Plans to consider a new national urban park in the Edmonton region were announced Monday at an Edmonton news conference/Parks Canada

Canada is exploring the creation of a national urban park in the Edmonton region.

Parks Canada and the City of Edmonton pledged this week to work with Indigenous partners so that a new Alberta park showcases Indigenous stewardship, voices and stories, and offers opportunities for connections to the land and water based on Indigenous knowledge and values.

"This program represents an important opportunity to develop green spaces that focus on preserving the natural habitats that exist around us all," Audrey Poitras, president of the Métis Nation of Alberta, said in a news release after the Edmonton launch of the pre-feasibility stage of the project.

"Indigenous peoples have a deep connection to the land so I am grateful for this development,” said Chief Tony Alexis of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations representative. “Having a National Urban Park in Treaty Six Territory would not only provide space for connecting to the land, but would also provide opportunities for healing and cultural celebration for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. This is a step in the right direction towards reconciliation."

Urban green spaces provide habitat for animals, including species at risk, and can serve as crucial corridors for wildlife. These nature-based climate solutions help cool cities and absorb rain water during extreme weather events. They can contribute to Canada's climate change objectives by sequestering carbon, and to the federal government’s commitment to conserve 25 per cent of its lands and waters by 2025, and 30 percent by 2030.

"Edmontonians are united by our love of nature and getting outside,” Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said. “Being close to natural spaces increases wellbeing and connection. We are so lucky to have an incredible amount of green space across our city including the largest continuous area of urban parkland in the country."

Randy Boissonnault, federal tourism minister, said “urban parks boost the municipal economy, generate tourism and employment opportunities, increase biodiversity and help mitigate the effects of the changing climate.”

At this week's news conference, Parks Canada and the City of Edmonton vowed to work with Indigenous partners to see if an Edmonton region urban park is possible/Parks Canada

Because the initiative is in the pre-feasibility phase, a location for the potential park has not been designated. Establishing a potential area is one of the goals in this phase. 

The National Urban Parks Program, announced in August 2021, is the next step for Parks Canada. Over 110 years, it has created a system of national parks (including Rouge National Urban Park in Greater Toronto), national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.

New national urban parks will be managed under a range of flexible governance models, including federally administered places, third party administered places, and various partnership approaches.

In January, Parks Canada Agency and the City of Edmonton signed a Statement of Collaboration to indicate their mutual interest in conducting a dialogue around the creation of a new national urban park in the Edmonton region. They hope to work, through this collaboration, in partnership with the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and the Métis Nation of Alberta, other significant regional land holders and local stakeholders.

Parks Canada has signed statements of collaboration with the Meewasin Valley Authority and the municipalities of Winnipeg (Manitoba), Halifax (Nova Scotia) and Windsor (Ontario), and is working with others to identify potential urban park sites at various locations, including Colwood (British Columbia) and Montreal (Quebec).