Sales of the BC Parks licence plates continue to grow, helping to protect unique species and ecosystems, and improving visitors鈥� experiences in provincial parks.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, more than 84,000 BC Parks licence plates were bought, a 7 per cent increase from the same period a year before.
Historically, the Taylor鈥檚 checkerspot was found in several areas of southern Vancouver Island, including Helliwell Park in the early 1990s. The species was thought to be gone from Canada. However, undocumented populations were found on Denman Island in 2006 and on private land in the Courtenay area in 2018.
Last year was the fourth year that captively bred Taylor鈥檚 checkerspot larvae were reintroduced into Helliwell Park. The butterflies are now breeding in the park and adult butterflies have been spotted flying around.
鈥淪upport from the licence-plate program has been crucial to the success of our project,鈥� said Chris Junck, outreach co-ordinator, Taylor鈥檚 Checkerspot Recovery Project. 鈥淚n particular, consistent funding for several years enabled us to expand habitat restoration areas required to re-establish the butterfly population, and conduct surveys to monitor their survival.鈥�
鈥淓veryone who has bought BC Parks licence plates is supporting a more sustainable future by contributing to the protection and preservation of unique species and sensitive ecosystems, as well as supporting First Nations to share their cultures and histories,鈥� said Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks. 鈥淔rom the mountains to the coast, we鈥檝e worked with First Nations and community partners on a variety of grassroots projects. My recent visit with BC Parks staff has shown me first-hand the work that can be accomplished with these programs that are making an incredible impact on parks.鈥�
The licence-plate sales generated approximately $11 million in net revenue, supporting more than 250 projects and programs in parks throughout B.C. This includes a wide range of initiatives, such as the Student Ranger Program, wildlife inventories, partnerships with First Nations on educational programs and signs, wildfire-fuel mitigation, invasive-species management, ecosystem restoration, and educational programs for children and families.
The BC Parks Licence Plate Program is a partnership between the Province and ICBC. Licence-plate sales have been steadily increasing since 2020. As of March 2025, more than 552,000 licence plates have been sold, generating more than $54 million in net revenue for the program.
