Chambly Canal 2018 National Historic Site of Canada
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Management Plan Chambly Canal 2018 National Historic Site of Canada 2018 Chambly Canal National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan ii © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by The Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada Agency, 2018 Parks Canada MANAGEMENT PLAN, CHAMBLY CANAL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OF CANADA, 2018 Paper: R64-105/9-2018E 978-0-660-24770-0 PDF: R64-105/9-2018E-PDF 978-0-660-24769-4 Cette publication est aussi disponible en français. For more information on the management plan or on the CHAMBLY CANAL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OF CANADA: Chambly Canal National Historic Site of Canada: 1899, boul. de Périgny Chambly, Quebec, J3L 4N3 Tel.: 450-658-0681 fax: 450-658-2428 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/qc/chambly Sources of the images on the cover page At the top, from left to right: Parks Canada and Library and Archives Canada, C-060786 Below: Parks Canada Chambly Canal iii Management Plan Foreword Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas belong to all Canadians and offer truly Canadian experiences. These special places make up one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and cultural heritage areas in the world. The Government is committed to preserving our natural and cultural heritage, expanding the system of protected places and contributing to the recovery of species-at-risk. At the same time, we must continue to offer new and innovative visitor and outreach programs and activities so that more Canadians can experience Parks Canada places and learn about our environment, history and culture. This new management plan for Chambly Canal National Historic Site of Canada supports this vision. Management plans are developed through extensive consultation and input from various people and organizations, including Indigenous Peoples, local and regional residents, visitors and the dedicated team at Parks Canada. National parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas are a priority for the Government of Canada. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this plan for their commitment and spirit of co-operation. As the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, I applaud this collaborative effort and I am pleased to approve the Chambly Canal National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan. Catherine McKenna Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada Chambly Canal v Management Plan RECOMMENDATIONS Recommended by: ________________________________ Michael Nadler Acting Chief Executive Officer Parks Canada ________________________________ Trevor Swerdfager Senior Vice-President, Operations Parks Canada ________________________________ Lauren Small Director Quebec Waterways Unit Parks Canada Chambly Canal vii Management Plan Executive Summary Located in the heart of the Montérégie area on the South shore of Montreal, the Chambly Canal National Historic Site was designated to be of national historic significance in 1929. Opened to navigation in 1843, this engineering infrastructure not only allowed commercial barges to bypass the Richelieu River rapids, it also significantly contributed to the development and the economic growth of adjacent municipalities. Today, the commercial barges have been replaced by recreational boaters, and the old towpath has been converted into a multi-use path that attracts more than 250,000 visitors and cyclists annually, making the Chambly Canal an important recreational tourism destination. The diversity of the site's historic components, such as the locks, including some that are still operated manually, as well as the archaeological remains of Fort-Sainte-Thérèse, a distinct national historic site, contribute to the richness and the identity of the Chambly Canal National Historic Site, one of the five (5) historic canals managed by Parks Canada in Quebec. Since 2015, significant investments have been made to improve the condition of the infrastructure and buildings of the Chambly Canal and maintain its physical integrity. These investments, representing approximately $50 million, are scheduled to continue until 2020. This Management plan replaces the 2007 plan and introduces the proposed vision for the site for the next ten years. While a number of the 2007 plan’s objectives have been accomplished, including identifying the location of Fort-Sainte-Thérèse, others are in the process of being carried out, such as the completion of significant rehabilitation work on the canal infrastructure and the proposal of a management strategy for all non-functional heritage bridges. The vision for the Chambly Canal National Historic Site is to promote its heritage and landscape, improve the visitor experience and increase the community’s sense of ownership and pride in the site. The development of Fort-Sainte-Thérèse as a distinct attraction along the Chambly Canal is also part of the proposed vision. Three (3) key strategies support the vision for management of the site over the next 10 years: Strategy 1: The Chambly Canal: Preserve and enhance its heritage and its cultural and natural landscape The goal of this strategy is to protect and promote, for the benefit of current and future generations, the built heritage, the surrounding environment and the cultural and natural landscapes of the Chambly Canal. This strategy is intended to ensure that the condition of the site’s historical components and the effort dedicated to their preservation reflect the importance of this engineering work. Two objectives support this strategy: Objective 1.1: The condition and integrity of the Canal's historic infrastructure are improved; Objective 1.2: The centres, sectors, cultural and natural landscapes of the Chambly Canal are further recognized and showcased. viii Strategy 2: An improved and diversified visitor experience from one end of the canal to the other This strategy is intended to improve the services and activities offered in order to enhance the visitor and recreational boater experience along the Chambly Canal. The improvement of visitor experience will be supported by the communities surrounding the canal and will result in an enhanced distribution of services, experiences and activities, to better meet the expectations of different clienteles and users. The objectives are the following: Objective 2.1: The service offer is better adapted to the needs of visitors and recreational boaters and better distributed according to the travel routes and destination sites Objective 2.2: New development plans, carried out in partnership with the adjacent municipalities, contribute to improving the attractiveness of the Chambly Canal Objective 2.3: The renewal of programs and activities enhance visitor experience. Strategy 3: A source of pride and benefits for the community Community pride in the Chambly Canal will contribute to its appreciation, while increasing a sense of belonging and interest in contributing to the site. The implementation of a strategy focused on partnerships, agreements and business opportunities with partners will enhance the site’s performance in terms of visitor experience, increase visitor loyalty and generate a positive impact on the surrounding communities. The following objective supports this strategy: Objective 3.1: The importance of the Chambly Canal is reflected in the level of commitment and ownership of the site by the local community The management plan suggests a targeted management approach for the Fort-Sainte- Thérèse National Historic Site. The recent discovery of the location of the archaeological remains of Fort-Sainte-Thérèse, on Fryer Island, requires the establishment of management guidelines to ensure its conservation and development for years to come. With the untapped potential of Fort-Sainte- Thérèse, the following objectives are put forward: • Recognize and promote the national historic value of the site • Protect and enhance Fryer Island’s exceptional natural setting • Make Fort-Sainte-Thérèse National Historic Site noticeable and accessible along the course of the Chambly Canal • Commemorate the history of the site through new interpretive activities. Chambly Canal ix Management Plan Table of Contents Foreword ..............................................................................................iii Recommendations................................................................................ v Executive Summary .............................................................................vii 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................... 1 2.0 Significance of the Chambly Canal National Historic Site .............. 9 3.0 Planning Context ............................................................................ 9 4.0 Vision ............................................................................................ 10 5.0 Key Strategies .............................................................................. 11 6.0 Area management approach for the Fort-Sainte-Thérèse National Historic Site .................................................................... 13 7.0 Summary of the Strategic Environmental Assessment ................. 18 Maps Map 1: Regional Map ........................................................................... 2 Map 2: Chambly Canal National Historic Site ....................................... 3 Map 3: Location map of the Fort-Sainte-Thérèse National Historic Site ............................................................................