The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation:

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to promote, celebrate, and highlight our provincial parks.

Since the creation of Sir Richard Squires Memorial Provincial Park in 1954, provincial parks have featured the natural beauty of Newfoundland and Labrador. Recently, photographers were invited to help showcase this natural beauty, by submitting their favourite images of our parks for an opportunity to win seven nights of camping during the 2020 season.

Mr. Speaker, the department was thrilled to receive a great response to the contest, with nearly 300 entries. Today, I am pleased to announce Mr. Bailey Parsons of Stephenville, as the grand prize winner of the 2020 Provincial Parks Photo Contest. Mr. Parson’s submitted an absolutely breathtaking aerial view of the rolling sand dunes and beaches of Sandbanks Provincial Park at Burgeo. To view Mr. Parson’s photograph, along with other winning entries, I encourage all to visit our new website, www.parksnl.ca. While the site is still under development, the winning photographs are featured publically today.

I also want to take this opportunity to announce that the Provincial Parks Campsite Reservation Service will begin accepting reservations for the 2020 camping season at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22. Of the 13 provincial park campgrounds in the province, seven are scheduled to open Victoria Day weekend, with the remainder scheduled to open later in May.

Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador’s 32 provincial parks are something to be discovered, and I encourage everyone to explore the natural beauty of our province.

Thank you.