Parks Canada Ends 55‑Year‑Old Avalanche Dog Rescue Program in Banff National Park

Parks Canada announced it will terminate its sole canine search‑and‑rescue handler position in Banff National Park, effective this month, as part of broader budget cuts to the public service. The agency said the decision was a "difficult decision" and that rescue operations would continue through other means. The program, which had employed a single handler and a German Shepherd named Leroy, had been in place for 55 years and had tracked 156 people, found 57 lost hikers, and helped solve two murders. The move has sparked public outrage, with over 5,000 signatures on a petition to restore the role, and criticism from MP William Stevenson who warned the cut could jeopardise public safety.