Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada Draft Management Plan

1.0 Introduction

Parks Canada administers one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and historic places in the world. Parks Canada’s mandate is to protect and present these places for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations. Future-oriented, strategic management of each national historic site, national park, national marine conservation area, and heritage canal administered by Parks Canada supports its vision:

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.

The Parks Canada Agency Act requires Parks Canada to prepare a management plan for national historic sites administered by Parks Canada. The Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan, once approved by the Minister responsible for Parks Canada and tabled in Parliament, ensures Parks Canada’s accountability to Canadians, outlining how historic site management will achieve measurable results in support of its mandate.

Indigenous peoples are important to the stewardship of heritage places, with connections to the lands and waters since time immemorial. Parks Canada’s work with Indigenous partners is centered around a vision of protected area management and governance that enables Indigenous stewardship, advances reconciliation and supports implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Indigenous peoples, as well as partners and stakeholders and the Canadian public participated in the preparation of the draft management plan, helping to shape the future direction of Fort Langley National Historic Site. The plan sets clear, strategic direction for the management and operation of Fort Langley National Historic Site by articulating a draft vision, key strategies, and objectives. Parks Canada will report annually on progress toward achieving the planned objectives and will review the plan every ten years, or sooner, if required.

This plan is not an end in itself. Parks Canada will maintain an open dialogue during the implementation of the management plan, to ensure that it remains relevant and meaningful. The plan will serve as the focus for ongoing engagement and consultation on the management of Fort Langley National Historic Site in years to come.

2.0 Significance of Fort Langley National Historic Site

Fort Langley National Historic Site (NHS) is located on the unceded territory of the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), Máthxwi (Matsqui), se’mya’me (Semiahmoo), and q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) First Nations. The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) chose the current location of the site as a trading post in 1839. It was strategically located on the south bank of the Fraser River with McMillan Island located to the north of the site, directly across the Bedford Channel. The longhouses and canoes of the Kwantlen people, a major trading partner at the fort and intermediaries in the trade with other Indigenous communities, once bordered the island’s shores. McMillan Island remains the home of the Kwantlen community today.

Métis people played a significant role during the fur trade and developed valuable relationships with First Nations and European traders. Due to their unique position in the industry, Métis people developed formalised relationships with fur trade businesses including the HBC.

Acknowledging the impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples is a critical part of healing and taking a step toward reconciliation. Parks Canada’s priority is to support Indigenous peoples in sharing their connection to ancestral lands and waters, their stories and experiences, and to welcome more narratives, perspectives and voices. Sharing these histories and interrelated themes at Fort Langley NHS is guided by Parks Canada’s Framework for History and Commemoration: National Historic Sites System Plan (2019). This framework highlights an inclusive, accessible, and engaging approach to Canada’s history, inspiring dialogue about Canada’s past, present, and future. Canada is diverse, and including the diverse histories, perspectives, and experiences of Canadians is a focus of this framework. In addition, the framework guides the planning of interpretation at the site, which considers the site’s values and opportunities, in addition to acknowledging the reasons for designation as a national historic site.

Historical colonial prominence

The history of Fort Langley is part of the story of the fur trade in Canada. The decisions made at this place tell a larger story of the establishment of the British presence on the Pacific Coast and a key milestone in the building of Canada as a nation.

In 1827, to address the United States of America’s (United States) presence and competition in the fur trade along the Columbia River, the HBC, representing the interests of the British Government, built a trading post called Fort Langley on the Lower Fraser River. In 1839, the original HBC trading post moved upriver to its current location to be closer to the HBC’s farming operations and to be on higher ground as it was less prone to flooding.

In the wake of establishing an international boundary between British interests in North America and the United States in 1846, Fort Langley became a central transshipment depot and provided the important link to the ocean and international markets. Furs and other resources from inland HBC posts flowed outward from Fort Langley, while European trade goods flowed inward through Fort Langley to interior destinations. Kwantlen First Nation’s Chief Whattlekainum urged the HBC to trade salmon and cranberries and as a result, the HBC shipped salted salmon to Hawaii and cranberries to California. By 1848, profits from the trade in salmon surpassed that of furs at Fort Langley.

Farming also played a key role in the stability and success of the HBC throughout the region as they operated a 2,000-acre farm at Fort Langley. The Fort Langley farm supplied food for the fort and other outposts. The HBC also exported produce to the Russian American Company in Alaska; through this lucrative contract, the HBC finally gained a monopoly on coastal trade. In the 1850s, Fort Langley was in its most active phase as a hub for boat building, blacksmithing, farming, cranberry packing, and fish curing. In 1858, spurred by the influx of gold prospectors to the region from the United States, the British Government chose Fort Langley as the venue to declare the establishment of the new British colony of British Columbia. The proclamation of the colony of British Columbia was a major milestone in Canada’s path to nationhood with far-reaching impacts still felt to this day.

As the gold rush moved up the Fraser River and beyond, Fort Langley continued its trade and agricultural activities. In 1886, the Hudson’s Bay Company sold its farmland holdings, built a store in the village that formed around the palisade, and finally sold the site in 1888. The HBC left the village in 1896 in favour of its larger operation in the new city of Vancouver.

Reasons for designation

In 1923, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) designated Fort Langley as a place of national significance. In 2021, the HSMBC added the last bullet point to Fort Langley NHS’s commemoration statement which has been part of the ongoing storytelling and interpretation at the site. The reasons for designation include:

• The Hudson’s Bay Company founded Fort Langley in 1827 to secure British-controlled trade on the west coast of North America and to maintain a competitive interest in the Pacific maritime fur trade.
• It was from Fort Langley that the Hudson’s Bay Company began the export of salmon, most notably to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) where many Indigenous Hawaiians were recruited to work at HBC forts and trading posts throughout the Pacific Northwest.
• After the abandonment of the Columbia River as a fur trade route in 1848, Fort Langley replaced Fort Vancouver as the HBC’s main trans-shipment depot for transporting goods to, and from, inland trading posts west of the Rocky Mountains.
• In response to the Fraser River gold rush, the act establishing the colony of British Columbia was proclaimed at Fort Langley on November 19, 1858.
• Indigenous Peoples, their territories, and labour were foundational to the fur trade in North America. Posts were often built near existing Indigenous settlements, trading routes and/or meeting places, and became important sites of economic, social, and cultural exchange.

Historical assets and cultural resources

One year after the 1923 designation of the site as a place of national historic significance the Government of Canada acquired 0.4 hectare (one acre) of land surrounding the only surviving fur-trade-era building, and the municipality of Langley purchased 0.8 hectare (two acres) of land adjacent to the site for a park. Over the subsequent years, particularly in the years leading up to the 1958 centennial of British Columbia, federal and provincial governments collaborated to acquire land and rebuild several structures. Between 1972-1973 river frontage was added to the site.

In 1931, the Native Sons of British Columbia (The Native Sons), a white settler fraternal order and nativist group, operated a museum out of the Storehouse, the only remaining structure from the time of the HBC. Their members vowed to uphold the values of British Columbia’s white pioneers, and promoted romantic portrayals of Canada’s past that emphasized their role while excluding the contributions and experiences of Indigenous peoples and people of colour in the stories of Canada.

Shared oral histories indicate The Native Sons’ association with Fort Langley NHS in the early years of the site’s designation meant that many Indigenous and racialized community members, specifically Asian-Canadians, were not welcomed, or were actively excluded, at the site. The Native Sons collected hundreds of objects of Indigenous and European provenance that remain in Parks Canada’s collection to this day. Some artifacts donated to Parks Canada by The Native Sons lack clarity around their provenance and may need to be repatriated.

3.0 Planning Context

Fort Langley NHS is located adjacent to the Fraser River on the unceded territory of the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), Máthxwi (Matsqui), se’mya’me (Semiahmoo), and q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) First Nations in Metro Vancouver, approximately 48 kilometers from downtown Vancouver, within the village of Fort Langley in the Township of Langley (Map 2). The site is accessible by road and public transportation. Fort Langley village includes historic buildings, museums, antique stores, shops, restaurants, art galleries, parks, and trails within walking distance of Fort Langley NHS.

Relationships with Indigenous communities

Parks Canada places a high priority on building positive relationships with Indigenous peoples. Kwantlen First Nation, whose main reserve is located adjacent to the site, operated the café and gift shop on site until 2021 via their business arm. Parks Canada hosts regular meetings with members of Kwantlen First Nation regarding programming at Fort Langley NHS.

With support from Parks Canada, stɑl̓əw̓ Arts and Cultural Society produced the book We Are Kwantlen, the Th'owxiya play, and created a video, on behalf of Kwantlen First Nation, to welcome visitors to the land and space at Fort Langley NHS. Other projects supported by Parks Canada over the past several years include exhibits, artist workshops, and additional videos related to Kwantlen cultural practices. In 2022, a stɑl̓əw̓ Summer Market offered free admission to Fort Langley NHS with 750 visitors attending the event.

From May 30, 2023, to April 6, 2024, the site hosted an exhibit, Che’ Semiahmah-Sen, Che’ Shesh Whe Weleq-sen Si’am / (I am Semiahmoo, I am Survivor of the Flood), developed by Semiahmoo First Nation. In the exhibit the First Nation tells their story with a focus on their oral history, who they are as a people, and their place in the region.

In March 2024, a member of the Sayisi Dene First Nation opened the Ancestor Café at the site. This local business champions Indigenous food sovereignty through collaborations with local Indigenous communities and suppliers, ensuring ingredients are as ethically sourced as possible.

Indigenous community members share cultural knowledge with visitors at the site through cultural presentations, performances, and interactive programs (e.g., plant walks, art workshops, and music and dance performances).

Parks Canada works closely with Métis communities on several projects, including commissioning a new bateau, built onsite by a Métis craftsman, producing a series of panels complementing the bateau, and installing a Métis in BC exhibit in the site’s Big House building. Recently, the Métis community developed videos featuring cultural knowledge keepers and Métis-themed hand carved kiosks at the site. Parks Canada supported these projects.

Stakeholder and partner relationships

Parks Canada continues to build relationships with organisations that have interests in tourism, heritage conservation, and education with the support of community members. Stakeholder and partner engagement is key to integrating Fort Langley NHS into the broader community and tourism region.

Parks Canada collaborates with groups dedicated to preserving and promoting local and provincial heritage conservation such as the Langley Heritage Society, Fort Langley Legacy Foundation, British Columbia Museums Association, Heritage BC, and the British Columbia Historic Federation. Kwantlen Polytechnic University, University of British Columbia, and Simon Fraser University coordinated student placements at Fort Langley NHS for job shadowing, practicums, and work experience.

Work is underway with groups dedicated to conserving and promoting natural heritage such as the Community Bat Programs of BC, Langley Volunteers, the Langley Environmental Partners Society’s Community Harvest, Langley Environmental Hero Awards programs, Spirit of the Pacific Cultural Society, and Langley Field Naturalists.

Parks Canada works regularly with the Township of Langley on topics of mutual interest as a key stakeholder in decisions that impact the site, as well as the surrounding cultural landscape. Parks Canada reviews development projects occurring adjacent to the site and provides the Township of Langley with input specifically regarding development that impacts the site.

Buildings and grounds

Fort Langley NHS measures 8.4 hectares and has twelve structures inside the palisade walls (Map 3). These structures include: one Classified Federal Heritage Building: the original Storehouse, and three reconstructed Recognized Federal Heritage Buildings: The Big House, the Servants’ Quarters, and the Northeast Bastion. Outside the palisade walls are the Visitor Centre, maintenance compound, artefact facilities, a picnic shelter, and orchard area.

Since the completion of the last management plan, several major asset projects were completed at the site. The Storehouse underwent extensive renovations including safety improvements in fire suppression, furnace replacement, and window and door conservation. Parks Canada completed upgrades to the site’s water and sewage utilities. The site is now fully connected to the Township of Langley for all utility services. Other updates to the site include the maintenance compound HVAC system, drainage, heating systems in several buildings, renovations to the café kitchen, improved public washrooms in the operations building, and the addition of ventilation to the outdoor kitchen shelter.

The riverfront property, also part of the designated national historic site, is separated by an escarpment, roadway, and railway; it is not actively used and has limited public access.

Visitor experience

Fort Langley NHS is open year-round for visitors to enjoy. Parks Canada offers a variety of visitor experiences at the site including daytime programs and activities, and overnight accommodation. Annual and seasonal events, blacksmith, coopering and baking demonstrations, and interactive family activities, such as the Parks Canada Xplorers program and red chairs, connect people to historic places and to each other.

Parks Canada school programs are a long-standing education initiative in collaboration with school districts across British Columbia. Parks Canada installed five oTENTik accommodations to provide a unique, thematic experience within the palisade walls of a historic fur trade fort. oTENTik is a seasonal offer from May to October each year.

Visitation at Fort Langley NHS exceeded 100,000 visitors each year between 2018 and 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on visitation. Visitation started to rebound in the latter half of 2022, reaching just over 74,000 in 2023. It is anticipated that visitation will return to pre-2020 levels, especially with on-site school visits and special events resuming (e.g., Cranberry Festival, Brigade Days, and the stɑl’əw̓ Summer Social).

Cultural resources and exhibits

Parks Canada regularly monitors objects displayed at the site. The historical collection at Fort Langley NHS underwent a risk assessment in 2019, while archeological objects, stored under environmental and safety controls both on site and in Parks Canada’s facilities in Winnipeg and Calgary, received a condition assessment in 2018.

Parks Canada presents a series of independent and interconnected exhibits at the site as part of the visitor experience offer such as the children’s play area, gold panning station, barrel making, and the blacksmith shop. There are two newer additions to the permanent exhibits which include two red river carts and a bateau which will require regular maintenance. Parks Canada also works on temporary exhibits such as the Work of my Ancestors which is the story of Hazel (Filardo) Gludo, an Indigenous heritage interpreter at Fort Langley NHS and descendent of an original Fort Langley employee and a local indigenous woman. This exhibit, hosted at the site from June 2023 to January 2024, focused on cedar weaving as well as residential schools.

Climate change

Climate change risks to and impacts on places administered by Parks Canada are complex and affect all Parks Canada program areas and responsibilities. The frequency and severity of extreme weather events linked to climate change are increasing. Extreme heat, wildfires, and droughts in the warmer months, combined with heavy precipitation and flooding in the cooler months, presents potentially serious risks to the preservation and presentation of natural and cultural resources at the site, and impacts visitor attendance and experience.

Parks Canada completed a climate change assessment to help identify the key climate change hazards of concern at Fort Langley NHS, this includes climate change trends and projections for the future. This assessment provides a better understanding of the climate-related risks and impacts to operations, as well as identifying a preliminary set of climate change adaptation measures such as: vegetation and pest management, drainage improvements, green back-up power sources, and employee training and support. Parks Canada also identified collaboration at the local, regional, and national level as a key element of this work.

Parks Canada is working to mitigate and address the impact of climate change on natural and cultural resources as well as protecting and supporting the recovery of species at risk, and controlling invasive species impacting Fort Langley NHS. It is anticipated that climate change will also impact the regional flora and fauna at Fort Langley NHS. Parks Canada will consider preventative and restorative measures that will impact site operations and may include collaborating to address invasive species such as Himalayan Blackberry and English Ivy. Climate change is impacting salmon populations, a valuable resource to the local First Nations and a key component of the story of Fort Langley NHS. This decline potentially impacts local First Nations, as well as species at risk in the region such as Southern Resident Killer Whales. At Fort Langley NHS, Parks Canada is working to help visitors understand the historical significance of salmon at the site as well as the importance of salmon stewardship and conservation efforts and how visitors can contribute.

Key considerations

This is the fourth management plan for Fort Langley NHS. This plan builds on the successes and lessons learned from previous management plans. Based on the implementation of the 2013 management plan and on emerging directions identified during the development of this management plan, including through the State of the Site Assessment (2023), key planning considerations and feedback from consultation, management priorities over the next ten years include:

Growing Indigenous relations: While Parks Canada has a strong relationship with members of the Kwantlen First Nation and Métis Nation British Columbia, there is a desire to grow relationships with other Indigenous communities in the region. It is important for Parks Canada to acknowledge the impact of colonial history and the fort’s designation as a national historic site on Indigenous people to make sure Indigenous peoples feel welcome and have a meaningful, tangible presence at the site. There are opportunities to create a platform for sharing histories, stories, language, and interactive experiences in collaboration with local Indigenous peoples. First Nation communities have expressed interested in harvesting and planting culturally significant plants on the riverfront property.

Increased community engagement: Parks Canada will focus on increasing community engagement in the operations and management of the site, particularly with respect to groups interested in on-site events and programs, along with renewed attention to recruit, train and retain volunteers from a diversity of backgrounds.

A space that welcomes and reflects Canada’s diversity: Currently, the site’s exhibits, programming, and webpage lack many of the rich histories and stories of the diverse communities residing in the area for many decades. Parks Canada will work to meet expectations of the diverse audiences that engage with the site to ensure continued relevance of the NHS within the region. People visiting the site should have the opportunity to see their own cultural histories reflected at Fort Langley NHS. It is also important for Parks Canada to acknowledge the impact of the designation of the site and the associated history on local racialized communities who were not initially welcomed. More can be done to reflect Canada’s diversity at Fort Langley NHS by sharing stories and histories beyond the commemorative intent of the site.

Asset and cultural resource sustainability: Ensuring long-term sustainability of cultural heritage assets is a priority for Parks Canada, as is providing for inclusivity and accessibility. This will include a balanced approach to how objects at the site are displayed and how visitors can interact with them. The Native Sons collection, donated to Parks Canada in the 1950s, will be reviewed for heritage value and provenance. Indigenous objects may require repatriation. Parks Canada will determine how to best manage the impact of climate change at Fort Langley NHS. The impact of cumulative effects on assets and cultural resources, such as damage to infrastructure leading to higher maintenance costs or loss of cultural resources, will require attention. Collaborating with partners and interested parties will be important to provide a better understanding of the potential impact of climate change and help inform future conversations and responses, resilience measures, and site management decisions on asset sustainability.

Rapid growth and development: The Township of Langley’s rapid growth and TransLink’s transit expansion presents the opportunity for more people to experience Fort Langley NHS. Several development projects are currently underway in Fort Langley adjacent to the site including a new arts, culture and heritage facility, and a residential development. Measures will be needed to ensure parking is available to site visitors. Public expectations will need to be managed to ensure the best and most appropriate use of the site’s property and limit the impact on the heritage values and cultural resources of the site.

Environmental impacts: Currently the riverfront property is neither actively monitored nor assessed for degradation. There are concerns of soil erosion along the bank which may have an impact on the site’s archeological objects. Lack of vegetation maintenance at the site can impact the historic viewscapes of the river, mountains, and McMillan Island, and the view of the treeline and fields to the east of the site. Views to the west are impacted by development outside Parks Canada’s administered site, including the new museum and residential area that can be seen from the interior of the palisade. The impact of climate change is expected to further affect these important environmental elements of the site. Monitoring and collaboration with community partners and stakeholders is important to address the environmental impacts at the site and to inform site management decisions.

4.0 Development of the Management Plan

As part of all national historic site planning programs, completion of a state of the site assessment was one of the first steps. Consideration of many other topics and opportunities shaped the draft plan, including Parks Canada’s corporate priorities, feedback from First Nations, Métis Nation British Columbia, site research, supporting plans (e.g., visitor experience strategy), and input from interested parties and community members that participated in the first phase of public consultation.

In August 2023, Parks Canada conducted the first phase of consultation to prepare this draft management plan, helping to shape the management direction for Fort Langley NHS. Letters of notification and invitations to participate were sent to First Nations, Métis Nation British Columbia, and other partners and stakeholder groups. The purpose of this consultation was threefold: 1) introduce the planning program; 2) identify opportunities to be involved in shaping the management plan and 3) begin discussing topics of mutual interest that might help shape the draft plan.

Parks Canada used a variety of methods to obtain feedback including an online platform and survey as well as virtual and on-site engagement sessions. Most responses received came from the Metro Vancouver region with a moderate response from across British Columbia and the rest of Canada. The engagement sessions hosted participants representing organisations that serve Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, people with autism, people with disabilities and people from various cultures, ethnic origins, and languages. Representatives from local businesses also participated.

Participants in the first phase of consultation provided a wide range of feedback. Common themes that emerged: Indigenous people sharing their own stories; visitors learning about Indigenous connections to Fort Langley NHS; the importance of sharing a diversity of perspectives and allowing people to share their stories in their own voices; visitors learning about the impacts of colonialism; maintaining or improving the historic character of the site; and improving access and connection to the Fraser River and the riverfront property.

The first phase of public consultation concluded in early October 2023. Parks Canada considered all comments in the development of this draft plan.

5.0 Vision

The vision expresses the desired state for Fort Langley NHS in 15 to 20 years, serving as a foundation for this management plan.

Parks Canada is committed to conserving the natural and cultural heritage at Fort Langley National Historic Site by providing a level of stewardship that retains the current level of visitor satisfaction with the visitor experience offer. The focus is on effective asset management that provides welcoming and functional spaces that are accessible, clean, and safe. Landscapes, historic structures, and cultural resources continue to be cared for, for future generations to appreciate and discover.

Fort Langley NHS is known as a place for communities to gather and feel welcome. It is a place where Indigenous peoples and diverse communities share their stories. There is acknowledgement of the impact of colonialism in Canada experienced through a variety of lenses. It is a safe place, where visitors can reflect on and better understand the lived experiences and realities of others.

Parks Canada cultivates a strong sense of community where cultures connect, and people celebrate milestones and moments together as they enjoy the site with their families and are invited to participate as visitor, volunteer, and steward. The site remains relevant in the community with people taking away their own memories and stories with a desire to come back to understand more and share their experience with others.

Community members, volunteers and employees are passionate, and visitors are encouraged to connect with nature and culture as well as reflect on discussions of Canada’s story presented at the site. Visitors leave Fort Langley NHS inspired to better understand Canada’s history and take personal actions in their everyday lives.

 

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6.0 Key Strategies

As a long-term strategic plan, consistent with the Government of Canada’s approach to results-based planning, the management plan focuses on the results that Parks Canada wants to achieve. The purpose of the management plan is to provide decision-makers and the public with the priorities that will guide decisions, not to identify ten years’ worth of specific actions.

The components of results-based planning work together as follows:

• Vision – describes the desired future, setting the management direction;
• Key strategies – present major themes, introducing management approaches and commitments;
• Objectives – identify management outcomes, indicating desired results;
• Targets – tie directly to the objectives, defining the amount of change expected; and
• Annual reporting – publicly communicates ongoing implementation, connecting actions to the direction set in the management plan.

Working with Indigenous partners and a diversity of community stakeholders, Parks Canada will make decisions to meet the targets identified in this plan. This approach allows flexibility based on available resources, evolving priorities, and emerging opportunities. Indigenous peoples, partners, stakeholders, and the public will be updated through annual implementation updates and other communications.

Each key strategy contains objectives and targets to guide site management and decision-making over the next ten years. The objectives describe desired outcomes following implementation of program activities. The measurement of targets in this plan is in comparison to 2023 levels as referenced (benchmarks) from assessments that helped guide the development of this plan. Wherever possible, targets are based on measurable data monitored by Parks Canada through Agency-wide programs. Other benchmarks and targets may need to be established and measured locally at the site. The Agency’s programs and tools that are common sources of measurable targets include:

• Parks Canada monitoring programs (state of site assessments)
• Visitor surveys
• Attendance records
• Permits
• Media tracking
• Collaborations

Specific time frames for reaching targets are provided where possible; where no time frame is referenced, the target will be achieved during the ten-year plan period.

The key strategies are not in any order of priority and are interconnected. Collectively, they aim to achieve the vision of the site and fulfill Parks Canada’s mandate. In many cases, direction for site management activities is integrated into several different key strategies. For the duration of this management plan, three key strategies included in the plan guide the management direction for Fort Langley NHS.

Key Strategy 1: Building connection

This key strategy focuses on the importance of collaboration, community connections, and relationships that support the success of Fort Langley NHS. Strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities continues to be a priority for Parks Canada. Parks Canada will focus its efforts on developing a better understanding of how Indigenous communities want to be involved in stewardship of the site and addressing topics such as the impacts of colonialism, the riverfront property, species at risk, and culturally significant plantings and objects on the site. A more tangible Indigenous presence at the site will mean Indigenous peoples can share their histories, stories, and language through their own perspectives and experiences.

Parks Canada will continue building community connections and support by providing opportunities for people to be a part of the work being done at Fort Langley NHS, such as targeted community outreach for participation in on-site events and programs with renewed attention to recruit, train and retain volunteers from a diversity of backgrounds. Parks Canada will foster and promote a culture that embraces equity, diversity, and inclusion by investing in its employees and volunteers as well as providing opportunities for diverse communities to share stories from their own perspectives and experiences allowing them to see themselves reflected in history and feel welcomed at the site.

Parks Canada will be responsive to community interests, and where appropriate, participate with Fort Langley Township partners and community members to help visitors develop an appreciation, understanding and support for the region’s heritage, from time immemorial to present day, inspiring them to make multiple visits to the site.

Objective 1.1

Parks Canada will strengthen relationships with local First Nations and Métis communities working towards increased Indigenous participation and stewardship at the site.

Targets

• Mutual interest and benefit agreement(s) between individual and groupings of First Nations and Parks Canada is established and evaluated regularly.
• Agreement(s) between the site and Métis Nation British Columbia are maintained and evaluated regularly.
• An advisory group with representation from local First Nations for Fort Langley NHS is established within five years of this management plan being approved.
• The Indigenous relations indicators are rated in collaboration with local First Nations in the next state of site assessment.

Objective 1.2

Parks Canada will strengthen relationships with stakeholders, community members, and diverse communities resulting in more meaningful collaborations.

Targets

• The number of site-specific formal partners at Fort Langley NHS increases from 2023 levels.
• The number of collaborations with diverse communities on site increases from 2023 levels.

Objective 1.3

Community support and participation from neighbours, volunteers, and community groups at the site increases.

Targets

• The number of collaborations for existing events, programs, and exhibits at the site increases from 2023 levels.
• The number of volunteers at the site increases from 2023 levels.

Key Strategy 2: Experiencing connection

This key strategy focuses on connecting visitors to the natural and cultural heritage at Fort Langley NHS through high-quality visitor experiences and outreach initiatives.

Parks Canada will continue to ensure visitors interact with the site and with each other in meaningful ways. Employees and volunteers will be trained in interpretation practices focused on facilitating dialogue to help create rich and engaging learning experiences for visitors that encourage their participation in conversations. Visitor feedback will be instrumental in continuously enhancing the service offer at the site helping to create an environment where visitors feel heard and see themselves reflected in the stories being told at the site.

Parks Canada will continue to acknowledge the impact of colonialism on Indigenous people, Black people, and people of colour, and will encourage their participation along with other community members to help visitors develop a deeper understanding of the activities that took place at the site. Visitors will be inspired to challenge their own personal biases and create interpretation centred around dialogue and diverse perspectives.

Parks Canada will also focus its efforts on embracing the diverse communities and inviting them to tell their stories in their own voices providing a more complete story to Canada’s history. Ongoing historical research will help to further enhance current exhibits and programming to ensure they are inclusive and relevant.

Parks Canada aims to create dedicated spaces (e.g., exhibits, interpretive nodes, and quiet spaces for reflection), whether on-site or virtual, where visitors can interact with the stories and histories associated with the site’s themes. These spaces will help decide how the stories and any associated objects or displays will be presented, and how visitors can have a fully interactive experience yet still ensure artifact integrity. Parks Canada aims to showcase these stories and histories together with community members. Parks Canada will collaborate with cultural heritage groups on education programming to demonstrate and share the importance of the cultural resources on-site and in storage to ensure these resources are showcased to their fullest while inspiring and connecting visitors with diverse communities and stories.

Parks Canada will monitor and respond to, as appropriate, the impact of increased density in the community and adjacent to the site, including continuing to assess relevant development projects that are on, or adjacent to, the site, and managing on-site parking availability for visitors and community members. By transitioning to a paid parking model, the site will be able to manage traffic congestion and maintenance of the parking lot more effectively.

Over the next ten years, Parks Canada will focus its efforts on increasing regional and national audiences’ connection to the site through a comprehensive approach to communications, outreach, promotion, and marketing that will inspire people to learn more about, and visit, the national historic site.

Objective 2.1

Visitation at Fort Langley NHS increases in a sustainable manner.

Target

• Visitation at the site increases from 2023 levels.

Objective 2.2

Visitor’s sense of personal connection to the site increases through meaningful engagement with employees, partners, and knowledge-holders, as well as non-personal media such as print media and digital tools.

Targets

• More than 80 percent of surveyed visitors consider the site meaningful to them.
• The percentage of visitors satisfied with their overall visit to the site is maintained at 90 percent or above.
• The sale of national, annual, and ambassador passes increases from 2023 levels.
• The number of facilitated dialogues or programs, focused on deeper conversations and reflection amongst visitors, offered at the site per year increases from 2023 levels.

Objective 2.3

Visitor’s awareness and understanding of the natural and cultural heritage of Fort Langley NHS increases.

Target

• 80 percent of surveyed visitors learn something about the natural and cultural heritage of Fort Langley NHS.

Objective 2.4

The awareness of Fort Langley NHS among Canadians increases through enhanced outreach efforts.

Targets

• Engagement through various platforms for the site increases from 2023 levels.
• The number of public interactions through outreach initiatives increases from 2023 levels.

Objective 2.5

Through continued collaboration with tourism and transportation operators, transportation options and wayfinding information related to accessing Fort Langley NHS improves.

Targets

• In collaboration with tourism and transportation operators, transportation options to the site increases from 2023 levels.
• The number of visitors surveyed satisfied with planning their trip to the site is maintained at 80 percent.

Key Strategy 3: Conserving to connect future generations

This key strategy focuses on conserving Fort Langley NHS’s built assets as well as its cultural and natural resources. Conservation of built, cultural and natural resources at the site is informed by Parks Canada’s policies at the national level and supported by specialists in assets, impact assessment, history, and archaeology. To prevent the condition of objects from deteriorating, Parks Canada invests in ongoing monitoring and infrastructure upgrades.

Parks Canada’s efforts will focus on long-term sustainability of the site’s cultural heritage assets as it is essential to the site’s operations. Visitor infrastructure investments will focus on improving accessibility, reducing barriers to on-site experiences, and creating a safe and inclusive environment to help meet the needs of more visitors, including those with mobility, sensory, and cognitive disabilities and conditions. Parks Canada will work with accessibility organisations to continue to enhance accessibility at the site and build on the work already completed. Over the next ten years, the site will focus on reducing its carbon footprint by implementing site-specific green and low-carbon approaches in site operations.

Cultural resource management is a high priority, specifically maintenance, preservation, and storage to ensure long-term sustainability of cultural heritage at the site. Assessing the heritage value and provenance of the Native Sons collection, donated to Parks Canada in the 1950s, is an important aspect of the work to be completed. This assessment will help identify Indigenous artifacts to be repatriated as deemed appropriate by Indigenous groups and determine which artifacts in the collection need to be repatriated to other communities.

Parks Canada recognises reconnecting people to the riverfront would enhance the visitor experience at Fort Langley NHS. In collaboration with partners and community groups, Parks Canada will focus efforts on determining the feasibility of establishing a more tangible connection on the riverfront property.

Continuing to understand how projected future climate conditions will impact the site will be a priority for Parks Canada. This includes obtaining climate data and information and assessing the impact of climate change on the site’s values, assets and cultural resources which are essential to site management and environmental improvements as well as visitor comfort and safety. Parks Canada will focus its efforts in implementing climate change adaptation measures identified in the following areas: vegetation and pest management, improvements to site drainage, green back-up power sources, and employee training and support. In addition, Parks Canada will continue to work with national, regional, and local experts to better understand the range of adaptation options and mitigations that will address changing climate conditions at Fort Langley NHS. This understanding will help to make informed site management decisions as well as how to plan and adapt to the impacts of climate change, protect and support in the recovery of species at risk, and control invasive species impacting the site.

Objective 3.1

Built assets at Fort Langley NHS are maintained in fair or better condition according to Parks Canada standards and guidelines.

Targets

• Through monitoring and strategic investment, the buildings at the site continue to be rated in fair or better condition in the next state of site assessment.
• The built heritage assets remain in fair or better condition in the next state of site assessment according to the 2010 Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.

Objective 3.2

Universal accessibility (e.g., ramps, accessible doors, and gender-neutral washrooms) of the built environment increases at Fort Langley NHS to provide visitors with improved access to the site.

Target

• Through strategic investment, universal accessibility of the built environment at the site increases from 2023 levels.

Objective 3.3

The collection of objects of national significance at Fort Langley NHS improves because of a thorough assessment by Parks Canada. This includes deaccessioning and repatriating objects as appropriate which will help in effective cultural resource management.

Target

• The trend rating increases for the objects of national significance in the next state of site assessment.

Objective 3.4

Landscape and landscape features at the site (e.g., the site’s escarpment, fruit trees, views, and riverfront property) are trending in stable condition as a result of developing and implementing a comprehensive landscape plan.

Targets

• The trend for landscape and landscape features of national significance remains stable in the next state of the site assessment.
• The landscape and landscape features of other heritage values are rated in the next state of site assessment to establish a baseline measurement with increased use from events, increased development adjacent to the site and to adapt to climate change impacts.

Objective 3.5

Environmental impacts are reduced by incorporating green and low carbon approaches in site operations, asset management and services aligning with the Greening Government and Parks Canada’s Sustainable Development Strategies.

Target

• Fort Langley NHS fuel and electricity greenhouse gas emissions reduce from 2023 levels.