The Coastie Initiative

Participate in the Coastie Initiative, a new citizen science program in ten Parks Canada-administered coastal places.

Photos taken by visitors at Coastie sites will help Parks Canada and the University of Windsor monitor coastal change over time.

When you take a photo of yourself, that’s a selfie.

When you take a photo of the coast, that’s a Coastie!

How to participate

Cell phone cradles are installed in specific locations at coastal sites.

Place your cell phone in the cell phone cradle and take a photo.

Two ways to share your photo: 

1. Scan the QR code at the Coastie site and submit your photos to Coastie.
2. Share your photos on social media using the #Coastie hashtag. Instructions on how to share photos will be on-site at each Coastie research location.

Coastie sites

There are two Coastie sites at Sable Island National Park Reserve beside each other near West Light. 

There are Coastie sites along shorelines in other Parks Canada-administered places, including:

• Cape Breton Highlands National Park
• Forillon National Park
• Fundy National Park
• Gros Morne National Park
• Kejimkujik National Park Seaside 
• Kouchibouguac National Park
• Point Pelee National Park
• Prince Edward Island National Park
• Terra Nova National Park

Tracking coastal changes

The photos will be analyzed and the data will be made available to researchers at the University of Windsor.

Researchers will use the data to track coastal changes such as shoreline retreat, dune erosion and recovery, storm surge and ice cover, vegetation structure, beach use, and rip current locations.  

Learn more and check out the Coastie gallery.