FORT HENRY AND THE RIDEAU CANAL TAKE THEIR PLACE IN HISTORY AS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

It’s official. Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada, the Rideau Canal and the Kingston Fortifications have together been inscribed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Education Organization (UNESCO). The announcement was made in Auckland, New Zealand on June 28. An official public announcement was made in Ottawa on Parliament Hill on Saturday, June 30 by The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada. The Fort Henry Drums and other Fort officials were an active part of the celebrations. An exciting 12 hour Canada Day concert on Fort Henry Hill on July 1 kicked off local celebrations.

John Robertson, Manager of Fort Henry said that this announcement has placed the Rideau Canal, Fort Henry and the Kingston Fortifications under a giant global spotlight. “A World Heritage Designation is not something you take lightly,” said Robertson. “The crafting of the submission by Parks Canada over two years ago, the site visit by UNESCO officials last fall and the evaluation process were all very rigorous, but well worth the effort.”

This designation of Fort Henry, the Rideau Canal and the Kingston Fortifications represents the first World Heritage Site in Ontario and only the 14th in Canada. Eastern Ontario communities along the Rideau Canal from Ottawa to Kingston will now join the world stage with other noteworthy cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value inscribed on the World Heritage List, including: The Galapagos Islands, in Ecuador, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, in Peru, Paris and the Banks of the Seine, in France, the Acropolis, in Greece, Stonehenge, in the United Kingdom, the Great Barrier Reef, in Australia, and the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, in Canada.

“This promises to significantly build tourism in Eastern Ontario,” added Robertson. “Many travelers build their vacation itineraries around visitation to World Heritage Sites and while the greatest impact will likely not begin until the 2008 tourism season, I’m certain that we will immediately see our web hits, phone and e-mail inquires begin to spike. We anticipate more media attention in terms of international travel writers and tourism publications willing to showcase new members to the World Heritage Site family. Our entire staff is elated with this much anticipated news.”

The UNESCO designation was awarded based on two specific criteria:

1) The Rideau Canal remains the best preserved example of a slackwater canal in North America demonstrating the use of European slackwater technology in North America on a large scale. It is the only canal dating from the great North American canal-building era of the early 19th century that remains operational along its original line with most of its original structures intact.

2) The Rideau Canal is an extensive, well preserved and significant example of a canal which was used for military purposes linked to a significant stage in human history - that of the fight to control the north of the American continent. The Kingston Fortifications which include Fort Henry and the four Martello Towers are unique surviving examples of the importance the British Government placed on protecting the entrance to the Rideau Canal.

Ms. Pat Macdonald, the newly appointed General Manager of The St. Lawrence Parks Commission, the agency that manages Fort Henry, Upper Canada Village and a broad range of tourism properties along the St. Lawrence corridor echoed Robertson’s enthusiasm in congratulating Fort Henry staff. “This is a very significant achievement and is the result of lots of hard work and close collaboration of Fort Henry staff with Parks Canada to craft an effective and compelling UNESCO submission.” Macdonald said. She added that ”this World Heritage designation will play a key role in building visitor interest and dovetails nicely with the goals of The St. Lawrence Parks Commission in its efforts to expand tourism in Eastern Ontario. This inscription will shine a much deserved and overdue spotlight on tourism products and attractions throughout Eastern Ontario.”

Mr. Peter Watson, Chair of The St. Lawrence Parks Commission, said that this grand announcement will have long-term positive implications for the entire Commission from Morrisburg to Kingston. “This is just the kind of global profile any tourism operation could wish for at the start of their busy season,” remarked Watson. “Understanding the long term impacts on visitation to Fort Henry and the Rideau Canal, it also challenges us to preserve and protect these heritage gems, now that world eyes will be upon us.”

Fort Henry has been working in close partnership with the Rideau Canal and Parks Canada this year to add profile to the Rideau’s 175th anniversary celebrations, by hosting specials events like the Musical Tattoo, a 12 hour July 1st rock concert and Sunset Ceremonies. Guard staff will continue to attend Rideau Canal celebrations and events along the Rideau Canal and Parks Canada has donated a new Rideau Canal 175th anniversary exhibit to Fort Henry that was dedicated on opening day.

For more information on Fort Henry events, please call (613) 542-7388 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or visit the Fort’s web site at www.forthenry.com. Event tickets are now available on line at www.ticketweb.com. For further information on UNESCO and other Canadian World Heritage Sites, please visit www.unesco.org; The St. Lawrence Parks Commission sites and attractions: www.parks.on.ca; or the Kingston area: www.visitkingston.ca or www.kingstoncanada.com.

Located at the junction of Highways 2 and 15 (Exit 623 off Highway 401 then south on Highway 15), Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada is managed by The St. Lawrence Parks Commission, an agency of the Government of Ontario.