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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Public support lacking for thrill activities at Banff Naional Park

Stunning vistas greet cross-country skiers in the immense wilderness of Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. In 1985, the United Nations designated the park a World Heritage Site. (Associated Press)
Stunning vistas greet cross-country skiers in the immense wilderness of Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. In 1985, the United Nations designated the park a World Heritage Site. (Associated Press)

PARKS -- Canadians have been telling Parks Canada they don’t want new thrill-seeking activities or special events in Banff, the country’s flagship national park – but Ottawa chose to ignore them.

The Rocky Mountain Outlook has the story on the disturbing inclination to turn a treasure like Banff National Park into an amusement center.

Parks Canada last year approved national policy that paves the way for adventure activities such as via ferrata, zip lines and hang-gliding in a bid to boost visitor numbers in parks across the country, including Banff.

But, according to an internal letter obtained through Canada's Access To Information, there was virtually no support for such thrill-seeking activities during Banff’s controversial management plan review.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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