What if, on one evening each year, people across Canada stepped outside together?
Everyone Outdoors Together aims to turn that simple invitation into a national Parks Day tradition. On July 18, the third Saturday of July, the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) is inviting everyone from coast to coast to step outside and take part in a shared nature moment.
The movement encourages Canadians to unplug, reconnect with nearby nature, and participate in a Great Canadian Sunset Moment that celebrates the role parks, trails, beaches, forests, and even backyards play in everyday well-being. There is no cost to participate and no single right way to join in.
The idea is intentionally simple—to pause outside together for a synchronized sunset—or, in northern communities, a midnight sun moment.
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Behind that simple invitation is a much bigger message: parks and outdoor spaces are more than community amenities. They are essential community infrastructure that supports healthier people and even healthier communities.
Today chronic diseases are the leading cause of mortality in Canada and cost an estimated $190 billion annually in health care and lost productivity. Mental illness adds more than $50 billion in annual costs. As health systems face growing pressure, recreation and parks leaders are increasingly making the case that access to nature should be viewed as preventative health infrastructure, not simply a lifestyle benefit.
Research continues to reinforce that message. Spending time in nature has been linked to lower stress, improved mood, increased physical activity, stronger social connections, and a greater sense of belonging. Green spaces also support active transportation, provide places for recreation and gathering, and help communities become more resilient during extreme heat or poor air quality.
A 2019 study published in Scientific Reports found that people who spent at least 120 minutes in nature each week—even spread across several shorter outings—were significantly more likely to report good health and higher wellbeing than those who spent little or no time outdoors.
“Imagine if on one evening a year all Canadians stepped outside and enjoyed a sunset or a midnight sun moment together,” said Martin Sampson, CEO of CPRA, during a virtual town hall meeting on May 11. “Imagine the platform that could create for us — the connection to our Canadian identity, the ability to promote how important it is for our mental and physical well-being to be connected to the natural environment.”
Organizations across Canada are increasingly embracing this view of parks as part of the country’s health system. Park People describes parks as essential public spaces that strengthen mental health, physical wellbeing, and social connection while helping communities respond to climate change, rising health-care costs, and inequities in access to green space.
One of the strongest examples is PaRx, Canada’s national nature prescription program, developed by the BC Parks Foundation. The program enables health-care professionals to prescribe time in nature as part of patient care, recommending at least two hours each week, with visits of at least 20 minutes.
Not every community has the same access to green space. Differences in tree canopy, shade, clean air, safe walking routes, parks, and natural areas can shape how people move, gather, cool down, and manage stress. Expanding access to nature helps reduce those inequities while making healthy outdoor experiences more accessible and affordable.
That makes PaRx a practical example of the same message Everyone Outdoors Together hopes to amplify: nature isn’t separate from health—it is part of how people prevent illness, recover, connect with others, and build stronger communities.
In a press release supporting the Everyone Outdoors Together initiative, Jack Shaw, Partner at Arqtic Canada said, “Our collective health is entirely connected to the health of the land itself.”
Jacob Gorenkoff, CEO of Homeward, described Canada’s landscapes as central to the country’s identity and shared that the initiative supports “what still brings us together: our parks, our communities, our shared love of nature, and the privilege of calling this place home.”
For British Columbians, that message is especially familiar. The province’s parks, forests, shorelines, and trails are woven into everyday life, providing places to walk, cycle, swim, play, rest, and connect with others. On July 18, that connection may look different for everyone. The action can be small. What matters is that it is shared.
If people look west toward the sunset—or north toward the midnight sun—CPRA hopes the third Saturday of July will become a lasting Canadian tradition rooted in nature, wellness, and community.
About the Author
Jeffrey Kennett is drawn to the energy of sport and the stories that surround it. Whether he is playing pickup basketball at the community centre, watching hockey, or spending time outdoors in British Columbia, Jeffrey is interested in the ways recreation brings people and communities together. With a passion for amplifying local voices and crafting meaningful stories, Jeffrey aims to highlight the people, places, and experiences that make sport and recreation so valuable. You can find more of his work on LinkedIn.