A Busy Summertime the Western Arctic National Parks

Summer is the time when the national parks show themselves at their best and busiest. Flocks of birds return from their southern migrations; thousands of caribou are born to grow and travel with the herds; and hundreds of species of wildflowers bloom. Visitors come from all over the world to raft, canoe and hike in the parks.

It is also the busiest time for national parks staff. Everyone has to cram as much work as possible into the short field season. Research and monitoring projects, facility maintenance, visitor programs and educational camps all take place then. It is also when youth and community camps are held to bring people from the communities into the parks. Staff also carry out work in the parks to improve and maintain facilities, such as weather stations and radio repeater stations.

This year Parks Canada is doing a site assessment to develop a clean-up plan for the former Stokes Point (Bar-B) DEWLine Site in Ivvavik National Park. The 3-year project will be guided by a steering committee made up of representatives from the Aklavik Community Corporation, Aklavik Hunters & Trappers Committee, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and federal government.

Summer is the time to celebrate as well! A big event for Parks Canada is Parks Day, celebrated every year. On Saturday, July 15th, celebrations of our parks will be held in Inuvik, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and at Shingle Point. artists will travel together to Ivvavik National Park to portray that