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Celebrating Algonquin Park: A Photographic and Artistic Special Event
Celebrating Algonquin Park - SOLD OUT!
Painting: Ledge over Starling Lake by Celebrating Algonquin Park speaker Peter B. Mills.
Celebrating Algonquin Park is an intimate evening of photographic and artistic presentations on the beauty and magic of wild spaces. This event will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre.
Speakers, door prizes, refreshments, and a silent auction with proceeds supporting the charitable work of The Friends of Algonquin Park, are also part of the event.
This year's speakers are Peter B. Mills, Emily Welsh, and Maurice Switzer. See below for more details.
Presentations at Celebrating Algonquin Park 2026
The following speakers have been announced for Celebrating Algonquin Park 2026 to be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at the Algonquin Visitor Centre.
Speaker: Peter B. Mills, Conservation in Algonquin Park
Join us for an inspiring presentation with Peter B. Mills, accomplished Ontario Parks ecologist, author, and artist as he takes you beyond the standard maps and campsites. Attendees will get an exclusive, fascinating sneak peek at the many cutting-edge conservation projects happening in Ontario's oldest and most famous provincial park. Whether you are a dedicated backcountry canoeist, naturalist, or an art enthusiast, you will gain a whole new appreciation for the landscapes and wildlife of Algonquin Park.
Drawing on nearly 20 years of experience working directly in Algonquin Park, Peter brings a profound, firsthand understanding of this iconic wilderness. His vital ecological work features the recovery of species-at-risk populations, the eradication of aggressive invasive species, and the management of the Park’s ~100 nature reserve zones. Also an accomplished wilderness paddler and the author-illustrator of acclaimed books including Metamorphosis, Peter seamlessly bridges the gap between meticulous science and breathtaking art.
Speaker: Emily Welsh, Remember When…? Algonquin Memories
Memory is a funny thing. It comes and goes without warning. The slightest trigger can bring back a memory with a smile or laugh of days gone by. There is joy in the thought of new memories yet to be made. Algonquin Park holds a special place in the heart of those lucky to experience it. The Algonquin Provincial Park Archives and Collections (APPAC) cares for the memories of this place and its peoples, preserving and sharing its stories with today’s visitors and for future generations. Join Emily and take a peek into these collections.
Emily Welsh is the Collections Coordinator for The Friends of Algonquin Park, caring for the Algonquin Provincial Park Archives and Collections (APPAC). She shares her passion for Algonquin Park history with visitors exploring the exhibits or researchers accessing the collections. She’s always keen to hear about your personal stories and connections with the Park.
Speaker: Maurice Switzer, Treaties with First Nations
Treaties with First Nations, including 46 in the province of Ontario, made possible the peaceful settlement of Canada. Treaty rights are recognized and affirmed in Canada's Constitution, and every Canadian citizen has Treaty rights and responsibilities.
Maurice Switzer, Bnesi, is a citizen of the Michi Saagig of Alderville First Nation in southern Ontario, where his maternal grandfather Moses Muskrat Marsden was Chief from 1904-09. Maurice currently serves as chair of Nipissing University's Indigenous Council on Education and is president of the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre. At various times he has been an adjunct professor on the Laurentian University campus, communications director for the Assembly of First Nations and Anishinabek Nation, appointee to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and an editor and publisher at five Canadian daily newspapers. He is a recipient of an Anishinabek Nation Lifetime Achievement Award (2010), the Anishinabek Nation Debwewin Citation for Storytelling (2022), and a member of the Nipissing District Human Rights Hall of Fame (2003).
Purchase Your Tickets for Celebrating Algonquin Park 2026
Pre-registration is required and seating is limited for Celebrating Algonquin Park. Tickets are $35.00 per person. This event has sold out early in past years. Proceeds support the charitable work of The Friends of Algonquin Park.
For more information contact The Friends of Algonquin Park.
Related Information
Reserve your developed or backcountry campsite for your next visit.
Share your passion for Algonquin Park by becoming a member or donor.
Special regulations for Algonquin's special fishery.