A Fort St. John organization is among this year’s recipients of Spark Grants, as demand reaches record levels for funding to help community groups access B.C.’s provincial parks.
The Fort St. John Association for Community Living is one of nine groups selected across the province for the 2026 intake, reflecting growing interest from communities seeking support to spend time in nature.
BC Parks Foundation said applications for the program surged this year, with dozens of groups applying for funding to overcome barriers such as transportation, equipment and co-ordination.
Entering its fourth year, the Spark Grants program has supported more than 33,000 participants and enabled more than 155,000 hours outdoors in B.C.’s parks. More than $600,000 has been distributed to equity-deserving communities, the foundation said.
Each year, millions visit B.C.’s provincial parks, but access remains uneven. The program focuses on communities that may face barriers, including Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, newcomers to Canada, people living with disabilities and at-risk youth.
For organizations such as the Fort St. John Association for Community Living, the funding supports opportunities for people who may not otherwise visit parks to take part in outdoor experiences tailored to their needs.
Spark Grants are supported in part by the BC Parks Licence Plate Program and contribute to BC Parks’ commitment to inclusion, a provincewide effort to make parks more accessible.
Last year, one recipient, Pacific Immigrant Resources Society, brought more than 120 women and children to a B.C. park, logging more than 700 hours outdoors over multiple trips. Many participants had been in Canada for less than a year.
“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. “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.”
“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.”
“Everyone in B.C. deserves to feel welcome in provincial parks and experience the many benefits of being in nature,” said Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks. “Spark Grants help make that possible — opening the door to inclusive, community-led park experiences that can truly be life-changing.”
Other 2026 recipients include Indigenous Women Outdoors, Kamloops Immigrant Services, NatureKids BC, Pacific Immigrant Resources Society, Power to Be, REACH Community Health Centre, Squamish Newcomer Services and YWCA.
