Latest news with #Líl̓wat
The Province
11 hours ago
- The Province
Off limits, again: B.C.'s Joffre Lakes Park closing for a month
The third and final closure of 2025 will run Sept. 2 to Oct. 3 First Nations' practices and to allow park to recover from heavy use One of B.C.'s most popular parks will be shut to public access again. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. The Ministry of Environment and Parks issued a release Tuesday declaring that Joffre Lakes Park will be closed from Sept. 2 to Oct. 3, to allow it to 'recover from a busy summer' and allow First Nations to carry out cultural practices. Article content It's the third closure of the park this year, and the provincial body said it was also in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The operation of the park has been contested by the Líl̓wat and N'Quatqua First Nations, which temporarily shut access to the park in 2023 to assert title and rights to the territory. The hike to Joffre Lakes, about an hour north of Whistler, is one of the most popular outings for nature lovers in the province. It's easily accessible on foot, and the park's vibrant turquoise waters feature frequently on social media. Five years ago, the number of annual visitors reached 200,000.
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
B.C.'s Joffre Lakes Park closing again for a month of recovery, First Nations' practices
B.C.'s government says Joffre Lakes Park will shut for a month in about two weeks' time, to allow it to 'recover from a busy summer' and allow First Nations to carry out cultural practices. It says the closure from Sept. 2 to Oct. 3 is also in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and will be the last of three closures this year. The park's operation has been contested by the Líl̓wat and N'Quatqua First Nations, which temporarily shut access to the park in 2023 to assert title and rights to the territory. A statement from the Ministry of Environment and Parks says the closure next month will 'provide time and space for members of the Líl̓wat Nation and N'Quatqua to reconnect with the land.' The province says the nations requested additional closures, but the current schedule best balances cultural, conservation and public access needs, and ensures the park remains open during the Labour Day weekend. The park was also closed on April 25 for three weeks, and for two weeks in June.
