Ottawa, ON – July 2, 2026 – The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) today launched Everyone Outdoors Together, a new national movement with a simple goal: to create an annual Canadian tradition that brings people outdoors and strengthens connection to one another, to nature, and to the land and water we share.
Taking place annually on the third Saturday in July, Everyone Outdoors Together invites people living in Canada, from coast to coast to coast, to step outside and participate in a shared national moment rooted in wellbeing, physical activity, social connection, and time spent outdoors.
At a time when many people are spending more time indoors, facing growing social isolation, and struggling to disconnect from their screens, the movement offers a simple invitation: step outside and reconnect with family, friends, neighbours, and the land we share.
“Few initiatives have the potential to unite so many sectors around shared goals to improve community wellbeing, advance health equity, and support nature conservation,” said Jennie McCaffrey, PaRx, Canada's Nature Prescription, a program of the BC Parks Foundation. “The mental health benefits of nature are estimated to save the global economy approximately $6 trillion each year. Everyone Outdoors Together marks the beginning of a broader cultural shift in recognizing nature as healthcare and deepening our connections to the people and places that sustain us."
As the movement's inaugural year, Everyone Outdoors Together will debut on July 18 with its first national activation.
For one evening, people living across Canada will be invited to pause, step outdoors, and share a sunset or midnight sun moment. Whether gathering in parks, on trails, at beaches, on neighbourhood streets, or in their own backyards, participants will join one of the few experiences that can be shared simultaneously across a country spanning six time zones and three oceans. From sunset in Atlantic Canada to the midnight sun in northern communities, the moment will celebrate the diversity, beauty, and vast geography of Canada while fostering wellbeing, community, and connection to the land and waters that unite us.
“Imagine if, one evening each year, people living across the country stepped outside together,” said Martin Sampson, CEO, Canadian Parks and Recreation Association. “Over time, that simple repeated act could become a cherished national tradition – one that strengthens our connection to one another, to nature, and to the places we call home, while helping shape our collective identity for generations."
Activated by partners across Canada, including CPRA’s 13 provincial and territorial recreation and parks association members, Everyone Outdoors Together will come to life through community events, outdoor activities, and local gatherings in every corner of the country, creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate.
People living in Canada are encouraged to gather with family, friends, neighbours, or their broader community and take part in this shared national experience.
To learn more, find local events, or join the movement, visit www.everyoneoutdoorstogether.ca.