New Saskatchewan Provincial Park has its name

The Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport is pleased to announce that the Saskatchewan Legislature has approved the creation of the 35th provincial park in Saskatchewan, which will be designated Great Blue Heron Provincial Park.

"The name, Great Blue Heron Provincial Park, is a fitting representation of our mandate to conserve and maintain these precious lands and lakes for future generations," Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty said. "Our government remains committed to developing new provincial parks as they represent a cornerstone of Saskatchewan's tourism industry."

Great Blue Heron Provincial Park is the result of over two years of public discussion by the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport on a proposal for new provincial parks in Saskatchewan. The new park is located north of Prince Albert in the area of Anglin and Emma Lakes and protects a total area of 11,168 hectares and contains almost 300 campsites. The area offers the best of both worlds in this meeting point of parkland and northern forests. Located at the gateway to the boreal forest, the park allows for great wildlife viewing opportunities, activities ranging from picnicking and hiking in the summer to cross-country skiing or ice fishing in the winter.

Since the first reading of Bill 62 last fall, the ministry has continued dialogue with Aboriginal and interest groups and has worked to finalize the name and boundaries of Great Blue Heron Provincial Park. The park will come into force by proclamation later this year, making the area officially a provincial park at that time. This fulfills a 2007 election promise and will be the first provincial park to be established in almost 20 years.

The Great Blue Heron, a majestic wading bird measuring more than one metre in height, typically nests in colonies and is found in the tops of tall trees along water margins and is often seen standing at the edge of a river or lake in this area. The Great Blue Heron is characterized by its blue-gray back, gray and white striped belly with black and white markings on its crown.

Government has invested $33 million to improve Saskatchewan's provincial parks from 2008 to 2012. Government is continuing to improve Saskatchewan's provincial parks by investing, over and above base capital funding, an additional $10 million for park upgrades from 2012 to 2016.