Minister celebrates Canada's World Heritage Sites and 40th anniversary of World Heritage Convention
OTTAWA, Ontario, April 18, 2012 -- The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today recognized the 40th anniversary of UNESCO's World Heritage Convention and called on Canadians to use the anniversary year to learn more about, and visit, Canada's fifteen World Heritage Sites.
"World Heritage Sites are unique places on Earth. They are considered to have outstanding universal value, and as such, they are part of the common heritage of humankind," said Minister Kent. "These include such places as the Egyptian Pyramids, Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the Great Wall of China, as well as Canada's own World Heritage Sites including the Rideau Canal National Historic Site."
Ten of Canada's fifteen World Heritage Sites are managed by Parks Canada, and will mark the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention with special activities throughout 2012.
Two of Canada's World Heritage Sites, Gros Morne and Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump, will also be celebrating significant milestones during this special anniversary year. Gros Morne National Park is in its 25th year as a World Heritage Site while Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump celebrates the 25th anniversary of the opening of its interpretative centre.
Parks Canada manages a network of 43 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and four national marine conservation areas, while setting the stage and inviting Canadians and people from around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery of our treasured natural and historic places.
For additional information on Canada's World Heritage Sites and the World Heritage Convention please see the accompanying backgrounders at www.parkscanada.gc.ca under Media Room.
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Adam Sweet
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-953-8371
http://twitter.com/parkscanada
