More than half of Canada’s national parks — including Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim — are set to open for day use next week but Tofino’s mayor is urging non-residents to wait for direction from public health officials.
Non-essential travel is not recommended by the province, Mayor Jose Osborne said Wednesday.
As long as that message stands, “then we will be signalling the same,” she said.
Tofino supports B.C.’s phased-in restart program, Osborne said.
She is pleased to see that parts of the park will be accessible to area residents as of Wednesday. “It’s a really welcome thing for local residents and everybody’s mental and physical health. And the park, of course, will be ready to welcome visitors from farther afield once the provincial health officials give the go-ahead.”
Tofino, along with many small communities in the province, has been urging visitors to stay away, fearing that the pandemic could spread to locals and overwhelm health services.
Osborne said the word from the local accommodation sector is that most interest from prospective visitors is in July and August, rather than in June.
She’s happy with the staged opening plan because it gives hotels weeks to ramp up with new protocols and to bring in workers.
Also on Vancouver Island, Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, as well as Gulf Islands National Park Reserve are slated to reopen with limited services on Monday.
Camping is prohibited until at least June 21 in all national parks.
News of the reopening of 29 of Canada’s 48 national parks is in step with provincial campgrounds and Capital Regional District parks.
British Columbians are eager to take to the outdoors this summer, as illustrated by the more than 50,000 camping reservations made this week. Most provincial campgrounds open on Monday.
The Capital Regional District is also opening its campgrounds on June 5 at Sooke Potholes, Island View Beach and Jordan River. Each site is allowed a maximum of six campers to allow for physical distancing.
Online reservations for Island View Beach open Friday. Jordan River and Sooke Potholes campgrounds will operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no online or telephone reservations.
At Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse, all visits will be self-guided as it partly reopens on Monday. Camping, interpretive programs and events are all on hold. The parking lot and washrooms in that lot only will be open.
The Gulf Islands National Park Reserve will see all day-use areas and trails open to visitors as of Monday.
“At this time, Parks Canada is asking people to continue to do their part to reduce to spread of COVID-19 by staying close to home, and only visiting Parks Canada places that do not require you to travel,” said Marcia Morash, superintendent of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.
Washrooms and pit toilets will be closed and there are no camping or visitor programs.
Access to the reserve by kayak and boat is allowed. Morash said that seasonal docks at Sidney Spit and Portland Island’s Princess Bay have not bee installed. The Sidney Spit passenger ferry service is not available.
Parking areas will be open in the Gulf Islands reserve at:
• Pender Islands at Roesland, Beaumont, Roe Lake, Shingle Bay
• Saturna Island at East Point, Narvaez Bay, Winter Cove
• Mayne Island at Georgina Point
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Gradual reopening at Pacific Rim starts on Thursday by allowing people to go to some beaches, parking lots and trails in the Long Beach area. Washrooms will be open and people are asked to follow directional signs.
What will be open at Pacific Rim on Thursday:
• Long Beach north and south
• Wickaninnish Beach
• Rainforest trails A and B
• the Shoreline Bog Trail
What remains closed on Thursday:
• Kwistis Victoria Centre
• Combers Beach
• Radar Hill
• Schooner Cove
• Grice Bay
• Kennedy Lake
Closed trails in Long Beach area:
• Schooner Cove Trail
• Combers Beach Trail
• Florencia Beach Trail
• Nuu-chah-nulth Trail
• South Beach Trail
• Willowbrea Trail
• Halfmoon Bay Trail
• Green Point Campground will be closed until at least June 21, 2020.
Source: Parks Canada
