Parks Canada national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas help tell the stories of who we are as Canadians and constitute some of Canada’s most treasured cultural, historic, and natural places.

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) began working with Parks Canada in 2012 to offer new Canadian citizens free admission to all Parks Canada sites across the country through the Cultural Access Pass (CAP) program. The CAP program provides new Canadian citizens in their first year of citizenship free admission to more than 1400 cultural spaces across the country, including museums, art galleries, science centres, and parks. Since 2012, there have been more than 30 000 visits to Parks Canada places through CAP.

Today in Ottawa, the Hon. Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the renewal of the partnership between the ICC and Parks Canada, which will result in free admission for new Canadian citizens through the CAP program.

“In Canada, we are fortunate to have natural and cultural landscapes as diverse as the citizens that call it home. Following the largest-ever consultation on Parks Canada, one of my goals is to encourage more Canadians—particularly new Canadians—to experience the outdoors and learn about our environment and history,” said Minister McKenna at a special Canada Day citizenship ceremony at Rideau Canal National Historic Site’s Hartwells Lockstation. “That’s why I am proud that we are offering free admission for new Canadians to Parks Canada places as a way to celebrate and discover Canada’s history and natural wonder.”

Earlier this year, Parks Canada also introduced free admission for youth 17 and under.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Parks Canada to encourage new citizens to make lifelong connections to national parks and historic sites through our Cultural Access Pass,” said Charlie Foran, CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. “Now, as Canadian citizens, these spectacular places across the country are both their right and their responsibility.”

Learn more about Parks Canada at parkscanada.ca. For more information on the ICC’s Cultural Access Pass, visit culturalaccesspass.ca.