Canada's parks should be as diverse as our big cities

Who among us is living like a person ahead of their time? And what might Canada need to do to catch up with them? Future Now is a new series featuring individuals who are living their version of the Canadian future … today. 

I still remember standing on the side of the highway, sticking my thumb out with a pack on my back, hoping to hitch a ride out of the city so I could spend a few days away in nature. 

Like many other immigrants to this country, my first impressions of Canada were limited to the urban setting of life in Toronto: the big city, the non-stop hustle, the constant noise of traffic.

Exploring natural landscapes allowed me to develop my Canadian identity and gain a stronger sense of my new home.

Fortunately, my parents — who grew up in the former Soviet Union and raised me in Israel — saw the value of spending time outside.

We spent several weekends driving out to explore and camp at different parks in Ontario. It was the first time I'd seen wilderness like Algonquin Provincial Park and realized just how much there is to experience outside the city.

Exploring natural landscapes allowed me to develop my Canadian identity and gain a stronger sense of my new home.

But it wasn't long before I realized just how many of my fellow citizens were absent from the great outdoors.

Good luck getting there

As I grew older and got the urge to explore more on my own, without relying on family, I struggled to find my way to nature.

While hitchhiking gave me a personal sense of adventure at the time, I knew it wasn't an option for everyone. The questions began: why should these experiences be limited to those who have a car? Why are line-ups of idling vehicles still the norm outside our parks? Why weren't there more environmentally conscious ways to get to the great outdoors?

In 2010, I started brainstorming answers with my friend and backpacking partner Boris Issaev, a fellow immigrant who, like me, wanted better options.

Fittingly, the concept for Parkbus was born around a campfire in Algonquin.

In our mid-twenties, we dreamt up a sustainable transportation network connecting cities to parks, making the outdoors accessible for more Canadians, not just a privileged few.

After some early research it became clear that we were not alone in our interest.

It wasn't long before I realized just how many of my fellow citizens were absent from the great outdoors.

Since our first Parkbus run from Toronto to Algonquin in 2010, thousands of Canadians and tourists have used the service and demand only continues to rise. What started as a summer project is becoming a nationwide not-for-profit program offering affordable and convenient access to green spaces outside our cities.

We've packed our buses with people who can't drive, or don't have cars, or can't afford their own gear, or are intimidated by the parks. We've donated seats to Syrian refugees and shared our own newcomer stories with novice outdoor explorers. We're currently running an accessibility survey to better serve Canadians with impaired mobility. 

In 2016 the service expanded outside of Ontario for the first time. This upcoming season will continue to grow with runs offered in Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver.

We're always thinking of ways to make the service even more affordable and appealing to a larger demographic, including newcomers, and people who can only go on day trips.

We've partnered with "Learn to Camp" programs and created incentives in partnership with outfitters like MEC to offer discounted gear rentals.

Our hope is that Parkbus will be part of an even bigger change.

Lifting barriers to entry

Our future as a country must be inclusive, diverse and sustainable.

As we celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary since Confederation, we can fuel a larger societal and cultural shift toward a smart, new and innovative Canada.

Canada's parks and wild spaces are not some faraway concept; they should be increasingly within reach and everyone's to enjoy responsibly.

Ultimately, I dream of a Canada in which the people roaming our parks are as diverse as those riding the subway at rush hour; a Canada that is dedicated to environmental protection and embodies these principles when encouraging visitation to more parks.

Canada's parks and wild spaces are not some faraway concept, they should be increasingly within reach and everyone's to enjoy responsibly.

Beyond Parkbus, I would like to see a future with more people understanding the relationship we have with nature, the benefits it offers and the importance of taking time to disconnect from our screens and connect with something bigger.