Management Plans
Management plans guide the direction for protected heritage areas, and outline Parks Canada’s commitment to Canadians about how national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas will be managed. Management plans are the primary accountability documents for the areas under Parks Canada’s care. They are required by legislation, guided by public consultation, approved by the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, and tabled in Parliament.
Public consultation is an important component of the management planning process. Consultation with stakeholders allows Parks to build strong relationships with neighbouring communities, residents and other interested individuals. Throughout the development of these management plans, Parks Canada actively sought out and welcomed public participation and input.
The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the approval of management plans for a number of national historic sites located in Nova Scotia.
The Halifax Defence Complex
In 1965, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada recognized the importance of Halifax as one of four principal overseas naval stations of the British Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries and that the Halifax Defence System or Complex includes a complete range of shore defences from the 18th century to the Second World War.
Currently the Halifax Defence complex receives approximately 400,000 visitors per year and with the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site of Canada as the flagship of the Defence Complex, serves as a tourism icon for the Province of Nova Scotia.This management plan has been prepared to direct future activities and decision-making at the Halifax Defence Complex.
Key management actions include:
- Conservation and protection of heritage resources including the south magazine roof and Town Clock at the Halifax Citadel, the York Redoubt command post, the Prince of Wales Tower and elements of Fort McNab casemates.
- Introduction of heritage presentation products associated with all five sites that respond to visitors’ interests, that communicate the key messages of the site and that will offer opportunities for meaningful visitor experiences at those of the national historic sites open to the public.
- Parks Canada will work toward the future opening of Georges Island by updating studies of market demand, projected visitation and capital costs; by preparing a business case; and by allowing controlled access to test market demand at Georges Island.
- Special events opportunities will continue to be offered at all the sites. Parks Canada also recognizes that partnerships and collaboration play a vital role in the future of all the sites of the Halifax Defence Complex. Parks Canada will seek to strengthen existing and develop other strategic partnerships for each of the national historic sites.
Canso Islands and Grassy Island Fort National Historic Sites of Canada
The national historic significance of the islands off Canso, Nova Scotia was recognized in 1926 for the role the French and English fishing operations based there played from the 16th to the mid 18th century, as well as for being a staging place for the British and New England attack on Louisbourg in 1745. Grassy Island Fort, which lies within the larger Canso Islands National Historic Site, attests to this role in the military history of Atlantic Canada.
This management plan has been prepared to direct future activities and decision-making by Parks Canada Agency for its operations on Grassy Island.
Key management actions will include improving the interpretation of these two national historic sites in the visitor centre and working with the local community and stakeholders to enhance awareness of the national historic sites and the services offered to visitors.
St. Peters Canal and St. Peters National Historic Sites of Canada
The national historic significance of St. Peters and St. Peters Canal was acknowledged by the federal government in 1929. St. Peters recognizes the 17th and 18th century French settlements that were located on either side of the Mi’kmaq portage route between the Atlantic Ocean and the Bras d’Or Lakes. These included the Nicolas Denys Fort and Fort Toulouse and the surrounding settlement of Port Toulouse, which were located in the modern day Battery Provincial Park.
In the 19th century the portage route was transformed into a canal that has been enlarged over time and continues to operate as the only canal in Atlantic Canada and the only canal in Canada designed to handle tidal changes.
This management plan has been prepared to direct future activities and decision-making by Parks Canada Agency for the canal and the portions of St. Peters National Historic Site which it administers.
Key management actions will include improving the interpretation of these two historic sites and working with the Province and the local community to link the modern community by a trail to the canal and on to Battery Provincial Park.
News Release associated with this Backgrounder.
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTS IN THE PRESERVATION OF CANADA'S HERITAGE IN NOVA SCOTIA
