Marathon & Pic River Gr.2/3 To Honour Caribou at Pukaskwa Festival
Got Caribou? Pukaskwa National Park does! Celebration begins tomorrow
Heron Bay, Ontario – Pukaskwa National Park will host its first annual Caribou Festival beginning tomorrow, Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22. While catching a glimpse of one of Pukaskwa’s woodland caribou is a rare joy, here’s a chance to discover the “ghosts” of Pukaskwa through a full weekend of family events!
Pukaskwa’s Caribou Festival offers the opportunity for visitors to learn more about the park’s most elusive animal. Entertaining family activities include the chance to channel your inner caribou: get your picture taken by infrared camera, or compete in a caribou calling contest! Guess the number of pieces of caribou scat (chocolate) in a jar, and enjoy Pukaskwa’s Coffee House featuring local talent. Hike with Parks Canada staff to learn about caribou conservation efforts including how Pukaskwa keeps track of the number of caribou living in the park. Park entry fees apply.
The festival starts with a traditional Sunrise Ceremony on Friday at 7:30 am. At 11:00 am, the Grade 2 class from Margaret Twomey Public School and the Grade 2/3 class from Pic River Elementary School will perform a traditional Ojibway song to honour the caribou. Students from local schools have also been working hard on colouring and drawing pictures of caribou, and naming the caribou that live on Otter Island. Winners will be announced on Sunday, May 22 at 2 pm.
A barbecue will be hosted by The Friends of Pukaskwa at 12 pm each day and the Wildshores Gift Shop in the Visitor Centre will be open. For information on the Caribou Festival and other events taking place at Pukaskwa National Park, please visit the park’s website at www.parkscanada.gc.ca/pukaskwa and new Twitter channel @PukaskwaNP.
Pukaskwa National Park, one of 42 national parks in Canada, affords visitors an opportunity to explore and experience “the wild shore of an inland sea”. Parks Canada is proud to protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage on behalf of present and future generations.
Established as the Dominion Parks Branch, Parks Canada is the world’s oldest national parks service. Parks Canada turns 100 in 2011 – come celebrate!
