Record demand for Spark Grants supporting access to BC Parks as 2026 recipients announced

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Vancouver, BC, May 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BC Parks Foundation is announcing this year’s Spark Grant recipients following record demand for the program, with applications from dozens of community groups across British Columbia seeking support to access BC’s provincial parks. 

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Entering its fourth year, Spark Grants have supported more than 33,000 participants and enabled over 155,000 hours outdoors in BC’s parks, with more than $600,000 granted to equity-deserving communities. The program continues to respond to growing demand from groups seeking support to get into parks.

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Spark Grants are supported in part by funding from the BC Parks Licence Plate Program and contribute to BC Parks’ Commitment to Inclusion, a province-wide effort to ensure parks are welcoming and meaningfully accessible to all. The program focuses on addressing practical barriers identified by community groups, including transportation, equipment, coordination, and access to knowledgeable guides.

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Each year, millions of people visit BC’s provincial parks, but not everyone has the same opportunity to get there. Applications to the Spark program show strong interest from a wide range of communities, including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, newcomers to Canada, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, people living with disabilities, and youth at risk, among others. These applications reflect a growing demand for park experiences that are inclusive, community-led, and responsive to diverse needs across the province.

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For funded groups, these experiences support BC Parks’ inclusion goals by creating opportunities for people who may not otherwise access parks to participate in ways that reflect their needs, cultures, and lived experiences.

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Last year, one 2025 Spark Grant recipient, Pacific Immigrant Resource Society (PIRS), brought more than 120 women and children to a BC Park, spending more than 700 hours outdoors over multiple trips. Many of the participants had been in Canada for less than a year.

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“For many immigrant and refugee women we serve, access to nature is not always immediate, particularly in the early stages of settlement,” said Mariam Bouchoutrouch, Executive Director of Pacific Immigrant Resources Society (PIRS). “For 50 years, PIRS has supported women and their families as they build their lives in Canada. Opportunities like this create space for connection, wellbeing, and belonging, and Spark funding helps make these experiences possible.” 

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That growing interest is reflected in this year’s record number of applications.

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“People are getting out into parks, spending more time there, and coming back again and again,” said Andy Day, CEO of BC Parks Foundation. “We’re seeing communities build their own traditions in these places, leading walks, sharing knowledge, and creating connections that last. Some Spark Grant recipients are now pursuing green jobs. That’s how a culture of care grows. It’s good for people, and it’s good for parks.”