?5 State of Canada?s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 I?l HI alga Eztsda Canada Cover Photos Top left: Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, Photo: Dale Wilson Top centre: Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site, Photo: Scott Munn Top right: Tuktut Nogait National Park, Photo: Charla Jones Bottom: Banff National Park, Photo: Paul Zizka B Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, Photo: J. Steeves Table of Contents Minister’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Chief Executive Officer’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Working Together with Indigenous Peoples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Part A: The State of Parks Canada Natural Heritage Places Establishment, Cultural Heritage Programs and Other Heritage Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 National Park Establishment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 National Marine Conservation Areas Establishment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Rouge National Urban Park Establishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 National Historic Sites and Cultural Heritage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Part B: The State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places Administered by Parks Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Cultural Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Ecological Integrity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Species at Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Protection and Ecologically Sustainable Use of National Marine Conservation Areas . . . . . . . 37 Asset Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Visitor Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Public Appreciation, Support and Awareness of Heritage Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Part C: ANNEXES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 ANNEX 1 State of National Historic Sites Administered by Parks Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 ANNEX 2 State of National Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 ANNEX 3 National Marine Conservation Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada Agency, 2016 Catalogue number: R61-63/2016E-PDF ISBN: 978-0-660-07039-1 Parks Canada Agency 1 Minister’s Message I am pleased to see the progress highlighted in the 2016 Report on the State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places. Such achievements would not have been possible without the collaboration of community members, visitors, and stakeholders, as well as the more than 300 Indigenous communities that are partners in the conservation, restoration, and presentation of Canada’s national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites. National parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas represent the very best of Canada, including the history, culture and living legacy of Indigenous peoples. Parks Canada’s special partnerships with Indigenous peoples will contribute to the whole-of-government approach to reconciliation. Since the last report in 2011, Parks Canada has continued to expand our system of protected natural areas and to support more designations of cultural heritage places for all Canadians. Over the past five years, four national parks have been added to our system: Sable Island National Park Reserve, Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve, Qausuittuq National Park, and Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve. Our strong cooperation with the Government of Ontario led to 21 square kilometres being added to Rouge National Urban Park—an expansion of over 36 percent. The Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve proposal is moving forward through an agreement with First Nations and 2 Métis groups and the Government of the Northwest Territories, establishing a proposed boundary of 14,000 square kilometres. Legislation was also passed enabling the formal establishment of Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area under the Canada National Marine Areas Conservation Act. Protected areas play an essential role in helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change. That is why we need to scale up our efforts to conserve the healthy, resilient ecosystems we all depend on for our well-being. The Government is committed to working with our colleagues across all jurisdictions, and with Indigenous peoples, to deliver on our promise to protect at least 17 percent of our land and 10 percent of our ocean by 2020. And we are committed to looking beyond these targets to conserve nature in the long term, using science and Indigenous knowledge as our guide. Our first priority will be to maintain and restore the ecological integrity of our national parks, while providing opportunities for Canadians to understand, appreciate and enjoy these special places. Canada is now the proud steward of 18 World Heritage Sites, which we protect on behalf of the entire world community. Parks Canada is right now seeking nominations for new Canadian places to put forward as World Heritage Sites. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Visitation to heritage places has increased by 16 percent over the last five years, reaching 23.3 million in 2015–16, boosting local economies in our communities. I am pleased that Canadians are taking the time to connect with these places that reflect the essence of Canada, and to learn about their natural and cultural heritage. As Canada celebrates the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, admission to all Parks Canada places will be free. As part of this Government’s commitment to youth, beginning in 2018, children under the age of 18 will continue to enjoy free admission to Parks Canada places. 2017 is also the 100th anniversary of National Historic Sites. I am proud to be the Minister responsible for Parks Canada. I hope all Canadians will celebrate the richness and diversity of our nation’s history, and invite you to come out with your families to celebrate and enjoy our spectacular national treasures. The Honourable Catherine McKenna Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada Parks Canada Agency 3 Chief Executive Officer’s Message Dear Minister McKenna, It is my pleasure to submit the 2016 Report on the State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places setting out the Agency’s key accomplishments of the past five years. I am proud of our team members’ passion and dedication to working together toward a common vision in managing the finest protected natural and cultural heritage areas in the world. This Report presents the progress made towards establishing representative systems of protected natural places. Currently, 30 of 39 of Canada’s natural regions are represented by 46 national parks and national park reserves. Meanwhile, the national marine conservation area system has reached 17 percent completion. Important natural conservation project work has been completed over the last five years. For example, the Beluga Whale species at risk project to mitigate human disturbances at Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, and the Garry Oak Ecosystem species at risk recovery project to engage the public in learning and active management activities at Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, to name a few. In 2015–16, 33 projects were underway across 27 sites, reducing threats to ecosystems, reintroducing species, reconnecting watersheds, and re-establishing ecological processes. This demonstrates the Agency’s ongoing dedication to maintaining or restoring ecological integrity in our national parks. Parks Canada has contributed to the development of national and international synthesis reports that recognize protected areas as “natural solutions” to climate change, including “North American Protected Areas as Natural Solutions to Climate Change”, from The North American Inter-Governmental Committee on Cooperation for Wilderness and Protected Areas Conservation (NAWPA 4 Committee) and “Canadian Parks and Protected Areas: Helping Canada Weather Climate Change”, developed by the Canadian Parks Council’s Climate Change Working Group. Parks Canada is also conducting important research within our protected areas that contributes to our understanding of climate change, including detailed climate change vulnerability assessments in three northern parks (Tuktut Nogait, Ukkusiksalik, Auyuittuq), which integrate the traditional knowledge and cultural values of local Indigenous communities. Parks Canada has developed a Master Plan for the Reduction of GHG Emissions within Parks Canada’s Operations (March 2015), which provides guidance and targets for both infrastructure and operations across the Agency. Our national historic sites and cultural resources reflect the rich and diverse heritage of our nation and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our history. Parks Canada undertook important cultural conservation work on built heritage at the national historic sites it administers. The Agency also continues to play a leadership role in the Canadian heritage community through the delivery of a number of programs that commemorate and, in some instances, protect cultural and natural heritage. Examples include the National Program of Historical Commemoration, Canadian Heritage Rivers, and the recently expanded National Cost-sharing Program for Heritage Places which provides financial support to advance the protection and presentation of places of national historic significance that are not administered by the federal government. Lighthouses are powerful symbols of Canada's maritime heritage. Between 2011–16, 76 lighthouses were designated and protected under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, and more will be designated in the future. These designations help to ensure the conservation of heritage lighthouses for the benefit of present and future generations. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Parks Canada is also proud to be a significant contributor in the international community’s efforts to recognize “cultural landscape” as a foundation concept for conservation and presentation efforts. This concept is well aligned with, and supportive of, Indigenous peoples’ philosophy that both cultural and spiritual values are grounded in the nature that surrounds them. Cultural landscapes administered by Parks Canada that have been established with Indigenous partners include Saoyú-Ɂehdacho and Beausoleil Island National Historic Sites, which are expressions of this inseparable link between nature and culture. To encourage more Canadians, including youth and newcomers, to experience the outdoors and learn about our history, Parks Canada has been working hard to develop new, innovative and educational programs and services. Canadians can take advantage of many amazing Parks Canada initiatives such as learn to camp, which introduces a new generation of Canadians to the joy of camping, and #ShareTheChair, which encourages visitors to seek out red chairs, slow down for a minute to connect with our heritage, experience the best of what Canada has to offer and share their experience on social media. Parks Canada also expanded the introduction of products to meet the needs of target audiences in urban centres, which included piloting new outreach activities in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver and building our presence on social media platforms. The Agency and the Royal Ontario Museum launched an interactive exhibit on the Franklin exhibition, which was then offered at ten museums across the country. As a result of these efforts, visitation to Parks Canada places increased by 16 percent over the last five years reaching 23.3 million visits. The infusion of nearly $3 billion of federal funding is enabling the Agency to address the backlog of work and improve the overall condition of its built asset portfolio. In restoring nationally significant heritage resources, renewing visitor facilities, and rehabilitating canals, highways and townsites, this investment will ensure Canadians can continue to enjoy our special places. These investments represent the largest federal infrastructure plan in the history of the Agency. Parks Canada is committed to stewardship of these natural and cultural heritage places that recognizes the role of Indigenous peoples in Canada, and will continue to work with the more than 300 Indigenous communities across Canada to protect, restore, and present Canada’s natural and cultural heritage. As our nation celebrates its 150th birthday in 2017, Parks Canada will open the gates to Canadians and visitors from around the world to experience Canada’s treasured places. The same year, the Agency will mark the 100th anniversary of the first National Historic Sites. Parks Canada continues to work with partners on a variety of initiatives designed to raise Canadians’ awareness and appreciation of their history and heritage. I am confident that by building on its achievement to date and by strengthening collaboration with Indigenous peoples, partners and communities, Parks Canada will continue to protect Canada’s natural and cultural treasures and provide opportunities for visitors to experience and enjoy them for generations to come. Daniel Watson Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada Agency Parks Canada Agency 5 Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site Photo: J. Gordon Photo: Eric le Bel Photo: Fritz Mueller Saoyú-Ɂehdacho National Historic Site Fort Langley National Historic Site Introduction Canada’s national parks, national historic sites, national marine conservation areas, along with its first urban national park, are cherished jewels of Canada’s collective identity. Parks Canada protects and presents these places because they tell the stories of who we are, including the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples. These natural and cultural treasures constitute an enduring legacy and a source of pride for Canadians. They offer Canadians and visitors from around the world unparalleled opportunities to connect, experience and learn about our nation’s natural and cultural heritage. As the honoured steward of these national treasures, the Parks Canada Agency understands the importance of evaluating the state of heritage places to support and inform decision-making and secure the future of these places for present and future generations. The present Report, covering the period from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2016, fulfils the obligation under the Parks Canada Agency Act to provide a report to the Minister, to be tabled in each House of Parliament, on the state of Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas and on other protected heritage areas and heritage protection programs, and on the Agency’s performance in carrying out its responsibilities. 6 The 2016 Report is divided into two parts. The first provides a summary of the state of natural heritage place establishment and the state of cultural heritage programs since 2011. The second part of the Report presents a snapshot of the state of our natural and cultural heritage places. Parks Canada uses a suite of indicators to measure and communicate the state of heritage places under its administration. The full assessment process runs every ten years, in alignment with the ten-year management planning cycle. This part of the Report is organized around several areas assessed as follows: cultural resources, ecological integrity, species at risk, protection and ecologically sustainable use of national marine conservation areas, asset management, visitor experience, and public appreciation and support. For each category, the Report provides a context, summarizes the current state and trend of associated indicators, highlights the actions taken over the last few years to improve or maintain the state, and analyzes relevant issues. Overall, this Report provides a basis for collective understanding among parliamentarians, decision-makers, stakeholders, partners, and the general public, of the state of heritage places under Parks Canada stewardship. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Photo: Fritz Mueller Ivvavik National Park Working Together with Indigenous Peoples Parks Canada works with over 300 Indigenous communities across the country and views Indigenous peoples as partners in the management of Parks Canada’s heritage places. The Agency’s approach to working with Indigenous peoples continues to evolve as the legal/policy environment and the needs and interests of Indigenous partners change. In 2015, Parks Canada released Promising Pathways, a guide to working with Indigenous partners. The Agency has made efforts to ensure that this collaborative spirit is embodied in Parks Canada’s work as a means of advancing reconciliation through meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples.* Parks Canada developed and adopted the “PARKS” Guiding Principles below, as articulated in Promising Pathways, to promote relationship building with Indigenous partners. These principles have since been adapted for use as an evaluation tool by Parks Canada team members and have replaced national indicators on Indigenous relations.* PARTNERSHIP: Working collaboratively in heritage place planning, management and operation. • Indigenous partners are involved in the management and operation of heritage places throughout the country. Most of the lands and waters under Parks Canada’s jurisdiction are managed through cooperative relationships in accordance with treaties or other agreements with Indigenous peoples, and increasingly support local communities to maintain connections with traditionally used lands and waters. • Parks Canada participates in a range of whole-of-government initiatives related to Indigenous affairs. In 2015, Parks Canada set up a Treaty Implementation Unit to support the whole-of-government approach to implementing modern treaties. * ACCESSIBILITY: Encouraging access to traditional lands and traditional activities. • In 2014, Parks Canada created the Aboriginal Peoples Open Door Program to provide ease of access to community members who have traditional ties with Parks Canada heritage places. The program encourages Indigenous peoples’ reconnection with Parks Canada heritage places by removing entry fees. • Parks Canada heritage places often invite Indigenous partners to hold events or traditional activities on site. For example, the annual Calling All Nations Pow-Wow at Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site has been a success, bringing Indigenous communities from all across the Americas together to celebrate with visitors. RESPECT: Building mutual respect, trust and understanding. • Parks Canada spends $1.15 million yearly on a Métis Reconciliation Program to promote renewed relationships between Parks Canada places and Métis peoples. Between 2011 and 2016, over 55 projects were funded, most of these in Western and Northern Canada, giving a voice to the Métis in Parks Canada heritage places. Projects focus on relationship building, presentation of Métis stories at national heritage places, research for interpretation activities, training in cultural awareness, and recording of Parks Canada’s reconciliation efforts. • Twenty-three Indigenous places, people, and events received a national historic designation between 2011 and 2016, bringing the total number of Indigenous historic designations across Canada to 264. Parks Canada, Promising Pathways Parks Canada Agency 7 Photo: Scott Munn SUPPORT: Supporting Indigenous partners’ community interests. • Parks Canada seeks opportunities to develop economic agreements with Indigenous partners. From 2011 to 2016, over 2,400 contracts to procure goods and services were awarded to Indigenous businesses and businesses associated with Indigenous communities for a total estimated value of $21.9 million. • Representation of Indigenous employees at Parks Canada remains consistently above the national labour market availability. • Parks Canada participates in the government-wide Chairs and Champions Circle for Aboriginal People and continues to run the Aboriginal Leadership Development Program to support the skill and leadership development of Indigenous team members. Parks Canada is proud of the successful collaborations and the evolution of our approach to working together with Indigenous partners over the last five years. Examples include: Celebrating together: On August 15, 2013, more than 400 people participated in the raising of the Gwaii Haanas Legacy Pole in the remote location of Hlk’yah GaawGa (Windy Bay) on Lyell Island, British Columbia. The pole’s “Land, Sea, People” theme is inspired by the connections between the Haida Nation and all those who take care of Gwaii Haanas from mountaintops to seafloor. Gulf Islands National Park Reserve KNOWLEDGE: Honouring and incorporating traditional knowledge. • The Land is Our Teacher (2015), provides guidance to Parks Canada team members on integrating Indigenous traditional knowledge into heritage place management. • In 2013, a national guide was released to encourage Parks Canada heritage places to include Indigenous voices and languages. 8 Inuit traditional knowledge in action: Years of hard work and collaboration between a range of government and non-government partners, including Inuit researcher Louie Kamookak from Gjoa Haven, paid off in 2014 when the shipwreck of HMS Erebus was found near King William Island, Nunavut. Inuit oral history that had been passed down over nearly 170 years, combined with modern technology, were key to the discovery of the “Ugjulik” (Ook-joo-lik) wreck (HMS Erebus) from the Franklin expedition. Supporting regional tourism: Over the years, Parks Canada team members from Terra Nova National Park in Newfoundland have been working with Miawpukek First Nation (MFN) on a variety of initiatives, building and cross-promoting each other’s visitor offers to tourists in the region. To support this work, Parks Canada and MFN jointly held Quality Visitor Experience training for staff at State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Photo: Ryan Bray Jasper National Park both organizations to learn about and from each other and provide consistent service delivery across their programs. Building a signature experience: In Torngat Mountains National Park, the Base Camp Project was developed to improve access and visitor experience while offering economic opportunities and increased Inuit presence in the park. Operated by the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies (Nunatsiavut Government business), the Base Camp is generating revenue and employment for local Inuit communities and increasing the value of the park’s visitor offer. Priorities that there is a risk that Parks Canada in moving to strengthen relationships with Indigenous peoples in the context of reconciliation, will not have the skill sets or strategies to effectively engage all those involved. Parks Canada will build on its past successes to contribute to the whole-of-government approach to reconciliation, focusing on these three priorities: • Strengthening Indigenous connections with traditionally used lands and waters in a manner that respects Aboriginal rights and treaty rights in all heritage places. KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE • Expanding presentation and commemoration of Indigenous histories and cultures in Parks Canada’s heritage places and programs. As an Agency responsible for federal lands, waters and heritage programs, Parks Canada is well positioned to advance reconciliation and a renewed nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership. The Agency highlighted in its 2016–2017 Reports on Plans and • Increasing economic opportunities related to Indigenous tourism in heritage places and raising the profile of Indigenous tourism products across the network of heritage places. Parks Canada Agency 9 Photo: C. Siddal PART A Kootenay National Park The State of Parks Canada Natural Heritage Places Establishment, Cultural Heritage Programs and Other Heritage Programs Photo: Louis Barnes Sable Island National Park Reserve Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve National Park Establishment CONTEXT Since it was established as the world’s first national park service in 1911, Parks Canada has been entrusted to protect an increasing number of natural areas within a system of national parks that represents each of Canada’s 39 natural regions. The area of land currently protected in Canada’s 46 national parks and reserves stands at 328,198 square kilometres covering representative samples of the wide variety of natural landscapes that characterize Canada. The need to protect a representative collection of examples of Canada’s land and marine natural regions, was acknowledged by Parliament when it passed the Parks Canada Agency Act in 1998. Parliament directed Parks Canada to ensure that a long-term plan be in place for establishing a system of national parks, and made the Agency responsible for negotiating and recommending the establishment of new protected places. The establishment of a national park includes a series of steps starting with the identification and selection of a potential park, followed by a feasibility assessment that includes public consultations. If governments agree to proceed, national park establishment agreements are negotiated with the relevant governments and implicated Indigenous organizations. The final step is to formally protect the new park under the Canada National Parks Act. STATE OF NATIONAL PARK ESTABLISHMENT The government is committed to protecting our natural heritage through the expansion of the system of national parks. Expanding Canada’s network of protected areas provides a “natural solution” for climate change by conserving biodiversity; protecting ecosystem services; connecting landscapes, capturing and storing carbon; building knowledge and understanding; and inspiring people. To date, 30 of 39 of Canada’s natural regions are represented by 46 national parks and national park reserves (Figure 1). Since the last report in 2011, four new national parks and reserves have been added to the system, increasing the number of represented natural regions by two and adding over 27,400 square kilometres. National park establishment agreements were concluded and signed for Akami-UapishkᵁKakKasuak-Mealy Mountains (Labrador), Qausuittuq (Nunavut), Nááts’ihch’oh (Northwest Territories) and Sable Island (Nova Scotia). Parliament subsequently passed legislation to formally protect Sable Island, Nááts’ihch’oh, and Qausuittuq under the Canada National Parks Act. Consultations and negotiations continued on the Thaidene Nëné proposal, and work with Indigenous groups continued on the Manitoba Lowlands proposal. However, the Government of British Columbia indicated in 2011 that it was not prepared at this time to continue with the feasibility assessment for a national park reserve in the South Okanagan–Lower Similkameen region. Parks Canada Agency 11 ACTIONS Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve (Newfoundland and Labrador): In 2015, three historic documents were signed formalizing the commitment to establish a national park reserve in the Mealy Mountains of Labrador. A Memorandum of Agreement with the provincial government and a Park Impacts and Benefits Agreement with the Innu Nation were signed in July 2015. This was followed by a Shared Understanding Agreement with the NunatukKavut Community Council signed in September 2015. Concurrently, negotiation of a Park Impacts and Benefits Agreement with the Nunatsiavut Government commenced. Together, these agreements set the stage for the formal establishment and protection of Akami-UapishkᵁKakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve, a 10,700-square-kilometre national park reserve that will represent the East Coast Boreal Natural Region of the national park system. Once the agreement with the Nunatsiavut Government is achieved, protection of this area under the legislation will be the final step to complete the park establishment. Qausuittuq National Park (Nunavut): In January 2015, the Government of Canada and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association signed an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement, making a formal commitment to cooperatively protect and present an 11,008-square-kilometre national park on northern Bathurst Island. On September 1, 2015, the park was formally protected under the Canada National Parks Act, thereby representing the Western High Arctic Natural Region of the national park system. Photo: Gary Pittman Akami-UapishkU-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve 12 State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Nááts’ihch’oh (Northwest Territories): Nááts’ihch’oh was established pursuant to an Impact and Benefit Plan that was negotiated and signed in 2012 by the Sahtu Dene and Métis and the Government of Canada. The 4,894-square-kilometre national park reserve was subsequently protected under the Canada National Parks Act in 2014. Located in the northern part of the South Nahanni River watershed, the park reserve is adjacent to the northwest of the existing Nahanni National Park Reserve. The two parks combined protect 86 percent of the South Nahanni River watershed. Sable Island (Nova Scotia): The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia signed a national park reserve establishment agreement in 2011 to protect Sable Island. The island was formally protected under the Canada National Parks Act in 2013. The bill establishing the park prohibited drilling from the surface of Sable Island as well as within a 200-square-kilometre buffer zone that encircles the island. The creation of the park was facilitated by several energy companies that voluntarily relinquished their drilling rights. Thaidene Nëné (Northwest Territories–East Arm of Great Slave Lake): There has been significant progress on this national park proposal since the last report. Separate national park establishment agreements in progress were initialled by the Government of Canada, the Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation and the Northwest Territories Métis Nation. Both agreements require confirmation of a final boundary for the park and financial elements. To that end, in July 2015, the Government of Canada announced a 14,000-square-kilometre boundary for consultation. Once established, this park will represent the Northwestern Boreal Uplands Natural Region of the national park system. KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE Parks Canada cannot unilaterally create or expand national parks. It requires the support and collaboration of provincial and territorial governments as well as Indigenous governments, organizations and communities. In order to protect an area under the Canada National Parks Act, the administration and control of such lands, including subsurface, must be transferred to Parks Canada. Parks Canada works to consult and accommodate Indigenous peoples implicated by proposed new national parks. The focus is on identifying and addressing any potential negative impacts such proposals may have, to put in place collaborative working relationships, and to ensure benefits accrue to Indigenous peoples from the proposed protected area. Parks Canada needs to take the necessary time and measures to secure the support of other levels of government including Indigenous, as well as implicated Indigenous peoples. Here are some possible means to improve the process to establish new national parks based on recent experience: • Political dialogue between federal and provincial/ territorial governments and Indigenous leaders from the outset, and on an ongoing basis, that establishes some basic parameters and timing around decisions required to establish a new national park; • Undertaking environmental scans and pre-feasibility work to identify, very early in the process, the systemic and regional issues that may affect an establishment project, and to identify the substantive issues that Parks Canada and other partners would need to address, could help position Parks Canada to address these issues from the start; • Engage Indigenous peoples in the identification and establishment process as early as possible and find means to formalize and maintain that level of engagement. Taking the time to confirm that Parks Canada and Indigenous communities have a shared vision for the land and in what they want to achieve can greatly assist a project. Providing financial support to Indigenous communities so that they can meaningfully participate in feasibility assessments, consultations and negotiations has proven to be a critical element in Parks Canada’s past successes; and • Improved capacity for public consultation, communications and engagement over the life of a project can facilitate building local understanding and support for establishment initiatives. While Parks Canada will not be able to answer every issue raised in public and stakeholder consultation, ensuring prompt responses to land use issues that are raised can work to somewhat alleviate the concerns of local residents. Parks Canada Agency 13 14 State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Pacific Rim (R) 2 Mount Revelstoke Step 5 – Establishment Step 4 – Negotiation Step 3 – Feasibility Step 2 – Selection 5 12 15 Waterton Lakes Grasslands 13 Prince Albert Tuktut Nogait 36 17 Aulavik Thaidene Nene Elk Island Kootenay Banff Jasper 4 11 Wood Buffalo Nahanni (R) Yoho Glacier 3 7 8 10 Ivvavik South OkanaganLower Similkameen 1 6 Nááts'ihch'oh (R) Step 1 – Identification Status Gulf Islands (R) Gwaii Haanas (R) Kluane (R) 9 Vuntut Proposed National Park National Park or Reserve (R) National Park System Plan 14 Riding Mountain Manitoba Lowlands 16 Ukkusiksalik 38 Qausuittuq 19a 18 Wapusk 37 39 Bruce Peninsula 27 26 Sirmilik Pukaskwa 28 Quttinirpaaq 29a 24 29b 19c 30 Thousand Islands Kouchibouguac Fundy Forillon 20 21 31 31 Cape Breton Highlands Sable Island (R) 0 125 250 Prince Edward Island 33 34 Kejimkujik 32 29c 35 Terra Nova Akami-UapishkUKakKasuakMealy Mountains (R) Gros Morne Torngat Mountains Mingan Archipelago (R) Georgian Bay Islands 22 23 Point Pelee 19b La Mauricie 25 Auyuittuq 500 750 km 1,000 Figure 1: National Park System Plan © Photo: Mario Cyr Southern Strait of Georgia (proposed National Marine Conservation Area) Lancaster Sound (proposed National Marine Conservation Area) National Marine Conservation Areas Establishment CONTEXT Canada has the world’s longest coastline covering over 243,000 kilometres along the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific oceans, with an area of more than 5.5 million square kilometres of ocean waters and the world’s second largest continental shelf. Canada also shares jurisdiction over the Great Lakes, the world’s largest freshwater system. These marine environments are fundamental to the social, cultural and economic well-being of Canadians. Parliament mandated Parks Canada to establish a system of national marine conservation areas (NMCAs) representative of the diversity of Canada’s 29 oceanic and Great Lakes marine regions. Parks Canada’s role is to ensure the protection and ecologically sustainable use of these NMCAs, facilitate unique experiences and an appreciation of marine heritage, and engage Canadians in the management of NMCAs. The establishment of an NMCA includes a series of steps starting with the identification and selection of a potential site followed by a feasibility assessment with public consultations. If governments agree to proceed, an NMCA establishment agreement is negotiated with the relevant governments and implicated Indigenous organizations. The final step includes the development of an interim management plan and formal establishment under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act (CNMCA Act). STATE OF NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS The Government is committed to protecting our natural heritage through the expansion of Canada’s system of national marine conservation areas. Healthy coastal habitats, such as salt marshes and seagrass meadows, play many important roles including the storage of carbon. The storage of this “Blue Carbon” serves to mitigate the release of greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Parks Canada is a federal government leader in the investigation of Blue Carbon in Canada and is working with the USA and Mexico through the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. Currently, we are working to better understand the value of Blue Carbon habitats in global carbon storage. As of March 31, 2016, the national marine conservation area system was 17 percent complete. The system includes four areas representing five of the 29 marine regions and protecting 15,740 square kilometres, an increase of six percent over the previous reporting period. These areas are Fathom Five National Marine Park (Ontario), which protects part of Canada’s maritime history, including twenty-one wrecks of sail and steam vessels from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century; Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park (Quebec), managed jointly with Quebec, which protects important Parks Canada Agency 15 habitat for beluga whales; Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area (Ontario), one of the largest freshwater protected areas in the world; and Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site (British Columbia), which represents two marine regions. In combination with the adjacent national park reserve, Gwaii Haanas NMCA and Haida Heritage Site is the only place in the world to be protected from the mountaintops to the deep sea. Although work has continued on the establishment of additional sites, no new NMCAs were created during the reporting period. Photo: Dale Wilson Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area 16 State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 ACTIONS A significant achievement during this period under review was the passage of legislation in 2015 that will enable the formal establishment of Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area under the CNMCA Act, which was amended to confirm Ontario’s continuing role in the taking of water for municipal and other small scale uses. The Government of Ontario has begun the work to transfer the NMCA’s lake bed and islands to Canada. Once this process is complete, the NMCA will be formally established under the Act. Parks Canada continued also to make progress on the feasibility assessments for three NMCA proposals in unrepresented marine regions. • Southern Strait of Georgia (British Columbia): In October 2011, the governments of Canada and British Columbia announced a boundary for consultation for the proposed Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area Reserve. This was followed by consultations with Indigenous stakeholders and municipal governments, as well as the development of a concept for the NMCA reserve, which would help to define the project better and assist with consultations. • Îles-de-la-Madeleine (Quebec): Parks Canada continued to work with the Government of Quebec to develop an approach for a marine protected area in the waters adjacent to the islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. • Lancaster Sound (Nunavut): Parks Canada, the Government of Nunavut and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association consulted with local communities, stakeholders and government departments, working towards the completion of the feasibility assessment for this area. Consistent with the mandate to represent each of the 29 marine regions, Parks Canada has continued to work to identify representative areas within each region as potential for NMCA candidates. By March 31, 2016, 28 marine regions had undergone a study to determine these areas. The last marine region will be examined in the near future. As a result, the general plan for the NMCA system is emerging. The map (Figure 2) provides an overview of the status of planning for the NMCA system. KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE Creating new national marine conservation areas takes time. These areas are established in a complex jurisdictional environment with numerous federal government departments, provincial and territorial governments and Indigenous peoples having important roles to play in the protection and management of Canada’s marine waters. With the requirement for national marine conservation areas to balance protection and ecologically sustainable use, this also brings in a greater range of stakeholders to consider, and work with. Bringing all of these elements together and moving forward in a harmonious and positive way requires time and respectful discourse. In addition, many Canadians still do not fully appreciate the important role that marine protected areas in general—and national marine conservation areas in particular—can play in safeguarding our marine environments and ensuring their sustainability into the future. Parks Canada, in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and provincial and territorial governments, is working to improve that understanding. NMCAs will make an important contribution to the achievement of Canada’s international marine protected area commitments of 10 percent by 2020, as well as to the government’s goal of protecting 5 percent of Canada’s marine and coastal waters by 2017. To that end, Parks Canada’s focus will be on establishing an NMCA in Lancaster Sound, completing feasibility assessments and negotiations for the two existing proposals (Southern Strait of Georgia and Îles-de-la-Madeleine) and initiating new NMCA proposals. Parks Canada Agency 17 18 State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 0 2 4 250 500 1 1,000 Km 3 5 Southern Strait of Georgia Gwaii Haanas Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic PACIFIC OCEAN 25. Lake Superior 26. Georgian Bay 27. Lake Huron 28. Lake Erie 29. Lake Ontario GREAT LAKES 15. Hudson Strait 16. Labrador Shelf 17. Newfoundland Shelf 18. North Gulf Shelf 19. St. Lawrence Estuary 20. Magdalen Shallows 21. Laurentian Channel 22. The Grand Banks 23. Scotian Shelf 24. Bay of Fundy ATLANTIC OCEAN 6. Arctic Basin 7. Beaufort Sea 8. Arctic Archipelago 9. Queen Maud Gulf 10. Lancaster Sound 11. Baffin Island Shelf 12. Foxe Basin 13. Hudson Bay 14. James Bay ARCTIC OCEAN PACIFIC OCEAN 1. Hecate Strait 2. Queen Charlotte Shelf 3. Queen Charlotte Sound 4. Vancouver Island Shelf 5. Strait of Georgia Parks Canada Marine Regions 7 ARCTIC OCEAN 6 9 8 13 Lake Superior Lancaster Sound 25 12 10 14 27 11 28 26 29 Fathom Five Saguenay – St. Lawrence 15 19 16 24 20 18 23 Îles de la Madeleine 21 17 0-200 m 201-500 m 501-2500 m >2500 m Bathymetry 22 ATLANTIC OCEAN Step 5: Establishment 5: Negotiation Establishment Step 4: Step 3: Feasibility Step 2: Selection required UpdateUpdate required Step 1: Identification No Work underway Status of Regions Proposed National Marine Conservation Area National Marine Conservation Area Status of National Marine Conservation Area System Planning Figure 2: Status of National Marine Conservation Areas Photo: Rob Stimpson Rouge National Urban Park Rouge National Urban Park Establishment CONTEXT Rouge National Urban Park is a new type of protected area within the Parks Canada family of protected areas, and a Canadian first, specially created because of its urban setting. It is a great example of a protected “cultural landscape” where expanses of natural ecosystems are intertwined with agricultural lands that speak to generations of sustainable farming activities. As a federally designated protected area with its own legislation, Canada’s first national urban park celebrates the diversity of Rouge’s natural and cultural landscapes and the presence of a vibrant farming community, and offers opportunities for a broad diversity of Canadians to connect with the park through events, recreational and learning activities, stewardship, volunteerism and citizen engagement. Photo: Scott Munn Rouge National Urban Park Located within the Greater Toronto Area, Canada’s most populated and culturally diverse metropolitan centre, Rouge National Urban Park fulfils the goal of community leaders and visionaries of creating a park connecting Lake Ontario to the Oak Ridges Moraine. Once fully established, Rouge National Urban Park will be the largest urban park in North America. STATE OF ROUGE NATIONAL URBAN PARK Since the creation of Rouge National Urban Park was first announced in 2011, Parks Canada has consulted with over 20,000 Canadians and worked closely with Indigenous peoples, all levels of government, community groups, environmental NGOs, farmers, residents, universities and many other groups on the park’s planning and establishment. The Rouge National Urban Park Act came into force on May 15, 2015, formally establishing the park. In 2015, Transport Canada transferred 19.1 square kilometres to Parks Canada—the first lands for Rouge National Urban Park. Parks Canada continues to work with all levels of government on the land assembly for the park with additional land transfers expected to occur in 2017. Once land assembly for the national urban park is completed, the park will cover a 79.1-square-kilometre area. In 2016, the Government of Canada tabled Bill C-18 to amend the Act and strengthen the protection of Rouge’s important ecosystems and heritage as well as ensuring that ecological integrity becomes the first priority in the park’s management. The amendments also provide Parks Canada Agency 19 Photo: Scott Munn Rouge National Urban Park greater certainty for park farmers, who will be able to continue carrying on agricultural activities within the park as a primary source of locally grown food to the Greater Toronto Area. The Agency has also established a First Nation Advisory Circle with ten Indigenous groups having historical ties to the park. It will guide the establishment and management of the park and its operations. ACTIONS 20 species control and cultural resource conservation throughout the park. Parks Canada will also develop a full suite of specific monitoring, assessment and reporting tools. In 2015, Parks Canada opened its first visitor facilities in Rouge. The park serves as a gateway to Canada’s network of protected heritage areas and also aims to become Canada’s premiere “learn to” park. In 2014, a formal public engagement process was undertaken on the draft management plan for Rouge National Urban Park. KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE Since 2015, Parks Canada has been working collaboratively with municipalities, park farmers, schools and environmental groups to improve the health of Rouge National Urban Park, completing thirty ecosystem restoration and farmland enhancement projects. Leading-edge science is also contributing to species at risk recovery, ecological connectivity, invasive Parks Canada will focus on conservation, orientation, education, new and upgraded camping facilities, and a comprehensive trail system connecting Lake Ontario with the Oak Ridges Moraine. Parks Canada will raise awareness and appreciation of the long history of farming in Rouge National Urban Park, from Indigenous people’s traditions over millennia, to the Mennonite farms of the 19th and 20th centuries to today’s modern farms. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Photo: C. Cheadle Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site National Historic Sites and Cultural Heritage NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES AND NATIONAL PROGRAM OF HISTORICAL COMMEMORATION CONTEXT Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) provides advice to the Minister responsible for Parks Canada on the designation of places, persons and events that have marked and shaped Canada. Every year, new subjects of potential national historic significance are submitted to the HSMBC for consideration. The participation of the public in the identification of these subjects and in their commemoration is a fundamental element of the program. The vast majority of submissions to the HSMBC originate from Canadian individuals and groups. Designations of national historic sites, persons and events are usually commemorated with a bronze plaque that describes the historical significance of the subject. The plaque is installed in a location that is closely related to the designated subject and accessible to the public. The plaque unveiling ceremony is the culmination of the designation process and an opportunity for Canadians to enjoy and celebrate their history. Parks Canada supports the HSMBC in its advisory role with secretariat services, historical and archaeological research, policy advice, media relations, planning of plaque unveiling ceremonies, and plaque installation and maintenance. STATE OF NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES AND THE NATIONAL PROGRAM OF HISTORICAL COMMEMORATION To date, the Government of Canada has designated 979 national historic sites—of which 171 are administered by Parks Canada (Figure 3)—along with 690 national historic persons and 475 national historic events. From 2000 to 2011, Parks Canada made significant investments to generate new nominations related to three underrepresented areas in the National Program of Historical Commemoration: Indigenous peoples, women, and ethnocultural communities. From 2011 to 2016, the Government of Canada approved 66 new national designations that speak to these underrepresented areas. In early September 2014, an expedition led by Parks Canada discovered the wreck of HMS Erebus in Nunavut. This historical accomplishment resulted in the establishment and the protection of the Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site by adding the site to the Schedule of the National Historic Sites of Canada Order under the Canada National Parks Act. This new site became the first national historic site managed by Parks Canada in Nunavut. Over the last five years, with the support of Parks Canada, the HSMBC reviewed approximately 130 subjects nominated for national historic designation. These evaluations resulted in notable designations, such as Margaret Laurence National Historic Person, the Komagata Maru Incident of 1914 National Historic Event, and T’äw Tà’är National Historic Site of Canada. Moreover, a cultural Parks Canada Agency 21 Photo: Thierry Boyer landscape under Parks Canada’s administration was designated, Beausoleil Island National Historic Site, which underscores the links between nature and culture for Indigenous communities. Between 2011 and 2016, Parks Canada held plaque unveiling ceremonies for 78 designations in communities across the country, including the Asahi Baseball Team in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913–1918 in Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, Harriet Tubman in St. Catharines, Ontario, and the Crow’s Nest Officers’ Club in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Many of the plaques unveiled over the last five years also coincided with celebrations of significant milestones, such as the centennial of the Grey Cup, the centennial of the creation of the Dominion Parks Branch, and the 75 anniversary of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE There is a significant number of designations under the National Program of Historical Commemoration that have yet to be commemorated by means of a bronze plaque. In support of the HSMBC and the Minister, Parks Canada is investing resources and undertaking efforts to commemorate all existing designations over the next few years. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action # 79 recommended, among other things, that the National Program of Historical Commemoration be reviewed to integrate Indigenous histories, heritage values, and memory practices. In the spirit of reconciliation, Parks Canada will work with Indigenous communities to expand the presentation and commemoration of the histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples. Parks Canada is working on innovative approaches to improve how history is presented at heritage places across the country with the goal of responding to demographic shifts in the population and modernizing how Canadians—particularly new Canadians, youth, and urban Canadians—make meaningful connections with history. For example, Stories of Canada aims to encompass best practices in communicating compelling stories to capture the imagination of Canadians and to fully integrate Indigenous perspectives and voices into stories presented at Canada’s heritage places. 22 Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site CULTURAL HERITAGE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS In addition to designations of sites, people and events of national significance, Parks Canada is responsible for eight heritage protection programs. These support and enhance the commemoration and protection of important cultural and natural heritage resources across Canada in all jurisdictions. 1) HERITAGE LIGHTHOUSES The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act came into force on May 29, 2010. The Act is designed to identify federally owned heritage lighthouses and to protect and conserve their heritage character. The Act establishes conservation and maintenance standards for federal custodians of heritage lighthouses. It also requires that the heritage character of a lighthouse be protected upon its sale or transfer out of the federal portfolio. Heritage lighthouses are designated by the Minister responsible for Parks Canada (the Minister of Environment and Climate Change) on the advice of the HSMBC. Parks Canada supports the Board in its advisory role to the Minister. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Canadians nominated 349 lighthouses for designation during a two-year nomination period that ended May 29, 2012. During the past five years, 76 heritage lighthouses were designated, consisting of 42 that will be managed by federal custodians and 34 that are surplus to the operational requirements of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. These surplus lighthouses are therefore destined to be protected and conserved by new, non-federal owners, primarily other levels of government and community-based organizations. More communities wish to acquire and protect surplus historic lighthouses and, as such, are interested in having them designated as heritage lighthouses under the Act. Negotiations are ongoing between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and other levels of government and community-based organizations, which are developing sustainable, long-term business plans for local lighthouses. Once these negotiations are concluded, these historic lighthouses will become eligible for designation. 2) HERITAGE RAILWAY STATIONS The Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act (HRSPA) outlines the procedure through which stations are designated as heritage railway stations and provides a clear process to review and approve proposed changes or the sale of designated stations. Based on the advice of the HSMBC, the Minister responsible for Parks Canada designates heritage railway stations. Any proposal to sell or alter a designated station must be recommended by the Minister to the Governor in Council for approval. Since 1990, 164* heritage railway stations have been designated under the HRSPA. As of March 31, 2016, 75 were still owned by federally regulated railway companies and fell under the protection of the Act, including such notable ones as Union Station in Winnipeg, Gare du Palais in Québec, and the VIA Rail Station in Halifax. The others have been sold to new owners who have committed to protect and conserve their heritage character. Over the last five years, Parks Canada provided program and conservation advice to railway companies for over 50 interventions at more than 30 stations. Parks Canada will continue to work closely with heritage railway station owners and communities to promote effective conservation and protection of these landmarks. * 3) NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR THE GRAVESITES OF CANADIAN PRIME MINISTERS This program was created in 1999 to ensure that the gravesites of prime ministers were conserved and recognized in a respectful and dignified manner. It involves the preparation of conservation plans for each of the gravesites, installation of a Canadian flag and information panel on the life and accomplishments of the prime minister, and the organization of a commemoration ceremony in the prime minister’s honour. To date, the gravesites of 15 prime ministers have been commemorated through the program. In 2011, each gravesite received a formal inspection by a conservation specialist. All were found to be in good or fair condition. Since then, major conservation challenges identified through those assessments have been addressed. Formal inspections are underway in 2016. 4) CANADIAN HERITAGE RIVERS The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) is Canada’s national heritage river program—a cooperative federal-provincial-territorial program led by Parks Canada to recognize, protect and manage rivers having outstanding natural, cultural and recreational value. Parks Canada’s responsibility is set out in the Parks Canada Agency Act. The CHRS is the world’s largest heritage river program, making Canada a leader in the identification of “river cultural landscapes” and in celebrating the cultural, natural, and recreational roles rivers play in many communities and for Indigenous peoples. Forty-two rivers have been nominated, spanning almost 12,000 kilometres. Thirty-eight of these have been designated, meaning that plans have been put in place to conserve and present their heritage value. In the past five years, the South Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan rivers (Saskatchewan) were nominated to the CHRS and the Saint John River (New Brunswick) was designated. Parks Canada provided funding for the development of two river nominations, one river designation and 14 decennial heritage river monitoring reports. Since 2011, the number of designated Heritage Railway Stations has been reduced from 166 to 164 following validation of the program’s data. Parks Canada Agency 23 5) NATIONAL COST-SHARING PROGRAM FOR HERITAGE PLACES Parks Canada’s National Cost-Sharing Program for Heritage Places (formerly known as the National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program) is a contribution program that encourages and supports the protection and presentation of places of national historic significance that are not administered by the federal government. The program supports the Agency’s mandate of protecting and presenting nationally significant examples of Canada’s cultural and natural heritage. In 2012, the program’s terms and conditions, which were initially approved by Treasury Board for a five-year period in 2008, were extended by the Minister responsible for Parks Canada. During the reporting period, the program received 203 applications. Eighty-one cost-sharing projects were approved for an approximate $6 million commitment. Parks Canada’s investment in these projects has helped conserve national historic sites of every period, size, style and type. As a result of the cost-sharing model, Parks Canada’s contributions have encouraged an additional $14 million in public and private sector investments to support heritage conservation. This cost-sharing program has been expanded to include all federally recognized heritage places that are neither owned nor administered by the Government of Canada. As of 2016–17, financial assistance is available to heritage lighthouses and heritage railway stations, in addition to national historic sites. The Government of Canada has invested a further $20 million over the next two years to preserve these treasured places while strengthening the tourism sector and supporting the economy. 6) FEDERAL ARCHAEOLOGY As the Government of Canada’s expert in archaeology, Parks Canada assists other departments in managing archaeological heritage on federal lands and underwater, as set out in the Parks Canada Agency Act and in the Government of Canada’s Archaeological Heritage Policy Framework (1990). Parks Canada provides advice, tools and information to support custodial departments, principally with respect to environmental assessment projects where archaeological resources may be affected. For example, Parks Canada provided advice to Public Services and Procurement Canada related to archaeological resources for projects on Parliament Hill and at the National War Memorial. 7) FEDERAL HERITAGE BUILDINGS Parks Canada continues to have a lead role in assisting federal government departments in the protection of heritage buildings, in accordance with the heritage requirements of the Treasury Board Policy on the Management of Real Property. The Agency is responsible for the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office (FHBRO), which provides heritage advice to departments. The FHBRO manages the heritage evaluation process, including the Federal Heritage Buildings Committee, an interdepartmental and multidisciplinary advisory committee that recommends the designation of federal heritage buildings to the Minister responsible for Parks Canada. The Office reviews proposed interventions to classified federal heritage buildings and is consulted when federal heritage buildings are declared surplus to program requirements and marked for disposal. It maintains a register of designated buildings and develops heritage character statements to assist custodial departments in managing heritage buildings. In addition to providing FHBRO services to departments, Parks Canada is the largest custodian of federal heritage buildings; it manages 130 classified and 384 recognized federal heritage buildings. Since 2011, the Minister responsible for Parks Canada has approved nine new designations, joining the more than 1,320* federal heritage buildings across the country. Administered by 23 different departments, these buildings represent some of the most significant places and themes in Canadian history. The Parliament Buildings in Ottawa Free Meeting House National Historic Site 24 * Since 2011, there is a reduction in number of federal heritage buildings, which is in large part due to transfers of ownership, disposals and, in rare occurrences, demolitions. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Photo: Scott Munn Grand-Pré National Historic Site are an example of one of the 273 classified (highest level) federal heritage buildings, and a rustic warden cabin in Mount Revelstoke National Park is an example of one of the 1,047 recognized (nationally significant, or above-average level) federal heritage buildings. The FHBRO was able to complete 1,293 evaluation requests received over the last five years, which directly helped guide federal departments in the management of their building inventory. 8) WORLD HERITAGE SITES Parks Canada plays the lead role in Canada’s implementation of the World Heritage Convention and acts as the country’s representative internationally. The Agency provides support and guidance to World Heritage Site managers within Canada and to teams working on world heritage nominations. Parks Canada also implements communication plans to inform the Canadian public and interested stakeholders on world heritage issues. As of March 31, 2016, there were 17 World Heritage Sites in Canada, including the two most recently inscribed sites: Landscape of Grand Pré (2012) and Red Bay Basque Whaling Station (2013). One other site, Mistaken Point was inscribed after the reporting period, during the summer of 2016, bringing the total of World Heritage Sites in Canada to 18. Future nominations will be drawn from Canada’s Tentative List. Over the past five years, efforts have focused on developing nominations, each of which marks the culmination of years of work by the project team with guidance from Parks Canada. In particular, Parks has been actively supporting a non-profit corporation comprised of First Nations and the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba in preparing the nomination for a site to be recognized equally for its cultural and natural values, Pimachiowin Aki. This site is an exceptional example of the indivisibility of nature and the cultural identity and traditions of Anishinaabe peoples. This nomination has advanced the way in which cultural landscapes are considered within the world heritage community. The Agency has also laid the groundwork for a number of significant projects, including completion of the second periodic reporting cycle for North America’s World Heritage, in partnership with the U.S. National Park Service. Internationally, Parks Canada has continued to cooperate in the development of world heritage policies for the effective implementation of the World Heritage Convention. Into the future, Parks Canada plans to move ahead with the update of Canada’s Tentative List for World Heritage Sites. Through this process, Canadians will have the opportunity to suggest additions to Canada’s next set of candidates for World Heritage Sites. Parks Canada Agency 25 111 80 N 152 108 83 88 109 105 101 89 91 95 81 113 138 155 170 148 86 85 114 98 117 87 136 128 127 63 0 60 50 100 120 65 74 126 121 78 68 300 62 58 Ontario km 400 77 67 79 69 70 125 54 Quebec 53 55 56 72 124 123 200 64 75 118 Nunavut Manitoba 119 122 133 171 82 50 73 61 59 104 52 135 134 51 110 57 97 94 130 Saskatchewan 131 129 132 141 116 84 146 139 137 147 Alberta Northwest Territories 144 142 164 143163 158 150 140 151 145 11292 93 115 107 90 99 Ontario 157 160 149 British Columbia 154 156 168 96 161 162 159 153 166 Yukon 165 169 167 103 102 106 76 E SE 100 Quebec 4 Newfoundland and Labrador T SE IN 66 10 N 71 7 6 0 8 0 125 250 39 46 5 1 9 500 2 3 11 34 16 750 200 28 13 27 25 36 km 300 22 21 14 km 1,000 24 17 18 33 23 30 Nova Scotia 29 12 15 19 35 32 20 26 42 50 100 47 48 43 40 Prince Edward Island 37 45 38 41 New Brunswick 44 49 E State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 SE Administered by Parks Canada T National Historic Sites of Canada SE 26 IN 31 Figure 3: National Historic Sites of Canada Administered by Parks Canada Figure 3: National Historic Sites of Canada Administered by Parks Canada (cont’d) Newfoundland and Labrador 1. Ryan Premises 2. Hawthorne Cottage 3. Cape Spear Lighthouse 4. Hopedale Mission 5. Castle Hill 6. Port au Choix 7. Red Bay 8. L’Anse aux Meadows 9. Signal Hill 10. kitjigattalik – Ramah Chert Quarries Nova Scotia 11. Fort Anne 12. Alexander Graham Bell 13. Bloody Creek 14. Grassy Island Fort 15. Fort Lawrence 16. Grand-Pré 17. D’Anville’s Encampment 18. Fort McNab 19. Georges Island 20. Halifax Citadel 21. Prince of Wales Tower 22. York Redoubt 23. Wolfe’s Landing 24. Fort Sainte Marie de Grace 25. Fortress of Louisbourg 26. Melanson Settlement 27. Charles Fort 28. Port-Royal 29. St. Peters 30. St. Peters Canal 31. Marconi 32. Fort Edward 33. Canso Islands 34. Kejimkujik 35. Beaubassin 36. Royal Battery Prince Edward Island 37. Ardgowan 38. Province House 39. Dalvay-by-the-Sea 40. Port-la-Joye – Fort Amherst 41. L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish New Brunswick 42. Fort Beauséjour – Fort Cumberland 43. La Coupe Dry Dock 44. Boishébert 45. Fort Gaspareaux 46. Carleton Martello Tower 47. St. Andrews Blockhouse 48. Monument-Lefebvre 49. Beaubears Island Shipbuilding Quebec 50. Battle of the Châteauguay 51. Carillon Barracks 52. Carillon Canal 53. Fort Chambly 54. Chambly Canal 55. Fort Ste. Thérèse 56. Louis S. St. Laurent 57. Coteau-du-Lac 58. Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial 59. Fort Lennox 60. The Fur Trade at Lachine 61. Lachine Canal 62. Lévis Forts 63. Manoir Papineau 64. Louis-Joseph Papineau 65. Sir George-Étienne Cartier 66. Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse 67. Cartier-Brébeuf 68. Fortifications of Québec 69. Maillou House 70. Montmorency Park 71. Battle of the Restigouche 72. Saint-Ours Canal 73. Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal 74. Forges du Saint-Maurice 75. Sir Wilfrid Laurier 76. Fort Témiscamingue 77. 57-63 St. Louis Street 78. Québec Garrison Club 79. Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux Ontario 80. Fort Malden 81. Mnjikaning Fish Weirs 82. Inverarden House 83. Southwold Earthworks 84. Bellevue House 85. Fort Henry 86. Murney Tower 87. Shoal Tower 88. Woodside 89. Navy Island Ontario (…continued) 90. Butler’s Barracks 91. Fort George 92. Fort Mississauga 93. Mississauga Point Lighthouse 94. Laurier House 95. Peterborough Lift Lock 96. Point Clark Lighthouse 97. Battle of the Windmill 98. Fort Wellington 99. Queenston Heights 100. Rideau Canal 101. Ridgeway Battlefield 102. Sault Ste. Marie Canal 103. Fort St. Joseph 104. Glengarry Cairn 105. HMCS Haida 106. Trent-Severn Waterway 107. Saint-Louis Mission 108. Battle Hill 109. Battle of Cook’s Mills 110. Sir John Johnson House 111. Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse and Blockhouse 112. Battlefield of Fort George 113. Bethune Memorial House 114. Kingston Fortifications 115. Beausoleil Island 116. Carrying Place of the Bay of Quinte 117. Merrickville Blockhouse Manitoba 118. Prince of Wales Fort 119. Linear Mounds 120. Riding Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex 121. Lower Fort Garry 122. St. Andrew’s Rectory 123. Riel House 124. The Forks 125. York Factory 126. Forts Rouge, Garry and Gibraltar Saskatchewan 127. Motherwell Homestead 128. Batoche 129. Fort Battleford 130. Battle of Tourond’s Coulee/Fish Creek 131. Frenchman Butte 132. Fort Walsh 133. Fort Livingstone 134. Fort Pelly 135. Fort Espérance 136. Cypress Hills Massacre Alberta 137. Banff Park Museum 138. Cave and Basin 139. Skoki Ski Lodge 140. Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station 141. Frog Lake 142. Howse Pass 143. Athabasca Pass 144. Jasper Park Information Centre 145. Jasper House 146. Bar U Ranch 147. Rocky Mountain House 148. First Oil Well in Western Canada 149. Yellowhead Pass 150. Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin 151. Maligne Lake Chalet and Guest House British Columbia 152. Nan Sdins 153. Chilkoot Trail 154. Fort St. James 155. Kootenae House 156. Gitwangak Battle Hill 157. Fort Langley 158. Rogers Pass 159. Gulf of Georgia Cannery 160. Stanley Park 161. Fisgard Lighthouse 162. Fort Rodd Hill 163. Kicking Horse Pass 164. Twin Falls Tea House Yukon Territory 165. Dredge No. 4 166. Dawson Historical Complex 167. S.S. Keno 168. S.S. Klondike 169. Former Territorial Court House Northwest Territories 170. Saoyú-Ɂehdacho Nunavut 171. Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror Parks Canada Agency 27 Photo: G. Kopelow PART B Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site The State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places Administered by Parks Canada Photo: J. Sylvester Photo: David Henderson Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site Province House National Historic Site Cultural Resources CONTEXT Parks Canada administers 171 national historic sites. As steward of these sites, the Agency ensures that cultural resources are conserved and that their heritage value is shared for the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of present and future generations. Such cultural resources are also found in national parks, national marine conservation areas, and Rouge National Urban Park. All of these cultural resources deepen a sense of connection to Canada and to our treasured heritage places and the stories they tell. They represent a significant inventory of the nation’s buildings and engineering works, archaeological sites, objects, and landscape features. Parks Canada further categorizes cultural resources according to their national historic significance or other heritage value they may possess. The protection and conservation of cultural resources require constant vigilance because once lost, they are gone forever. In order to protect these cultural resources for Canadians, regular assessment and monitoring of their state are critical, particularly when natural processes or human actions could accelerate their deterioration. The Government of Canada’s recent, significant investment in Parks Canada’s infrastructure will improve the condition of a wide range of built heritage (a type of cultural resources) at national historic sites, thereby contributing to maintain their heritage value, as well as strengthen their appeal as destinations to celebrate our Nation’s achievements. Investments in improving the condition of cultural resources that are in poor condition will ensure that heritage value is preserved for future generations. Annex 1 provides a detailed report of the condition of cultural resources of national significance and cultural resources of other heritage value at national historic sites administered by Parks Canada. Parks Canada’s determines the condition of its cultural resources, which includes the consideration of heritage value, through the commemorative integrity assessment program. The assessment of condition or state of a site includes the extent to which the site retains the heritage value for which it was designated. National historic sites are subject to an assessment once every ten years, in line with the management planning cycle. STATE OF CULTURAL RESOURCES IN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES Based on the results of commemorative integrity assessments for 37 national historic sites conducted between 2011 and 2016 (where the heritage value was considered), the majority of cultural resources of national significance assessed at these sites (i.e. buildings and engineering works, archaeological sites, objects, and landscape features) was judged in fair condition or better. However, buildings and engineering works pose a greater conservation challenge than the three other cultural resource categories, because of their size, complexity and exposure to harsh weather and other natural threats such as ground erosion and water infiltration. Among the 37 sites assessed, 42 percent of Parks Canada’s buildings and engineering works of national significance were found in good condition while 38 percent were in poor condition (Figure 4). Parks Canada Agency 29 Figure 4: Condition of cultural resources of national historic significance, including heritage value for which they were designated (37 sites assessed between 2011 and 2016) 80 42 39 33 21 40 33 20 20 0 0 0 Objects Landscape Features 0 Buildings Archaeological and Engineering Sites Works Source: Commemorative Integrity Assessment Tracking Document The condition of historical and archaeological objects of national significance at these sites has improved since 2011. As a result of targeted conservation work by Parks Canada, the proportion of objects in good condition was reported at 67 percent while less than one percent was found in poor condition (Figure 5). ACTIONS Parks Canada has led significant conservation work on targeted national historic sites with a focus on improving the condition of cultural resources considered in poor condition. For example, Cave and Basin National Historic Site (Alberta), the birthplace of Canada’s national park system, underwent a site renewal where significant cultural resources such as the Bathing Pavilion were preserved. Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site (Ontario) was considered in poor condition due to damage to the exterior masonry of the 25-metre-high tower. Restoration work began in 2011 to replace stones, 30 60 48 38 40 Good Fair Poor 67 Percent Percent 52 80 Good Fair 61 Poor 67 60 Figure 5: Condition of objects of national historic significance (37 sites assessed between 2011 and 2016) 0 0.1 Objects of National Historic Significance 2016 Source: Commemorative Integrity Assessment Tracking Document repair masonry, repaint the lantern and metal roof, apply exterior whitewash coating, and complete interior and below-ground repairs. Significant investments in Province House National Historic Site (Prince Edward Island), the birthplace of Confederation, will address the preservation of the period masonry, structural upgrades, and measures to make the building weather-tight. Since 2014 the Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site (Quebec) has seen conservation work on several sections of the fortification walls, including the King’s Bastion. Parks Canada has implemented Cultural Resource Impact Analysis requirements to ensure that all potential impacts to cultural resources are identified and mitigated, if necessary, as part of all infrastructure projects. Conservation work is conducted in ways that respect the commemorative integrity. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Photo: Graham Twomey Cave and Basin National Historic Site KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE Some cultural resources are becoming more vulnerable to the threats related to climate change. Parks Canada will continue planning and monitoring to identify threats to cultural resources, such as shoreline erosion, and develop best practices, along with mitigation and adaptation measures. The important investment in Parks Canada’s infrastructure will contribute to improve the condition of cultural resources of national significance. Parks Canada will develop a strategy to maintain cultural resources in good or fair condition in a systematic manner across the country. Parks Canada continues to care for one of the largest collections of historical and archaeological objects in North America. The Agency is proceeding with the consolidation of a significant part of the collection into one purpose-built facility to have historical and archaeological objects, as tangible elements of Canada’s history, cared for and conserved in a sustainable manner. Consultations with Indigenous communities and other stakeholders will be held to ensure access to the collection. Preserving information related to cultural resources under Parks Canada’s care is essential for the protection, presentation, and conservation of these valuable resources. The quality of the data related to cultural resources is not uniform across the Agency, nor is it contained in a single data system. Over the upcoming years, Parks Canada will bring together all critical information relating to cultural resources into one single database in order to facilitate evidence-based cultural resource management decision-making and reporting as well as the presentation of these treasured resources to Canadians. In addition, the Agency will update its suite of cultural heritage related program outcomes and associated performance indicators to strengthen planning, monitoring, and reporting. Parks Canada Agency 31 Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve Photo: Heiko Wittenborn Photo: Éric Le Bel Photo: Glen & Rebecca Grambo Prince Albert National Park Torngat Mountains National Park Ecological Integrity CONTEXT Nature is inspiring. We see growth, diversity and healing in ecosystems that are not under stress. The inherent ability of an ecosystem to maintain itself is protected as ecological integrity in national parks. Parks Canada has a legal obligation to maintain or improve ecological integrity while providing benefit and enjoyment to Canadians and international visitors. The Agency has successfully managed this balance for over 100 years. Ecological integrity comprises not only native plants and animals (the right cast of characters) but also the ecological processes (the right script) for the action that takes place in an ecosystem. When native species decline, when invasive species take over or when ecological processes fail to occur with their normal frequency and intensity, then the maintenance of the entire ecosystem is at risk. Parks Canada regularly monitors the state of ecological integrity, and the results for each of the 46 national parks are summarized in Annex 2. This same data on the state of the parks also informs one of the indicators for the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators. Parks Canada uses indicators to summarize and assess the ecological condition of the main ecosystems in each national park, i.e. forests, tundra, wetlands or freshwater. 32 STATE OF ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY There is reason for optimism about the state of national parks. Of the 115 ecosystems that have been assessed, more than half (54 percent) are in good condition. That is an improvement from 42 percent in 2011. Only 10 percent of the ecosystems have declined since 2011, and they are outnumbered by the ecosystems that have improved since that time. The percentage of ecosystems in decline was estimated to be 31 percent in 2011, when Parks Canada did not have a defined time interval for comparing the condition of the parks. Improvements in our monitoring system were triggered, in part, by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development’s 2013 report on ecological integrity. The monitoring program is now fully implemented with all national parks having a monitoring plan focused on key indicators and measures. All measures have protocols to generate useful information and thresholds. We now have 91 percent of indicator ecosystems assessed, as compared to 58 percent in 2011. Data management and the calculation of condition indices have been streamlined and standardized. The International Union for Conservation of Nature highlights Parks Canada’s ecological monitoring system as State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 an inspiring solution, being the only such system to produce national reports that drive planning and investment decisions. There is still much to be learned about the ecology of parks. Many thresholds are preliminary, and some indicators are assessed on the basis of only a couple of species or processes. Parks Canada is also striving to include the insights of Indigenous traditional knowledge in its assessments. In general, freshwater ecosystems are most likely to be in good condition or to have shown improvement. In many cases, these improvements were the result of a more objective and quantitative assessment. As was also the case in 2011, forests continue to show a disproportionate number of indicators in poor condition. Here, the effects of fire suppression, invasive plants and hyperabundant moose and deer continue to be evident. Grasslands face stiffer challenges from these same pressures. None of the five grassland ecosystems are in good condition. Coastal and marine ecosystems are showing improvements, including the beginnings of a recovery of eelgrass beds in Kejimkujik following a successful reduction of the invasive green crab. ACTIONS Parks Canada takes its mandate to maintain or improve ecological integrity very seriously and is working to support the effective and durable restoration of ecosystems, especially in a manner that engages and benefits Canadians. Dedicated funding for ecological restoration— totalling $84 million over five years—is helping sites across the Parks Canada network achieve measurable conservation gains. Completed projects include rat eradication in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, dune ecosystem restoration in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and reducing impacts on whales by mitigating human disturbance in Saguenay – St. Lawrence Marine Park. In 2015–16, 33 projects across 27 sites were underway, reducing threats to ecosystems, reintroducing species, reconnecting watersheds, and re-establishing processes. These projects also contributed to reconciliation with Indigenous partners through collaboration on shared goals. Conservation gains resulting from these projects will include the following: • minimizing wildlife mortality by constructing wildlife highway crossings in Kootenay National Park; • restoring clam garden eco-cultural landscapes using traditional and scientific knowledge in Gulf Islands National Park Reserve; • restoring fire-dependent ecosystems across the country through prescribed fires; • restoring the natural dynamics of the coastal/marine ecosystem in Forillon National Park; • reducing populations of overabundant species such as moose in Cape Breton Highlands, Gros Morne, and Terra Nova national parks; and • restoring the hydrological regime and aquatic connectivity in the lakes of La Mauricie National Park. Parks Canada’s visitor experience and law enforcement programs make a significant contribution to the maintenance and restoration of ecological integrity. Park wardens undertake prevention and law enforcement activities to protect wildlife and ecosystems and contribute to on-theground restoration efforts. They also work in partnership with communities, local organizations, and external law enforcement agencies to help ensure the success of conservation projects. For example, cross-boundary cooperation played a vital role in salmon recovery in Fundy National Park by preventing illegal salmon harvesting both inside and outside the park. Parks Canada Agency 33 KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE Three issues will be increasingly important in the years ahead: cumulative effects, climate change and connectivity. Cumulative Effects The first issue arises out of the difficulty in predicting the impacts of construction projects and land use strategies. Some impacts are relatively minor on a case-by-case basis and only become a problem when they accumulate in repeated projects across the landscape. This is particularly clear in assessing major infrastructure projects and on watershed impacts. With partners, Parks Canada will aim at increasing our ability to identify these “cumulative effects”, track their impact and use the best management practices to contain them. Climate Change Climate change will impact both species assemblages and ecosystem processes, threatening ecosystem integrity in vulnerable, less resilient ecosystems. We are assessing how monitoring approaches may be adjusted to accurately 34 report on these impacts. More and more, Parks Canada will consider climate projections in its monitoring thresholds. This process has begun by examining the vulnerability of three Arctic national parks to climate change. In parallel, we have initiated a review of planning and management practices to integrate climate change considerations. Connectivity As part of a worldwide conservation effort under global targets developed by the Convention on Biological Diversity, Parks Canada will work in collaboration with federal, provincial and territorial government departments, Indigenous groups, communities, and organizations across Canada to better integrate and optimize protected areas in the wider ecological and cultural landscape. This approach will advance the concept of ecological networks and ecological connectivity, including connectivity required for migratory species and climate change adaptation. With a changing climate, both natural and accelerated movement of species to the habitat that best suits their survival will become critical for long-term conservation. Connectivity is already a core concept in measuring ecological integrity, and it will play a larger role in coming years. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Photo: Petry ©Fisheries and Oceans Canada Photo: Nigel Fearon Salmon release at Fundy National Park Species at Risk CONTEXT Parks Canada is committed to the protection and recovery of species at risk, many of which can be found within Parks Canada lands and waters. Parks Canada protects all of these species at risk, along with their residences and habitat, and also supports and undertakes recovery activities to maintain or improve their conservation status. In undertaking this important effort, Parks Canada will also enhance ecological integrity, promote public awareness and provide richer visitor experiences. The first step in Parks Canada’s effort to identify priority actions that could lead to the best outcomes for species’ recovery in protected heritage places is to find out which species live in heritage places, and how they are doing. During the reporting period, Parks Canada completed assessments of the conservation status of species at risk found in all protected heritage places, using a standardized approach to collect, store and share species conservation data. The standards and tools were developed by NatureServe, an internationally-recognised not for profit organization whose mission is to provide the scientific basis for effective conservation. The information on species found within protected heritage places is available to the public through Parks Canada’s website. of species at risk within protected heritage places. These action plans are published in the Species at Risk Public Registry and fulfill a legal requirement under the Species at Risk Act. As of 2016, Parks Canada has completed seven multi-species action plans that outline specific recovery measures associated with 71 specific population and distribution objectives for species at risk. Parks Canada measures progress towards these objectives, as well as advancement in implementing associated recovery measures for species at risk found in its sites. STATE OF SPECIES AT RISK The completion of the conservation status assessment has confirmed that there are approximately 200 species listed under the Species at Risk Act found in one or more of Parks Canada’s heritage places. Some of these species live year-round and breed in the parks or sites while others may only stay briefly during their migration. Parks Canada is using the information from the conservation status assessments to inform the development of action plans that identify objectives and priority actions for the recovery Parks Canada Agency 35 ACTIONS Since 2011, Parks Canada has taken actions to restore important habitat for species at risk and improve their conservation status within heritage places. There are many reasons why species are at risk. Some are naturally rare and have specific needs that restrict them to a particular habitat. Others may become rare due to outside factors such as when invasive species are introduced into a new habitat. Such was the case on several islands in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve where introduced rats caused the decline of local populations of ancient murrelets, a seabird of cultural significance to the Haida people. Between 2011 and 2015, the eradication of these rats from selected islands has restored nesting habitat for globally significant populations of ancient murrelets and other seabirds. These coastal ecosystems are now showing evidence of ecological recovery. The introduction of non-native species is often accidental but may sometimes have been done for a purpose, such as the introduction of non-native fish species in lakes and rivers to encourage sports fishing. The westslope cutthroat trout is a good example of a native fish whose population has declined dramatically due to introduced non-native trout species. Removal of introduced species and the reintroduction of westslope cutthroat trout in Banff National Park are helping this rare species to recolonize its native habitat. The loss of habitat constitutes another major factor in the decline of many species. To address the decline in monarch butterfly populations, for example, Point Pelee National Park entered into a multi-year collaboration with the Municipality of Leamington, Ontario, to engage the community in creating much-needed monarch butterfly habitat by planting native grasses and wildflowers, such as milkweed, along municipal walking trails. Projects to restore species at risk habitat are currently underway across many parks and sites. A major restoration project in Fundy National Park seeks to reintroduce the endangered Inner Bay of Fundy salmon. In collaboration with partners including the nearby Indigenous community, the project involves collecting, raising and releasing salmon into the rivers of the park. Additionally, conservation efforts to restore the endangered Deltoid Balsamroot, a native sunflower that once grew abundantly on the southeast side of Vancouver Island, are underway. Though currently restricted to eight small natural populations in Canada, between 2011 and 2015, Parks Canada staff at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site conducted a cross-pollination experiment to yield viable seeds that were replanted on the site. As well, the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site developed an innovative 36 species at risk mapping system to facilitate Parks Canada’s review of permit applications for in-water and shoreline works within its jurisdictions. Through inter-agency coordination, the mapping system ensures, for example, that docks are placed away from sensitive areas such as nesting sites of the least bittern. Innovative tools such as these, support Parks Canada efforts in managing protected areas for the conservation of species at risk. KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE Some of the actions undertaken by Parks Canada to improve the conservation status of species at risk are starting to show positive effects, however, many species at risk continue to face several threats within and outside of protected heritage places. Habitats are disappearing at a rapid rate in almost all parts of Canada — wetlands are being filled in, forests fragmented, and grasslands ploughed and fenced. Exotic invasive species are another serious problem for naturally implanted wildlife species in Canada. Climate change can also affect biodiversity and the ability of species to adapt to variations in the ecosystem. Increasing severity and frequency of disturbances such as storms, floods and fire constitute another threat to the habitat and survival of many species. As a result of these factors and others, the number of species at risk in Canada is still growing. Parks Canada continues to exercise leadership in balancing multiple land uses and conservation needs, and has proven that recovery and protection of species at risk can be accomplished through innovative and cost-effective means. Over 20 initiatives covering more than 60 species at risk will be conducted over the next several years to provide safe havens to species under a changing climate. These projects will help restore habitat, remove exotic species, and reintroduce lost species, among many other recovery activities, thereby increasing the species resilience to adapt to other pressure including climate change. These efforts will also enhance ecological integrity, promote public awareness and provide richer visitor experiences. In working to protect species’ at risk, Parks Canada is also committed to sharing best practices with partners and stakeholders, as it engages Canadians in recovery initiatives and continues to support volunteers. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Photo: Robin Andrew Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site Fathom Five National Marine Park Protection and Ecologically Sustainable Use of National Marine Conservation Areas CONTEXT Parks Canada manages a growing system of national marine conservation areas (NMCAs), which is representative of Canada’s ocean and Great Lakes marine regions, and plays a leadership role in ensuring the long-term protection and ecologically sustainable use of these areas. Canada’s NMCA system encompasses a variety of marine and Great Lakes ecosystems: from intertidal areas to abyssal depths; from coastal wetlands and estuaries to eelgrass and kelp beds; from banks, shoals and islands to deep-water channels and troughs. These ecologically diverse areas support a broad range of uses, including recreation, tourism, shipping, commercial and sports fishing, and other traditional and commercial harvest of renewable marine resources. NMCAs are managed according to an ecosystem approach, providing models of harmonization between protection and human activities. This collaborative method brings together stakeholders to achieve common objectives that reflect the identified values of the area. This approach involves working closely with others to achieve common objectives that reflect the identified values of the place, including: • Those who use the coastal lands and the waters, including Indigenous peoples, or who have other interests in NMCAs and may help to protect and conserve them through stewardship initiatives and voluntary practices STATE OF NMCA PROTECTION AND ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE USE Parks Canada has recently developed a pilot suite of indicators to monitor the state of ecosystems and ecologically sustainable use of marine resources in NMCAs. Recognizing the unique challenges of managing these areas, these indicators provide an integrated picture of marine biodiversity and environmental quality, marine use, and governance. Protection and ecologically sustainable use of NMCAs is achieved by maintaining healthy and resilient ecosystems, ensuring that the use of marine resources does not compromise ecosystem structure and function, and upholding strong collaborative arrangements. Over the next five years, the suite of pilot indicators and associated measures will be tested and implemented to provide decision makers with a snapshot of the state of NMCAs. • Those who have management responsibilities within the area, including other federal and provincial departments and Indigenous peoples under cooperative management arrangements; and Parks Canada Agency 37 Figure 6: Voluntary protection measures in Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Pointe à Boisvert ! H G ! ti ra ffic a ep on e m he Sc Voluntary protection measures to reduce the risk of ship strikes with whales and minimize the impact of noise on beluga whale Provisional measures in effect from May 1, to October 31, 2015 S a Tr Caution area ! Presence of whales F Slow down to 10 knots* or less area el nn ! B C ! i nt re u La an a Ch ! Important whale feeding area Area to be avoided; if impossible, slow down to 10 knots* or less E Important blue whale area ! D ! A Sensitive area highly used by beluga herds composed of females and young It is recommended to navigate in the Laurentian Channel north of Île Rouge Buoy K51 " HFP Lighthouse" " Buoy K55 Île Rouge Saguenay– St. Lawrence Marine Park Cap de la Tête au Chien Point HFP K55 K51 A B C D E F G H Latitude North Longitude West 48°06'29.63" 48°05'37.84" 48°06'54.00" 48°09'23.89" 48°12'09.21" 48°09'59.99" 48°11'07.26" 48°13'12.40" 48°19'29.32" 48°31'21.88" 48°33'20.62" ACTIONS Over the past five years, a number of initiatives have been undertaken to enhance the protection of NMCAs and their ecologically sustainable use. For example: • Every year, thousands of commercial ships transit through the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park. Because these ships traverse critical habitat and foraging grounds for several species of whales, including the beluga, there are concerns about potential impacts on these species. In 2011, a working group was formed with representatives from government, industry, academia and non-govern- 38 * 10 knots refers to speed through the water 69°36'51.69" 69°33'58.89" 69°31'02.69" 69°38'49.17" 69°33'25.41" 69°29'42.34" 69°24'21.48" 69°22'02.21" 69°22'17.30" 69°02'34.58" 69°07'27.39" N Å W E S 0 5 10 20 km NAD 1983 UTM Zone 19N ment organizations. Its task was to assess ways to reduce whale exposure to vessels and manage the risk of collisions. The group’s work led to recommendations in 2013 for a voluntary reduction in vessel speed and an area of vessel avoidance (Figure 6). Involving stakeholders from the beginning of the process has fostered strong support for these measures and ensured ready compliance, substantially reducing the risk of deadly collisions between ships and whales. • Another example of coastal conservation is from Fathom Five National Marine Park, where managers have implemented an efficient process to prevent the State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Photo: L. Falardeau Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park establishment of the invasive European common reed (Phragmites australis) within the coastal wetlands. Every year, marine park staff detect new colonization attempts by this invasive species and eradicate it before it gets established. These actions protect the biodiversity and resilience of the main coastal habitats, as the spread of the Phragmites has had severe adverse effects on biological diversity in coastal ecosystems throughout the Great Lakes. KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE Many environmental factors have an impact on the state of NMCAs, including climate change (global warming, sea level rise), changes to the physical environment (water quality and ocean acidification), loss of biodiversity (ecosystem processes, species at risk, and invasive species) and loss of habitat. A key issue for NMCA management is understanding how these complex marine and Great Lakes ecosystems function and adapt to environmental changes and the implications of these changes on the protection and ecologically sustainable use of NMCA resources. As the pilot national monitoring program is implemented and tested over the next few years, Canadians will learn more about the state of the NMCA system. Adaptive management within NMCAs will be supported and informed by this responsive monitoring program. Parks Canada and other managers will have the knowledge and evidence required to effectively manage, protect and conserve national marine conservation areas, to work collaboratively with others to ensure the responsible use of marine resources, and to meet NMCA management objectives. Parks Canada Agency 39 Photo: S. Jane Tymoshuk Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site Asset Management CONTEXT Parks Canada manages a complex portfolio of built assets valued at approximately $17.5 billion (in 2016 dollars). The Agency’s asset portfolio includes irreplaceable heritage structures, such as historic buildings, fortifications, historic canals, lighthouses, and Indigenous fish weirs, as well as contemporary buildings, highways, bridges, dams and other holdings. All of these assets support the delivery of the Agency’s mandate and serve the more than 20 million visitors to Parks Canada’s sites each year. Certain assets, such as through highways and through waterways, also serve as vital links for Canadian communities supporting both transportation and economic activity. There are several challenges inherent in managing these assets. Many are located in remote areas across the country, including northern climates, adding to the cost and complexity of operating and maintaining them. In addition, the adverse effects of climate change such as permafrost thawing and the increased frequency of wildfires, floods and avalanches threaten the structural integrity of contemporary assets and cultural resources, resulting in increased rehabilitation costs and loss of built assets in affected regions. Parks Canada is the custodian of many assets of historical significance that require specialized maintenance and management to ensure their protection and 40 long-term preservation. In addition, the majority of our contemporary assets are aging and require significant ongoing investments. In 2013, Parks Canada developed a suite of national indicators based on overall asset condition ratings to provide a consistent picture of the state of all of the Agency’s built assets. STATE OF ASSETS In 2012, Parks Canada performed a National Asset Review focused on updating and confirming asset condition ratings, current replacement values and estimates of deferred work. The review and a subsequent third-party validation highlighted that over half of the Agency’s holdings were in poor or very poor condition and required investments in maintenance and rehabilitation. As of March 31, 2016, 53 percent of the Agency’s assets were rated as being in good to fair condition and 47 percent in poor to very poor condition. The infusion of nearly $3 billion of federal funding from 2015–16 through 2019–20 will help to address the backlog of deferred work and improve the overall condition of the Agency’s built asset portfolio while contributing to its ongoing sustainability. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 ACTIONS Investments from 2011–12 to 2015–16 Over the past five years, Parks Canada has invested over $900 million to improve the condition of its asset portfolio. Examples of projects completed and/or underway include: • Conservation and rehabilitation of cultural resources of national significance: . . . . . . restoration projects at national historic sites such as Cave and Basin, Fortifications of Québec, Province House—the birthplace of Confederation; conservation work at Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site and Fort Henry National Historic Site; stabilization work at Dredge No.4 National Historic Site; rehabilitation of the Bolsover Dam at Lock #37 along the Trent-Severn Waterway—the largest dam project undertaken by the Agency in the last 25 years; . • Rehabilitation and improvement of provincial and inter-provincial highways and associated bridges: . . rehabilitation of Chaffey, Merrickville, and Smiths Falls swing bridges along the Rideau Canal; and . rehabilitation of Pont La feur along the Lachine Canal. . • Rehabilitation and improvement of visitor infrastructure: . Glacier National Park renewal of visitor facilities, such as visitor centres, campgrounds, multi-use trails, access roads and parking lots in national parks, such as Prince Edward Island and La Mauricie, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, and national historic sites such as Lower Fort Garry, Fortress of Louisbourg and the Halifax Citadel; and visitor infrastructure improvement projects at some national historic sites such as Batoche, Green Gables and Fort Chambly. twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park; rehabilitation of Trans-Canada Highway in Terra Nova, Jasper, Yoho and Glacier national parks; rehabilitation of Highway 93S in Banff and Kootenay national parks; and rehabilitation of Highway 117 in Kouchibouguac National Park. • Rehabilitation of roads and wastewater facilities in the townsites of Field in Yoho National Park, Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Wasagaming in Riding Mountain National Park, Waskesiu in Prince Albert National Park, and Waterton in Waterton Lakes National Park. These investments have enhanced the sustainability, safety and reliability of infrastructure at Park Canada’s heritage places, and contributed to quality experiences for Canadians and visitors. Photo: Scott Munn HMCS Haida National Historic Site Asset Information Management A Five-Year Program of Work The Agency invested $6 million to implement an improved national asset management information system to enhance the quality of asset information, reporting capabilities and the application of consistent asset management practices across the Agency. This new system actively maintains information for the Agency’s entire built-asset inventory and further improves the Agency’s ability to plan and prioritize capital work as well as corresponding operational and maintenance activities. Parks Canada’s Investment Plan for 2015–16 to 2019–20 of nearly $3 billion represents an unprecedented program of work that addresses a backlog of deferred work that will improve the condition of Parks Canada’s built assets across the network of protected places, thus rehabilitating built heritage, visitor experience and townsite assets, and highway and canal infrastructure. KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE Natural Disasters Over the past five years, the Agency has implemented measures, such as the use of more resilient designs and materials when replacing damaged assets, to safeguard its built assets against natural disasters. A recent example is the rebuilding of the Carrot Creek bridges located on the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park following the June 2013 floods in Alberta. The Agency used more resistant bridge and channel technology when replacing these assets to improve their resilience against future floods, increase their service life, and reduce the severity and likelihood of road closures. 42 Upon completion of this program of work, parts of the Parks Canada built-asset portfolio currently rated in poor to very poor condition will have been restored to a fair or good condition. This infrastructure investment represents a bold commitment towards responsible stewardship of Parks Canada’s protected places. It will halt the loss of irreplaceable built heritage, renew visitor facilities, and rehabilitate the vast majority of Parks Canada’s assets that are aging or at the end of their life cycle. In order to mitigate the risk associated with the delivery of an investment program of this magnitude, the Agency reorganized and strengthened its investment management along with its asset and project management functions to support the effective and prudent delivery of the investment program. In addition, work is underway to develop a long-term sustainability plan based on current asset portfolio information and valuations. The long-term sustainability plan will explore options required to enable effective ongoing life cycle management of the entire built-asset portfolio. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Photo: Scott Munn Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Visitor Experience CONTEXT The duty to protect and to present hold equal weight in Park’s Canada’s approach to the stewardship of Canada’s treasures. “Visitor experience” refers to a visitor’s interactions with Parks Canada places in the context of their visit to a national park, national historic site or national marine conservation area. It covers the whole visitor cycle from the initial inspiration to visit, to the planning of the trip, to the arrival and experiences during the visit, to the departure and fond reflection on the people met and the experience itself. Memorable visitor experiences, based on quality services, activities and programs delivered by skilled, passionate and knowledgeable staff, help to strengthen the connection that Canadians and international visitors alike, feel toward Parks Canada places. These experiences can also lead to learning, personal growth and mental and physical health benefits. By strengthening the connection Canadians feel to their national heritage places, Parks Canada is helping to foster enthusiasm for Canada’s natural and cultural heritage and create a culture of stewardship and care for these places. STATE OF VISITOR EXPERIENCE By encouraging Canadians to visit Parks Canada places, and by providing them with the information and means to enjoy them, Parks Canada empowers more Canadians to experience the outdoors and learn about our heritage. People visit Canada’s national heritage places for a variety of reasons. For some, these places offer a pleasant and engaging space for spending time with friends or family. For others, national parks and national historic sites open new avenues for adventure or learning. For still others, a visit to a national park or historic site is the trip of a lifetime and an important personal goal. Regardless of the motivation, Parks Canada’s focus has been to enable visitors to enjoy Canada’s national heritage places on their own terms. And, while visitation to Parks Canada places has never reached the peaks experienced at the turn of the 21st century, the Agency has made significant progress in reversing nearly a decade of decline that began in 2004. Beginning in 2012, person-visits to Parks Canada places have grown at a rate of 5 percent per year. In 2015–16, person-visits exceeded 23 million for the first time in over a decade. Overall visitation to heritage places has increased by 16 percent over the last five years reaching 23.3 million visits in 2015–16. Parks Canada uses four indicators to measure the state of visitor experience: 1) visitation, 2) visitor enjoyment, 3) visitor satisfaction, 4) visitor learning. During the last five years, average performance expectations for all heritage places have been above 81 percent with levels reaching 82 percent for meaningful connection, 95 percent for satisfaction, 96 percent for enjoyment and 81 percent for learning (72 percent for national parks and 87 percent for national historic sites). Visitor experience indicators are detailed in the Annexes. Parks Canada Agency 43 Opportunities to relax and stimulate the senses with beautiful scenery, along with recreation, are the key drivers for enjoyment for visitors to national parks. People who come to national historic sites enjoy particularly the interaction with staff and the learning opportunities. Visitor satisfaction, visitor enjoyment, and visitor learning are interrelated, and all help to connect people with heritage places and build support for heritage conservation, yet each of these indicators measures a different aspect of the visitor experience. Enjoyment is associated with whether a visitor feels they benefited (i.e. spiritually, physically, intellectually, and emotionally) from their experiences, while satisfaction is a subjective measure based on an individual’s personal assessment of how well their overall visit met their expectations. Learning is associated with whether a person feels they gained knowledge while visiting a heritage place ACTIONS Parks Canada undertook a number of targeted initiatives to create interest in heritage places and nurture a sense of personal connection among visitors. Parks Canada employs social science research and a client-focused approach to better understand the needs of its visitors. This approach helps Parks Canada to design and develop visitor experiences that respond to the needs and interests of visitors. Here are two examples: Fort George hosted summer concerts in 2012, 2013 and 2015 that drew crowds of up to 27,000 people to this historic setting with many in attendance discovering Parks Canada and Fort George for the first time. Many of these visitors were from demographic groups that rarely visit natural or cultural heritage places. Cape Spear National Historic Site has introduced a unique culinary and cultural experience in the lighthouse on Sunday evenings throughout the summer. Every meal is catered by a different partner restaurant and sells out quickly which shows the demand for exciting alternative experiences in our historic sites). This initiative has helped to introduce a whole new audience to Parks Canada and Cape Spear and has also helped to make the site an even more valued part of the region and neighbouring communities. Beginning in 2013, Parks Canada began the roll-out of important innovations in its campground and accommodation offer across Canada. The oTENTik is an accommodation product uniquely mixing the comforts of home and the adventure of the great outdoors. These accommodations offer a new way to experience camping. Many Canadians who might never have visited a national park or national historic site, or who may have never Photo: Miguel Legault La Mauricie National Park 44 State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 otherwise gone camping, have had these experiences thanks to the oTENTik initiative. Parks Canada has also introduced oTENTik on heritage canals, a very unique way of experiencing these places. New recreational activities (e.g. traction kiting, rock bouldering) were also introduced, along with equipped campsites for visitors who may not own camping equipment but may like to try camping. An expanded Learn to Camp Program pilot introduced more urban youth, families and new Canadians to nature and camping in a safe and friendly environment. Since 2011, about 7,000 persons have participated in Learn to Camp activities delivered in partnership with Mountain Equipment Co-op at locations across the country. Parks Canada launched initiatives to connect with specific segments of the population. It introduced the Youth Ambassador Program to connect with young adults, expanded the on-site Xplorers Program now reaching youth and their families in 101 sites, and launched Club Parka, a program for children aged 3–5. Developing new and innovative programs and services allows more Canadians, including youth and newcomers, to experience the outdoors and learn about our environment and history. KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE Public opinion research demonstrates that when people visit a national park or historic site, they develop a connection to the place and to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. From 2003 to 2012, Parks Canada experienced nearly a decade of declining visitation and fewer and fewer Canadians felt connected to their national heritage places. The Agency has invested significant effort in reversing this trend and encouraging Canadians to experience and engage with Parks Canada places. An important part of this work has been to reach new audiences who might otherwise have never enjoyed a national park, national marine conservation area or national historic site. As visitation slowly returns to previous levels, an equally important part of this work must be to increase awareness of the experiences offered at all of Parks Canada’s many places. While there are some locations that experience consistently high visitation, there are nonetheless others that can welcome more visitors. Working to balance visitation across the Parks Canada network will help to ensure that more Canadians have memorable experiences at Parks Canada places while managing high rates of visitation at some places. Parks Canada is responsible for the most extensive network of natural and cultural heritage sites in Canada. These iconic destinations attract visitors from across the country and around the world contributing to local, regional, and national tourism economies. As an important participant in local and regional tourism, Parks Canada has a responsibility to keep up with trends and changes in the tourism sector and advancements in service delivery. Parks Canada must continue to innovate in its offer to visitors, both on site and online. Moreover, Parks Canada must work to be an effective partner for local tourism providers and communities across the country. In 2017, as part of celebrations to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Canadian confederation, entry to all national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas will be free. This gift from the Government of Canada to all Canadians is an unparalleled opportunity for Parks Canada to reach more Canadians and help them enjoy their national heritage places. Canadians from across the country and visitors from around the world will visit Parks Canada places in 2017 and develop a stronger connection to their countries’ natural and cultural heritage. The Learn to Camp Program will also be enhanced to ensure that more Canadian families, urban Canadians, and youth can acquire the skills, knowledge, and confidence to experience Canada’s outdoors and develop personal connections with Canada’s natural heritage. Beginning in 2018, entry to Parks Canada places will be free for all visitors under the age of 18. Interest and engagement with nature and culture begins when we are young. By providing free admission to Parks Canada places to youth, this Government is helping to create a future generation of stewards of our country’s greatest heritage treasures. To further engage new Canadians, Parks Canada will continue its partnership with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, whereby new Canadian citizens are offered complimentary admission to Parks Canada’s destinations for one year through the Institute’s Cultural Access Pass. This initiative will help to strengthen the connection of new citizens to their country’s natural and cultural heritage. Parks Canada Agency 45 Photo: Scott Munn Photo: Kevin Gedling Photo: Scott Munn Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site Volunteers in Jasper National Park Rouge National Urban Park Public Appreciation, Support and Awareness of Heritage Places STATE OF PUBLIC APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT Canadians need to know and understand heritage places if they are to discover, appreciate and support these places. A large proportion of Canadians has heard of Parks Canada. Following several major promotional campaigns, enhanced multimedia, outreach initiatives, celebrations and proactive media relations, aided awareness increased from 79 percent in June 2011 to 86 percent in June 2015 (Figure 7). Public appreciation and support are assessed through indices covering knowledge, behaviour and value. Over a five-year period, the results suggest that both recognition and support have remained stable. In 2009, it was determined that 53 percent of Canadians appreciated 46 Figure 7: Aided Awareness of Parks Canada, 2011–15 Percent of Adult Canadians who are aware of Parks Canada 90 86 85 84 82 80 79 83 84 84 83 84 82 81 81 79 75 n ( Se 201 pt 1) (2 De 011 c( ) 2 Ju 011 n ( ) Se 201 pt 2) (2 De 012 c( ) 2 M 012 ar (2 ) Ju 013 n (2 ) Ju 013 n ( ) Se 201 pt 4) (2 De 014 c( ) 2 M 014 ar (2 ) Ju 015 n (2 ) 01 5) Parks Canada builds public awareness of natural and cultural heritage places and connection to them by reaching Canadians where they live and work. By encouraging Canadians to visit these places, and in providing them with the information and means to enjoy them, Parks Canada allows more Canadians to experience the outdoors and learn about our heritage. Engaging Canadian youth, urban Canadians, and new Canadians is a strategic priority for the Agency. Through proper and effective heritage place promotion and engagement initiatives, Parks Canada is working to strengthen Canadians’ awareness and appreciation of their national heritage places and Parks Canada’s important mandate to protect and present these places. By engaging in outreach and promotional activities, Parks Canada is developing a stronger connection between Canadians and their national heritage places. Ju CONTEXT the significance of heritage places and that 67 percent supported their protection and presentation. According to 2014 figures, 52 percent of Canadians appreciate the significance of heritage places while 69 percent are in favour of protecting and presenting them. ACTIONS Parks Canada can boast several notable success stories from the last five years. The Agency has made great strides in growing and diversifying its base of support and leveraging partners’ expertise and resources. For example, through a partnership with Google, Canadians and people all over the world can now explore over 150 Parks Canada sites virtually through Street View on Google Maps. Youth and engagement programs have been put in place to enhance the connection between young Canadians and Parks Canada heritage places. By working with partner organizations such as Students on Ice, the State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Canadian Wildlife Federation, Canadian Geographic Education and Earth Rangers, and by establishing and supporting campus clubs at post-secondary institutions across the country, Parks Canada, has helped foster a greater appreciation of our nation’s natural spaces and cultural heritage among hundreds of thousands of young Canadians. In 2014 and 2015, Torngat Mountains National Park and Sirmilik National Park working in partnership with the Students on Ice Foundation, captivated youth audiences by welcoming the Students On Ice expedition and offering the participants inspiring and memorable experiences. Since 2011, the Agency has implemented a strategy to identify events where a Parks Canada presence would be most effective in reaching audiences who are not traditionally interested in national parks and historic sites. Targeted outreach programs in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver have allowed Parks Canada to broaden urban Canadians’ awareness of their national heritage places. In collaboration with partners such as the Toronto Zoo, Calgary Zoo, Vancouver Aquarium, Royal Ontario Museum and Vancouver Science World, Parks Canada outreach teams collectively engaged close to 460,000 people in 2015 alone. In partnership with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, the Agency is hosting citizenship ceremonies for new Canadian citizens. Fort Langley National Historic Site, Riding Mountain National Park and many other Parks Canada places now welcome more new Canadian citizens each year. Parks Canada offers volunteer activities at more than 70 parks and sites across the country, resulting in 648,002 volunteer hours. The National Volunteer Program takes people behind the scenes and allows them to participate in special events, historical re-enactments, conservation work, archaeological excavations, and species at risk monitoring among many others. Meanwhile, the collaborative search involving more than thirty partners from the government, not-for-profit and private sectors and members from Inuit communities led to the discovery in 2014 of one of Sir John Franklin’s ships, the HMS Erebus. The Agency participates in important festivals and events with an interactive Franklin exhibit, which was presented in major urban centres as well as northern communities of Gjoa Haven and Cambridge Bay in Nunavut. In 2013, Parks Canada implemented a national approach to promote its places and products and expand its reach with target audiences. Proactive and focused presence involved a mix of promotional platforms including a national advertising campaign (2015 and 2016), social media channels, travel media, and tourism industry relations. Since 2011, Parks Canada has built a strong social media presence by improving and increasing engagement with its followers, strengthening the Parks Canada brand and growing the number of subscribers to its various social media accounts across the country. KEY ISSUES AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE To capture the imagination of Canadians and create the spark of enthusiasm that connects Canadians to their national heritage places, Parks Canada must reach Canadians where they live, work or play. Canada is an increasingly urban nation and Parks Canada must continue to work to reach Canadians in urban centres through strategic partnering initiatives, special events, promotion and other targeted media activities. Parks Canada will also aim to increase its profile by leveraging event and promotion opportunities, such as anniversaries and celebrations, including celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Canadian confederation and the 100th anniversary of National Historic Sites. Canada has become an increasingly diverse country, and changing demographics are transforming leisure and travel behaviours. One in five Canadians is foreign-born, and more than eighty percent of Canadians live in urban areas. Our population is growing older and, for the first time in our history, seniors outnumber youth under the age of fifteen. Canada’s young people are seeking experiences with information technologies that reflect a diverse array of backgrounds and interests. Parks Canada must therefore continually look for new and exciting ways to bring the stories of heritage places to Canadians. Young people represent the future of Canada, and for them to value their heritage places, they must first experience them. Parks Canada places must be promoted in urban places and offer a diversity of visitor experiences that resonate with multiple audiences. These places are touchstones to our shared geography, history and culture. Ensuring that Canadians are aware of their heritage and continue to enjoy these places well into the future will help to inspire a new generation of stewards and champions of our country’s protected areas. Parks Canada Agency 47 Photo: Kurtis Bickell PART C Point Pelee National Park ANNEXES 48 State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 ANNEX 1 STATE OF NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES ADMINISTERED BY PARKS CANADA Cultural Resources Indicators Prov. National Historic Site Cultural Resources Cultural Resources National Historic Significance Other Heritage Value Visitor Experience Indicators Visitor Satisfaction Overall Visitation 2015–16 Overall Satisfaction Very Satisfied Visitor Learning Visitor Enjoyment Newfoundland and Labrador Cape Spear 18,861 94% 69% 79% 95% Castle Hill 9,469 95% 64% 95% 94% 23,784 96% 79% 96% 98% 8,485 95% 67% 94% 91% 8,002 100% 84% 97% 97% 7,639 98% 80% 100% 99% 10,468 95% 72% 89% 96% N/R 160,516 92% 61% 83% 92% 81% 36% Closed for repairs 95% 65% 91% 93% 77,745 97% 73% 96% 94% 3,845 98% 87% 93% 98% N/R 28, 229 97% 72% N/R N/R Hawthorne Cottage Hopedale Mission N/R N/R N/R L’Anse aux Meadows 2,851 N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Port au Choix Red Bay N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Ryan Premises Signal Hill N/R N/R N/R Ardgowan Prince Edward Island Dalvay-by-the-SeaN/R N/R N/R N/R L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish (Green Gables House) N/R Alexander Graham Bell N/R N/R Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst Province House N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Canso Islands N/R Grassy Island Fort (Canso Islands) N/R N/R N/R Charles Fort N/R Fort Anne N/R Fort Edward N/R N/R N/R 1,103 97% 74% Fortress of Louisbourg N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 83,892 97% 77% 97% 97% Georges Island N/R N/R N/R 30,977 97% 78% 97% 97% 495,365 95% 65% 94% 96% N/R N/A N/R N/R Fort McNab Nova Scotia N/R N/R N/R N/R Grand-Pré Halifax Citadel Kejimkujik* N/R N/R N/R 36,090 94% 58% 67% 96% Marconi N/R N/R N/R 2,561 94% 62% 95% 94% Port-Royal N/R N/R N/R 19,110 98% 83% 96% 98% Prince of Wales Tower N/R N/R N/R St. Peters N/R Melanson Settlement St. Peters Canal York Redoubt N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 25,778 N/R N/R N/R Parks Canada Agency 49 Cultural Resources Indicators Prov. National Historic Site Cultural Resources Cultural Resources National Historic Significance Other Heritage Value Visitor Experience Indicators Visitor Satisfaction Overall Visitation 2015–16 Visitor Learning Visitor Enjoyment 78% 97% 97% 97% 77% 96% 97% 100% 89% 98% 99% 55% 92% Overall Satisfaction Very Satisfied 15,251 98% 8,244 4,834 Beaubears Island Shipbuilding Boishébert New Brunswick Carleton Martello Tower N/R Fort Beauséjour– Fort Cumberland N/R Fort Gaspareaux N/R N/R N/R Monument-Lefebvre N/R N/R St. Andrews Blockhouse 20,584 1,542 99% 80% Battle of the Restigouche Battle of the Châteauguay 6,513 95% 69% Carillon Canal 25,501 95% 71% 15,109 94% 73% 246,319 99% 82% 17% 98% 21,246 95% 61% 58% 96% 7,168 95% 74% 98% 95% 141,197 96% 72% 42% 96% 25,008 98% 76% 96% 96% 6,962 98% 79% 97% 97% 69% 67% 96% N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Cartier-Brébeuf N/R N/R Chambly Canal Coteau-du-Lac N/R Forges du Saint-Maurice N/R Fort Chambly N/R Fort Lennox N/R Fort Témiscamingue N/R N/R N/R N/R Fortifications of Québec Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial Lachine Canal N/R Quebec N/R N/R 1,968,560 98% N/R N/R 17,019 93% 60% 97% 96% 1,121,680 90% 54% 38% 92% 6,207 98% 79% 99% 98% 8,280 99% 88% 94% 99% 19,937 96% 74% 73% 95% 23,754 99% 77% 94% 99% 149,997 96% 81% 34% 98% 28,731 96% 72% 54% 91% 3,962 97% 77% 688 99% 85% 7,694 98% 81% 94% 98% N/R Lévis Forts N/R N/R Louis S. St. Laurent N/R Manoir Papineau N/A N/R N/R N/R Montmorency Park N/R N/R N/R Louis-Joseph Papineau Maillou House N/R N/R N/R N/A N/R N/R N/R N/R Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse N/R Québec Garrison Club N/R Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux N/R N/A N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Saint-Ours Canal Sir George-ÉtienneN/R Cartier N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Sir Wilfrid Laurier The Fur Trade at Lachine N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 50 State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Cultural Resources Indicators Prov. National Historic Site Cultural Resources Cultural Resources National Historic Significance Other Heritage Value Visitor Experience Indicators Visitor Satisfaction Overall Visitation 2015–16 Visitor Learning Visitor Enjoyment 84% 98% 97% 75% 95% 94% Overall Satisfaction Very Satisfied 18,759 98% 15,415 96% Battle of the Windmill Battlefield of Fort George N/R Bellevue House Bethune Memorial House N/R N/R Butler’s Barracks N/R Fort George N/R N/R N/R N/R 90,932 96% 78% 95% 96% N/R N/R N/R N/R 26,735 99% 91% 97% 99% 2,852 99% 81% 94% 96% 11,100 99% 86% 93% 99% 13,806 97% 76% 95% 98% 3,966 99% 86% 98% 100% 1,009,837 95% 71% 71% 98% 101,677 93% 69% 79% 94% 1,184,545 95% 66% 473 100% 91% 98% 100% 25,457 96% 75% 92% 97% 93% 61% 63% 95% Fort Henry Fort Malden Fort Mississauga N/R Fort St. Joseph N/R N/R N/R N/R Fort Wellington N/R HMCS Haida N/R Ontario Inverarden House N/R N/R N/RN/R N/R N/R N/R Kingston Fortifications N/R N/R Laurier House N/R N/R N/R Merrickville Blockhouse N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Murney Tower N/R N/R N/A Navy Island N/R Peterborough Lift Lock N/R N/A N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Point Clark Lighthouse Queenston Heights 10,371 Rideau Canal N/R Sault Ste. Marie Canal N/R N/R Shoal Tower N/A Sir John Johnson House Trent–Severn Waterway N/R N/A N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Woodside N/R Lower Fort Garry Prince of Wales Fort N/R N/R Manitoba Riding Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex* Riel House N/R N/R N/R 339,441 N/R 803 St. Andrew’s Rectory N/R N/R The Forks N/R N/R York Factory 11,711 48,274 84 N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Parks Canada Agency 51 Cultural Resources Indicators Prov. National Historic Site Cultural Resources Cultural Resources National Historic Significance Other Heritage Value Visitor Experience Indicators Visitor Satisfaction Overall Batoche Visitation 2015–16 Visitor Learning Visitor Enjoyment 77% 95% 97% 93% 73% 90% 94% 12,996 98% 81% 95% 97% 6,629 90% 62% 25,506 96% 75% 90% 93% 17,025 97% 84% 96% 97% 92% 62% 87% 84% 95% 61% 75% 98% 95% 74% 93% 93% Overall Satisfaction Very Satisfied 12,853 96% 7,141 Battle of Tourond’s Coulee/Fish Creek Fort Battleford Saskatchewan N/R Fort Espérance Fort Livingstone Fort Pelly N/R N/R Fort Walsh N/R Frenchman Butte N/R Motherwell Homestead N/R N/R N/A N/R N/R N/R Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin N/A N/R N/R Athabasca Pass Banff Park Museum Bar U Ranch N/R N/R 148,338 Cave and Basin Alberta First Oil Well in Western Canada N/R Frog Lake N/R N/R Howse Pass N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Jasper House N/R Jasper Park Information Centre N/R N/R Rocky Mountain House 17,418 Skoki Ski Lodge N/R Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station 271,257 Yellowhead Pass Chilkoot Trail N/R N/R 2,468 99% 80% Fort Langley N/R N/R 82,916 91% 58% 91% 92% Fort Rodd Hill N/R N/R 61,316 97% 74% 90% 97% 8,662 97% 76% 97% 99% 56,205 99% 83% (Fort Rodd Hill and) Fisgard Lighthouse N/R N/R British Columbia Fort St. James N/R N/R Gulf of Georgia Cannery N/R Kootenae House N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 52 N/R N/R Kicking Horse Pass Twin Falls Tea House N/R N/R Gitwangak Battle Hill Rogers Pass N/R N/R 523,702 N/R State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Cultural Resources Indicators Prov. National Historic Site Cultural Resources Cultural Resources National Historic Significance Other Heritage Value Visitor Satisfaction Overall Dawson Historical Complex Dredge No. 4 N/R Yukon Former Territorial Court House N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R S.S. Klondike N/R N/R N/R N/R Visitor Enjoyment 82% 97% 99% 78% 95% 95% Very Satisfied 34,201 99% 25,188 98% N/R N/R N/R Indicator Trend Good Improving Fair Stable/No change Declining Poor Not Rated Visitor Learning Overall Satisfaction N/R Indicator Suite N/R N/R Visitation 2015–16 N/R S.S. Keno LEGEND Visitor Experience Indicators No arrow Not rated/Not applicable N/R Note regarding visitor experience indicators: Data source: Parks Canada Visitor Information Program. Represents data from current reporting period. Represents data from the previous report (2011) or most recent data. If blank: The place is not included in the Visitor Information Program. Note regarding cutural resources indicators Represents data from current reporting period. Represents data from previous reporting period. If blank: No commemorative integrity assessment conducted. Note regarding 2015–16 visitation: Visitation is measured in person-visits, which is defined as “each time a person enters the land or marine part of a reporting unit for recreational, educational or cultural purposes during business hours”. Through, local, and commercial traffic are excluded. Same day re-entries and re-entries by visitors staying overnight in the reporting unit do not constitute new person-visits. Note regarding visitation for Kejimkujik: Visitation numbers and Visitor Information Program figures are for the associated national park. kitjigattalik-Ramah Chert Quarries La Coupe Dry Dock Linear Mounds Mississauga Point Lighthouse Note regarding visitation for Riding Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex: Visitation numbers and Visitor Information Program figures are for the associated national park. Maligne Lake Chalet and Guest House Mnjikaning Fish Weirs Nan Sdins Ridgeway Battlefield Royal Battery Not included: 57-63 St. Louis Street Beausoleil Island Battle Hill Battle of Cook’s Mills Beaubassin Bloody Creek Saint-Louis Mission Saoyú-Ɂehdacho Southwold Earthworks Stanley Park Wolfe’s Landing Wrecks of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror NHS Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse and Blockhouse Carillon Barracks Carrying Place of the Bay of Quinte Cypress Hills Massacre D’Anville’s Encampment Fort Lawrence Forts Rouge, Garry and Gibraltar Fort Sainte Marie de Grace Fort Ste. Thérèse Glengarry Cairn Parks Canada Agency 53 ANNEX 2 STATE OF NATIONAL PARKS Ecological Integrity Indicators Prov. National Park Forest Freshwater Wetlands Grasslands Shrublands Visitor Experience Indicators Tundra Coastal/Marine Glaciers Gros Morne Terra Nova N.L. N/R Kejimkujik Sable Island (Reserve) N.B. N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Kouchibouguac N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Point Pelee N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Pukaskwa N/R N/R Thousand Islands N/R N/R N/R Grasslands N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Riding Mountain Wapusk N/R N/R N/R Prince Albert N/R N/R N/R Elk Island N/R N/R Jasper N/R N/R N/R Waterton Lakes N/R N/R Gulf Islands (Reserve) Gwaii Haanas (Reserve and Haida Heritage Site) N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Mount Revelstoke Pacific Rim (Reserve) N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Kluane (and Reserve) N/R N/R 90% 246,312 96% 66% 80% 96% 36,090 94% 58% 67% 96% 281,289 95% 65% 71% 97% Improving 159,398 95% 60% 74% 95% Stable/No change 145,678 94% 78% 181,296 94% 55% 45% 95% 32,330 98% 77% 94% 98% 320,287 93% 66% 68% 90% 32,887 91% 57% 58% 97% 300,106 94% 71% 74% 96% N/R N/R 7,271 96% 66% 70% 95% 92% 64% 58% 96% 339,441 93% 61% 63% 95% 11,597 96% 68% 89% 96% 258,613 94% 58% 64% 96% 3,894,332 97% 67% 69% 98% 317,789 89% 47% 68% 92% 2,266,072 95% 61% 75% 98% 486,642 95% 68% 82% 97% 95% 48% Not Rated N/R Indicator Trend Declining 81,418 72% 96% 93% 55% 66% 93% 93% 55% 66% 93% 943,856 91% 54% 73% 96% 648,468 95% 61% 67% 96% 92% 66% 96% 72% 92% 94% 759,218 No arrow Not rated/Not applicable Note regarding visitor experience indicators: Data source: Parks Canada Visitor Information Program. Represents data from current reporting period. Represents data from the previous report (2011) or most recent data. If blank: the location is not included in the Visitor Information Program. Note regarding ecological integrity indicators New indicators. All indicators identified have been assessed in the current reporting period. Note regarding 2015–16 visitation: Visitation is measured in person-visits, which is defined as “each time a person enters the land or marine part of a reporting unit for recreational, educational or cultural purposes during business hours”. Through, local, and commercial traffic are excluded. Same day re-entries and re-entries by visitors staying overnight in the reporting unit do not constitute new person-visits. 120 N/R 26,981 N/R Vuntut N/R N/R Aulavik Naats’ihch’oh (Reserve) N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 1044 N/R N/R Tuktut Nogait 0 N/R N/R N/R Nahanni (Reserve) 4 Wood Buffalo N/R Auyuittuq 3,119 N/R N/R Quasuittuq N/R N/R N/R N/R Quttinirpaaq Sirmilik 52% N/R N/R Ivvavik Nun. 530,247 48% 2,123 N/R N/R Yoho N.W.T. Good 88% 499,878 Glacier Yk. 89% N/R N/R Kootenay B.C. 57% 87% 231 N/R Banff Alb. 43% 33,978 Indicator Suite N/R Georgian Bay Islands Sask. 91% Poor N/R Bruce Peninsula Man. 91% 97% N/R N/R N/R N/R Fundy La Mauricie N/R N/R Mingan Archipelago (Reserve) Ont. 68% 207,075 LEGEND Fair N/R Forillon Que. Visitor Enjoyment Very Satisfied N/R Prince Edward Island Cape Breton Highlands N.S. Visitor Learning Satisfied Torngat Mountains Akami-Uapishku-KakKasuakMealy Mountains (Reserve) P.E.I. Visitation 2015–16 Visitor Satisfaction N/R N/R N/R N/R 265 17 237 N/R Ukkusiksalik N/R 54 State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 N/R N/R N/R Parks Canada Agency 55 ANNEX 3 NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS Province National Marine Conservation Areas Visitation 2015–16 Saguenay–St. Lawrence Quebec 1,131,712 Fathom Five Ontario British Columbia 281,587 Lake Superior N/R Gwaii Haanas (Reserve) N/R Location Very Satisfied Satisfied Visitor Learning Visitor Enjoyment Fathom Five 71% 96% 79% 97% Saguenay-Saint-Laurent 55% 91% 78% 90% LEGEND Indicator Trend Improving Note regarding nationale marine conservation areas: The suite of indicators to monitor the state of NMCA ecosytems and ecologically sustainable use will be tested and implemented in the years to come. Note regarding 2015–16 visitation: Visitation is measured in person-visits, which is defined as “each time a person enters the land or marine part of a reporting unit for recreational, educational or cultural purposes during business hours”. Through, local, and commercial trafc are excluded. Same day re-entries and re-entries by visitors staying overnight in the reporting unit do not constitute new person-visits. 56 State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016 Photo: Kevin Hogarth Grasslands National Park Glossary Awareness: the proportion of Canadians who can do the following: a) name Parks Canada as the organization responsible for the heritage places (unaided awareness); b) indicate that they have heard of Parks Canada (aided awareness). Commemorative Integrity: refers to the condition or state of a national historic site when the site has retained the heritage value for which it was designated. This is the desired state for a national historic site. A national historic site possesses commemorative integrity when: the resources directly related to the reasons for designation as a national historic site are not impaired or under threat; the reasons for designation as a national historic site are effectively communicated to the public; and the site’s heritage values (including those not related to the reasons for designation as a national historic site) are respected in all decisions and actions affecting the site. Cultural resource: a human work, an object, or a place that is determined, on the basis of its heritage value, to be directly associated with one or several important aspects of human history and culture. The heritage value of a cultural resource is embodied in tangible or intangible character-defining elements. Cultural resources associated with Parks Canada protected heritage places are divided into two categories: 1) Cultural resources of national historic significance: cultural resources that have a direct relationship with the reasons for designation of a national historic site. 2) Cultural resources of other heritage value: cultural resources that do not have a direct relationship with the reasons for designation of a national historic site but that relate to important aspects of the human history or cultural significance of a Parks Canada protected heritage place. Ecological integrity: means, with respect to a park, a condition that is determined to be characteristic of its natural region and likely to persist, including abiotic components and the composition and abundance of native species and biological communities, rates of change and supporting processes. Canada National Parks Act, s. 2(1). Enjoyment: the proportion of visitors who enjoyed their visit to a heritage place administered by Parks Canada. Enjoyment is associated with whether an individual feels they benefited (i.e. spiritually, physically, intellectually, emotionally) from their experiences. Learning: the proportion of visitors who considered that they gained knowledge about the natural or cultural components of a place administered by Parks Canada. Public appreciation: the proportion of Canadians who appreciate the significance of the heritage places administered by Parks Canada. Public support: the proportion of Canadians who support the protection and presentation of heritage places administered by Parks Canada. Parks Canada Agency 57 Photo: W.Wyett Pukaskwa National Park Glossary (cont’d) Stakeholder/partner support: the proportion of Parks Canada stakeholders and partners that support the protection and presentation of heritage places administered by Parks Canada. Satisfaction: the proportion of visitors who were satisfied, a subjective measure based on an individual’s personal assessment of how well their overall visit to a heritage place administered by Parks Canada met their own predetermined expectations. 58 Visitation: the number of people who visit a heritage place administered by Parks Canada in a given year. For this report visitation numbers are from April 1, 2011, to March 31, 2016. The trends are based on comparisons of 2015–16 and 2011 12 visitation figures. Terminology note: In 2015, the Government of Canada adopted “Indigenous” as the collective term for First Nations, Inuit and Métis. As this change is recent, many pre-existing materials or programs still use the term “Aboriginal”. State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2016