Town of Banff

Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association

The Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of information delivery to visitors to Canada's Mountain Parks. From our beginnings in Banff National Park in 1998 we have expanded to include members in the other mountain parks the surrounding region as well as communities and parks throughout Canada. Among its more than 350 members, MPHIA counts 215 Professional Interpreters.  More than 500 people have taken MPHIA courses in Banff, Jasper and Golden in the last four years.

The goal of accrediting interpreters and guides is to raise the overall standard of knowledge dissemination and interpretive ability. Commercial guides and interpreters provide a remarkable conduit for disseminating information and managing the expectations of park visitors. Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of individuals participate in guided activities in a given year.  Commercial guides and interpreters should be viewed as potential ambassadors for the national parks and their messages.

Our focus is to create a single body charged with accrediting interpretive guides and working with businesses throughout the mountain parks. In turn, we hope this will provide consistency in the delivery of products and services based upon the rich natural and human heritage of the Canadian Rockies.

Goals of the Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association

To encourage excellence in the interpretation of nature, history and culture in Canada's Rocky Mountain National parks and surrounding areas.

To improve the effectiveness and appeal of natural and cultural heritage programming in the
mountain national parks and surrounding areas.

To develop a common commitment within the tourism community to the enhancement of the training of those charged with the responsibility of sharing heritage information and values with park visitors.

To disseminate, for educational or scientific value, information about the natural and human heritage of Canada's Rocky Mountain National Parks and surrounding areas.

To exchange information of educational or scientific value about natural and human heritage and any other matters of interest with other heritage organizations which have the same or similar objects, throughout the world.

More information:
T: 403.760.2854
E-mail: info@mphia.org