Wild Northerner Magazine Spring 2018 | Page 41

1989 - There are now 256 provincial parks in Ontario encompassing over 6.3 million hectares.

1993 - Ontario celebrates the centenary of both the provincial parks system and Algonquin Provincial Park.

1996 - The provincial parks system adopts a new entrepreneurial operating model, symbolized by a new logo and name - Ontario Parks.

1996 - Another 11,000 hectares of land are protected under Legacy 2000.

1999 - Ontario's Living Legacy establishes 61 new parks and expands 45 existing parks.

2001 - Ontario Parks hosts over 10 million visits for the first time.

2006 - The Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act is passed, strengthening the legislative framework for the management of the protected areas system in Ontario. Maintaining ecological integrity is the top priority of provincial parks.

2011 - The Learn to Camp program is launched to help a new generation of campers enjoy the outdoors.

2015 - Ontario Parks joins the worldwide Healthy Parks Healthy People movement.

2017- There are over 330 provincial parks, which encompass over 8.2 million hectares of land and water - or 7.7 per cent of Ontario.

2018 - 125th anniversary of the Ontario Parks system.