Parks Canada

Parks Canada originated as the Dominion Parks Branch in 1911, following the establishment of Banff National Park in 1885. J.B. Harkin served as the first Commissioner, shaping the agency's early philosophy of balancing conservation and public use. The agency's mission is to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, foster public understanding, and establish a network representative of Canada's ecosystems and history, with ecological integrity as a priority. Over time, the agency evolved through several renamings, becoming the Parks Canada Agency in 1998. It operates under multiple federal acts and manages over 200 sites, including 30+ Indigenous co-management arrangements. Early park creation involved the displacement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents and has evolved into current co-management practices. Early tensions existed between commercialization/tourism and conservation which led to a policy revision in 1979 that prioritized ecological integrity over recreation.