Parks Canada investigating after glitter, streamers left on frozen Lake Louise

Pink glitter and streamers were left scattered across the frozen surface of Lake Louise on Jan. 31, prompting a Parks Canada investigation.

A tourist from California, who has been coming to Banff National Park in Alberta for more than 30 years, discovered the litter while visiting the lake that day.

“I'd say the Lake Louise area in particular is truly one of the most spectacular places in this world,” said Kim Steinbacher.

Steinbacher was snowshoeing across the lake when she spotted a large area of pink discolouration and confetti pieces on the ice.

Parks Canada says it believes the litter was left behind after a gender reveal celebration.

The debris was visible from roughly 50 to 60 metres away, she says.

She decided to clean it up.

Steinbacher estimates there were a couple hundred pieces of confetti, and says it took about an hour to collect it all.

“It was just the right thing to do,” she said. “I love the area. Nobody wants to see a place as pristine as Lake Louise left trashed."

Steinbacher says she doesn’t use social media much but felt compelled to share her frustration online.

Her post about the incident quickly gained traction, with thousands viewing it.  

Steinbacher did not expect her story to attract so much attention.

“It was both very surprising and surprisingly encouraging to see that everybody else was just as upset as me and that I wasn't overreacting — that others care as much as I do,” she said.

After her post sparked so much interest, Steinbacher decided to file a formal complaint with Parks Canada.