Holiday Store Impacts
When we head out in search of the perfect present, we aspire to find something that the recipient will remember and cherish forever. A gift with lasting impact.
If you shopped our Holiday Pop-up store last winter did just that. The proceeds of every purchase directly funded vital projects in parks across Ontario.
Here's a look at some of the work your holiday purchases helped to fund:
Habitat restoration at Darlington
Staff at Darlington Provincial Park built protective barriers to restore beach bluffs and re-introduce native plants to the area.
The team also built a variety of bird boxes to offer shelter to the many feathered friends who call Darlington home, including Tree Swallows, Bluebirds, Barred Owls, Wood Ducks, and Mallards.
Protecting Ontario's turtles
With all eight of Ontario’s turtle species considered at-risk species, Ontario Parks is actively engaged in efforts to protect them.
Our teams have built nesting areas, and installed wildlife crossings and turtle fencing at key crossing areas to reduce turtle road mortality with funds raised from holiday sales.
Equipment to help young visitors discover nature
Over 70 of our parks offer Discovery programs, to connect visitors with the natural world around them. Every year, our Discovery staff host more than 8,000 programs!
Thanks to purchases made at the Holiday Pop-Up Store in 2021, we were able to re-invest in this important educational initiative.
Proceeds from these purchases funded new snowshoes, binoculars, bug nets and supplies to stock Discovery kits from Lake Superior to Sibbald Point.
Recovery of native fish communities in Killarney
Many lakes in and around Killarney Provincial Park were damaged by acid and metal pollution from nickel-copper smelting. Working with partners at Laurentian University, this project included monitoring water chemistry, native species and invasive species as indicators of the lakes' health.
Ontario Parks is now developing a restoration stocking plan for several park lakes.
Expanding accessibility at Ontario Parks
Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy and explore nature. At Ontario Parks, we are working to improve the accessibility of our park amenities to ensure that all Ontarians are able to access these spaces.
This year, we secured new all-terrain wheelchairs for seven of our most popular parks, and Mobi beach mats for five of the parks. Thanks to purchases made at the Holiday Pop-up Store in 2021, visitors at North Beach, Sandbanks, Silver Lake, Charleston Lake, Balsam Lake, Sibbald Point, and Darlington will have access to these mobility aids.
Help us do even more in 2023!
Fund more projects -- 100% of proceeds from purchases made through our online store stay in parks.
Wrap up a gift that celebrates and sustains the places you love!
Make a directed donation
Want to support a specific project or park? Contact us about donating to Ontario Parks.