Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park was established on April 19, 2005. It is a 69th provincial park in Alberta.

Park acquired total 1421 hectares area, including Big Lake Natural Area and Crown land of 302 hectares is additional. Total of 100 per cent 59 per cent is makes up of lake.

Place:

Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park is adjacent to the cities of Edmonton, St. Albert, Sturgeon and Parkland counties.

Facilities:

Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park having wildlife viewing platform,

which is located along the eastern shore of Big Lake at the mouth of the Sturgeon River. Entrance to the platform is off Riel Drive in St. Albert, or from the Red Willow Trail system by following the trail west along the south bank of the Sturgeon River.

Big Lake in Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park is a freshwater wetland ecosystem which is surrounded by small deciduous and coniferous woodlands.

BirdLife International recognized Big Lake as an Important Bird Area globally because; it supports large nesting grounds and many migrating waterfowl and shorebirds.

During migration Tundra and trumpeter swans use the Big Lake.

Species of birds like Franklin’s gull, black tern, eared grebe, northern pintail, yellowlegs, dowitcher, pectoral sandpiper and American avocet sight’s within the in Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park. More than 220 species of birds have bee sighted within the Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park.

Animals like deer, moose, coyotes as well as small animals like damselflies and butterflies make their home in the Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park.

Average Depth is of 4 meters in the middle of its two basins of lake. Considerable emergent vegetation such as cattails and bulrushes is also supported by the Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park.

History of Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park:

Area of 1,119 hectares near the City of St. Albert was designated as Big Lake Natural as part of Special Places program on May 5, 1999.

BLESS (Big Lake Environment Support Society) formed in 1991 and the official volunteer steward of the site since 2002.

Big Lake Environment Support Society works with Alberta Parks and Protected Areas and other partners to construct and maintain facilities in the park.
 Facilities including:

• Wildlife viewing platform at the mouth of the Sturgeon River,
• Near the St. Albert Rugby Club a picnic shelter which is along the Red Willow Park Trail,
• Trial Improvements between Red Willow Park Trail and the Viewing Platform,
• Signage related to bird species.

Education and Research

Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park will have a major impact on education and research because of its proximity to one million people, including 150,000 school children.

Big Lake Environment Support Society works with Protected Areas and Alberta Parks to provide educational programming and conduct research
Including:

• The springing to Life at Big Lake environmental education program takes place at the picnic shelter, every spring.
• Educational presentation to groups.
• Trips to Big Lake for schools, churches, guides/scouts and seniors organizations.
• Aquatic studies kit is available to grade five classes studying wetlands as part of their science course.
• Coordinate the twice-annual bird counts and the Migratory and Breeding Bird Survey.