Located less than an hour’s drive from downtown Ottawa is a wilderness park where visitors can take in the vast expanse of Canada’s wildlife. Parc Omega is located 80 kilometres east of downtown Ottawa on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, making it a convenient day trip for families. But Parc Omega is not a zoo. Rather, the humans are contained inside their vehicles. “People can drive through and see up to 20 different species and approximately 800 different animals,” says Ivan Parisien, spokesperson for Parc Omega. The main attraction and what the park has become famous for is its 12-kilometre driving loop, which takes on average about two hours to complete. The loop takes visitors into the natural habitats of Canadian wildlife, including moose, elk, deer, bears, boars, bison, wolves, wolverines and more. In some areas, visitors are even encouraged to roll down their windows and feed the free roaming animals with carrots, which can be purchased on site. “To be out in nature, to be able to see the animals up close, that’s really what makes Park Omega a special place,” says Parisien. “If people have this connection with different types of animals, they will go back home and they will think about them in a positive way, (and hopefully) they’ll want to be more respectful of the environment.” On site are also dining areas, information sessions with guides, and picture-worthy “glamping” sites, including a chalet surrounded by a wolves’ den. An average day at Parc Omega sees approximately 2,000 visitors flow through the park; busy weekend days can see double that. The park experiences upwards of 450,000 visitors yearly, with 70 per cent coming from the Ottawa and Montreal areas. “[We’re] open 365 days a year. That’s what’s really interesting with Parc Omega, all the different seasons.” Admission costs $52.19 for adults, $45.23 for seniors, $39.14 for children aged six to 15 and $19.19 for children aged two to five. Carrots can be purchased on site for feeding at $2 per pound or can be brought in for free.
