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:

To protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure ecological and commemorative integrity of these places for present and future generations.

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: 

Canada’s treasured natural and historic places will be a living legacy, connecting hearts and minds to a stronger, deeper understanding of the very essence of Canada.
Anne leaps for joy in the barn at Green Gables
Anne jumps for joy in the barn at Green Gables Heritage Place 
Anne shares a pink flower with a young girl
Explore the inspirational gardens at Green Gables all summer long

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
Key issues and opportunities identified during the development of the plan included: maintaining the authenticity of the site, including managing impacts of the surrounding golf course; high visitor expectations and needs to maintain assets and landscape features; strengthening the unique identity of Green Gables Heritage Place as an authentic cultural site of national significance; and opportunities to raise awareness about other voices and perspectives, especially Mi’kmaw people and culture.
Feedback on the vision
Overall feedback was supportive of the draft vision for Green Gables Heritage Place. The most common suggestion was for the vision statement to be shortened and simplified with shorter sentences and more plain language. There was also a recommendation to broaden the focus from ‘Anne’ to L.M. Montgomery and her contributions to literature.
Feedback on the key strategies
Three key strategies have been developed to guide the management of Green Gables Heritage Place for the next ten years. The strategies have associated objectives and targets that support Parks Canada in achieving its vision for the site. The strategies are also supported by ongoing federal and departmental policies, programs, and commitments that provide direction on overarching issues such as sustainable development and operations.

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 :