Parks Canada celebrates successful Canada 150 season at Bellevue House

More Canadians than ever before enjoyed amazing experiences at Parks Canada’s places in 2017

November 1, 2017                         Kingston, Ontario                       Parks Canada Agency

National parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas represent the very best that Canada has to offer and tell stories of who we are, including the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples.

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada offered free admission for all visitors to Parks Canada places, to encourage Canadians to experience their rich history and heritage in a special way. Parks Canada is pleased to have welcomed more visitors to our treasured places than ever before, and to have played an important role in marking Canada 150.

Bellevue House National Historic Site was declared a national historic site during Canada’s centenary celebration in 1967. This year, over 25,000 visitors discovered more about Sir John A. Macdonald and his lasting impact on Canada and Canadians as Parks Canada presented varied and often unheard perspectives of Confederation. The season kicked off with the opening of Many Voices of Confederation which featured an interactive photo booth, “Imagine a Country”, that gave people the opportunity to contribute to a national dialogue by sharing their dreams for Canada’s future. Live performances on National Aboriginal Day provided an opportunity to create new connections and foster discussions on the histories, cultures, and realities of Indigenous communities. The day also marked the opening of Many Voices: Indigenous Art, an exhibit featuring pieces from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada’s Aboriginal Art Collection. The exhibit was a rare opportunity for Canadians to connect with examples from one of Canada’s most important and comprehensive collections of contemporary Indigenous art.

Bellevue House also hosted many special events throughout the season, including a community Canada Day celebration and the launch of the Bank of Canada’s commemorative $10 bank note. Innovative programming, guided tours, whisky tastings, and Alternative Facts tours proved to be quite popular with visitors. The season closed with a Fall Harvest celebration in the heritage gardens.

Although closed for daily visitation, the site continues to offer curriculum-based education programs, facility rentals, and pre-booked guided tours. Visitors can stay up to date with Bellevue House all year long by liking the historic site’s Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/bellevuehouseNHS.

The Government is committed to preserving our national parks, while making them more accessible so that Canadians, including youth and newcomers, can experience the outdoors and learn about our environment. Parks Canada continues to ensure the best possible visitor experience for people coming to our places, and has effectively managed 2017’s increased visitation.

To help visitors plan their experiences, Parks Canada launched a mobile app earlier this season. The app is incredibly popular and, to date, there have been over 150,000 downloads. The Parks Canada Mobile App is a great planning tool which offers up-to-date information and resources to help visitors plan their visit and discover breathtaking locations, including a list of hidden gems, and other unique and memorable experiences at national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas.