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 took effect again from December 12th, 2025, until January 15th, 2026. It’s happening again in the summer of 2026 too, from June 19th until September 7th.
To learn about attractions in the Lower Mainland benefiting from the pass, visit the Parks Canada website for details about Fort Langley or see our article about the Gulf of Georgia Cannery. To learn about the Canada Strong Pass in general, continue reading.
About the Canada Strong Pass
There is no need to sign up or purchase the Canada Strong Pass. It’s a government-funded program to make national parks and historic sites more accessible, to both Canadians and folks from abroad. You don’t even have to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to benefit from the program.
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, as well as for travel on VIA Rail.
Canada Strong Pass Benefits in the Lower Mainland
There are two national historic sites in the Lower Mainland covered by the pass. They are 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. Today, the fort is mostly reconstructed in order to recreate what life was like in the 1800s and tell stories of the era of the fur trade. There are still some original buildings at the site as well.
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 site, 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
The most notable national historic site managed by Parks Canada (and therefore covered by the Canada Strong Program) on Vancouver Island is the Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse in Victoria. The site features 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.
More Canada Strong Pass Discounts
In addition to providing free access to some national parks and historic sites, the Canada Strong Pass also means free or discounted access to some other attractions.
While the pass is active, The Royal BC Museum in Victoria offers free admission for everyone under the age of 18, and 50% off for those ages 18 to 24. The same goes for train trips booked on VIA Rail, just with a 25% discount for ages 18 to 24 rather than 50%. Camping and overnight stays at sites managed by Parks Canada come with a 25% discount for everyone during the Canada Strong Pass dates.
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.
Some other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Christmas Activities in Vancouver
- December Events Calendar
- Free Events in December in Vancouver
- Vancouver Summer Activities
- History & Culture in the Lower Mainland
- Lower Mainland Parks & Nature
