Here is a response from Karen Haugen, Parks Canada:
Thank you for taking the time to write to myself and Dave Tovell to share your concerns with respect to accessing the Broken Group Islands in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve outside of the operational season.
While, in the past, individuals or commercial operators may have brought groups to the Broken Group Islands outside of the operational season. Parks Canada has not officially offered commercial outfitters or individuals the option of camping in the Broken Group Islands during the annual closure period. The camping facilities are not serviced, and visitor safety services are significantly reduced. Visitors are asked, therefore, to plan overnight trips to the Broken Group Islands within the May to September season, when the reservation system is in place, the Parks Canada Visitor Safety Team is prepared to respond to potential incidents, and the Tseshaht BeachKeepers Program is active.
Please note, this is not a new decision. However, it seems that this information may not have been communicated clearly. We welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you further, as we value your feedback. Over the coming months, we will be holding virtual stakeholder engagement sessions related to the Broken Group Islands. On December 10th, the park reserve hosted a stakeholder engagement session to hear directly from business operators in the park reserve related to 2021 operational season, a continuation of this session will happen in the New Year. Another engagement session that will be occurring is related to the visitor offer and visitor season for the Broken Group Islands.
Once we have the dates and times identified, Dave Tovell and Queenie Lai will be sending out the information for these virtual stakeholder engagement sessions. We hope you will join these sessions to partake in the discussion and provide you valuable input.
Parks Canada is working with First Nations and surrounding communities to reduce the possible risk of COVID-19 transmission to these communities. We continue to monitor and adapt to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We, therefore, ask that visitors refrain from visiting the Broken Group Islands at this time.
Again, my thanks to you for taking the time to write and share your concerns and suggestions.
ƛ̓eko ƛ̓eko - Thank you - Merci
Karen
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Tleeh-is-a-tuuk-aq-suup / Karen Haugen
Superintendent
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Box 280, Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0
karen.haugen@canada.ca
Tel: 250-726-3510 | Cell: 250-534-9012 | Fax: 250-726-3520