B.C.’s Joffre Lakes Park to partially close for conservation [Video]

Pemberton, B.C. –

An agreement between the B.C. government and the First Nations that manage Joffre Lakes Provincial Park will see the popular tourist spot closed for part of the year to protect its “natural and cultural values.”

The announcement comes after a disagreement over the park’s public use led the Lilwat and N’Quatqua First Nations to shut down access to the park for about a month last year.

Environment Minister George Heyman said Thursday that the decision to close the park for short stretches comes after consultation with the two nations and talks with other locals about “heavy visitor use.”

“What we want to do around the province is collaborate with First Nations around management of parks where they’re interested, around ensuring that we have a good sense of how much load the environment in the park can take without actually destroying the features that bring people there,” Heyman said.

In 2019, …