Interpretive Guides Association

05/28/2026

Its been a busy season training and certifying Interpretive guides. Here’s one of our incredible instructors- Mike Blake with his group of trainees.

05/28/2026

The IGA would like to give a warm sendoff to our Member Relations and Operations Coordinator, Sonia Hrynchyshyn!

Sonia is heading over to a new career in landscape design. We’re grateful for her organization, dedication, and the contributions she brought to the IGA team.

Thank you, Sonia, and all the best in your new career adventure!

05/15/2026

Jasper locals and folks working in Jasper National Park, check out this fantastic scholarship opportunity offered by our friends, the Friends of Jasper National Park!

This scholarship can be used towards IGA certifications and 40 hour wilderness first aid courses. We strongly encourage you to apply!

🎓 FJNP Mike Wynn Memorial Scholarship 2026 🌲

In honour of Park Warden Mike Wynn - a dedicated guardian of Jasper’s wild spaces who gave his life in the line of duty - the Friends of Jasper National Park is proud to continue his legacy through our annual Memorial Scholarship.

This year, we’re excited to offer two $750 scholarships:

🌲Jasper High School Students – For grads pursuing post-secondary education
🌲 Lifelong Learners – For locals taking career-related courses (e.g., Wilderness First Aid, AST, Hospitality)

We’re looking for applicants whose goals reflect our mission:
Encouraging stewardship and connecting people to Jasper National Park.
📝 Apply by: Sunday 31 May, 2026

🔗 To learn more or to apply visit www.friendsofjasper.com/ca/scholarships/
Let’s honour Mike’s legacy by continuing to care for the place he loved most. 💚

05/15/2026

🌸 Meet one of the Rockies’ enchanting wildflowers: the Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa)

Also known as the “Fairy Slipper,” this tiny orchid may look delicate, but it survives in some surprisingly harsh mountain environments.

Fun interpretive facts:
✨ The name Calypso comes from Greek mythology — Calypso was a sea nymph known for beauty and mystery.
✨ Unlike many flowers, Calypso Orchids don’t offer nectar to pollinators. They “trick” bees into visiting with their bright colours and patterns!
✨ A single plant may take years to flower, making each bloom extra special.
✨ They rely on underground fungi to survive, especially when young. Without healthy forest soils, they can’t grow.
✨ Picking or stepping near them can damage the fragile plant and soil network they depend on.

Have you seen any of these beauties in bloom yet? Watch for them from late may into June.

05/11/2026

Stories of Ice and Glaciers with Lynn Martel - Full Day Field Trip!

Join award-winning Rockies writer and storyteller Lynn Martel for a full-day journey along the Icefields Parkway, exploring the science, history, beauty, and changing future of glaciers in the Canadian Rockies. Through stories, landscape, and discussion, gain fresh insight into these powerful forces that continue to shape our mountain world.

📅 June 1, 2026
🚌 Transportation included
📍 Icefields Parkway
🔗 Register here:

https://interpretiveguides.org/events/iceandglaciers/

Lynn Martel mountain writer/photographer

05/06/2026

May is Asian Heritage Month. As guides, it’s an opportunity to explore how Asian communities have helped shape Canadian history and to find thoughtful, engaging ways to share these stories with guests.

One example is the Last Spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway. While often celebrated as a nation-building moment, it also carries a more complex history -- including the vital contributions and hardships of Chinese railway workers. Taking time to understand and share these perspectives can deepen the stories we tell.

Learn more in this Parks Canada podcast:

https://www.canada.ca/en/library-archives/collection/engage-learn/podcasts/treasures-revealed/episode-016.html

05/05/2026

Jasper locals and guides working in JNP:

Friends of Jasper National Park are hosting a trail-building meeting where you can deepen your knowledge of local trails and learn how to support their creation and maintenance. It’s also a chance to connect with others who care about the landscape and want to contribute in a meaningful way.

🫶Trails Open House🫶
This Thursday, May 7th - Information Centre
Drop in between 7pm and 9pm

Let's kick off the Trail Season ahead! Complimentary snacks and beverages available.

Learn what the Friends of Jasper National Park trail volunteers and the Parks Canada trail crew will be working on this season. ⚒️

Want to help build better trails? We will be sharing all of the volunteer opportunities through the Friends of Jasper this summer, what to expect and every way that you can be involved!🦺

Join the conversation. Get involved. Meet new (cool) people. Build better trails.💚

05/01/2026

Guiding in Jasper this summer? Parks Canada has created a 2026 version of the JASPER FIRE COMMUNICATION TOOLKIT. Use this tool when considering and planning approaches to talking about the 2024 wildfire with your guests and clients.

Looking for some training on this topic too? Email [email protected] to include "Talking about Wildfire" in your guide training and orientations for the 2026 summer season, either virtually or in-person in Jasper.

Toolkit HERE:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Alws2RI1uY2EsznOAjgZOKd5jldg_Msa/view

Jasper National Park

04/27/2026

Stories of Ice and Glaciers with Lynn Martel
Only 10 spots available!

Join us for a full-day field trip along the Icefields Parkway, exploring the powerful stories of glaciers through landscape, science, and storytelling.

📅 June 1, 2026
🕘 9:00 am – 4:30 pm (MT)
🎓 Instructor: Lynn Martel – award-winning author, photographer, and experienced interpretive guide with decades of storytelling in the Canadian Rockies
🚌 Transportation included
🕒 PD Hours: 8
💲 IGA Members $89 | Non-members $109

Throughout the day, you’ll stop for short hikes and immersive learning at:
• Peyto Lake / Glacier Lookout
• Bow Lake
• Lake Louise

📌 Important:
• This is an outdoor, field-based course—please come prepared for mountain weather and short hikes

👉 Register here: https://interpretiveguides.org/events/iceandglaciers/

Lynn Martel mountain writer/photographer

04/23/2026

Wilderness Navigation In Person Workshop

Spend a full day building your skills in the outdoors!

🗓 Date: May 24, 2026
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (MT)
📍 Location: Meet at the HI Banff Alpine Centre (801 Hidden Ridge Way). We’ll kick things off indoors, then head out to the surrounding trails for hands-on practice. Come prepared for a full day in the elements.
👨‍🏫 Instructor: Mike Blake, ACMG Guide
🕒 PD Hours: 8
💲 Members: $95 | Non-members: $140

Ready to sharpen your skills in the field? Register here:

https://interpretiveguides.org/events/wilderness-navigation-2026/

MB Guiding