Appendix 1 - What we heard

Waterton Lakes National Park

Examples of verbatim comments received during Waterton Lakes National Park management planning phase 1 consultations.

Why did people participate?

I care deeply about the park - it’s a very special and sacred place to me.
I want to preserve the natural beauty this park has maintained by keeping the park intact and reopened for all to enjoy.
I care also about the fish and wildlife that use both the park and neighboring public lands.
Concern that process can ignore public input. Want to make an effort to hold the process accountable.
I want to be sure that the original purpose(s) for setting Waterton aside as a National Park are not overwhelmed by contemporary and developing social trends for the area.
Waterton is so unique, so different than the other national parks (…) It deserves both a vision and an action plan to achieve that vision.

What do people treasure?

I love how this park is wild and quiet, yet still has opportunities for visitor enjoyment.
Opportunity to engage and connect with a sacred land that has provided for time immemorial.
The pristine beauty, peacefulness, minimal commercialization, super walking and hiking trails, great boating and fishing, not much overcrowding, amazing wildlife, bird and plant variety. Truly a remarkable treasure. Let's not mess it up!

Vision elements

Unspoiled natural beauty. Non commercialized. Clean. Preserved. Historical. Family oriented. Alberta’s secret getaway to enjoy and discover nature.
A welcoming community with profound respect for its natural abundance.
I want Waterton to continue to be a place where the plants and animals are free to thrive, yet be a place where people can enjoy themselves (a nice balance).
A destination that is recognized internationally as a perfect example of preservation, conservation, interpretive learning, trans-boundary relationships, and outdoor enjoyment/appreciation.
A place to re-connect, rejuvenate and revitalize oneself.
Much the same in terms of limited development and environmental protection.... current enjoyment for current AND FUTURE generations.... never forget that clause!

Healthy ecosystems / Ecological integrity

Keeping Waterton as pristine and natural.is of the most importance. I feel that in this next decade, challenges with pressure from our growing population and development will be prevalent.
Research and monitoring of landscape and ecosystem to understand how the fire changed species composition, distribution, and connectivity.
Buffer zones needed for biodiversity to continue in our ever decreasing wild spaces.
Continue to develop and enforce policies such as the new power boat policy that allows for the use of the park but protects the health of the park for the future.

Visitation and demand management

A park that leverages and respects its natural surroundings to offer visitors an intimate experience.
The tourist needs to leave the Park having had the experience of seeing wildlife, the beauty of the Park, and just basically enjoying nature.
Limiting the number of residents, visitation, and overall marketing of the park (want to keep it a hidden secret at a time of exponential growth and increased tourism).
Acknowledge the "capacity" of the park based not only on infrastructure, but guest experience as well. The park is less enjoyable when crowded.
Focus on helping people experience the outdoors instead of trying to make the village, visitor center, and stores the focal point.
There will be more visitors. Catering to them should not compromise the Park’s basic values.

Accessibility, facilities and infrastructure

Work to rebuild the infrastructure to provide opportunities for people to safely access all areas of the park. This would include redeveloping the camping and children’s camp.
Accessibility for a low maintenance and sustainable manner, not paved parking lots but a natural trail system. Very limited development of restaurants and town type facilities.
By keeping some areas the way they were – as in without services and power in the campground- will go a long way to preserving what makes this park so special. Keeping it this way will create a safer environment for wildlife, will encourage respectful behaviours for visitors.
Maintain and upgrade infrastructure to accommodate expected future visitation numbers.
Improve recycling and composting practices. Expand the number of trail bikes are allowed on.
Develop sustainable standards that encourage green tech.
Like Edward Abbey wrote: "(…)We have agreed not to drive our automobiles into cathedrals, concert halls, art museums, legislative assemblies, private bedrooms and the other sanctums of our culture; we should treat our national parks with the same deference, for they, too, are holy places."
Commercialism - keep mom and pop operations that are unique to the area.

Indigenous relations and heritage

Reflect historical accuracy of area by using Indigenous names. Let's co-exist.
Protecting culture will protect nature.
Members of the Blackfoot nation are welcomed with open arms to practice their traditions, share their stories with the public, and work with Parks Canada staff to make appropriate management decisions.
There is a lot of potential for Waterton (individually) and Waterton-Glacier (as an International Peace Park) to stand out as leaders in reconciliation through conservation by working together with their Blackfoot neighbors to care for the lands, waters, and animals in Waterton together (…).
Encouraging local Indigenous groups to share their traditional connection to the land and using this to educate visitors and inform planning.

Visitor stewardship and education

Parks Canada needs to educate/train on how to share the space with wildlife and change views on humans' place in nature.
The Park should be focused on ways to teach people how to experience, appreciate and respect the natural environment; belong to it, not consume it.
Parks Canada should be trying harder to educate the visitor on the basics of Leave no Trace, wildlife interaction and typical respectful rules of being in a natural protected area.
I believe the only way to educate further generations in the preservation of wilderness areas is to allow access while teaching respect for the environment.

Communications, knowledge sharing and public engagement

Tech advancement: embrace this! Use tech to entice younger generations (and older!) and educate them.
Have a plan. Use scientific resources – people and data – that relate to these issues.
More frequent consultations/check-ins with the public, stakeholders, indigenous, indigenous youth, community members.
Extensive research on the effect of the Kenow fire on the region. What we can learn about the positive and negative effects of the fire can be beneficial for future happenstances.
Improving regional landscapes are number one priority. With social media, town hall meetings, keep people of Alberta informed.

Regional connectivity and relationships

Waterton doesn’t exist in a vacuum, so relationships with neighboring First Nations, conservation groups, parks and ranchers are important. We should continue to share our passion and leadership in ecological integrity, invasive species management, wildlife management, and more with our network…and learn from them as well.
Create a balance between Waterton and other areas to help mitigate increased visitation and spread it throughout SW Alberta. Benefiting all.
A stronger and more focussed relationship with the business community in the Park – a symbiotic and progressive relationship could be achieved with more emphasis on tourism management and understanding.

Other comments

Slow down. The park shouldn’t drastically change. The rest of the world can do that.
Implementing these priorities in a timely manner and ensuring animal life and visitors can co-exist safely.