The Canada Strong Pass Is Back: Here's How It Will Save You Money
From free national park entry to kids’ VIA Rail travel and museum perks across the country, the federal program could save your family money this summer.
Image courtesy of the Royal Alberta Museum
Having kids home from school can be expensive, especially if keeping them entertained is up to you. Between museum tickets, park fees, train rides and the inevitable "Can we get something from the gift shop?" requests, a single family outing can get pricey fast.
Thank goodness for the return of the Canada Strong Pass. From June 19 to Sept. 7, 2026, the federal program offers free or discounted access to a long list of family-friendly destinations and travel options, including national parks, museums, galleries and VIA Rail.
The idea is simple: make it easier for families, teens and young adults to get out and explore the country over the summer without paying full price every time.
What the Canada Strong Pass includes
The biggest perk for many families is free admission to Parks Canada places for everyone. That includes national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas run by Parks Canada.
The program also includes a 25 percent discount on camping fees, including roofed accommodations and some historic stays, which could make a weekend trip feel a little less ambitious, financially speaking.
Museums are part of the offer too. At national museums and the Plains of Abraham Museum, kids and teens 17 and under get in free, while young adults aged 18 to 24 get 50 percent off.
The same deal applies at participating provincial and territorial museums and galleries: free admission for children and 50 percent off for young adults.
There’s also a travel break built in. On VIA Rail, children 17 and under can travel free with an adult, while young adults aged 18 to 24 get 25 percent off.
Some of the museums families can visit
The museum list is broad, but a few especially good family options include:
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum in Ottawa
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa
- Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa
- Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa
- Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau
- National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa
- Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax
- Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg
- Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller
- Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton
- Royal BC Museum in Victoria
- Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto
- Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto
- The Manitoba Museum in Winnipeg
How to use it
There’s no physical pass to buy or print, and no sign-up required. Families can use the participating offers during the program window.
A few things are still worth checking before you go:
- Some sites may require reservations
- Some special exhibitions or programs may cost extra
- Some places may have limited capacity on busy weekends
Where to find more info
You can find the full details here:
This article was crafted with the assistance of an AI language model. The final content was reviewed and edited by a human and reflects the editorial judgment and expertise of Today's Parent.
Modern parenting, made easier
Expert tips, stories and support straight to your inbox.