Heritage Regions Programme - Programme régions de patrimoine{Links to various documents follow at the end of the introduction} Introduction
The Heritage Regions Programme was launched by Heritage Canada in 1988. At that time there were several one-industry areas in Canada that were dying. Their economy was based on one industry such as agriculture, lumber, mining, or fishing. It is easily understood that when such industries are in demand, everyone supporting them is doing fine. But when the demand for their resource falls or the natural resource is exhausted (no more trees or fishes), then everyone suffers; the region begins to decline economically and the younger generation leaves to find work elsewhere. Heritage Canada developed the Heritage Regions Programme (originally
called the Heritage Tourism Programme) on the basis of its experience
with the Main Street Canada Programme to help the people in such
regions use their heritage as a new source of income and development. Here is how a Heritage Region project would typically begin. A
small group of community leaders from a one-industry area having
heard about the Heritage Regions Programme would contact Heritage
Canada asking for help. We would meet. We would ask the community
leaders to first define their "region" for us. At first,
they were a bit perplexed, but when we told them that they should
think in terms of a "territory" similar to what wild animals
do. Animals define the limits of their "territory" with
a scent and within this territory they can find enough food and
other resources to survive. Beyond these limits, it is another animal's
territory. The same applies to a one-industry region. Certain communities
are part of the "family" while others are not. Defining
the "region" was the first step. The second step required them to be pro-active. We told them to
organize a two-day visit of the "region" for us in the
following way: hire a standard 45-seat bus; reserve five seats for
Heritage Canada representatives and fill the remaining forty seats
with two representatives from twenty different communities that
are part of the "region" as identified in step 1. The morning of the first day, we wanted to visit a "natural"
site in the region, a natural area, and farm or garden that if it
disappeared or was significantly altered, they would feel that they
had lost something very important to them. Someone knowledgeable
from that specific area would need to be the guide for this first
morning's visit. Lunch would be in the area and comprise local foods
or specialties. The afternoon of the first day, we wanted to visit a "built"
area in the region, a village with typical architecture or an industrial
site that they considered to be significant. Again, someone from
that specific area would need to be the guide for this afternoon's
visit. Supper would be in the area and again comprise local foods
or specialties. The morning of the second day, we wanted to meet "living treasures"
in another area of the region; these would be people who have a
particular skill (craftsmen, musicians, painters, writers, athletes
etc.) or a long-time knowledge of the region's history. Lunch would
be in the area and comprise local foods or specialties. The afternoon of the second day, we wanted to experience a regional
"tradition" again in another area of the region, a tradition
that we would not be able to experience elsewhere. Supper and a
wrap-up session would be organized in a local hotel pending the
return to base on the following morning. By this time, the participants have forgotten that we were there;
they were talking to each other with great emotion, several openly
crying. They cannot believe that there was so much interesting and
engaging rich heritage in their region. They are touched. When asked
if they would pay several hundred dollars to be part of another
similar tour, they answer with a resounding "yes". Well, there is no need to convince them now that they have plenty
of heritages in their region, that it is fantastic, and that any
visitor from another part of the country or even from a foreign
country would also be touched by what the group has experienced
during the past two days. There is no need also to explain to them
that heritage can be natural, built, living or intangible; they
have experienced it. All we really need to do now is to continue
to identify this heritage, ensure its protection and package it
in such a way that it can be shared profitably with visitors. This
is when the Heritage Regions strategy implementation begins. LINKS [click] Heritage Canada's Heritage Regions Programme Description [click] [click] [click] [click] Regional Natural Parks of France and Heritage Regions of Canada: Two Practical Approaches for Developing Sustainable Tourism Attractions [click]
Régions de patrimoine (Canada) et parcs naturels régionaux
(France): des approches qui rejoignent les attentes des résidents
et celles des visiteurs |
Ontario
- Lanark County Heritage Region Project
Ontario - Manitoulin Island Heritage Region Project
Newfoundland and Labrador - Labrador Straits Heritage Region Project
