Canada Park, Natural park in Ayalon Valley, Israel

Canada Park spreads across a large area in Ayalon Valley with Mediterranean woodlands, several natural springs, and winding trails to explore. The landscape also features small recreational areas and viewpoints looking toward the Jerusalem hills.

The site was the Jewish village of Hamat, later called Emmaus, where Judas Maccabeus defeated Seleucid forces in 165 BCE. A Roman colony founded in the 1st century BCE became the city of Emmaus Nicopolis in the 3rd century, destroyed after the Arab conquest. The villages Imwas, Yalu and Bayt Nuba stood here until 1967, when they were razed and their residents expelled; the JNF created the park in 1973.

The park serves as a memorial to more than 300 American and Canadian Jews who lost their lives in Israeli conflicts or terrorist attacks. Annual ceremonies here honor their memory and reflect the site's role in remembering these communities.

The park is best reached by car via the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway, turning toward Mevo Horon at Latrun Junction. Bring sturdy shoes and water, as trails are uneven and shade can be limited in open areas.

The park's name honours Canadian donors: a 1972 campaign led by Bernard Bloomfield of Montreal raised $15 million, and the road to the park is named for former Canadian prime minister John Diefenbaker, who opened it in 1975.