Ardgowan National Historic Site of Canada Management Statement, 2020

Table of contents

1. Foreword
2. Recommendations
3. 1.0 Introduction
4. 2.0 Ardgowan National Historic Site of Canada
5. 3.0 Management approach
6. 4.0 Management objectives
7. 5.0 Summary of strategic environmental assessment
8. 6.0 Links

Maps

• Map 1: Ardgowan National Historic Site

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the President and Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada, 2020.

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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 statement for Ardgowan National Historic Site of Canada supports this vision.

Management statements 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 Ardgowan National Historic Site of Canada Management Statement.

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Recommendations

Recommended by and original signed by

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Introduction

The Parks Canada Agency manages one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and cultural heritage places in the world. The Agency’s mandate is to protect and present these places for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations. This management statement outlines Parks Canada’s management approach and objectives for Ardgowan National Historic Site of Canada.

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Ardgowan National Historic Site of Canada

Ardgowan National Historic Site is located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in a residential neighbourhood two kilometres from the city centre. The site was recognized as having national historic importance in 1966, as illustrated in the following commemorative statement:

“ As the symbolic home of a Father of Confederation in Prince Edward Island. ”

The heritage value of Ardgowan National Historic Site lies in its association with William Henry Pope at the time of Confederation. This is embodied in the picturesque features of the property reminiscent of that time and the early cottage ornée residence in its garden setting. Ardgowan was the home of William Henry Pope from 1854-1873. The once-substantial estate on the outskirts of Charlottetown is the only surviving residence occupied by an Island Father of Confederation during the Charlottetown Conference of 1864.

The house and property were acquired by the federal government in 1967. At that time, the house was badly deteriorated and only approximately two hectares remained of the original estate. A major rehabilitation program for the house and grounds was undertaken from 1980 to 1982 with the aim of commemorating the home of an Island Father of Confederation through presentation of the exterior of the rehabilitated house and the grounds in a manner representative of the 1860s period. Due to its association with Confederation and the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, the site is thematically linked to Province House National Historic Site located nearby in the centre of Charlottetown. As the current administrative office for the Parks Canada Prince Edward Island Field Unit, the site also serves as a location for promoting other Parks Canada places in Prince Edward Island.

The largely rebuilt interior of the house was adapted for use as office space for Parks Canada staff, and in 1994 additional office space was created with the reconstruction of the east wing of the house that had been removed previously (prior to 1966). Since then, the house has accommodated the administrative functions of the Prince Edward Island Field Unit. The interior of the house is not open to visits by the touring public, but visitors may tour the grounds and gardens and learn more about the history of Ardgowan National Historic Site of Canada through a brochure and interpretive panels on site.

In 2018-2019, as part of Canada’s Federal Infrastructure Investment Fund, Parks Canada invested approximately $280,000 in restoring the site grounds to better reflect the Victorian-era gardens that existed when Father of Confederation William Henry Pope resided at Ardgowan. With the goal of restoring species composition and layout as well as historic view planes, this work included removing overgrown shrubs and decaying trees, re-planting trees, shrubs and flowering plants typical of the 1860s period, rebuilding fences and gates and reinstating gravel pathways. The parking lot was also expanded to accommodate more visitors. This investment allows Parks Canada to better ensure the continued protection of the cultural heritage values of the site.

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Management approach

Parks Canada's intent is to continue on the management path established for Ardgowan National Historic Site to ensure it will remain a protected heritage site dedicated to learning and enjoyment. Its intention is to protect and present the historic importance of the house and grounds and to have the site serve as a gathering place for the community and the greater public. With its central location, Parks Canada will also continue to use the building as administrative offices.

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Management objectives

Cultural resource conservation:

Parks Canada protects the cultural resources at its heritage places in accordance with its Cultural Resource Management Policy and the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. To maintain the integrity of Ardgowan National Historic Site, Parks Canada will continue to preserve the site’s cultural resources for current and future generations. These efforts include the continued oversight and maintenance of cultural resources, the implementation of rehabilitation and preservation initiatives, as well as the documentation of on-site initiatives.

Public understanding, awareness and appreciation:

Parks Canada aims to effectively convey the historic importance of Ardgowan by welcoming visitors to the site grounds. Parks Canada will focus efforts on enhancing non-personal interpretive media and site amenities for visitor understanding, awareness and appreciation of the site. To increase public awareness about Ardgowan, stories related to the site and its historic Pope family residents will also be shared on Parks Canada’s website as well as through enhanced outreach and promotion.

Building relationships with Indigenous peoples:

Parks Canada in Prince Edward Island deeply values its cooperative and close relationship with the Prince Edward Island Mi’kmaq First Nations. We will continue to work together at Parks Canada sites, including here at Ardgowan, to achieve shared goals and to expand opportunities to engage visitors to learn about and connect with Mi’kmaq perspectives, history and culture.

Building relationships with partners and stakeholders:

The Prince Edward Island Field Unit will continue to build relationships with partners and stakeholders, including those within the local community, in order to increase the use of the grounds as a gathering place to be used for events and activities. These relationships will provide opportunities for a greater number of Canadians to enjoy and become aware of the site.

Site maintenance:

Parks Canada will continue to maintain this property in a way that supports the site’s heritage values, presents a positive image to the public and reflects the Parks Canada brand.

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Summary of strategic environmental assessment

The purpose of a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is to incorporate environmental considerations into the development of public policies, plans, and program proposals, to support environmentally-sound decision making. In accordance with The Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (2010), a strategic environmental assessment was conducted on the Ardgowan National Historic Site Management Statement.

The SEA for Ardgowan National Historic Site assessed the potential effects on natural and cultural resources and visitor experience. The SEA concluded that the proposed management statement for the national historic site would have positive effects on cultural resources and visitor experience. Potential environmental effects on vegetation and migratory birds were identified but the effects can be mitigated through project-level impact assessments when necessary. The statement supports the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy goal of Connecting Canadians with Nature. There are no important negative environmental effects anticipated from management statement implementation.

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Links

Ardgowan National Historic Site: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/pe/ardgowan

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Download a copy of the Ardgowan management statement (PDF, 2.89 MB).