Lois Hole said "If we hope to preserve our way of life, the first thing we must do is rediscover our respect for the land, the water, and the entire natural world. And if we do manage to regain that respect, then we must make sure that human beings never lose it again."
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park conserves Big Lake, a freshwater wetland ecosystem with bio-diverse riparian, aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats surrounded by small stands of deciduous and coniferous woodlands. The lake is shallow, with an average depth in the middle of its two basins of less than four metres.
There is a viewing platform on eastern shore of Big Lake at the mouth of Sturgeon River. Access to the platform is off Riel Drive in St. Albert or from Red Willow Trail (follow trail west along the south bank of the river).
Big Lake is a globally significant Important Bird Area. It supports large nesting grounds and many migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. More than 220 species of birds have been sighted in the park.
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Damselflies and butterflies are two of the diverse species of invertebrates found in the park.
Big Lake supports considerable emergent vegetation such as cattails and bulrushes. Surrounding vegetation includes orchids and ferns.
An area of 1,119 hectares near the City of St. Albert was designated the Big Lake Natural Area on May 5, 1999. This was done through the Special Places program.
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park was established on April 19, 2005. It contained the former former Big Lake Natural Area and an additional 302 hectares of undeveloped crown land. The park was named to honour the memory of a beloved former Lieutenant Governor and to create a lasting legacy of Alberta's centennial.
In 2010, the park was expanded by nearly 30 per cent (approximately 380 hectares). This makes Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park nearly 1800 hectares in size.
Lois Hole and her husband Ted bought a mixed farm in St. Albert which was incorporated as Hole's Greenhouses & Gardens Ltd. It has since grown into one of the largest retail greenhouse operations in western Canada. The Hole Enjoy Centre is located across Ray Gibbon Drive from Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park.
As well as being a successful businesswoman, Lois became a bestselling author.
Lois Hole had a long and active history of being an education advocate and community supporter
On December 9, 1999 Prime Minister Jean Chretien appointed Lois Hole as Alberta's 15th Lieutenant Governor. She was the second woman in Aberta's history to serve as Lieutenant Governor. She excelled in that role. Her Honour passed away on January 6, 2005 after a courageous battle with cancer.
