Hun-w 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     "nu lmunmg“... 
     
    
   
   
    
     fikwwmflhv 
     
    
   
   
    
     A SEASON FOR CHANGE 
     
    
   
   
    
     Provincial Parks enjoyed a very successful two week 
     
     involvement in the Canada Winter Games at Brookvale and owe a 
     
     great deal of credit to the hundreds of volunteers in the 
     
     provincial biathlon and cross-country associations. Even the 
     
     weather co-operated right up to the last day, which was no 
     
     mean feat this year. It appears now that winter is 
     
     definitely on the wane as we move into Harch. A large flock 
     
     of Canada Geese was seen high over Bonshaw Provincial Park on 
     
     the‘seventh. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Like everyone else in this season, the Parks Branch begins to 
     
     change gears from winter activities to preparation for spring 
     
     and summer. Last year we piloted a new program called "This 
     
     is Your Park" with a couple of Island communities. The 
     
     program fits well under the mission statement of Parks which 
     
     is: 
     
    

    
     -to operate and promote the orderly development of 
     
     recreational opportunity and services, encourage 
     
     conservation and preservation of natural resources and 
     
     insure their effective integration with other sectors 
     
     of public and private endeavours. 
     
    
   
   
    
     "This is Your Park" is aimed at encouraging community 
     
     participation in the operation and development of individual 
     
     provincial parks and the program will be promoted strongly 
     
     this year after the progress indicated in 1990. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The program has'specific objectives of 
     
     -providing year-round interest and appreciation of the 
     
     parks, 
     
     -increasing visitation to the parks by blending 
     
     community and park interests, 
     
     -promoting a better quality and more varied experience 
     
     for park visitors, 
     
     -allowing more opportunity for contact between tourists 
     
     and Islanders. 
     
     Park communities are defined in the broadest sense to mean 
     
     any user groups and the target for each park is the formation 
     
     of a community committee which the Parks Region will support. 
     
     Programs, facility improvements and protection are all 
     
     candidates for this community agenda and we look forward to 
     
     hearing from each of you in support of your favorite 
     
     provincial park. - Doug Murray 
     
    
   
   
    
     -16 -