The Rocky Mountains often host historic moments.

Today, just down the road from Banff National Park, which became Canada’s first national park 130 years ago, history was once again made among the iconic mountains.

For the first time ever, national, provincial and local parks managers, academics and non-profit organizations gathered in one place to compare notes on the simple goal of getting more Canadians to visit parks at the Canadian Parks Summit in Canmore, Alta.

Organized by the Canadian Parks Council, a federal body that works to coordinate the activities of national, provincial and territorial parks agencies, and the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, a national voice dedicated to building healthy, active communities, the summit hosted nearly 200 delegates representing all aspects of parks.

Over the four-day event, delegates heard presentations from leading parks thinkers on four themes — connect, conserve, collaborate and leadership — and discussed a draft document aiming “to mark the beginning of a renewed, re-energized and collaborative framework for enhancing the role and profile of parks in Canada.”

Here are some key moments from the monumental summit.

Renowned anthropologist, author and explorer Wade Davis, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s honorary vice-president, delivered an opening address with a key question, along with some other keen observations.

@authorwadedavis raises the question: Why do we not explore the value that can be placed on wild lands being left alone? #CdnParksSummit — LIN (@LINResources) April 12, 2016

What’s not to love about a world capable of massive social change? @authorwadedavis #CdnParksSummit — Mike Bingley (@mbingley) April 12, 2016

“Americans look west for heroes, Canadians look north.” @authorwadedavis #CdnParksSummit pic.twitter.com/chUgqwAQLU — Ilona Dougherty (@ilonadougherty) April 12, 2016

Gil Penalosa, founder and chair of Toronto-based international non-profit 8 80 Cities, which is dedicated to sustainable cities, spoke on the theme connect.

“Parks are places where people can meet as equals” words of inspiration fr @Penalosa_G #CdnParksSummit #parksforall pic.twitter.com/XUoHr7jxXw — Mary Desjardins (@gngrsnaps) April 12, 2016

Imagine if we invest in green space & #nature like we invest in concrete, roads, parking.Invest in @outdoorplay @Penalosa_G #CdnParksSummit — Shawna Babcock (@KidActiveCanada) April 12, 2016

@ #CndParksSummit @Penalosa_G of @880CitiesOrg says…want to promo parks? Don’t talk about them–talk about the benefits — Aaron Kylie (@aaronkylie) April 12, 2016

Harvey Locke, co-founder of the Yellowstone to Yukon Initiative, a trans-border not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting connected wilderness areas in the crucial north-south wildlife corridor, gave a arousing address on the theme connect.

GREAT #CdnParksSummit talk by @harveylockeyyc on why #NatureNeedsHalf & demanding higher protected areas targets! pic.twitter.com/16S3QLwFXV — Alex MacDonald (@NaturallyAlexM) April 12, 2016

At least half of landscapes need to be protected in interconnected ways to save nature–@harveylockeyyc @ #CndParksSummit @Y2Y_Initiative — Aaron Kylie (@aaronkylie) April 12, 2016

@harveylockeyyc founder of @Y2Y_Initiative tells #CndParksSummit If we’re not interested in saving nature we’re complete idiots — Aaron Kylie (@aaronkylie) April 12, 2016

Federal environment minister Catherine McKenna, who also oversees Parks Canada, addressed the summit from Ottawa via Skype.

Enviro minister @cathmckenna Skypes into #CdnParksSummit, says nat parks and protected areas key priority for gov pic.twitter.com/YpzNG0UGtd — Aaron Kylie (@aaronkylie) April 13, 2016

@cathmckenna says green infrastructure is a budget priority in parks and beyond. #CdnParksSummit — LIN (@LINResources) April 13, 2016

Phil Gaines, director of the South Carolina State Parks system, addressed the summit on leadership.

“Park people don’t build widgets. They build memories.” @rangerphil #CdnParksSummit pic.twitter.com/3EkijY7yqa — Mary Desjardins (@gngrsnaps) April 13, 2016

@rangerphil: We’re here to help people get dirty, smell things, get mud between their toes – leave widget building to others #CdnParksSummit — LIN (@LINResources) April 13, 2016

Finally, Pam Veinotte, field superintendent for Toronto’s Rouge Urban National Park, and Michael Bender, general manager of Rouge Park Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, spoke to the summit on the theme collaboration.

Could their be anyone in Canadian parks who appreciates collaboration more than #PamVeinotte & #MikeBender of @RougePark? #CdnParksSummit — Aaron Kylie (@aaronkylie) April 13, 2016

@RougePark creating the largest urban park in N.Amer in TO, Canada (will be 79.1 sq km!!) Central park is only 3.41 sq km! #CdnParksSummit — marci scharle (@marcischarle) April 13, 2016