On June 15, 2019, Gary Anandasangaree, Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Rouge Park, and Jennifer Innis, Chair of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)’s Board of Directors, announced that TRCA has transferred 1,847 hectares of lands to Parks Canada to become part of Rouge National Urban Park.
This announcement is a major milestone in the establishment of Rouge National Urban Park, officially making it one of the world’s largest protected areas in an urban setting.
The announcement was made at the annual CPAWS Wildlands League’s Paddle the Rouge event. MP Anandasangaree and Chair Innis were joined by additional government, Indigenous and community partners, to mark this momentous occasion.
“TRCA and Parks Canada are aligned in our shared goal of protecting and conserving the area’s significant natural heritage,” said Chair Innis. “I am proud of TRCA’s role in helping to create this space, and I can think of no better way for these lands to be used than as a preserved natural park for the people of Canada’s largest urban region to enjoy.”
The transferred lands include the majority of the original regional Rouge Park, and encompass wilderness and biodiversity found nowhere else in the Greater Toronto Area. The natural features include dramatic river valleys, majestic forests, wetlands and portions of the Lake Ontario shoreline, as well as the highest concentration of species at risk in the region.
Rouge National Urban Park is within a one-hour drive of 20 per cent of Canada’s population, and is accessible by public transit, providing unprecedented opportunities for Canadians, including many youth and newcomers, to discover and connect with nature.
Canadians are invited to explore and discover the park this summer, and to enjoy the many new and innovative visitor experiences now available.
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