Results of previous reporting exercises

6. Monitoring

1. Key indicators for measuring the state of conservation
2. Administrative arrangements for monitoring property
3. Results of previous reporting exercises

C. Results of previous reporting exercises

The Parks Canada Agency has implemented a program to monitor the overall health of national historic sites based on indicators identified in their commemorative integrity statements. The state of the cultural resources identified for the Rideau Canal and the Kingston Fortifications in their commemorative integrity statements, are reported periodically in Parks Canada Agency reports on the state of protected heritage areas.

Parks Canada Agency, State of the Parks 1997 Report

The State of the Parks 1997 Report was an early approach to reporting and lacks the level of detail found in subsequent documents. In it, concerns were expressed regarding possible threats to the Rideau Canal owing to the potential effects of change in areas outside the jurisdiction of the Parks Canada Agency.

In response, during the review of the Rideau Canal Management Plan , commencing in 2001, these issues were specifically addressed. The revised management plan (2005) identifies strategies to engage stakeholders and other levels of government in protecting heritage values along the canal route through the development practices and protection measures that were explained in Chapter 5.

Parks Canada Agency , State of Protected Heritage Areas Report 1999

In this 1999 evaluation of the state of the Rideau Canal the monitoring and remedial action programs, including the maintenance program, were determined to be good. The reporting exercise concluded that the structures and buildings of the canal were generally in good condition, and that their commemorative integrity was not impaired. Grounds and archaeological sites were identified as being in fair condition, with acceptable or minor impairment. The main concern was the need for an inventory of archaeological resources. In addition, the effectiveness of communication of the heritage values of the canal was evaluated as fair overall, with improvement being shown in the presentation of messages on the national significance of the site.

Since the 1999 evaluation, canal staff and archaeologists have undertaken an inventory of marine archaeological resources. The updated Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan (2005) identifies additional measures that will be taken by the Parks Canada Agency to effectively address areas of concern identified in the 1999 report. Similarly, the management plan provides a strategy and specific actions to effectively communicate the canal’s significance.

Parks Canada Agency, Evaluation of the State of Commemorative Integrity, Kingston Fortifications, 2002

Because an extensive, multi-year conservation project was underway at Fort Henry when this 2002 evaluation was undertaken, its cultural resources were not included in the study. The conclusions regarding the four Martello towers were that two (Murney and Shoal) were in good condition, while Fort Frederick was rated as fair and Cathcart Tower as poor. The evaluation recognized that, with the exception of Cathcart Tower, the cultural resources are safeguarded and maintained according to accepted heritage conservation principles and practices.

The 2002 evaluation included an assessment of the delivery of the messages of national significance of the fortifications. Although interpretive programs are in place at Fort Henry, Murney Tower and Fort Frederick, the evaluation rated the effectiveness of communication as poor overall because little effort was made to present the significance of the five sites as a fortification system.

Since the evaluation was done in 2002, further conservation has been undertaken at Fort Frederick, and authorities there identify all the cultural resources as being in good condition with the exception of the earthworks, which are rated as fair. Although design specification documents have been completed for Cathcart Tower, work is yet to be implemented.

The inadequacies of effective communication concerning the Kingston Fortifications is presently being addressed in the course of management planning for Fort Henry and the four Martello towers.

Parks Canada Agency , State of Protected Heritage Areas 2003 Report

The 2002 evaluation of the Kingston Fortifications was the basis for the information on the site included in the 2003 State of Protected Heritage Areas Report. The report does not, however, include Fort Frederick because it is not under the administration of the Parks Canada Agency