Canada's Youth Hostel Association recognized as a national event

In 1933, two sisters sparked the youth hostel movement in Canada by setting up a large tent at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and offering young hikers accommodation for 25 cents a night.

Today, the Canadian Youth Hostels Association was commemorated as an event of national historic significance. The announcement was made by Donna Zwicker, Alberta Member of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) , on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna . A plaque was unveiled during a ceremony in Bragg Creek, close to where the original youth hostel once stood.

The energetic and dedicated Barclay sisters, Mary and Catherine, were pioneers in the youth hostelling movement in Canada. In 1933, they opened Canada's first youth hostel as a safe and affordable way for youth to discover nature and form friendships with other travellers. By the late 1940s, the success of the youth hostel established in Bragg Creek led to a network of youth hostels across Canada.

This network eventually became the Canadian Youth Hostel Association, modelled after a similar system in Europe, offering affordable accommodations and opportunities for independent, adventurous travel in Canada. Parks Canada played an active role in the movement, collaborating with the Hostels Association on youth hostels within national parks such as Banff, Jasper, Fundy, Elk Island, and the Georgian Bay Islands.

The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant people, places, and events that defined our country. The commemoration process is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,000 designations have been made. Of these, Parks Canada manages 171 national historic sites.

The Government of Canada is inviting Canadian families, youth and school groups to experience the outdoors and learn more about our history with free admission to Parks Canada places for visitors 17 and under, starting in 2018 and beyond.