Parks Canada Investigates Controversial Gender Reveal at Lake Louise
Parks Canada officials are investigating a recent incident at the iconic Lake Louise in Alberta, following viral photos circulating on Reddit. The incident involved a gender reveal celebration on January 31st that left behind a trail of confetti and pink dye on the pristine lake ice.
A Visitor’s Discovery
Kim Steinbacher, a visitor from California, stumbled upon the litter while enjoying a snowshoeing excursion. She documented the scene with photos and shared them on Reddit, where they quickly gained widespread attention. “I went to Lake Louise [Saturday] afternoon at 2:30 p.m,” Steinbacher recounted in her post, published on February 1st. “[I] noticed a wide area of pink colouration and spotted small bits of metallic confetti. Knew immediately what it was. After finishing my snowshoe walk, I returned to the spot and spent an hour picking up all the metallic confetti so that the pieces would not end up in the lake when the ice thaws this summer.”
Steinbacher’s diligence led to the collection of a significant amount of metallic glitter – enough to fill a plastic sandwich bag. She also consulted the Fairmont webcam archive, pinpointing the release of the dye and glitter between 1:50 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on January 31st. “You can still see the pink section on the webcam, roughly 75 metres or so to the right of the boathouse,” she noted.
Potential Fines and Ongoing Concerns
Annie MacNeil, public relations and communications officer with Parks Canada, confirmed the agency is actively investigating the incident. Offenders could face substantial fines, potentially reaching up to $25,000, in accordance with Canada’s National Parks Act. This incident highlights the importance of respecting and protecting Canada’s national treasures.
This isn’t an isolated event. At least three other gender reveal celebrations have been reported in protected areas across British Columbia and Alberta – including Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks – over the past five years. Unfortunately, MacNeil stated, “none of these cases resulted in enforcement action due to insufficient evidence.”
Leave No Trace Principles
Parks Canada is a strong advocate for the Leave No Trace principles, emphasizing the responsibility of visitors to minimize their impact on the environment. This includes staying on designated trails, respecting wildlife, and ensuring areas are left exactly as they were found. These principles are crucial for preserving the natural beauty of Canada’s national parks for future generations.
Additional Evidence Emerges
A photograph shared with The Weather Network on Facebook by an out-of-province visitor corroborates Steinbacher’s account. The image, taken at “exactly” 1:57 p.m. on January 31st, depicts a cloud of pink dust being released into the air, with more than a dozen people present.
Call for Information
Parks Canada is urging anyone with information regarding the gender reveal incident to contact Banff Dispatch at 403‑762‑1470. Protecting these natural spaces requires the cooperation of everyone.
Image Sources: Glitter photo via Reddit/Katie Steinbacher. Background file photo of Lake Louise sourced from Canva Pro.
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