Signal Hill national historic site of canada Management Plan february 2007 Signal Hill national historic site of canada Management Plan ii © Her Majesty the Queen in right of Library and Archives Canada Canada, represented by the Chief Cataloguing in Publication Executive Officer of Parks Canada, 2007. Parks Canada Signal Hill National Historic Site of Cette publication est aussi disponible Canada: Management Plan / en français. Parks Canada For more information about the Issued also in French under the title: management plan or about Signal Hill Lieu historique national du Canada de National Historic Site of Canada: Signal Hill : Plan directeur / Parcs Canada Signal Hill National Historic Site of Canada ISBN 0-662-44393-4 Superintendent CAT. NO. R64-105/58-2007E PO Box 1268 St. John’s, NL A1C 5M9 1. Signal Hill National Historic Site Canada (St. John’s, NL)–Management. 2. Historic sites–Canada–Management. TEL: 709-772-5367 3. Historic sites–Newfoundland and FAX: 709-772-6302 Labrador–Management. E-MAIL: [email protected] 4. National parks and reserves– Canada–Management. General Information on Parks Canada 5. National parks and reserves– (within North America): 1-888-773-8888 Newfoundland and Labrador– General Information on Parks Canada Management. (to be used outside of North America I. Title. only): 1-905-426-9684 www.pc.gc.ca FC2164.S5P37 2006 971.8’1 C2006-980288-2 Front Cover Image Credits CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Gibbet Hill, Parks Canada, 1998; Queen’s Battery Gun Positions, Kevin Redmond, 2003; Military Animator, Kevin Redmond, 2003; Cabot Tower, Pamela Coristine, 2000; Noon-day Gun, Kevin Redmond, 2003 Signal Hill iii National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan Foreword Canada’s national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas offer Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast unique opportunities to experience and understand our wonder- ful country. They are places of learning, recreation and fun where Canadians can connect with our past and appreciate the natural, cultural and social forces that shaped Canada. From our smallest national park to our most visited national historic site to our largest national marine conservation area, each of these places offers Canadians and visitors unique opportunities to experience Canada. These places of beauty, wonder and learning are valued by Canadians – they are part of our past, our present and our future. Our Government’s goal is to ensure that each of these special places is conserved. We see a future in which these special places will further Canadians’ appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of Canada, the economic well-being of communities, and the vitality of our society. Our Government’s vision is to build a culture of heritage conser- vation in Canada by offering Canadians exceptional opportunities to experience our natural and cultural heritage. These values form the foundation of the new management plan for Signal Hill National Historic Site of Canada. I offer my apprecia- tion to the many thoughtful Canadians who helped to develop this plan, particularly to our dedicated team from Parks Canada, and to all those local organizations and individuals who have demonstrated their good will, hard work, spirit of co-operation and extraordinary sense of stewardship. In this same spirit of partnership and responsibility, I am pleased to approve the Signal Hill National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan. John Baird Minister of the Environment iv Signal Hill v National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan Recommendations Recommended by: Alan Latourelle Chief Executive Officer Parks Canada William (Bill) Brake Field Unit Superintendent Newfoundland East Field Unit, Parks Canada vi Signal Hill vii National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan Executive Summary Signal Hill National Historic Site of Canada landmark within the cultural landscape of (nhsc) was designated as a national historic St. John’s, and will be a recognized symbol of site because “it [Signal Hill] is importantly St. John’s, of Newfoundland and Labrador, associated with Canada’s defence and and of Canada. The cultural and heritage communications history.” Overlooking the values of the Site will be protected and Narrows – the entrance to St. John’s harbour presented, and the cultural resources on the – and crowned by Cabot Tower, Signal Hill south side of the Narrows will be valued and nhsc is a local, provincial, and national managed as an integral part of the com- symbol. It is also a part of the Family of memoration of Signal Hill. Visitors and other National Historic Sites of Canada, with a audiences will understand and support the wealth of cultural resources and landscape national historic significance of the Site, par- features that reflect three centuries of defence ticularly through experiencing the Site and and communications history. Signal Hill participation in programs. Local residents nhsc is comprised of land on both the north will continue to enjoy the Site with a greater and south sides of the Narrows. The south appreciation for its national historical signifi- side, although included in the designation, is cance. The Site will be better integrated with not administered by Parks Canada. other thematically related attractions and will Signal Hill nhsc is administered by the be regarded as a key draw in the regional Parks Canada Agency as part of a system of tourism offer. national historic sites across Canada. Each The management plan provides strategic national historic site within this system management direction for the next five years protects and presents an important part of that may be achieved within the sustain- Canada’s history. Parks Canada raises the able operations of Parks Canada and that awareness, understanding and appreciation is judged to have no significant impacts or of Canadians about our common heritage by cumulative effects on the natural or cultural offering opportunities to learn about and ex- values of the Site. As well, for the south side perience Signal Hill nhsc and other national of the Narrows, the management plan offers a historic sites across Canada. framework for the relationship between Parks This management plan replaces one pre- Canada and those who administer those cul- pared in 1986, and was developed with input tural resources. The proposed management from stakeholders of the Site. The manage- direction aims to ensure the commemorative ment plan aims to realize Parks Canada’s integrity of Signal Hill nhsc, to provide for mandate through the delivery of three key public education and outreach, and to offer mandate elements that are interrelated and opportunities for meaningful visitor experi- integrated: heritage protection, public educa- ences. Subsequent detailed planning, imple- tion and visitor experience. This management mentation and management will in turn be plan articulates a fifteen-year vision for the guided broadly by this management plan. Site: Signal Hill nhsc will remain a distinctive viii Priorities for management of Signal Hill nhsc evaluate the effectiveness of the Site’s over the next five years are: heritage presentation to meet those needs, and respond to changes as they arise. Heritage Protection • Create and maintain a Site Dossier that Program/Service Communications records all management actions and deci- • Focus on ensuring that the Site’s national sions affecting the Site’s cultural resources. historic significance is communicated by • Communicate information about signifi- its marketing partners, and respected by cant historic view planes, requesting their those who use the Site for filming, special protection and providing relevant input events and advertisements. into municipal planning and develop- ment approval processes. Agency Communications and Community Involvement • Develop and use Resource Conservation • Provide opportunities for cross-training and Maintenance Plans for the in-situ the staff from historically connected sites cultural resources under Parks Canada’s in commemorative integrity and heritage administration. presentation. • Submit structures to the Federal Heritage • Continue to encourage and participate Building Review Office fhbro( ) for in special events and activities that are evaluation. consistent with commemorative integrity • Carry-out an archaeological inventory of and that foster public support. the Chain Rock Battery area, then stabilize • Keep partners and stakeholders informed and present its cultural resources. about Parks Canada’s progress on imple- • Participate in planning and manage- menting the management plan, through ment activities that may affect the Fort meetings, presentations and electronic Amherst/south side of the Narrows area. distribution of planning products and/or • Provide training opportunities to Fort by posting them to the Parks Canada Amherst/south side of the Narrows Website. partners, and share knowledge and best practices. Visitor Experience • Provide professional and technical advice • Undertake research to determine needs, and assistance for cultural resources on interests, expectations and desired the south side of the Narrows. experiences of visitors. • Participate in activities to understand and • Study visitor use of the Site examining protect cultural resources on the south traffic, parking, visitor numbers and side of the Narrows in collaboration with circulation. south side partners, when resources are • Update the Site’s Public Safety Plan. available. • Maintain existing trails, upgrading them where needed