What we heard
Green Gables Heritage Place
About Parks Canada
Parks Canada manages Canada’s system of national historic sites, national parks, national marine conservations areas, and Canada’s first national urban park. The mandate of the Parks Canada Agency is:
This mandate includes protecting natural and cultural resources, facilitating inspiring experiences for visitors, and providing public outreach education. Parks Canada plans and manages the three aspects of its mandate using an integrated approach.
Parks Canada’s goal is to make Canada’s places and stories more relevant to Canadians, as described in the Agency's vision statement:
Consultations and Engagement on the management plan for Green Gables Heritage Place, part of L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site of Canada
Introduction
The Parks Canada Agency Act requires Parks Canada to prepare a management plan for national historic sites administered by the Agency. Management Plans ensure Parks Canada’s accountability to Canadians, outlining how historic site management will achieve measurable results in support of the Agency’s mandate.
Management plans are developed through consultation with Indigenous people and through the engagement of partners, stakeholders and the public. The management plan for Green Gables Heritage Place, part of L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site of Canada, is the first stand-alone management plan for the site.
The built, cultural and natural landscape features of Green Gables Heritage Place are representative of the historical period in which Anne of Green Gables and its sequels are set. To visit the authentic farmstead that inspired L.M. Montgomery is a lifelong dream for many admirers of the author and her works. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 200,000 visitors experienced the place annually, and visitation is gradually returning to pre-pandemic numbers as of the publication of this plan.
Consultation and engagement activities
Parks Canada staff sought input and ideas to help shape the Green Gables Heritage Place Management Plan to ensure that it is based on a shared vision that reflects the priorities of Parks Canada, Indigenous communities, partners and stakeholders, and the general public.
In early 2020, a newsletter that proposed preliminary vision elements and strategic direction for the management plan was shared with L’nuey, elected officials and key stakeholders for their feedback. Parks Canada staff were engaged on the preliminary plan concepts and a youth engagement workshop at University of Prince Edward Island was held. All Parks Canada public engagement and consultation plans were placed temporarily on hold in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 2021 and 2022, engagement and consultation gradually resumed, largely virtually. In Spring 2022, various traditional and web-enhanced methods were used to promote and engage the public on the draft management plan. Parks Canada also produced a sharable video to promote the GGHP management planning consultations and encourage public participation in the process. Thirteen meetings were held, including with L’nuey, key stakeholders and sessions open to the general public (English and French), to review the draft management plan. Twenty-six responses were also received via a bilingual online comment card. Constructive feedback was incorporated into the plan, leading to the addition of several new objectives and targets. The final draft was reviewed by L’nuey before the completion of the plan.
What we heard
Feedback on the vision
Feedback on the key strategies
Key Strategy 1: The Scope of Visitation
This key strategy provides direction related to meeting the needs of visitors and maintaining the improved condition of the site following recent significant investments. Objectives focus on maintaining cultural resources to support visitor experience as well as ensuring visitor experiences, infrastructure and facilities are varied and accessible. Additionally, this key strategy describes an objective and targets that will increase awareness of the unique identity of the place.
Feedback on this strategy was overall very positive. A new target was added for improvement of the condition of the cultural landscape at the site, and an objective was updated to emphasize the importance of the site offering a diversity of experiences that appeal to a wide range of visitor interests and abilities. Feedback placed a high importance on visitors’ continued satisfaction with facilities and experiences on site and cautioned about crowding on site. The importance of increasing awareness of the unique identity of Green Gables Heritage Place through education and outreach efforts was highlighted.
Key Strategy 2: The Pleasant Ache of Nature
This key strategy supports the protection of nature as an important part of the site’s cultural landscape and the experience of visitors. Through increased understanding, maintenance and restoration, the natural environment will be protected and more greatly appreciated by visitors.
Overall feedback received on this strategy indicated that nature is a very important part of the experience and enjoyment at Green Gables Heritage Place. A new objective was added to increase the focus on appreciating the natural and cultural landscapes at the site. Feedback emphasized the importance of balancing the natural beauty of the site features while also protecting and conserving the ecosystems.
Key Strategy 3: Working with Kindred Spirits
This key strategy focuses on continued work with partners and stakeholders to promote the site and reach potential visitors with appropriate messaging. Objectives focus on collaboration with the Mi’kmaq in Prince Edward Island, cultural groups, tourism partners and locals.
Feedback received on this strategy indicated that Parks Canada’s continued work with partners is very important, and that new opportunities for working together should be explored. In addition to growing connections with key international and local tourism providers, the importance of Island residents feeling welcomed and inspired to visit the site was highlighted. Parks Canada’s focus should be on creating authentic experiences, strengthening collaborations with partners and sharing new narratives, perspectives and voices with visitors to the site.
Next steps
Comments and suggestions received through consultation with Indigenous partners and engagement with stakeholders, local community members and the general public have been incorporated into the vision, objectives and targets, where possible.
The Green Gables Heritage Place Management Plan outlines an updated 15-year vision for the site, and presents key strategies and objectives aimed at achieving the vision. The plan provides strategic guidance for management of the site over the coming decade and provides accountability to Canadians for the site’s management.
While the management planning process is complete, work is ongoing and will continue into the future to achieve targets outlined in the plan.
- Date modified :