2020 has been a crazy year to say the least. I am honoured by the amount of support that this event has raised and delighted to see just how many people want to stand up for our provincial parks.

This fight is only just beginning. We now have the official opposition taking a stand for our parks with their \"Don\'t go breaking my Parks\" campaign, along with the CPAWs \"Defend Alberta Parks\" cause. This issue is only being brought further into the spotlight here in Alberta.

I understand that many of you will be disappointed by the prolonging of the date for this event again but for multiple reasons we just are not ready to make it happen. The government recently passed a new bill that makes protesting more dangerous and more difficult. For this reason among others, including COVID-19, we will be postponing the event once again. This will no doubt frustrate many if you who just want to stand up for this cause.

I promise you however, that this event will happen this winter, and when it does, we will make a big impact. Myself and the other admins will once again be working to plan this event and gather a diverse group public speakers from conservation and recreation backgrounds. I too am disappointed that this is once again postponed, but it will all be worth it when this eventually happens.

If you know of someone who is qualified and willing to speak at this event, please send me a private message.

One other change to this event is that we will now allow targeted signs to the UCP that explain why this \"Parks Optimization\" plan is bad for Albertans and bad for our ecology. We do ask however, that we keep it \"kid friendly\" and refrain from any extreme vulgar language. If you, like many of us, see the obvious connection between Parks closures in the Rocky Mountains and the cancellation of the Coal Policy, feel free to speak up on that issue as well. It is very obvious that the government wants to dissolve parks status and then allow coal mining in the Livingstone Range and the Bighorn area. SPEAK UP ON THIS!

I thank you for your continued understanding and support.

Get dressed up in your best skiing, climbing, or hiking gear and come down to the Edmonton Legislature Grounds to protest the proposed changes to our Alberta Parks! We are hosting a peaceful and apolitical protest to fight the proposed budget cuts. We want this event to be about our parks, not our parties.

The Alberta government is planning to fully or partially close 20 provincial parks. In the process of doing this 164 sites will be removed from provincial designation and left vulnerable to third party management.

These closures are accompanied by campground fee increases and cuts to services, such as trail maintenance in many prominent cross country skiing areas.

As Albertans, we are privileged to have access to some of the most beautiful and well maintained natural spaces in the world. Environment Minister Jason Nixon says that Alberta can no longer support the \"retail\" side of parks. Nixon has not confirmed whether the 16,000 Hectares proposed by this movement will be sold off, and has asserted that conservation will still be the main priority. However, the proposed changes leave these sites vulnerable, and the future of our parks uncertain. If the Government can threaten 16,000 acres of parkland within their first year of power, imagine the losses that can occur in the next three years.

We believe that everyone should have access to these spaces and we want to make our voices HEARD. We are hosting a peaceful protest in order to bring awareness to this issue. Please join us on March 29th to respectfully share your story of why these natural spaces are important to you and why we should always continue to protect them. In doing this we hope to raise awareness regarding the cruciality of protecting our parks while directing people to forms of action.

Please get in touch with us, if you would like to share your story about why the parks are important to YOU!

FOR THE LOVE OF OUR PARKS!
#protectourparksalberta #protectalbertaparks

some notes-

• If you are planning to bring a sign, please make sure to avoid \"political bashing\" and make a sign on recyclable materials. some suggestions for slogans are: we love Alberta parks, protect our parks and don\'t leave us in the dark about our parks.
• -this event will go on snow or shine, please be prepared to be outside and bring what you need to be comfortable for an extended period of time (i.e food, water, warm clothes, chairs etc.)
• please respect the space we are presenting in as well as the spirit of the event.
• please use a pack it in, pack it out mentality and leave the site spotless, recycle your signs etc.

If you would like to sign the petition follow this link:
https://act.leadnow.ca/dont-let-kenney-privatize-nature/

If you would like to do some more reading on the issue check out these articles:
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/alberta-releases-list-of-parks-to-be-closed-or-partially-closed
https://globalnews.ca/news/6623820/alberta-parks-closures/

If you would like to write a letter to your MLA please check out this awesome template.