Fort Smith frustrations with Wood Buffalo National Park grow

For months, Fort Smith’s council has expressed trouble communicating with Parks Canada about activities in Wood Buffalo National Park. Now, concerns over a lack of programming have triggered calls for immediate discussions about the economic impacts of the park on the town.

“For those people that are saying Fort Smith is always whining about the state of the college, or that Wood Buffalo isn’t being managed well, yes, we’re whining because it is our livelihood,” said Fort Smith councillor Mike Couvrette at a July 7 meeting.

“The future of this community depends on the viability of those assets, and damn it all, we’re going to stand up and fight for them in the best that we can. If that means we’re going to be continually in people’s faces about it, good on the leadership taking those stances.”

During last week’s town council meeting, councillors passed a motion directing Mayor Dana Fergusson to contact the Thebacha Leadership Council – which includes the town, local Indigenous governments and the Thebacha MLA – as as well write to the acting CEO of Parks Canada.

Fergusson was instructed to seek immediate discussions about the economic and programming impacts of management decisions at Wood Buffalo National Park on the Fort Smith community.

Fergusson said she had no problem writing the letter after an April meeting with Wood Buffalo National Park officials had given the town “lots of hope” that things would improve.

“It didn’t come true. A lot of talk, no action,” said Fergusson.

Couvrette said councillors used April’s meeting to tell Wood Buffalo National Park’s acting field unit superintendent about “stumbled” communication with the community and a lack of public engagement to determine which trails residents and visitors considered priorities for refurbishment.

Council also expressed frustration over Parks Canada closing the Fort Smith Visitor Centre throughout the winter without, councillors said, prior notification to the municipality.

“I’m just really under the impression that our conversations with the representative at the time fell on deaf ears,” Couvrette told fellow council members last week.

Parks Canada says approach is better fit

The park has been an issue at council meetings for months.

At a June 16 meeting, Fergusson said she had been surprised to learn Parks Canada has visitor information centre employees but the agency had stopped programming in Wood Buffalo National Park, including guided tours and hikes – which she described as a “disservice for the community.”

Lauren Howes, the town’s director of community services, clarified that Parks Canada was still managing the campground and Kettle Point rental cabins and continuing to work with the town to contribute to community events, but not “facilitating programming on their own.”

Approached for comment on June 24, a spokesperson for Parks Canada said “current operational priorities in Wood Buffalo National Park are focused on public safety and ongoing fire management activities.”

Kaitlyn Werden, a spokesperson for the Wood Buffalo field unit at Parks Canada, told Cabin Radio on Monday that park visitors can enjoy a wide range of recreational and outdoor experiences, including camping at Pine Lake and Kettle Point.

In an email, Werden said visitors can also rent canoes and stand-up paddleboards to explore Pine Lake, picnic at day-use areas at Pine Lake, Salt River and the Salt Plains, hike through the Salt Plains, and visit the Wood Buffalo National Park Visitor Centre for assistance or to view interpretive exhibits and explore the gift shop.

Werden said Parks Canada has shifted its interpretation programming from daily drop-in sessions to scheduled programming as part of a regular review of visitor services to better align “with visitor needs, conservation priorities, and the unique realities of each site.”

“Visitors also have opportunities to experience and learn about the park’s exceptional night skies through two special Dark Sky programs hosted by Parks Canada, taking place in August and September,” Werden stated.

Werden said Wood Buffalo National Park staff are participating in more community events like Fort Smith’s Science Rendezvous, the Northern Whooping Crane Festival and the Fireweed Festival.

“These changes allow Parks Canada to focus resources on the experiences, facilities, and conservation activities that provide the greatest benefit to visitors, Indigenous partners, communities and protected places,” she wrote.

The park currently has three visitor services staff and one interpretation staff member, according to Werden.

Together, she said, they operate the Visitor Centre, assist visitors with trip planning, maintain exhibits, support Pine Lake Campground and other visitor facilities, coordinate partnerships, participate in community outreach, deliver special programming and advance visitor experience initiatives across the park.

She added that Parks Canada will continue working with the Town of Fort Smith to operate the Visitor Centre during the summer season while exploring opportunities to expand visitor experiences through partnerships, special events and targeted programming.