Then and now: vintage parks postcards

2018 marks Ontario Parks’ 125th anniversary and we’ve been digging through our archives in search of some of the coolest vintage photographs, documents, and artifacts. Throughout the year we are sharing our discoveries in a series of OP125 blog posts!

This post showcases a collection of vintage postcards featuring a few of our beautiful parks in northwestern Ontario!

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Howling with the wolves at Bonnechere Provincial Park

Today’s post comes to us from MacKenzie Schmidt, Discovery Program Coordinator for our Algonquin Zone.

For centuries, wolves have captured our imagination and wonder. Tolstoy wrote about them, biologists have studied them in earnest, and campers staying at Ontario Parks have had the opportunity to howl to them during public wolf howls since the 1960s.

In fact, the very first public wolf howl at Algonquin Provincial Park (1963) represents some of our earliest educational programming that is paramount to Ontario Parks’ mission today.

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Local schools blitz Murphys Point

This post comes to us from Mark Read, Interpretive Naturalist at Murphys Point Provincial Park.

Last month, two local schools took part in a mini bioblitz at Murphys Point, using their outdoor skills to explore, discover, and identify the various wildlife of the park.

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Celebrate 50 years at Pancake Bay Provincial Park

Today’s post comes us from Julie Dixon and Chris Rutledge at Pancake Bay Provincial Park. 

Picture this: you’re sitting on a beautiful sandy beach, soaking in an awe-inspiring sunset over Caribbean blue waters. Where do you imagine you are?

Perhaps Costa Rica? Mexico?

In fact, you don’t have to travel too far to access views like that — just head north to a little hidden gem called Pancake Bay Provincial Park!

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Barrier-free Bonnechere

Highlights of a trip to Bonnechere Provincial Park often include visiting the beach and taking a dip in the sparkling waters of Round Lake.

Until recently, enjoying these and other activities in the park could be challenging for those using a wheelchair or walker.

This past year, as part of Ontario Parks’ commitment to making our parks as accessible as possible, Bonnechere staff surveyed the park and after identifying potential barriers, put together a plan to remove them.     Continue reading Barrier-free Bonnechere

Keep your child’s asthma under control this summer

Summer’s here, bringing with it camping getaways, family hikes, and playing outdoors all day long. But if your child suffers from asthma, keeping it under control during the summer months is necessary to ensure they have a safe and active break from school.

Planning ahead and taking precautions helps to reduce their risks. Beware of summer asthma triggers such as pets, food allergens, campfire smoke, air pollution, mould in the forest, and dust and mould in tent or trailer. Remember that air quality on vacation not be as easy to monitor as it can be at home.

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Carden Alvar Provincial Park and Important Bird & Biodiversity Area

Welcome to the July installment of “IBAs in provincial parks,” brought to you by Ontario IBA Coordinator Amanda Bichel of Bird Studies Canada.

This month, we’ll be talking about the Carden Alvar, a terrific example of harmony between Ontario Parks and the Important Bird & Biodiversity Area program.

Carden Alvar is a very special story, weaving together its rare habitat and species, and the stewardship efforts put forth to protect them.

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The dazzling tigers at Charleston Lake

Today’s post comes to us from Chris Robinson, Natural Heritage Education Leader at Charleston Lake Provincial Park.

This is a vibrant, colourful time of year at Charleston Lake Provincial Park, with lasting sunshine and seemingly endless days. June and July are also when butterfly watching is at its best!

Some of the park’s most showy butterflies are the tiger swallowtails, known for their large size, distinctive colours and streamer-like “tails” on their hindwings.

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