James Bernard Harkin (‘Bunny’ Harkin) was the first commissioner of the National Parks of Canada. He established the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
James B. Harkin was a Vankleek Hill-born journalist turned bureaucrat with a passion for conserving the Canadian landscape. During his career, he oversaw the establishment of national parks, including Elk Island, Mount Revelstoke, Point Pelee, Kootenay, Wood Buffalo, Prince Albert, Riding Mountain, Georgian Bay Islands and Cape Breton Highlands.
His parks’ promotion strategy, favourable motor vehicle regulations, and improvements in accessibility notably increased tourism to Canada’s national parks from 100,000 in 1921 to 550,000 in 1928.
Harkin also founded the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 1919.