The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS; ) is a joint program administered by the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to conserve and protect the best examples of

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

's river heritage, to give them national recognition, and to encourage the public to enjoy and appreciate them. It is a cooperative program of the governments of Canada, nine provinces, and the three territories. A 14-member national board, created under the

Parks Canada Parks Canada ()Parks Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Parks Canada Agency (). is the agency of the Government of Canada which manages the country's 37 National Parks, three National Marine Co ...

Agency Act, administers the program and approves the designation of specific rivers. Individual jurisdictions can co-nominate and co-designate their respective rivers or river segments in accordance with guidance from the program Charter, and Strategic Plan, and the Principles, Procedures and Operational Guidelines (PPOG).

History

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System was established in 1984. The first Canadian Heritage River was the French River in

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, designated in 1986. By 1996 there were 29 designated rivers.

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

withdrew its participation in 2006. There are currently 42 designated, and one nominated river or river segments; with rivers designated in every province and territory except for Quebec. The most recent designation under the Canadian Heritage Rivers System has been a 718-kilometre segment of the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta, which was originally nominated by Smoky Lake County in 2021, and finally designated in 2024 and extends the 49-kilometre portion within Banff National Park which was originally recognized in 1989.

Designated rivers

The rivers currently designated as a Canadian Heritage River are:

Nominated rivers

Quebec participation

Quebec is the only province or territory to not have a designated or nominated river. The province withdrew its participation in the Canadian Heritage Rivers System in 2006. Quebec's lack of participation affects nominations and designations for rivers shared with other provinces. In 1998, the New Brunswick portion of the

Restigouche River The Restigouche River (, ) is a river that flows across the northwestern part of the province of New Brunswick and the southeastern part of Quebec. The river flows in a northeasterly direction from its source in the Appalachian Mountains of nort ...

was designated (as "Upper Restigouche"), while the Quebec portion was not. The Ottawa River was nominated in 2007 and designated in 2016, but only the Ontario portion of the river was included. The federal government says it's working with Quebec "to establish recognition of the heritage value of Quebec's stretch of the Outaouais River".Ottawa River Designated a Canadian Heritage River
, Parks Canada news release, July 28, 2016

Recent program updates

Changes to the program's Principles, Procedures and Operational Guidelines, and the latest Strategic Plan have aimed to modernize the system. Specifically, the 2020-2030 Strategic Plan identifies four priorities: * Advancing Reconciliation on Canadian Heritage Rivers * Strengthening the Canadian Heritage Rivers Network * Excellence in River Management and Conservation * Engaging Canadians in Celebrating and Stewarding Heritage Rivers

Awards

The organization has two awards, the Heritage River Award and the Canadian River Stewardship Award. Previous recipients of the Heritage River Award include:

References

External links

Canadian Heritage River Website
{{Authority control Canadian Heritage Rivers System 1984 establishments in Canada