Parks Canada Offers Pass to La Mauricie National Park for Expropriated People

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SHAWINIGAN (Quebec), June 15, 2011 – Following an August 2010 announcement, from this point forward, Parks Canada will offer free access to families who were expropriated during the creation of La Mauricie National Park.

What is the pass ?
In August 2010 Parks Canada announced the introduction of a pass for owners whose permanent residence had been expropriated during the creation of national parks or national historic sites of Canada and for their descendants. This measure has since been expanded to apply to all expropriated owners (including land, lumber lot, and cottage owners).

This new pass will give three generations (expropriated owners and their children, grandchildren, and spouses) the right to access the national park or national historic site whose creation gave rise to their expropriation; these people will be able to freely visit the places that have special meaning to them. This national program will allow several hundred families nationwide to return to places where they grew up and where a part of their life history unfolded.

How can I get it?
You can apply for a pass by filling out the form available at the administrative office of Parks Canada at 702 5th Street, Shawinigan. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Your request must be accompanied by a copy of your birth certificate.

Once we receive your application, it will be analysed to validate your eligibility for the program. Eligibility will be determined based on existing historic records or evaluated on a case by case basis. Parks Canada will then contact the applicants to communicate the response and, if the application is accepted, will specify the procedures to follow to get the pass.

For more information on the procedure for obtaining a pass, call Valérie Therrien, External Relations Manager at 819 536-2638 # 224 or send an email at Valerie.therrien@pc.gc.ca.

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Information:

Martine Tousignant
Public Relations and Communications Officer
La Mauricie Field Unit
Parks Canada
819 536-2638 #235
Cell : 819 913-8185

Valerie Therrien
External Relations Manager
La Mauricie Field Unit
Parks Canada
819 536-2638 #224