
In New Brunswick, Kouchibouguac National Park is a Dark Sky Preserve/Parks Canada
Destination Canada, in partnership with Parks Canada, is giving the gift of nature to 4,000 American residents this summer.
The Canada Refresh program will choose 4,000 winners in an online contest to receive a Parks Canada Discovery Pass that grants unlimited admission to more than 80 Parks Canada destinations.
One American will receive a Dream Sabbatical worth $20,000 USD. The prize includes:
• A custom, tailored sabbatical experience worth $15,000 that includes all transportation (flights and in-market transport), accommodations, excursions and more, curated by Canadian travel experts, Canada by Design.
• $2,500 to spend on gear with Canadian travel and attire brands, Monos and Arc’teryx.
• A $2,500 travel stipend to cover food and incidentals.
• Twelve months of access to Canada’s 80 destinations via an annual Parks Canada Discovery Family/Group Pass worth $113.
• Itinerary inspiration from Destination Canada, including indigenous-led experiences, outdoor adventures, urban experiences and more.
Canada ℞efresh comes as part of Destination Canada’s “Refresh Your View” campaign. The campaign puts Canada’s iconic destinations at the forefront, expanding American travelers' knowledge of the wealth of experiences available in the regions surrounding these icons.
“We're next-door neighbors — and we want to welcome back our American friends with access to places we know will lift their spirits and send them home with more than just a memory, with that good feeling you get after spending time at an old friends' home,” Destination Canada’s Gloria Loree, senior vice president of marketing strategy and chief marketing officer, said in a news release.
“So yeah, we have the lush forests, endless coastlines, towering mountains and spectacular lakes — but we have more than that. We have the ability to help Americans refresh, connect with nature, and take the time to deepen their appreciation for the richness that exists within these beautiful spaces.”

Every Parks Canada site and park has these iconic red chairs for photographs. These are in Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick/Parks Canada
U.S. residents who are at least 21 years old can enter the Dream Nature Sabbatical at CanadaRefresh.com until July 31. To win a Parks Canada Discovery Passes, you need to enter your name. To win the sabbatical, you must explain why you need a reprieve in Canadian nature and how you’d spend that time.
Dr. Melissa Lem, director of PaRx, an initiative of the BC Parks Foundation, is a family physician in Vancouver who has embraced the mounting evidence linking time spent in nature to health.
“I’m excited that so many Americans will get to experience the incredible natural environment of Canada,” Lem said in a news release. “Research demonstrates the wide-ranging health benefits of increased nature contact, and I am proud to support the Canada ℞efresh program in bringing a healthy and restorative experience to so many people.”
Canada has 47 national parks, five national marine conservation areas, one national urban park and 171 national historic sites, but some of these protected places don’t require admission.
“Canada is fortunate to have one of the largest networks of protected places in the world,” said Michael Nadler, Parks Canada's vice president of external relations and visitor experience. “Parks Canada is dedicated to protecting and sharing national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas with Canadians and visitors from around the world and we welcome our neighbors from the United States to travel to these iconic destinations and visit in 2022 and every year.”
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