Special event permits for Elk Island National Park

Special Events in Elk Island National Park require a permit. A special event is any temporary, planned activity or group of activities that is conducted for recreation, entertainment, education, commemoration, or promotion purposes. Common examples include, but are not limited to: religious gatherings, church events, races, sports events, meetings, parades, concerts, theatrical or musical performances, fairs, or shows. If planning a wedding, please consult the weddings section of the website.

If you answer yes to one or more questions below, you will need to apply for a special event permit:

• Is your event held for fundraising, profit or commercial promotion (including competitive activities, events staged by marketing organizations or commercial operators)?
• Will the event affect other visitors in the area, requiring partial or exclusive use of park locations and/or amenities, such as waterways, parking lots, day use areas or washroom facilities?
• Will the event operate on highways, roads or parkways, or affect traffic flow?
  Does the event have volunteers and/or support teams?
• Will banners and signage be used for promotion?
• Will food be provided to participants?
• Will vendors, sponsors or media be present?
• Will the event require infrastructure such as tents, generators, portable toilets, stages or amplified sound?
• Are you intending to repeat the event in the future?
• Is your event on leasehold land but could have an impact on non-leasehold areas, such as disruption to other visitor experience and or affect normal traffic through an area?
• Could your event cause environmental impacts to the area or introduce artificial lighting?
• Does your event invite public participation such as awareness activities, rallies or festivals, or displace other park users from public areas or facilities in the park?
• Is your event an activity not previously carried out in the park and/or is not covered under a current lease or business licence?

Your event will be considered if it is:

• An event that that takes place outside the highest visitation times (after Thanksgiving long-weekend and before May long-weekend, or on a weekday)

Your event will not be considered if it is:

• an event that is motor vehicle based (e.g. car of motorcycle rally)
• an event that takes place on Saturdays, Sundays, or Statutory Holidays from May long-weekend through Thanksgiving long-weekend

Special event applications are reviewed by Parks Canada staff to ensure compliance with applicable legislation, to determine the terms and conditions of a potential permit, to ensure that the special event is compatible with the protected heritage place’s purpose and nature, and the special event doesn’t interfere with other events or activities. To apply for an event, please email permiselkisland-elkislandpermits@pc.gc.ca

Some points to note:

Complete applications must be confirmed received by Parks Canada no less than ninety days prior to the event.

Elk Island National Park does not have indoor space for special events.

A business licence is also required for all businesses, companies, guides and/or vendors who are operating in Elk Island National Park. For questions or further details please email permiselkisland-elkislandpermits@pc.gc.ca

Further information about the regulations governing events in national parks: National Parks of Canada Businesses Regulations – Licences