The newly launched initiative Everyone Outdoors Together is calling on all Canadians to step outside simultaneously on the third Saturday in July—July 18 this year, which coincides with National Parks Day. The goal is to create a shared moment where millions pause, step outside, and witness something beautiful together, whether it's a sunset, a midnight sun, or any outdoor experience with family and friends.
Origins of the Initiative
The idea was sparked by a chance phone call last year between Martin Sampson, CEO of the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, and Jennie McCaffrey, Vice President of Health and Education at the B.C. Parks Foundation and PaRx (parks prescriptions). During the call, Sampson was on a paddleboard at his cottage in Lac-Sainte-Marie, north of Ottawa, while McCaffrey was in a canoe on Alpha Lake Park in Whistler, B.C. This led them to envision a nationwide outdoor moment, originally called the Great Canadian Sunset Paddle, which later evolved to be more inclusive.
Inclusivity and Community
“We realized that just doing a paddle would not be as inclusive as we would like,” Sampson said. “So, over time … we evolved the idea to simply, why don’t we imagine if all Canadians stepped outdoors and shared a sunset or evening or midnight sun moment with their friends and family, and the land and water we share.” McCaffrey added, “We hope to recreate that same feeling for people right across Canada in any way that makes sense for them. … It’s about just stepping outside your door or rolling outside your door or going for a run, or however you want to experience that moment outdoors.”
Future Vision
Sampson called this year’s event a soft launch, but he has ambitious plans. “By 2028 I would love this to be cemented in the Canadian cultural calendar as just something that people do that allows them to enjoy the outdoors with their friends and family,” he said. “I never let perfect get in the way of good enough, so we pushed it out there, and we’re getting an unbelievable response.” The initiative aims to reclaim connection to each other and remind Canadians that their best moments happen when they are present, outdoors, and together.
