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UK tourists fined for camping in Middle Springs

Three young men from the United Kingdom were fined in provincial court earlier this month after pleading guilty to illegally camping in the national park.

Three young men from the United Kingdom were fined in provincial court earlier this month after pleading guilty to illegally camping in the national park.

Samuel Parker, Kieran Lynch and Callum Burke all pleaded guilty to three counts under the National Parks Act of contravening regulations, camping without a permit and starting an unlawful campfire.

Judge P.M. McIlhargey fined each, aged 18 and 19, $350, noting the national parks program in Canada started after the discovery of the Cave and Basin hot springs.

Federal Crown prosecutor Anita Szabo said the three men, who are on a five-month tour of North America, were caught on April 16 when wardens responded to a complaint of an illegal campsite.

“These three accused had put this campsite up in the wildlife area of Middle Springs,” Szabo said, adding the area is enclosed and well signed.

The Crown told the judge the area is closed because it is a wildlife corridor and the Banff Springs snail, which is listed under the Species at Risk Act, is in the area.

“There is no suggestion they were close to the hot springs or the snails,” Szabo said. “But they had a significant campsite.”

Duty counsel Anne Wilson said the three men were sorry for breaking the national parks legislation.

“They advise me the reason they were camping is they are here in Canada on vacation for an outdoor adventure and had run out of funds,” Wilson said.


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