James Bernard Harkin

For some years now as my budget permitted time was spent researching the biography of James Bernard Harkin. He’s largely forgotten now, this distinguished Canadian who left an immeasurable legacy to his countrymen. So, it is painful to file stories recording the destruction of Canada, particularly those violating Harkin’s principles. He must be spinning in his grave. Harkin, appointed as the first commissioner of Dominion Parks in 1911, is considered by many to be the “father” of Canada’s national parks. During his 25-year tenure he created 13 national parks, expanding them eastward from their concentration in the west to eastern Canada and the Maritimes. An ardent conservationist strongly influenced by American naturalist John Muir, in 1914 Harkin began work on creating Wawaskesy Dominion Park in southeast Alberta to increase pronghorn antelope populations that had been decimated by a severe winter. The conservation effort continues today within Suffield at the National Wildlife Area that protects not only antelope but 15 federally listed species threatened with extinction. However, the area is under threat by commercial interests such as Encana of Calgary that wants permission to drill over 1,000 natural gas wells. Equally successful were conservation efforts aimed at restoring the bison to its majesty. The Pablo herd, bought in the 1920s, augmented the wood buffalo at the park of the same name in northern Alberta. Those who were not fortunate in being raised in rural settings cannot grasp the majesty that’s being lost, nor do they, or most Canadians, grasp how much life existed in this country prior to our arrival. For example, from a plaque at Chimney Coulee, near the town of Eastend, Saskatchewan: “Cowie collected, in his single season at Chimney Coulee, 750 grizzly-bear pelts, 1,500 elk hides and hundreds of smaller skins, while the other independent traders in the vicinity added substantially to those numbers.” Sadly, commercial interests threaten Waterton Glacier National Peace Park by wanting development right up to park boundaries. Harkin would have been appalled and taken steps to prevent such an occurrence by creating a buffer zone. When the government in Harkin’s time reduced park sizes to satisfy commercial interests Harkin’s motto, and that of Dominion Parks, became, “What we have, we hold.” He spent years fending off threats to parks. Harkin acknowledged there would be progress but nature, with its restorative powers and its environmental importance, was worth more than a few bucks.