The Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site will have reduced hours and a shorter season as a result of federal government cuts to Parks Canada sites across the county.
Parks Canada took the latest hit in the federal public service cost saving measures.
On Monday, the government announced more than 1,000 jobs are at risk and another 600 will be eliminated entirely in Parks Canada sites across the county.
The Rocky national historic site’s days of operation will be cut and one staff member will lose a couple of hours a week. The cuts are to take effect starting the fall of 2013.
Pamela Veinotte, the superintendent for the Banff Field Unit, which oversees site, was not available for comment but she confirmed the changes through email.
Starting in the 2013 fall tourist season, the historic site will open later and operate a shorter season. It will be closed completely during the winter months.
Instead of opening in mid-May, the site will open nearly two and a half months later on July 1, and close after Labour Day, as in previous years. As well, there will no longer be drop-in access to the information centre and site from Oct. 1 to April 30.
The site will open five days a week in May and June to accommodate school programming. In September, the site will open four days a week as opposed to five days.
The changes are not expected to affect the delivery of special events such as the annual pow-wow in July or other community events.
The 2012 season’s opening dates for the spring, summer and fall season will not be affected.
The site opens this year on May 19 and closes on Sept. 2. The hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. From Sept. 3 to 28, the site will open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday to Friday.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com