October 18, 2018
Owen Falkenham, The Fulcrum
Healing weary souls with Canada’s parks
On Sunday, Oct. 14, the UOttawa Parks Canada Campus Club held a Healing Hike through Gatineau Park—a relaxing activity to help students ease their stress, and let the serenity of nature cure their midterm blues.
This free event took 35 participants to several parts of the park where they could enjoy a picnic lunch, and hike back alongside a waterfall.
Students who joined in on the weekend’s activity did not need to sign up for a club membership—the Parks club looked to involve as many people as their transportation would allow, and their sign-up sheet filled up within hours.
“Our mission is to bring U of O students together to experience, appreciate, protect, and promote Canada’s natural and cultural heritage,” explained Chelsey Brassard, the communications manager at the Parks club.
In addition to promoting Canadian heritage, the Parks club seeks “to get students aware of the outdoors and what Parks Canada has to offer.”
Sunday’s event is just one of a series of events that the Parks club plans and puts on over the course of the year, Brassard explained.
“For example, (we have) a night at the museum, (an event) that has to do with Remembrance Day, a plants night, where you build your own terrarium, and we’re going to the Christmas light-show on Parliament Hill,” she said.
Despite having only just begun the school year a few weeks ago, the club has already held a walking tour of the Rideau Locks, visited the Bytown Museum, and went canoeing on Dow’s lake—and, their list is not exhaustive. In the past, they have also hosted events like skating on the Rideau Canal, and tours of the Parliament buildings
For those looking to get involved, or volunteer with the club, you simply have to join the group attached to the clubs Facebook page and provide the club with your student email so that they can confirm that you are a student, explained Brassard.
“After that you’re officially a member. There are no fees, and everything is regulated through the Facebook group,” she said, except for a general meeting for members in December.
While Brassard is relatively new to the club, she told the Fulcrum that she has sincerely enjoyed her time.