Parks Canada

Providing a set of several hundred pictograms the Parks Canada signage system is one of the most extensive available. It was developed to meet the objectives of Canadian government policy as well as human factors requirements. Where possible, the symbol set is based on the international standard ISO 7001, Public Information Symbols. According to the Parks Canada Identity Program the signage system was designed "with the following goals in mind" (page 4):

to enable visitors ... to recognize Parks Canada facilities clearly and instantly by means of a uniform sign system that communicates information effectively and efficiently;
to ensure that visitors and park/site users can find, and navigate safely and easily within, Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas;
to ensure that signs function within the context of their environment and do not detract from the visitor experience or harm the ecological and commemorative integrity of the parks and sites in which they are situated;
to ensure that signage sited within individual national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas is designed to meet the requirements of the visitor;
to ensure that Parks Canada’s signage clearly and consistently addresses visitor safety";

As detailed in the Parks Canada Identity Program (2007), the symbol set provided was examined on basis of Comprehension Tests according to ISO 9186. "Regulatory and warning symbols scoring a comprehension rate of 80 % or higher have been adopted for use. Information symbols scoring a comprehension rate of 60 % or higher have been approved for use" (Appendix A, page 2). The authors recommend that information symbols that reached a score below 80% should be accompanied by a supporting text message. Symbols that failed comprehension testing have been retired from use.

The symbol inventory of the Parks Canada follows a coding system regarding the following categories:

Prohibition Symbols
Mandatory symbols
Caution symbols
Danger symbols
Emergency symbols
Guidance and information symbols

Below a selection of the Guidance and Information Symbols of the Parks Canada Identity Program. These pictograms are also available in Hora, M. (2017): Official Signs & Icons 3. Stony Point, New York: Ultimate Symbol. Clicking on a specific pictogram will forward you to a representative selection of concepts for that referent as well as comments on the variants shown, including facts from research found.

					Orientation in buildings
					Transportation
					Food service
					Water Sports
					Winter Activities
					Other Activities
					Camping and Picnicking