The Canada Strong Pass offers free or discounted admission to Parks Canada parks and national historic sites like Fort Langley at certain times of the year.
The program was first offered in the summer of 2025. It takes effect again from December 12th, 2025, until January 15th, 2026. It will happen again in the summer of 2026 too.
There is no need to sign up or purchase the Canada Strong Pass. It’s simply a government-funded program to make national parks and historic sites more accessible, to both Canadians and folks from abroad. You don’t have to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to benefit from the program.
Visitors to the participating parks don’t have to do anything to qualify. The pass includes free admission to all national historic sites administered by Parks Canada. It also includes access to any otherwise admission-requiring national parks or conservation areas. Not covered by the pass are parks and national historic sites not run directly by Parks Canada.
It’s worth noting that the pass doesn’t include free goods or services that might be offered at qualifying locations such as camping or tours. Some locations do offer discounts, however. There are also some considerable discounts for young people (under 24 years of age) at many historic museums and galleries.
Canada Strong Pass Benefits in the Lower Mainland
National historic sites in the Lower Mainland covered by the pass include Fort Langley in the Fraser Valley and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery in Richmond.
Fort Langley National Historic Site is one of the oldest outposts of the Hudson Bay trading company in Western Canada. The entire village is built to recreate life in the 1800s and tells stories of the era of the fur trade.
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is a reminder of the West Coast’s fishing history. It’s one of the few restored canneries along the British Columbia coast and has displays that recall the industrialization of the Vancouver fishing industry.
Note: There are other national historic sites in the Lower Mainland, but not ones managed directly by Parks Canada. The Britannia Mine Museum, for example, is a national historic, and a very interesting one. From the 1920s to 1930s, the mine was one of the largest mining operations in Canada. Although great to visit, Britannia Mine is run by a non-profit organization, not by Parks Canada. Consequently, admission for it isn’t free under the Canada Strong Pass. It’s still definitely worth going to though.
Pass Benefits on Vancouver Island
Parks and national historic sites managed by Parks Canada and therefore covered by the Canada Strong Program include Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse in Victoria. Located at the same place, in the community of Colwood, they are a decommissioned artillery fortress and the oldest lighthouse along Canada’s west coast.
Between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, there is the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. On the west coast of Vancouver Island, there is also Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
Other Information
For further information about National Historic Sites in the Lower Mainland, and all of Canada, check out the Government of Canada website. Click Canada Strong Pass for more information about the program and its other benefits.
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