July 4, 2011
Province Establishes Fifth New Provincial Park This Year
– – –Fisher Bay Provincial Park Protects Natural Landscapes and Wildlife: Blaikie
The province has established a new provincial park at Fisher Bay on Lake Winnipeg, Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie announced today.
“Fisher Bay Provincial Park is Manitoba’s 86th provincial park and the fifth park designation in the last 12 months,” said Blaikie. “This new park provides opportunities for Manitoba families and visitors from across the country to enjoy our province’s natural beauty in a spectacular setting.”
The natural features that make Fisher Bay unique include long sandy beaches, treed shorelines, old growth forest stands, muskeg and bog landscapes, along with a diversity of wildlife. The park area is home to moose, white-tailed deer, elk, black bear, timber wolf, lynx, red fox, beaver, muskrat,ruffed grouse and bald eagles. The park area also provides habitat for the endangered piping plover.
“The Fisher Bay Provincial Park is a momentous step toward protecting the environment, sustaining culture and tourism opportunities for local communities in the area,” said Chief David Crate of Fisher River Cree Nation. “We look forward to continuing efforts with government and our partners in garnering full protection of the region.”
Aboriginal and treaty rights will be respected and maintained in the park area, said Blaike adding, the land in the park will remain as is and current hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering activities of local and all provincial citizens will continue. Commercial fishing and trapping activities will not be affected by the park designation, he said.
“This new provincial park was only made possible because of a solid co-operative effort by the Fisher River Cree Nation and other organizations involved,” said Blaikie. “There was a strong desire to see Fisher Bay Provincial Park a reality and I’m pleased we could work together to make it happen.”
“Manitoba is a better place for safeguarding this wondrous natural area,” said Ron Thiessen, executive director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. “I’m confident the present spirit of co-operation will serve to enrich and enhance the foundation of wilderness conservation in the region.”
Fisher Bay Provincial Park is about 200 kilometres north of Winnipeg and encompasses 84,150 hectares surrounding islands and shoreline of Lake Winnipeg.
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