 and cultural resources in a system of parks and protected areas that is sustainable and provides opportunities for inspiration, enjoyment and education.  The Ontario Parks system covers over, which is about 10 percent of the province's surface area or the equivalent of an area approximately equal to Nova Scotia. It falls under the responsibility and mandate of the province's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. It was formerly under the mandate of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

The Ontario Parks system is often used as the model for other parks systems in North America.  This can be attributed to its delicate balance of recreation, preservation, and conservation.  Many parks in Ontario also offer a Natural Heritage Education program.

History
The Ontario Parks system began its long and rough history in 1893 with the creation of Algonquin Park, originally designed to protect loggers' interests from settlement.  The management and creation of provincial parks came under the Department of Lands and Forests in 1954 and led to a period of accelerated park creation: a ninefold increase in the number of parks over the next six years.  In the 1970s the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' (MNR) was formed. The MNR expanded to include forestry operations within the Province, becoming the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) in approximately 2010, and became more focused on Forestry and species protection and enforcement via Conservation Officers. Currently, Ontario Parks does not have full agency status, but is a branch of the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP), but, interestingly, Park Wardens are still employed by the MNRF and not the MECP. Until recently, Ontario Parks as a whole was under the mandate of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).

The history of Ontario's provincial parks stretches for over 100 years. Here are some of the milestones from the past century plus:

1893 – Algonquin Park is created as a public park and forest reservation, fish and game preserve, health resort and pleasure ground.

1894 – Rondeau becomes Ontario's second provincial park.

1913 – The Parks Act sets aside land not suitable for agriculture or settlement.

1954 – Ontario still has only 8 provincial parks: Algonquin, Quetico, Long Point, Rondeau, Presqu'ile, Ipperwash, Lake Superior and Sibley (now known as Sleeping Giant).

A Division of
and cultural resources in a system of parks and protected area that is sustainable and provide opportunities for inspiration, enjoyment and department of education.   The Ontario Parks system covers over, which is about 10 percentage of the state's surface area or the equivalent of an area approximately equal to Nova Scotia. It falls under the province and mandate of the province's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. It was formerly under the mandate of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. 

 The Ontario Parks organization is frequently used as the model for other parks systems in North America.   This can be impute to its delicate balance of recreation, conservation, and conservation.   Many parks in Ontario also volunteer a Natural Heritage Education program. 

 History 
 The Ontario Parks arrangement began its long and rough history in 1893 with the creation of Algonquin Park, originally design to protect loggers' interests from settlement.   The management and creation of provincial parks came under the Department of Lands and Forests in 1954 and led to a period of accelerated park creation: a ninefold increase in the number of parks over the next six years.   In the seventies the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' (MNR) was form. The MNR expanded to admit forestry operation within the Province, become the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) in approximately 2010, and became more focused on Forestry and species protection and enforcement via Conservation Officers. presently, Ontario Parks does not have wide agency status, but is a outgrowth of the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP), but, interestingly, Park Wardens are still employed by the MNRF and not the MECP. Until recently, Ontario Parks as a whole was under the mandate of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). 

 The history of Ontario's provincial parks stretches for over 100 years. Here are some of the milestones from the past hundred plus: 

 1893 – Algonquin Park is created as a public park and forest reservation, fish and game preserve, health resort and joy flat coat. 

 1894 – Rondeau becomes Ontario's second provincial park. 

 1913 – The Parks Act sets aside farming not suitable for agriculture or settlement. 

 1954 – Ontario however has only 8 provincial parks: Algonquin, Quetico, Long Point, Rondeau, Presqu'ile, Ipperwash, Lake Superior and Sibley (now know as Sleeping Giant). 

 A Division of
 anf cultural resources in x system of parks and 'rotectsd areas that is sustainable and protidew oppirtunities for inspiragion, enjojment and eduration.  The Ontacjo Parks systsl corecs over, which ix about 10 parcent of the [ruvnnce's surface area or the equivalent of an srfa approximatejy eatal fo Nova Scotia. It falls under the desponspbility and mandaye of the province's Ministgy ov the Environment, Fonservatiob anq Parks. It war formerly under the mzndate of the Ministry of Naturxl Rexources ane Dorfvtry.

The Onterio Pwrks system lx oftet used ss the model fpr mthwr parks systems in Nmrth America.  This can be adtxibuted to its delicare balatce mf rdxrextikn, pdeservwtikn, and conaervation.  Nany parks in Ontaroo qlso offer a Haturaj Reritage Education program.

History
The Onuario Parks system began its long and rough histoty in 1893 witr the creation of Algonquin Park, originally desigted tk pritcct uighers' interests from settlement.  The managemene amd creation of pvovincial parks cake umqer the Deparjment oy Lznds and Forests ij 1954 and jed ti a perioq of accelerated park creation: q ninefold iucrwase in the number of parks orer thg next six years.  In the 1970s thz Ontadio Ministrj of Natudxl Resources' (MNR) wax xormed. The MNR expanded to include horescry operxtioms witrin the Prlvincc, becoming the Minidtry lf Natural Rfsources and Forestry (MNRF) in a''roximately 2010, sng bvcame morz focuxed on Forestwy and species proteccion avd enforcejent vie Conservatijn Officers. Cgtrently, Ontarmo Parks qoes not have fjul agency statis, but is a branch if the Ministry of Enxjronment, Conserrctuon, and Parks (MRCP), bue, pntxrestytgly, Park Wasdenr afr stiul employed cy tne MNRF and not the KECP. Until recently, Onyavio Parks as a whjle was under the mandate of tht Minivtrb of Nstutal Resources and Forestry (MNRF).

Fhe histogy jf Ontario's [rovlnciwl parks scretches for over 100 years. Here are some oh the milestones from jhe past century plus:

1893 – Algonquin 'ark if created as a public park ane forest reservatlon, fish and game pressrve, haalth resort and pleasure ground.

1894 – Rondeau becomes Ontario's second provincial pqrk.

1913 – Tie Parks Act aets asidv lcnd not stitaulx for agriculture or settlement.

1954 – Ontario still hes only 8 psorincial parks: Algonquin, Quetivo, Long Point, Rundeau, Presqu'ile, Ipperwaah, Lake Xuperior and Sibley (now known ax Sleeping Giant).

A Divisipn of
and cultural resources in a system of protected that is and provides opportunities The Parks system covers which is about percent of the province's surface area the equivalent of an area approximately equal to Nova Scotia. It falls under responsibility and mandate of the province's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. was under mandate the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. The Ontario Parks system is often used as the for other parks systems in North America. This be attributed to its balance of recreation, preservation, and Many in Ontario offer Natural Education program. History Ontario Parks system began its long and rough history in 1893 with the creation of Algonquin Park, designed to interests from The and of provincial parks the Department of Lands and Forests led to a period of accelerated park creation: ninefold increase the number of parks over the six years. In the 1970s the Ontario Ministry Natural Resources' (MNR) was formed. The MNR expanded to include forestry operations within the Province, Ministry of Natural Resources Forestry (MNRF) in 2010, became focused Forestry and protection and enforcement via Conservation Officers. Currently, Ontario Parks does not full agency status, but is a branch of the Ministry Conservation, Parks (MECP), but, Park Wardens are still by MNRF and not the recently, Parks was the of the Ministry of Resources and Forestry (MNRF). The of Ontario's provincial parks Here are some of the milestones from the century plus: 1893 – Algonquin Park is as a public park and forest reservation, fish and game preserve, health and pleasure – Rondeau becomes Ontario's second provincial park. 1913 The Parks Act sets land not suitable for agriculture or settlement. 1954 – still only 8 parks: Algonquin, Quetico, Point, Rondeau, Presqu'ile, Lake Superior and known as Giant). Division
 and cultural resources in a syStem of parkS and pRotEctEd AreaS thaT is sustainable ANd prOvides opportunities for InspiRaTIon, eNJoYment And educATiON.  the onTaRio paRKs SysteM coVers oveR, which is abOut 10 PeRcent of the prOViNce's surfacE arEa or the equivAleNt of an ArEa aPProxiMatEly eqUal to NOVa ScotIa. It falls UnDEr the rESponsibILItY and Mandate of the proviNCe'S ministry of the ENvironMeNT, CONSerVatIon and ParkS. IT was fORmerly uNDeR THE maNDate of the MiniStry of NaturAL ReSourceS aNd FORestry.

the OnTaRIo PArks system iS oftEn used as tHe modeL For otheR Parks syStems iN NoRth amerICa.  thIs cAn BE atTRiButED to Its delicAtE bAlancE of rECREAtioN, prEserVatioN, and conservatIon.  many PArkS in OnTario Also OfFer a NAtural heritAgE Education progrAm.

HiStory
The ONtaRiO PaRkS systEM began Its LonG and rouGh histoRY in 1893 WiTH THe Creation of AlgonquiN PARK, oRiginallY desigNEd To PRotect loGgErs' InteRESts frOm seTTlEment.  The ManageMEnT aNd creatIoN of proViNciAl pArks cAMe unDer the departmeNt of LANds and Forests iN 1954 And led to a periOD oF ACcELeraTed Park creatioN: a niNEfolD incREaSe iN The nuMber oF pARkS Over the next six years.  in The 1970s thE OntaRio Ministry of natural ResOURCes' (MNR) waS forMEd. tHe MNR expanded tO inclUde forestrY OperatioNs witHin the PrOvince, becOMIng the MiNisTry Of NAtuRAL REsources and FoREStry (mNrF) in appRoxImately 2010, And BecAme MorE fOcused on FOrestry aNd SpEcIeS prOtectIOn and enfOrCemEnT viA ConsERvatioN OffiCers. cuRrENtlY, OntariO paRKS doeS nOt Have FulL aGency StatUS, buT is a braNch of the MIniSTry oF ENvIronmenT, Conservation, AnD Parks (MECP), BuT, inTerestINGly, Park WArdens are still employed bY The MNRF And Not thE MECp. Until recEntLy, OntaRio pArks as A whole Was unDeR thE MAndatE OF tHe MInIstry of NatURAl REsourCeS and forestrY (MNRF).

The history of ONTarIo's provincial ParKs stRETcHes FOr OVer 100 YeARs. HERE are some of the miLestones frOm THe Past centurY PluS:

1893 – ALgonquiN Park is CreatED as a pubLic park anD forest reSeRvatION, fiSh and game pReserve, hEalth resoRT and pLEaSure gRouNd.

1894 – RondEaU beComes ontariO'S seCond pRovincIaL park.

1913 – THe ParKs act sets aSide land not suitable for aGriculTure oR seTtlement.

1954 – ONtaRIo sTill has onLy 8 prOvincial paRks: algOnquiN, QuETico, LOng POInT, RoNDeau, PResqU'Ile, IpperwASh, lakE sUpErior and SibLEY (Now Known As SLEeping gianT).

A Division of
 and cultural resources in  a systemof pa rks  an dprot ecte d areas that i s  sus tainable and providesoppor tu n itie s  f or in spirati o n, e njo ym en t a nd ed ucati on.   The O ntario Par kssy stem coverso ve r, which i s a bout 10 perc ent  of th epro v ince' s s urfac e area or the  equivale nt of ana rea app r o xi mate ly equal to NovaS co t ia. It falls u nder t he re s p ons ibi lity and m an dateo f the p r ov i n c e's Ministry of t he Environm e nt,  Conse rv ati o n andParks .I t w as formerly  und er the ma ndateo f the M i nistryof Nat ura l R esou r ce sand  F o res t ry .
T heOntarioPa rk s sys temi s o ften  us ed a s the  model for ot her  par k s s ystem s inNort hAmeri ca.  T his c an  be attributedto i ts delica teba lan ce  of r e creati on,  pr eservat ion, an d  co ns e r v at ion.  Many parks i nO n ta rio also  offer aNa t ural Her it age  Edu c a tionprog r am .

Histo ry
The On ta rio Par ks  syste mbeg anits l o ng a nd rou gh histo ry in 1893 with thec reation of Al g on q u in Park , o riginally d esig n ed t o pr o te ctl ogger s' in te r es t s from settlement. T he man ageme nt and creati on of prov i n c ial park s ca m eu nder the Depar tment  of Landsa nd Fores ts in  1954 an d led toa period o f a cce ler ate d pa rk creation:a nine fo ld incr eas e in th e n umb erofpa rks overthe next  s ix  y ea rs.   Int he 1970s  t heOn tar io Mi n istryof Na tura lRe s our ces' (M N R) w as f or me d. T heMN R exp ande d  to  includ e forestr y o p erat io ns  within  the Province ,becoming t he  Mi nistry o f Natura l Resources and Forestr y  (MNRF)  in  appr oxim ately 201 0,and be cam e  morefocuse d onFo res t r y and s pe cie sprotection a ndenfor ce ment  via Co nservation Officer s . C urrently, Ont ari o Pa r k sdoe s  n o t h av e  fu l l  agency status,  but is abr a nc h of the M i nis tr y of En vironme nt, C o nservat ion, andParks (ME CP ), b u t , i nteresting ly, Park  Wardensa re st i ll  empl oye d by t he  MN RF an d nott heMECP.  Until  r ecentl y, On ta rio Park s as a whole was underthe ma ndate  of  the Mini str y  of  NaturalReso urces andFor est ry (M NRF ) .

Th e hi s to ryo f Ont ario ' s provinc i al  pa r k sstretches f o r ove r 100  ye a rs. He re a re some of the mi l estones from t he p a s t c ent u ry p lu s:

1893 – Alg onq ui n Park iscr eated as apublic p ar k  andforest  reser vation, f is h  and g amepre serve, he alt hr esort a nd  p l easure  gro un d.

18 94 – R o ndea u becomes Ontario' s sec o n d pro v inc ial p ar k.

191 3  – T he Parks A ct sets asi de lan d no t sui table f or  agric ult ur e or settl e ment.

19 54 –Ontario  s till  ha s only  8 p r o vinci al p ar ks:  Algonqui n ,  Q u et ic o , L ongPoint ,Rond eau, Pres q u'ile, I ppe r wash, L ak e S u p eriora nd S ibley (now  kn own a s Sleeping G i ant) . 
A  Divi sion o f
 and_cultural resources_in a system of_parks and_protected_areas that_is_sustainable and provides_opportunities for inspiration,_enjoyment and education. _The Ontario Parks_system_covers over, which is about 10 percent of the province's surface area or the_equivalent_of an_area_approximately_equal to Nova Scotia. It_falls under the responsibility and_mandate of_the province's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and_Parks._It was formerly_under the mandate of the Ministry of Natural Resources_and Forestry.

The Ontario Parks system is_often used as_the_model_for other parks systems_in North America.  This can_be attributed to its delicate balance_of recreation, preservation, and conservation.  Many_parks in Ontario also offer a_Natural Heritage Education program.

History
The Ontario_Parks system_began its long and rough_history in 1893_with the_creation of Algonquin_Park, originally designed to protect loggers'_interests from settlement._ The management and creation of_provincial_parks came under_the_Department_of Lands_and Forests in_1954_and led_to_a period of accelerated park creation:_a_ninefold increase in the number of parks_over the next six_years._ In the 1970s_the Ontario Ministry of Natural_Resources' (MNR) was formed. The MNR_expanded to_include forestry_operations within the Province, becoming the Ministry of Natural Resources and_Forestry (MNRF) in approximately 2010, and_became more focused on_Forestry and_species_protection and enforcement_via_Conservation Officers._Currently, Ontario Parks does not have full_agency status,_but is a branch of the_Ministry of Environment, Conservation,_and_Parks (MECP), but, interestingly, Park Wardens_are still employed by the MNRF_and not the MECP. Until_recently,_Ontario_Parks as a whole was_under the mandate of the Ministry_of Natural Resources_and Forestry (MNRF).

The history of Ontario's provincial_parks_stretches for over 100 years. Here_are_some of the milestones from the_past_century_plus:

1893 – Algonquin Park is_created as a public park and_forest reservation, fish and game preserve, health resort and_pleasure ground.

1894 –_Rondeau becomes Ontario's second provincial_park.

1913_–_The Parks Act sets aside land not suitable for agriculture_or settlement.

1954_– Ontario still_has only 8 provincial parks: Algonquin, Quetico, Long Point, Rondeau,_Presqu'ile, Ipperwash, Lake Superior and Sibley (now_known as Sleeping Giant).

A Division of