The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is Canada’s only nationwide charity dedicated solely to the protection of our public land and water, and ensuring our parks are managed to protect the nature within them. In the past 50+ years, we’ve played a lead role in protecting over half a million square kilometres – an area bigger than the entire Yukon Territory! Our vision is to protect at least half of our public land and water so that future generations can experience Canada’s irreplaceable wilderness.

The history of CPAWS is inextricably linked with the history of the wilderness protection movement in Canada, and with the history of Canada’s national parks themselves.

Initially known as the National and Provincial Parks Association of Canada (NPPAC), CPAWS was formed in 1963 with a focus on revitalizing Canada’s appreciation for wilderness parks. At that time, aside from a few naturalist clubs, not a single national conservation organization in Canada dealt exclusively with wilderness protection. The emergence of the NPPAC also gave conservationists a vehicle through which to promote an aesthetic and ecologically-centered conservation ethic. Since then our role and national network has expanded significantly.

Through the years, CPAWS has been, and continues to be, a key citizens’ group in many decisions relating to the establishment of new parks and wilderness areas, and in obtaining significant conservation outcomes through land-use planning processes in many parts of Canada. Through history our name has been strongly associated with iconic Canadian parks such as Banff, Nahanni, Algonqion, Quetico and Tatshenshini, and with establishing the Muskwa-Kehcnika Management Area. We’ve also had a significant role in many other successful conservation efforts as well, ranging from the establishment of the Forest Stewardship Council to designing land-use planning processes that result in nature protection through a variety of mechanisms.

CPAWS has also been at the forefront of the drive to establish marine protected areas in Canada and played a leading role in the passage of the National Marine Conservation Areas Act, which continues to be Canada’s leading voice for parks and protected areas management.