PARKS AND PEOPLE WHO WE ARE

PAR&PI.£

ASSOCIATION INC. PO. BOX 1506. CHARLOTTETOWN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. CIA7N3

by Janet E. Wood, Chairman, Parks and People

Parks and People Association Inc. was incorporated on April 23, 1981. We are a non-profit volunteer association and a registered charity. Over the past year a core group of volunteers incorporated and began to take the first steps to becoming a co-operating association. In June we signed a legal agreement with Parks Canada and in October we applied for funding. Our first publications should be ready for market on June lst, 1982.

' What is a co—operating association? Co-operating associations have for the past fifty years run museum-type bookstore outlets in the visitor centres of their local National or Historic Parks or sites. Parks and People will operate a display in the Cavendish Visitor Centre this summer and will sell high-quality, theme-related publications and products. The monies made will help Parks and People move towards self-sufficiency and continue to publish on P.E.I.

Parks Canada will continue to provide the free publications it has always made available. This is part of their mandate. Parks and People will provide the extras, for example a pamphlet on BIRDLIFE IN THE NATIONAL PARK, as well as trade publications such as Peterson and Golden Guides. _

This is the co—operation: Parks Canada provides the space and, in Canada, initial funding, and the association publishes and sells. The mutual hoal is a better educational/interpretive service to the public.

Why can't Parks Canada do it on their own? 1) They haven't been able to do it yet. 2) If they ever did publish the money would come out of the-P.E.I. budget and the profit would go to Ottawa. P.E.I. would get no return.

A Co-operating Association can hire Island writers, designers, translators, editors and printers to produce Island related publications and the profit can be kept on P.E.I. The publications can also be made available at wholesale prices to any retailer who might wish to market them. One of the main objectives of Parks and People is to produce Island publications by Islanders - keeping all' the money in the Island economy. -

There are in reality two sides to Parks and People. One side is the book— seller - publisher. The other side organizes educational, fun events that promote the use of the P.E.I. National Park by Islanders and the enjoyment of nature.

On February 7, 1982 we held a Winter Picnic in the National Park. Over 300 people accepted our general invitation to come out skate, ski or learn how to snowshoe

on our guided snowshoe excursion. On Sunday, May 16th, Parks and People are sponsoring a SPRING SCAVENGER HUNT in the Rustico Island section of the P.E.I.

National Park.

Parks and People and the P.E.I. Natural History Society, as you can see, have a good deal in common - ordinary people with a love and appreciation for nature. I am sure that in the future there will be many ways in which we can work together. I am always available at 894-4246 or at home 892—9039 for further informationr Or if anyone is especially interested our first general meeting is to be held Tuesday, May 18, 1982 at 7:30 P.M. at the Charlottetown Hotel.