Enjoy the beach but keep the right distance. The Prince Albert National Park superintendent says there has been some friction regarding people's differing risk tolerances to COVID-19. (copyright/Parks Canada/Prince Albert National Park ) 

By Glenn Hicks

Keeping Your Distance

‘Be patient and kind’: a request amid COVID-19 from the P.A. National Park

Jul 30, 2020 | 5:28 PM

Ahead of the holiday weekend, and amid the COVID-19 pandemic that is still very much still with us, Parks Canada is asking the public to do the right thing when heading to one of our region’s most popular attractions.

With ever increasing numbers flocking to the Prince Albert National Park the agency is encouraging the public to follow the advice of health experts, adhere to hygiene protocols, and to ensure they are socially distancing.

“We are seeing a little bit of clashing between people that have different risk tolerances,” Park Superintendent Cal Martin told paNOW. “Some people want to stand a little bit more closely than is recommended when they’re visiting some of the stores and restaurants.”

He said visitors should follow the two-metre distancing, especially in high traffic areas like the Waskesiu town site, beaches and picnic areas.

Martin also asked the public “to be patient and kind” when moving around the park’s amenities, and to adhere to the signage that’s in place for everyone’s health and safety.

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“Line ups for washrooms – making sure people are keeping their distance – and when you’re on a very busy beach, keep that two-metre distance between people who are in your immediate bubble and others who are in their immediate bubbles. We are blessed in this park with lots of space… there’s a lot of room for everyone and we want everybody to follow the instructions and distances.”

Martin said there are no plans to start restricting access to the park should the challenges around social distancing continue and noted even in some of the more open spaces like trails, they had also implemented protocols to help in the effort to limit the spread of the virus.

“We’re doing a lot of different approaches, like visitor flow. So, for example a hiking trail that would normally be a loop, we have changed it to a single direction to keep people apart a little bit easier,” he explained.

Hiking trails may be one thing, but the biggest challenge is those more densely frequented areas closer to the water and the town, and Martin stressed public safety remained key.

“We want to welcome everybody up for the August long weekend, but we want to ensure that people are doing that safely. Visitors’ health and safety, and that of staff and Canadians in general is of the upmost priority to Parks Canada.”

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow