What it measures
Dimension: Participation
This indicator tracks the average number of visitors per site to Canadian National Parks and National Historic Sites during the past year. After steadily increasing throughout the 1990s, the number of visitors dropped dramatically after 2001. Parks Canada suggests that threats to security and health scares such as the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s might account somewhat for fewer visitors. In recent years, there has been a small increase in numbers of Canadians accessing these spaces, but there are not nearly as many visitors as there were in the 1990s.
Why this matters
Enjoying national places such as National Parks and National Historic Sites with others is thought to strengthen connections between Canadians and encourage a common sense of pride, connectedness, and wellbeing. As well, accessing parks allows people to connect with nature which has direct links to mental and physical health and wellbeing.