BC Parks Foundation

Let's Celebrate! Five BC Parks Foundation Highlights From 2024 

With 2024 coming to a close, we want to celebrate everything you made happen this year. As the mighty community of people who love BC and want to keep it beautiful, your impact has reached across the province—from grasslands in the north to salmon habitats in the south to so many parks, people and creatures in between. You made some truly remarkable things happen this year and here’s just a few of the highlights that you should feel proud about!

Five Highlights to Celebrate 

5. One Million iNaturalist Observations in BC Parks 

In 2019, the BC Parks iNaturalist project began with less than 20,000 observations. Fast-forward five years, and we celebrated the one millionth observation in October! Thanks to over 13,000 of you, your observations are contributing to greater understanding and protection of the diversity of life in your parks. Among those one million observations include the discovery of a rare and potentially new-to-science species, new populations of endangered and threatened species, species previously unknown in BC, and much more! 

4. Discover Parks Ambassadors Surpass 500,000 Park Interactions

Have you visited a BC Park and met our friendly, knowledgeable, and always-smiling Discover Parks Ambassadors? If so, you’re part of the 500,000 all-time park interactions they surpassed in 2024! From nature walks, evening amphitheater programs, the exciting Jerry's Rangers program for kids, and more, each interaction is a memorable experience. Located at over 20 parks during the peak summer season and running at the Goldstream Nature House during the fall and spring seasons, our salmon-shirted Discover Parks Ambassadors ensure that everyone can access and enjoy BC’s Parks.

3. A Monumental Milestone for PaRx – One Million Nature Prescriptions Written! 

This year, the millionth prescription for nature was written through our nature-prescription program PaRx! Spending just two hours in nature each week can significantly impact your health and wellbeing, and because of YOU, this life-changing opportunity is reaching more people across Canada. Your support has empowered over 16,000 healthcare providers to write over one million prescriptions for nature—that’s one million connections to the healing power of the outdoors. 

The success of this program as part of a global movement embracing nature-based health solutions was recognized at COP16 in Colombia, where the World Health Organization spotlighted BC Parks Foundation's PaRx program as an innovation in healthcare. 

2. Water Starts Flowing in One of the Largest Restoration Projects in Western Canada! 

For the first time in over a hundred years, fresh water is flowing into Red Slough and the Upper Pitt River is coming back to life! You made this possible in collaboration with the leadership of the Katzie First Nation and the support of Age of Union, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, WWF Canada, and other local partners. This story of conservation, collaboration, and hope shows how working hand-in-hand can create lasting change for BC’s natural landscapes. 

1. Over 60 Properties Are Protected—Forever! 

From fragile ecosystems on the southern tip of Vancouver Island to critical wildlife habitat in Northern BC to  a new park that’s double the size of Stanley Park in West Vancouver, and more, you’ve helped us permanently protect over 28 properties this year, bringing us to 60 in total since we launched our first crowdfunding campaign in Princess Louisa Inlet five years ago! You've also supported larger scale conservation work led by First Nations and other partners in Clayoquot Sound, Kwiakah territory, and more. Your work continues the work of generations of British Columbians who came together to build the world class system parks and Indigenous protected area that we all enjoy today. 

These highlights are only possible because of YOU—our supporters. As we look forward to 2025, your passion for nature inspires everything we do. Together, we’re continuing to create a brighter and healthier future for people and other species in British Columbia.  

Hooray for you! Please consider saying goodbye to 2024 by becoming a monthly donor and get ready for a whole new year of amazing highlights of the difference you are making.