Editor:
Re: Parks turns to plastic ... Rocky Mountain Outlook, Dec. 18)
So “Bunny” Harkin sez to J.B. Harkin, “Let’s set out a networked trail of cute red chairs from sea to sea to sea. Could inspire fellow Canadians to get off their chesterfields and get into some plush plastic. There are so many really neat places to just sit and gaze and think and stuff!”
“But Bunny,” sez J.B. “aren’t those the cheap junky things that litter our landfills? Besides, Canada’s natural, cultural and historic treasures are attractive enough without a trail of garish disposable furniture.”
“But, J.B.,” sez Bunny. “Just think about the selfies and stuff.”
Both Harkins thought long and hard about this. Network ... Canadians ... treasures ... plastic ... inspiration ... litter ... motivation. What to do?
Good for all of us that J.B. Harkin’s enthusiasm for the commercial value of Canada’s national treasures was firmly tempered by his commitment to conservation and celebration of our national heritage. Recognized as the Father of Canada’s National Parks, Harkin promoted the potential for our national parks to rejuvenate and inspire the human spirit.
So, will travellers be more inspired by checking off how many red plastic chairs they can sit and selfie in? Hardly! Collecting red chair seatings is no more a national park experience than collecting hockey player cards is a hockey-playing experience.
Parks Canada struggles to find itself in the 21st century. But instead of bolstering science, expanding interpretive services to visitors, investing enough in caribou recovery and exploiting its unique niche, Parks Canada encourages commercial gimmicks, mocks public consultation and desecrates sacred landscapes with hideous plastic litter.
In their decline to the tragically absurd, one wonders what’s next ...
Jim and Valerie Pissot
Jim Pissot, MSc, Director,
WildCanada Conservation Alliance
