ABOUT OPA

Look through your window, past the pavement and buildings and have a long look at the parks, green spaces, and trees - it’s all there for your benefit and enjoyment. We call this green infrastructure. Green infrastructure includes urban forests, woodlots, wetlands, storm ponds, meadows, parks, gardens, green roofs, ravines, and green walls. These areas provide society with incredible economic, environmental and social benefits.

Now imagine a time in the future without your neighbourhood playground. Imagine when the wooded area where you hike no longer exists. Unfortunately you may not have to look into the distant future. Leisure activities and lifestyle routines are in danger! Trees, parks, streams, green spaces, rivers, wetlands, fields and woodlots are victims of pollution, vandalism, deterioration and decreased government funding. The issue of parks and green space abuse is clear, however the solutions are not. The dilemma is what should be done. 

Ontario Parks Association is here to help address these problems.

Ontario Parks Association (OPA) is a registered charitable organization founded in 1936 whose focus is on Protecting Tomorrow Today®. Our registered charity number is 12725 7509 RR0001.

EDUCATE

We offer hands-on education sessions on a variety of topics relevant to people working in the parks and open spaces industry to promote the importance of continued professional development.

ADVOCATE

We advocate for the importance of parks and open spaces in all communities. We believe parks are essential to healthy communities and that all citizens have the right to enjoy outdoor leisure opportunities.

CELEBRATE

We celebrate the achievements of students, organizations and individuals through annual awards recognition programs.

TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

A territorial acknowledgement honours the land on which our successes have been built, and the Indigenous people who have been living on and caring for this land for thousands of years. It is a longstanding protocol among Indigenous peoples that honours their spiritual connection to the land. We offer this territorial acknowledgement as an act towards reconciliation between non-Indigenous Canadians and the Indigenous peoples of Canada.

We acknowledge that the land on which our OPA office stands is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishnaabe and Neutral People. We acknowledge the enduring presence of the Indigenous people with whom we share this land today, their achievements and their contributions to our community. We offer this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples of Canada.

MISSION STATEMENT

OPA is committed to educating parks professionals to exceed industry standards and actively advocate for the protection and enhancement of parks and open spaces.