The Landscape of Grand Pré became Canada’s 16th World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO on June 30th, 2012.
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2004 - 2012 |
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The Landscape of Grand Pré’s journey to become a World Heritage Site officially began in 2004 when Canada released its national Tentative List for potential world heritage designations. The Landscape of Grand Pré was one of eleven national properties out of 125 considered to be included on Canada’s List.
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Timeline |
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In March of 2007 a number of stakeholders began the process to have the Landscape of Grand Pré inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nomination Grand Pre, created to lead the process, included representatives from the local community, the Acadian community, the Mi’kmaq, the Grand Pre Marsh Body, the business community, the Municipality of the County of Kings, and the former Kings Regional Development Authority.
The Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Municipality of the County of Kings pledged their support for the project, contributing over $1.3 million in funding and in-kind support.
In January 2011, the Nomination Grand Pré dossier was completed and sent to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Three levels of government (Municipality of the County of Kings, Province of Nova Scotia, Government of Canada) and key stakeholders also signed a memorandum of understanding for the long term management of the landscape, should the bid process be successful.
Following the submission of the proposal, an 18-month review process was led by the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) as the World Heritage Committee’s Advisory Body on cultural heritage matters. A representative from ICOMOS visited Grand Pré in September, 2011.
The Province of Nova Scotia announced the creation of a $2.5 million contingent trust to help preserve and interpret the Landscape of Grand Pré upon successful inscription as a World Heritage Site. The Municipality of the County of Kings had previously pledged $25,000 a year for ten years.
ICOMOS submitted a list of questions for clarification in December 2011. Canada’s clarification on the points of interest was submitted in February, 2012. The World Heritage Committee received a positive recommendation from ICOMOS.
On June 30, 2012, during the 36th session of the World Heritage Committee held in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Landscape of Grand Pré was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
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Dossier |
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UNESCO
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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty, the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.
