Calgary’s parks awarded first Green Flag Award in Canada
With access to over 2,900 parks and more than 1,200 kilometres of pathways and trails, Calgarians can enjoy a wide variety of experiences and opportunities to meaningfully connect with nature, wellness, culture and each other.
Following an extensive judging process, we’re pleased to announce that Reader Rock Garden and Confederation Park have both been awarded a Green Flag Award, an international accreditation program that recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces. The award means Calgary’s parks are the first in Canada to receive this international recognition.
“As Calgarians, we often take for granted the world class parks and green spaces we have in the city – as stewards of these spaces we’re honoured to receive this award, which affirms our commitment to providing welcoming spaces for all Calgarians, now and into the future” – Graham Jones, Parks & Open Spaces
"This is a truly historic achievement for the City of Calgary to become the first Green Flag Award winner in Canada. Well done to everyone involved, including the volunteers and community groups that help these parks perform their best." - Carl McClean - International Development Manager for the Green Flag Award
About our winning parks
Reader Rock Garden Historic Park is one of the city's most unique cultural landscapes hosting thousands of different plant species and located in Calgary’s established community of Erlton. First created in 1913, its restoration has earned it an official designation as both a provincial and national historic resource.
Confederation Park was created in 1967 to mark the centennial of Canadian Confederation. This crescent shaped park of more than 160 hectares was once known as "the North Hill Coulee" and includes a wetland section and home to a host of aquatic wildlife and plant species. Confederation Park is also home to the nine hole Confederation Golf Course that is converted to over 7.5 kilometres of cross country skiing trails over the winter months.
About the Green Flag Award
Originating in 1996, the Green Flag Award has recognized over 2,500 parks and green spaces, every year in over 20 countries around the world, rewarding well managed parks and green spaces and setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world. Parks are judged across a broad spectrum of criteria with a purpose:
- To ensure that everybody has access to quality green and other open spaces, irrespective of where they live.
- To ensure that these spaces are appropriately managed and meet the needs of the communities that they serve.
- To establish standards of good management.
- To promote and share good practice amongst the green space sector.
- To recognise and reward the hard work of managers, staff and volunteers.
-30-