Prince Albert National Park will be opening on a limited basis June 1. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Reopening

Parks Canada ready to welcome visitors next month

May 27, 2020 | 4:11 PM

Prince Albert National Park will be ready for visitors June 1.

The park will have limited services as the visitor centre and other facilities which require people to be in close contact will remain closed. There will also only be one washroom open in the townsite. Camping is also not permitted.

Cal Martin, field unit superintendent for North Prairies for Parks Canada, said visitors will still be able to do quite a bit.

“Most of our day trails will be back open and most of our days areas and beaches,” he said.

Both motorized and non-motorized boats will be permitted in the park. The townsite along with most roads in the park will be open to vehicle traffic.

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As for businesses, Martin said that falls to provincial jurisdiction.

“If the province is allowing it to be open, generally it will be open in the Waskesiu townsite,” he said.

Historic sites ready also

Batoche National Historic Site is ready to do a limited opening as well.

Starting June 1 visitors will have access to trails around the site, including the cemetery. The bathrooms in the parking lot will also be open.

Scott Whiting, external relations manager for Parks Canada in Saskatchewan south, said they wanted to open some of the facilities to give the public the chance to enjoy what they can.

“We recognize that being in nature is important for people’s physical and mental health and being able to do it in a place like Batoche, it’s a scenic spot, it’s culturally and historically significant, it’s a great opportunity,” he said.

The historical site’s visitor centre will not be open and the historic buildings are staying closed. Whiting said there will not be any food services or potable water available. Overall, Whiting said services will be fairly basic.

“Visiting Batoche won’t be the same experience that it was in the past,” he said.

Whiting said it was difficult to say how attendance numbers could be affected. He added staff will be prepared to welcome all the people who decide to come out.

Along with Batoche, some other of Parks Canada’s other historic sites in Saskatchewan will also be opening up on a limited basis. This includes the Motherwell Homestead, Fort Walsh and Fort Battleford.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn