A new plan is underway to make Internet access in the mountain parks more convenient for visitors to connect with the outside world while away from home.
Wi-Fi in the mountains is currently available through private companies and Parks Canada plans to get in on the action and add dozens of hot spots to its national parks and historic sites across the country.
Wireless connections will be put in some visitor centres and picnic areas in Banff, Jasper and Elk Island by this summer.
"What we've been looking at is how can we attract other audiences and more urban people, quite frankly, into coming into natural areas," said Andrew Campbell from Parks Canada.
“Our goal is visitor satisfaction. Our goal is to increase visitation,” said Francois Duclos from Parks Canada. “For the upcoming season, I’m hopeful that we'll get the service into probably 15 to 20 parks or sites and that we can implement, in those 15 to 20 sites, somewhere between 25 and 50 hot spots.”
Duclos says the intention is not to offer service in the backcountry but to provide small-scale hot spots where services are already available.
“This should have a positive impact on visitors and it will offset the cost through increased revenues,” said Duclos.
Dr. Tom Keenan is a professor in the faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary and says the move was inevitable.
“Statistics show that 39 per cent of Canadians go to bed with their cell phone, they have it in the bed or on the night table so we’ve become connected. There’s really no way of getting away from it. It was inevitable that the parks would have it,” said Keenan.
Dr. Keenan says it is the reality of doing business for many but there will be some impact on peace and quiet for those looking to get away.
“I actually suggest they should have quiet areas and noisy areas in the park and they should go in the noisy area,” said Keenan. “What I don’t want to see is somebody with their RV down at the campground taking a direct feed of some television network and blaring it on giant speakers so I think we have to make that distinction, people go to the parks for the quiet, nature experience they don’t necessarily want to hear your Wi-Fi connection or your speakers.”
Mark Smith is from Wales and is staying connected while camping.
“For us, where we’re kind of travelling across the country, so it’s been really handy to be able to communicate with our friends so we can meet at different points on our route.”
At Mount Kidd, there is already a wireless connection in place for visitors to use depending on where you set up.
“Personally I do think it’s very useful because we tend to like to be in touch,” said visitor Tiiu Adamek.
Parks Canada says the service allows users to share their experiences with others online as they happen and that the fee for Wi-Fi will be included in entrance fees.
(With files from Ina Sidhu)
