Every once in a while Canadians have a chance to directly influence the course of our country's history in a concrete and meaningful way.

We are being asked to help determine the fate of a far away and unbelievably beautiful swath of wilderness deep in the mountains of the Northwest Territories -- the great Nahanni.

At the heart of this wilderness lies Nahanni National Park, a place so special it was designated by the United Nations as the very first World Heritage Site in 1978. The park protects a corridor along the South Nahanni River at the heart of this wilderness, but is too small and narrow to secure the region's wildlife, water and limestone caves and canyons from encroaching development.

I know that the Nahanni strikes a chord among the many outdoor enthusiasts who live in the Ottawa area. Public presentations on the Nahanni that I have attended in this city have consistently been sold out, and the enthusiasm for the place has been infectious. Many local wilderness lovers -- paddlers, photographers or hikers -- have been touched by a trip to the Nahanni or dream of a future pilgrimage to this iconic wild place.

Tonight, Parks Canada is hosting a public meeting in Ottawa to consult residents of this region on the Nahanni's future. The essence of what we are being asked to consider is this: should the Harper government take the visionary step of protecting the entire South Nahanni watershed in the expanded Nahanni National Park, thus securing clean water, healthy populations of grizzly bear and woodland caribou, globally significant limestone caves and canyons, and one of the last great wild watersheds in the world? Or should they compromise and leave parts of the watershed open to mining development and its long-term environmental impacts?

I vote for the visionary option. I hope residents who care about this place will take a minute to let our government know how they feel. Parks Canada's public consultation meeting on the new Nahanni Park boundary is tonight at the Ottawa Public Library main branch, 120 Metcalfe St. between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m., with a presentation scheduled for 7 p.m.

This is one chance we have to influence the course of history. Visit the website at www.cpaws.org/nahanni to learn where to voice your opinion.

Alison Woodley,
Ottawa
Northern Program Manager
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society