to join me in congratulating Parks Canada as they celebrate this milestone.

2011 05 26             1:50 p.m.