How BC Parks Licence Plate Holders Are Helping More People Feel Welcome and Become Stewards in BC Parks

“When BC Parks Foundation began developing the Discover Parks program with BC Parks, we knew that we wanted to welcome every British Columbian,” says Gabby Jolly, Manager of Discover Parks Ambassadors for BC Parks Foundation. “Everyone belongs in the parks community, and everyone has something they can do to keep parks clean and beautiful.”

Five years later, that commitment shows up in many ways, from accessible infrastructure projects, to accessible online virtual park tours, to nature walks translated into American Sign Language on discoverparks.ca.

It’s also woven directly into the Discover Parks Ambassador program, where trained interpreters lead programs across the province to help visitors connect more deeply with the places they explore.

In 2024–25, Discover Parks Ambassadors delivered 1,475 interpretive programs in BC Parks. Through outreach booths, Nature House visits, and accessible self-guided activities, we connected with nearly a quarter of a million park visitors.

Much of this work is made possible through support from drivers across the province who choose BC Parks licence plates. Proceeds of those funds go to BC Parks, who then direct that funding to a variety of programs, including connecting people with nature.

In British Columbia, 28.6% of people aged 15 years and older live with a disability.  That why we partner with organizations like Power To Be.

Power To Be began in 1998 with the goal of helping people living with disabilities or barriers access nature.

Over time, the organization has grown into a community that connects participants with outdoor adventures and helps more people experience the benefits of time outside.

Since 2021, Power To Be has worked alongside BC Parks and BC Parks Foundation to help ensure Discover Parks programming is welcoming and inclusive for the wide range of people who visit BC Parks.

Today, every Discover Parks Ambassador receives specialized training developed by Power To Be.

“The ambassadors value the training so much,” Gabby says. “They feel so much more confident, not only to lead specific community groups, but just in general to lead public programming for anyone.”

As Power To Be Director of Programs and Impact Carinna Kenigsberg explains, inclusion in outdoor spaces is about creating a sense of belonging.

“Access is one step,” Carinna says. “But true belonging happens when people feel welcomed as their authentic selves. When staff meet them where they are and treat them as experts in their own experience.”

That approach shapes how Discover Parks programs unfold on the ground in BC Parks across the province.

Instead of following a rigid script, Discover Parks Ambassadors learn to read the group in front of them and adapt in the moment.

“British Columbia’s population includes different abilities, life experiences, cultures, languages, and access to technology,” says Gabby. “When we understand people better, we can connect with them better, providing programs that are more meaningful for more people, more of the time.”

Discover Parks programs now regularly host visits from organizations such as Power To Be, the Canucks Autism Network, BC Mobility Society, and community groups supporting newcomers to Canada.

“The training creates opportunities for people with different abilities, backgrounds, and experiences to explore parks together. It ensures that anyone and everyone can build a meaningful connection with nature and help keeps BC beautiful.”

For Power To Be participants, those experiences can have a meaningful impact.

Carinna recalls watching participants gradually relax during a program at Goldstream Provincial Park.

“At the beginning, some individuals arrived feeling uncertain,” she says. “But as we moved through the forest—touching the moss, listening to the creek, learning about the trees—you could see the sense of calm coming in.”

Participants began asking questions about wildlife and the landscape around them. Some returned later with new interests, including birdwatching, restoration work, or simply spending more time outdoors.

“We really do see people over time develop a sense of responsibility to protect the land,” Carinna says. “They’ll pick up litter, they’ll notice environmental changes. And then they start teaching others what they’ve learned.”

Research consistently shows that people who feel connected to nature are more likely to care for and protect it.

Programs like Discover Parks help foster that connection by creating welcoming experiences for the diverse communities who visit BC Parks.

Behind these experiences are thousands of drivers across BC who have chosen BC Parks licence plates.

Their support funds partnerships like the one with Power To Be, helping expand Discover Parks programming, train ambassadors, and create accessible ways for people to explore parks, whether in person or online.

For Carinna, the model stands out because it supports inclusion in thoughtful and flexible ways.

“It’s not just about infrastructure,” she says. “It’s about asking what access really means for people. It’s not just the ability to get to a park. It’s that, when you’re there, you feel like you belong.”

Every BC Parks licence plate helps make these experiences possible.

Learn more about the impact of the Licence Plate Program in our latest report, and if you haven’t already, consider joining the community of drivers helping connect more people to nature across BC.

Read the Licence Plate Program Impact Report. Get your BC Parks licence plate today.