Parks Canada Partners with Google to Bring Canada's Treasured Places to Your Home

LOUISBOURG, NS, May 13, 2013 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canadian Minister of Labour, is pleased to announce that Parks Canada has officially launched a partnership with Google Maps to bring Street View to Canada's treasured natural and cultural places. The launch of this nationwide project coincides with the start of celebrations marking the 300^th anniversary of the Fortress of Louisbourg.

"Through this innovative and collaborative project, many of the iconic natural and cultural places the Government of Canada through Parks Canada protects and presents on behalf of all Canadians will now be available through Google Maps and Street View at the click of a mouse," said Minister Raitt. "We are truly excited to make accessible to all Canadians amazing places like the Fortress of Louisbourg, Pacific Rim National Park and the historic fortifications of Quebec City, albeit virtually. We hope that this virtual experience will also encourage people in Canada and from abroad  plan a trip to experience the real thing."

This project will allow an increasingly urban nation to discover, appreciate and plan travel to Canada's most treasured places. It will also bring some of this country's most remote and stunning landscapes easily and directly to Canadians. In a country as large as Canada, the Google Maps Street View project will bring Canadians closer to their national heritage with a simple mouse click or screen tap.

"Bringing Google Maps and Street View to Fort Louisbourg gives Canadians and people around the world a chance to virtually explore this fantastic historical site on its 300^th anniversary," said Aaron Brindle, Google Canada spokesperson. "We are thrilled to be partnered with Parks Canada and look forward to connecting Canadians to more of the amazing places and geography that define our country."

Google's first stop is at the Fortress of Louisbourg where it will capture the essence of this once mighty 18^th century fortress. The Street View imagery will be available at google.ca/maps in the coming months. In the meantime, the Google Maps team will continue to collect Street View imagery from Parks Canada destinations across Canada. These locations will be revealed in the near future.

"This is an exciting project for Canadians to virtually visit Parks Canada and develop meaningful connections with our country's rich cultural and natural destinations," said Minister Kent. "Canadians will be able to access 360 degree panoramas for free, right in the comfort of their own home, or even on mobile devices while on the go - a great way to have them dreaming about the whole range of places to discover all over Canada and the rich experiences a trip to these locations can provide."

Parks Canada works to ensure Canada's historic and natural heritage is protected and, through a network of 44 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and four national marine conservation areas, invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery at our treasured natural and historic places.

SOURCE: Parks Canada