Canadian Boomers - National Parks Decals?

Cafe Society
1

If you grew up in the 60s, you must remember these, as many cars had them, usually on the driver’s side of the windshield at the lower corner, or sometimes on the ventilator. You had to buy them in order to be able to access any of the National Parks. They were good for the calendar year, not that you can actually camp for half of it.

They had a common design every year, a caribou facing to the right. It was the colour of the background that would change from year to year. I seem to remember one with a white background with red stripes radiating upwards, and one with a white background and blue stripes radiating upwards. When I say radiating upwards, I mean like sunrays. I believe the blue striped one was 1965. I also remember one where the background was a solid orange colour, which I think dated somewhere between 1970-72.

They did exist, right? I’m not just imagining them, am I?

Problem is, I can’t seem to find any reference to them anywhere online, nor can I see any examples of the artwork. Examples are nearly impossible to come by, because cars that had them are long since junked.

Did anyone run across anything on them, or better yet, maybe someone flogging a bunch of surplus ones to collectors?

2

They did exist. I recall them as well, although not quite in as much detail as you did. When we lived in Alberta when I was a child in the 1960s, we got one every year, so we could go to Banff and the mountain parks.

3

I found this page, Chauffeur Badges from the collection of Dr. Edward Miles. It has some decals that might be what you’re looking for–scroll down a little bit and there are ones with both Bison and Elk.

4

I grew up in Alberta in the 70s and I vaguely recall these. However, my recollection is of a brown and yellow colour scheme and maybe a beaver.

5

Wow, thanks, blondebear – that’s them!

Didn’t realize they were elk, but then again, elk, moose, caribou – they’s all good eatin’!

Judging from my description, I seem to remember them backwards for some reason…maybe because that’s how they looked to me while riding in the car…

Less than half an hour to find an answer…Gawd, I love this place!

Thanks again, blondebear!

6

Does anyone else remember this odd little detail, or am I finally losing it?

I remember there were two of them issued every year - there was one that would get you into every park BUT Banff and Jasper, and one other that was everywhere. We had to get one every year - our cabin was in Riding Mountain National Park - and a couple of years we had to debate whether we should buy the one that would get us into Banff as well.

7

They still have that. The annual pass for Riding Mountain is cheaper and can’t be used in Banff. The pass you buy at Banff can be used at any national park.

To the OP, I don’t remember the decal you’re talking about, but I do remember the brown and yellow one with the beaver. I was born in 1971.