Figuring out your new life in a new country can be overwhelming. You have to make new friends, adapt to a new culture, land a great role, or focus on fitting in at school, often starting from scratch. Visiting a serene green space is essential when you need to take a break from the challenges of living in an unfamiliar place. Urban parks in Canada offer a haven where you can rest, recharge, calm your mind, lower stress, and enjoy other mental health benefits.
Urban parks also help immigrants deal with common issues like loneliness and homesickness. Additionally, they are a great way to explore Canada and appreciate its natural beauty. Read on through this Remitly guide to find the best urban parks in Canada for a fun outdoor experience.
Importance of urban parks in Canada
Urban parks are natural green spaces located in or near major cities. They are open to the public for recreation purposes.
In Canada, the National Urban Parks Program affirms the government’s commitment to creating new urban parks because of their vital role. These include:
- Conserving and restoring Canada’s unique ecosystems
- Mitigating climate change impacts
- Improving water and air quality
- Boosting the country’s resilience to climate change impacts
- Managing large water volumes after heavy rain or snowfall
- Connecting people to nature
- Facilitating conservation and cultural heritage education
- Fostering community health and wellness
- Creating jobs through tourism and related activities
Unique features and offerings
The Canadian urban parks system is unique in several ways:
- It’s a collaboration between the government and the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. They comprise the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, who are the original inhabitants of Canada. This partnership aims to improve cultural education.
- It seeks to reconcile with Indigenous Peoples by supporting their leadership in environmental stewardship.
- It’s a response to climate change, improving the resilience and adaptability of Canadian cities.
- It intentionally targets locations in major cities and surrounding suburbs to bring Canadians closer to nature.
Public green spaces are managed by Parks Canada, an agency that evolved from the world’s first-ever national parks service. Now, let’s look at popular urban parks in major Canadian cities and provinces.
Top urban parks in British Columbia
British Columbia (BC) is a province on the western side of Canada. It’s a conservation marvel characterized by the beautiful Pacific coastline, lush forests, and large populations of wildlife such as whales, dolphins, and seals. Magnificent mountain ranges cover 75% of the province, and visitors can also enjoy the famous Glacier National Park, ski resorts, and lively cities.
BC hosts over two-thirds of the country’s land mammal and bird species, so the Canadian government has invested heavily in more urban parks around the province. Two popular locations include:
Stanley Park, Vancouver
Stanley Park is the biggest public green space in Vancouver. A few features make the 400-hectare location a regular hot spot:
- Sandy beaches: Stanley Park boasts two breathtaking, family-friendly beaches, Second Beach and Third Beach. Both have lifeguards and are great for swimming and sunbathing in the summer.
- Aquarium: It’s home to the Vancouver Aquarium: Canada’s largest aquatic museum with top-notch exhibits. It’s also a hub for marine conservation, education, research, and rehabilitation. You can buy tickets when visiting or become a member to enjoy unlimited entry.
- Nature trails: The park provides about 27 kilometres of forested trails, including Beaver Lake, the Siwash Rock Trail, and the Stanley Park Inner Loop.
- Seawall: Offers close to nine kilometres of walking, biking, jogging, and rollerblading trails with a view. It also prevents coastal erosion.
- Lush landscape: Enjoy stunning natural scenery including mountains, forests, and clear waters.
- Cultural and historical landmarks: Explore the Stanley Park Pavilion. Built in 1911, it is the oldest building in the park. Today, it’s a well-liked location for weddings, birthdays, meetings, and other events. You’ll also see the Hollow Tree, an 800-year-old Western red cedar tree stump.
The park is accessible by car, foot, bike, or public transport. Once there, you can either tour alone or join a group.
Beacon Hill Park, Victoria
Beacon Hill Park is a family-friendly park in Victoria. It is famous for its beautifully landscaped gardens that create thriving native ecosystems. The 200-acre ecological wonder offers a number of must-see features that include:
- Protected areas: Protected, ecologically sensitive areas, animals, and native plants like the Garry oak, western white trillium, yellow montane violet, camas, blue-eyed Mary, and white-top aster.
- Walking areas: Scenic footpaths along well-manicured natural gardens.
- Lakes and ponds: Support water sports like paragliding, kite surfing, and sailboarding.
- Trails: Running and dog-walking trails, where dogs must always be on a leash, except for lease-optional sections.
- Historic elements: Notable wonders like the historic hawthorn tree, which was planted by Winston Churchill in 1929.
The park is within walking distance of most hotels in Victoria.
Must-visit parks in Ontario
Ontario is the second-largest Canadian province. It’s an environmentally important area with over 250,000 lakes, including four of the five Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Ontario.
There are nine migratory bird sanctuaries and ten national wildlife areas in the province, which house over 30,000 species of plants and animals. Two urban parks stand out in Ontario.
Rouge National Urban Park, Greater Toronto Area
Rouge National Urban Park is based around the Rouge River and its tributaries in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It’s Canada’s first national urban park and the largest in North America. So, what makes this green space unique?
- Vibrant ecosystem: It’s a protected ecological area and home to over 1,700 plant and wildlife species.
- Nature trails: Provides 12 kilometres of hiking trails and paved cycling paths.
- Watersports: Extensive river system offers plenty of opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding.
- Educational tours: Experienced guides take you through the park’s social and cultural history.
Guided walks are a great way to explore this park’s beautiful gardens and man-made wetlands.
High Park, Toronto
High Park is one of the largest urban green spaces in Toronto. The 400-acre public park features the following:
- Natural areas with wetlands, oak woodland, savannah, ravines, and tableland.
- Ponds, such as Grenadier Pond, for fishing and viewing wildlife like the largemouth bass, northern pike, great egret, and great blue heron.
- Cultural attractions, monuments, and art sculptures showing evidence of Indigenous inhabitants dating back to 7000 BCE.
- Recreational facilities such as a playground and outdoor swimming pool, and sports fields for soccer, tennis, and baseball.
- Animal display, which hosts bison, llamas, peacocks, barbary sheep, emus, and capybaras, among other animals. There is also a separate, leash-free dog park.
- Gardens with ornamental plants, butterflies, and beautiful flowerbeds.
- Nature trails for calming and breathtaking hikes with friends and family.
- Amphitheatre for outdoor concerts and events in the summer.
- Historical features like Colborne Lodge.
Visitors can access High Park via streetcar, subway, or bus.
Humber Bay Park, Mimico
Humber Bay Park is a bird watcher’s paradise. The urban park comprises the 47-acre Humber Bay Park East and the 300-acre Humber Bay Park West. Collectively, the park boasts these features:
- Green spaces: Enjoy several gardens, lush open areas, and conservatories.
- Diverse habitat: Hosts different species of shorebirds and waterfowl, such as ducks and red-necked grebes.
- Hiking trail: Scenic, well-maintained walking, running, and biking trails along the Lake Ontario waterfront.
- Leash-free dog park: Let your dog run off some steam and enjoy scenic views.
Famous parks in Quebec
Quebec is Canada’s largest province. Its wide range of ecosystems—such as tundra, temperate and boreal forests, rivers, lakes, ice sheets, and glaciers—supports Quebec’s rich biodiversity. Polar bears, coyotes, moose, and deer are common sights in the province’s urban parks, which include:
Mount Royal Park, Montreal
Mount Royal Park is situated on Mount Royal, a 233-metre-high hill in Montreal city. It is an excellent choice for picnics, dog walking, cycling, and jogging.
What makes this park famous?
- Rich biodiversity: Provides a protected area for endangered and rare species like the glossy black-cockatoo, little brown bat, parma wallaby, northern long-eared bat, and hoary bat.
- Wetlands: Beaver Lake helps keep the park green.
- Recreation: Stunning picnic areas, plus ice skating and snowshoeing facilities
- Culture: See cultural attractions like the Mount Royal Cross, erected in 1924.
If you’re planning a visit, you can reach Mount Royal Park by bike, car, public transport, or on foot.
Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal
Parc Jean-Drapeau, or Jean Drapeau Park, is the third-largest urban park in Montreal city. It’s a unique green space made of two islands and provides a myriad fun features, such as:
- Ice sports: Enjoy winter biking, ice skating, skiing, snowshoeing, and free sliding.
- Event spaces: Espace 67 on the partly man-made Île Sainte-Hélène’s offers a central concourse, event village, natural amphitheatre, and riverside walkway
- Public beach: Where parkgoers can go swimming and sunbathing.
- Recreation areas: Offers a museum, the La Ronde amusement park., and heated outdoor pools.
- Water sports: Facilities for lovers of kayaking and canoeing.
The park is only five minutes away from downtown Montreal. You can get there on foot or using a taxi, river shuttle, SM shuttle, bike, or metro.
Notable parks in the Prairies and Maritimes
The Prairies include the country’s portion of the Great Plains, as well as Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba provinces. This region is also known as Canada’s bread basket due to its large production of food. Climatic conditions support a large herbivore population, so expect to see lots of deer, moose, antelope, and elk.
Meanwhile, the Maritimes are made up of the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. This coastal area supports habitats for marine animals like turtles, tuna, sharks, sea otters, porpoises, dolphins, and whales.
Here are two famous urban parks in the two regions.
Assiniboine Park and Zoo, Winnipeg
Assiniboine Park and Zoo is a haven for nature and history buffs. The facility offers several unique features:
- Landmarks: Home to several Winnipeg icons, such as the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, the Pavilion, and the Riley Family Duck Pond.
- Zoo: Hosts diverse animal species, including the Sichuan takin, domestic yak, domestic Bactrian camel, reindeer, and Turkmenian markhor.
- Gardens: Home to a stunning indoor horticultural attraction known as the Leaf.
Rockwood Park, Saint John
The Rockwood Park offers a relaxing experience with features that include:
- Recreation activities: Take advantage of the spectacular golf course, wellness spa, and camping sites.
- Horse stables: For short- or long-term boarding and riding opportunities.
- Lakes: Home to six freshwater lakes for activities like swimming, fishing, and boating.
- Natural features: Majestic waterfalls, stunning caves and rocks, and hills with lush forests.
- Natural habitats: Hosts a good population of migratory ducks.
History and facts about Canada’s urban parks
Canada’s national park service was the first of its kind in the world. Since its launch, the country has become a leader in natural conservation and environmental protection. Here are some facts about the history of urban parks in Canada:
The first urban park in Canada
Urban parks in Canada date back to 1749 when Governor Edward Cornwallis established Halifax Commons, the nation’s first urban park. It was first used by the British as an exercise zone and clear line of defence.
In 1818, private citizens who were inhabitants of Halifax requested that the area be converted for recreational purposes. The park is still in operation to date.
The biggest urban park in Canada
The biggest urban park in Canada is the North Saskatchewan River Valley Parks system. Located in Edmonton, Alberta, this 7,000-acre green space consists of over 20 parks. The main attractions include the John Janzen Nature Centre, Fort Edmonton Park, the Muttart Conservatory, and the Edmonton Valley Zoo.
Most beautiful urban parks in Canada
Canada boasts a lush, gorgeous natural environment, making it difficult to choose the most beautiful urban parks. Each space’s unique features contribute to the beauty of the larger system. For example, Stanley Park in Vancouver, Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, High Park in Toronto, and Assiniboine Park and Zoo in Winnipeg are biodiversity hot spots. Mount Royal Park and Parc Jean-Drapeau, both in Montreal, are quite picturesque.
Explore and discover Canada
Urban parks in Canada offer green havens in the middle of busy cities and suburbs. They offer numerous opportunities to relax and unwind, or meet other like-minded people. If you’re planning to settle in Canada, visit a park during the holidays, or more regularly in your downtime, and discover the beauty of the Great White North.
FAQs
Why does Canada have urban parks?
Urban parks in Canada are essential for both environmental and community health. They bring nature closer to residents and improve collaboration between the government and the Indigenous Peoples of Canada.
What’s the importance of urban parks?
Urban parks are important public facilities as they help in climate change adaptation, boost cities’ resilience, improve health and wellness for the Canadian population, and conserve nature.
What popular urban parks should I visit in Canada?
Canada has numerous urban parks in different cities and provinces. Consider visiting Assiniboine Park and Zoo, Mount Royal Park, Rockwood Park, Stanley Park, Beacon Hill Park, Parc Jean-Drapeau, High Park, or Humber Bay Park.