Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge Campground Opens In Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Today, Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria, and Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, formally announced the opening of Cape Breton Highland National Park's newest visitor offer, Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge Campground. The $7 million project, funded through the Federal Infrastructure Investment Program, offers a brand new coastal camping experience along the world famous Cabot Trail. A community celebration was held by Parks Canada and partners from La Société Saint-Pierre and the Parks Canada-Unama'ki Advisory Committee to mark the occasion.
“The Government of Canada is committed to commemorating our shared difficult histories and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The aptly named Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge Campground honours the expropriated Acadian community and the Mi’kmaq connections to the region. Through infrastructure investments, the Government of Canada is protecting and conserving national treasures, while supporting local economies and contributing to growth in the tourism sector. This substantial federal investment and green infrastructure will ensure this park continues to offer a sustainable, safe, and breath-taking experience to Cape Bretoners and visitors for decades to come.”
Pronounced "Mm kwas sock took", Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge Campground opens to visitors on July 1, 2022, in time for the summer camping season. Visitors to the campground will have a private, backcountry feel, with stunning ocean vistas and views of the highlands and cliffs of the Cabot Trail. Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge Campground offers 47 walk-in sites, including five oTENTiks and six accessible campsites, with treed nooks to create a feeling of remoteness and privacy, with the convenience of front-country camping.
In the design of the campground, Parks Canada integrated innovative climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions, including off-grid solar powered infrastructure and the use of native vegetation to build stable, climate resilient slopes. Climate change impacts to Parks Canada-administered places are complex, and the Agency is committed to integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation actions into its work. This investment ensures the quality and sustainability of the campground's infrastructure and an enhanced visitor experience.
Investments in visitor facilities, such as Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge Campground, ensure high-quality, meaningful, experiences for people coming to Canada's national parks and historic sites. Investing in these places helps support the health of our natural heritage and creates jobs in our local communities. The Government of Canada is working towards net-zero emissions by 2050 to create a cleaner, healthier future for Canadians.
Visitors can reserve their campsite or oTENTik on the Parks Canada Reservation Service. Sustainability and inclusivity are built into the campground design, which features an off-grid solar system, providing most of the campground's power, as well as accessible washroom buildings, campsites, oTENTiks, kitchen shelters and facilities. As the country's largest tourism provider, Parks Canada is committed to providing exceptional and meaningful experiences at iconic destinations like Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
