Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan, 2024

On this page

• Foreword
• Recommendations
• Executive summary
• Introduction
• Significance of Fort Langley National Historic Site
• Planning context
• Development of the management plan
• Vision
• Key strategies

Foreword

From coast to coast to coast, national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas are a source of shared pride for Canadians. They reflect Canada’s natural and cultural heritage and tell stories of who we are, including the historic and contemporary contributions of Indigenous peoples.

These cherished places are a priority for the Government of Canada. We are committed to protecting natural and cultural heritage, expanding the system of protected places, and contributing to the recovery of species at risk.

At the same time, we continue to offer new and innovative visitor and outreach programs and activities to ensure that more Canadians can experience these iconic destinations and learn about history, culture, and the environment.

In collaboration with Indigenous communities and key partners, Parks Canada conserves and protects national historic sites and national parks; enables people to discover and connect with history and nature; and helps sustain the economic value of these places for local and regional communities.

This new management plan for Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada supports this vision.

Management plans are developed by a dedicated team at Parks Canada through extensive consultation and input from Indigenous partners, other partners and interest-holders, local communities, as well as visitors past and present. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this plan for their commitment and spirit of cooperation.

As the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, I applaud this collaborative effort and I am pleased to approve the Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan.

Recommendations

Recommended by:

Ron Hallman
President & Chief Executive Officer
Parks Canada

Andrew Campbell
Senior Vice-President, Operations Directorate
Parks Canada

Mark LeBlanc
Superintendent, Coastal British Columbia Field Unit
Parks Canada

Executive summary

Fort Langley National Historic Site is located adjacent to the Fraser River on the unceded territory of the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Máthxwi (Matsqui), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations. The site is approximately 48 kilometres from downtown Vancouver and 30 kilometres from downtown Abbotsford, within Fort Langley Village in the Township of Langley, British Columbia.

In 1923, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada designated Fort Langley as a place of national significance. The history of Fort Langley is part of the story of the fur trade in Canada. Indigenous peoples, their territories, and their labour were foundational to the fur trade in North America. Posts were often built near existing Indigenous settlements, trading routes and meeting places, and became important sites of economic, social, and cultural exchange. The decisions made at Fort Langley were pivotal to the establishment of the British presence on the Pacific Coast and are part of a larger story in the building of Canada as a nation with colonial prominence.

Parks Canada places a high priority on building positive relationships with Indigenous peoples. Meetings are hosted with members of Kwantlen First Nation, whose main reserve is located adjacent to the site, regarding a variety of topics at Fort Langley National Historic Site. Parks Canada also works closely with Métis communities by supporting several projects at the site. Engagement with partners and interest-holders is also key to integrating Fort Langley National Historic Site into the broader community and tourism region.

Fort Langley National Historic Site is open year-round and offers visitors a variety of experiences to connect to the site and each other. Parks Canada holds annual and seasonal events, gives blacksmithing, coopering, and baking demonstrations, and offers Parks Canada programs such as Xplorers, Red Chairs, and oTENTik overnight accommodations. First Nation community members share cultural knowledge with visitors at the site through presentations, performances, and interactive programs (for example, plant walks, art workshops, and music and dance performances).

This is the fourth management plan for Fort Langley National Historic Site. This plan builds on the successes and lessons learned from previous management plans. The management plan focuses on three key strategies that will guide the management of the site. The plan presents a 15 to 20-year vision for the site, and outlines strategies and objectives that support the vision.

Key strategy 1
Building relationships

This key strategy focuses on the importance of collaboration, community connections, and relationships that support the success of Fort Langley National Historic Site.

Key strategy 2
Building experiences

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

Key strategy 3
Conserving for future generations

This key strategy focuses on conserving Fort Langley National Historic Site’s built assets as well as its cultural and natural resources.

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 park reserve, 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 centred around a vision of protected area management and governance that enables Indigenous stewardship, advances reconciliation, and supports the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Indigenous peoples, as well as partners and interest-holders, and the Canadian public, participated in the preparation of the 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 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

In this section

• Historical colonial prominence
• Reasons for designation
• Historical assets and cultural resources

Fort Langley National Historic Site is located on the unceded territory of the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Máthxwi (Matsqui), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations. The Hudson’s Bay Company 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 held significant roles in all levels of work in the fur trade at Fort Langley, including labourers, freighters, craftsmen, and occasionally clerks. They especially helped to facilitate valuable relationships between First Nations and traders and settlers. Métis people’s role during the fur trade, in what would become British Columbia, was vital and also shares many of the same kinship networks and cultural keystones of other Métis communities in western Canada historically and today.

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 National Historic Site is guided by Parks Canada’s Framework for History and Commemoration: National Historic Sites System Plan (2019). This framework outlines an inclusive, accessible, and engaging approach to Canada’s history inspiring dialogue about Canada’s past, present, and future. Canada is diverse, so including 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 are pivotal to the establishment of the British presence on the Pacific Coast and are part of a larger story of the building of Canada as a nation with colonial prominence.

In 1827, to address the United States of America’s (United States) presence and competition in the fur trade along the Columbia River, the Hudson’s Bay Company, representing the interests of the British Government, built a trading post called Fort Langley on the Lower Fraser River. In 1839, the original Hudson’s Bay Company trading post moved upriver to its current location to be closer to their 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 Hudson’s Bay Company 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 Hudson’s Bay Company to trade salmon and cranberries and as a result, they 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 Hudson’s Bay Company throughout the region as they operated an 810-hectare (2,000-acre) farm at Fort Langley. The Fort Langley farm supplied food for the fort and other outposts. The Hudson’s Bay Company also exported produce to the Russian American Company in Alaska and through this lucrative contract, they finally gained a monopoly on the coastal trade. In the 1850s, Fort Langley was in its most active phase as a hub for blacksmithing, farming, cranberry packing, boat building, 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 Hudson’s Bay Company 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 designated Fort Langley as a place of national significance. The reasons for designation are listed below. In 2021, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada added the last bullet point to Fort Langley National Historic Site’s commemoration statement which has been part of the ongoing storytelling and interpretation at the site.

• 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 Hudson’s Bay Company 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 Hudson’s Bay Company’s main transshipment 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 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 hectares (one acre) of land surrounding the only surviving fur trade era building, and the municipality of Langley purchased 0.8 hectares (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 and 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 Hudson’s Bay Company. Their members vowed to uphold the values of British Columbia’s white pioneers and promoted romantic portrayals of Canada’s past that emphasised their role while minimising 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 National Historic Site in the early years of the site’s designation meant that many Indigenous and 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 artefacts and belongings donated to Parks Canada by The Native Sons lack clarity around their provenance and may need to be returned to communities of origin.

Map 1: Regional setting

Map 1: Regional setting — Text version

A map showing the regional location of Fort Langley National Historic Site in southwestern British Columbia. North is at the top of the map. The site is marked with a number 3 near the right-hand side of the map, on the Fraser River to the east of Vancouver.

It shows the site in relation to four other national historic sites and national park reserves in the region, including Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites (marked number 1, located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, near Victoria), Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site (marked number 2, located in Richmond, south of Vancouver), Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (located along the west coast of Vancouver Island, south of Tofino), and Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (located in the Salish Sea, between Victoria and Vancouver).

A list of these five locations is shown on the left side of the map. The map shows a change in colour to delineate the border between Canada and the United States, and the Salish Sea is located in between.

3.0 Planning context

In this section

• Relationships with Indigenous communities
• Partner and interest-holder relationships
• Buildings and grounds
• Visitor experiences
• Cultural resources and exhibits
• Climate change
• Key considerations

Fort Langley National Historic Site is located adjacent to the Fraser River on the unceded territory of the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Máthxwi (Matsqui), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations. The site is located in Metro Vancouver, approximately 48 kilometres from downtown Vancouver and 30 kilometres from downtown Abbotsford, within the Fort Langley Village 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 National Historic Site.

Map 2: Location of Fort Langley National Historic Site in the region

Map 2: Location of Fort Langley National Historic Site in the region — Text version

A map showing the location of Fort Langley National Historic Site within the Lower Mainland region in the province of British Columbia. North is at the top of the map. The map shows North Vancouver, Burrard Inlet, Vancouver, and Coquitlam, and Richmond in the northern part of the Lower Mainland. Below that is the Fraser River. The map shows Delta, Surrey, and White Rock to the west. Pitt Meadows, the Township of Langley, and village of Fort Langley are in the centre of the map. Mission and Abbotsford are to the east.

The map also shows the Strait of Georgia to the west of the Lower Mainland and there is a change in colour and a line delineating the border between Canada and the United States.

Major highways are shown, as are two airports and a ferry terminal. The site is marked with a red dot in the village of Fort Langley, off Highway 1, within the Township of Langley, on the south shore of the Fraser River.

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 meetings with members of Kwantlen First Nation, regarding a variety of topics at Fort Langley National Historic Site.

With support from Parks Canada, Stalew 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 National Historic Site. 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 Stalew Summer Market offered free admission to the site 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.

First Nation community members share cultural knowledge with visitors at the site through presentations, performances, and interactive programs (for example, 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 on-site by a Métis craftsman, and producing a series of panels complementing the bateau. In addition, the Métis in British Columbia exhibit is presented in the site’s Big House building. Finally, the Métis community developed videos featuring cultural knowledge keepers and Métis-themed hand-carved kiosks at the site. Parks Canada supported these projects.

Partner and interest-holder relationships

Parks Canada continues to build relationships with organisations that have interests in tourism, heritage conservation and education with the support of community members. Engagement with partners and interest-holders is key to integrating Fort Langley National Historic Site 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 National Historic Site 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 a variety of topics and is a key interest-holder 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 National Historic Site measures 8.4 hectares (21 acres) and has twelve structures inside the palisade walls (Map 3). These structures include one Classified Federal Heritage Building: the original Storehouse, and three reconstructed Recognised Federal Heritage Buildings: the Big House, the Servants’ Quarters, and the Northeast Bastion. A Visitor Centre, maintenance compound, artefact facilities, a picnic shelter, and an orchard area are located outside the palisade walls.

Since the completion of the last management plan, several major asset projects have been 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 not actively used and has limited public access as it is separated by an escarpment, roadway, and railway.

Map 3: Site map of Fort Langley National Historic Site

Map 3: Site Map of Fort Langley National Historic Site — Text version

A detailed map of Fort Langley National Historic Site from above, showing a 500 metre by 400 metre area within the village of Fort Langley. North is at the top of the map.

Moving from the top (north) down (south), the map shows: the Fraser River, the site’s undeveloped riverfront property, a railway line, River Road, then the main site, framed by Mavis Avenue to the west, Mary Avenue to the south, and other property to the east.

A legend on the left side of the map identifies the main features of the site by colour, showing: Buildings, Other features, the Bateau, the Heritage Garden, the Fort palisade and grounds, oTENTik accommodations, Parks Canada property, and other property. Parks Canada property is shaded green and other properties are shaded beige. Symbols identify the locations for Information, Parking lots, and Picnic areas.

The right side of the map lists the main structures of the site labelled 1 through 17 which match locations shown on the map. Structures 1 through 15 within the palisade walls include: Storehouse, Theatre, Children’s Play Area, Café and Operations, Big House, Kitchen Shelter, Animal Enclosure, Heritage Garden, Gold Panning, Centre Fire, Servants Quarters, Trade Window, Cooperage, Blacksmith Shop, Bastions, and Gallery. The Visitor Centre and Maintenance Compound (numbers 16 and 17) are located outside the palisade walls to the east and west of the parking lots.

An emergency access road is shaded in red at the southern end of the palisade wall off Mary Avenue.

Visitor experiences

Fort Langley National Historic Site is open year-round and offers visitors a variety of experiences to connect to the site and each other. Parks Canada holds annual and seasonal events, gives blacksmithing, coopering, and baking demonstrations, and offers Parks Canada programs such as Xplorers and Red Chairs.

Parks Canada school programs are a long-standing education initiative developed in collaboration with 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 the site 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 now that on-site school visits and special events have resumed (for example, 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 National Historic Site underwent a risk assessment in 2019. In addition, archaeological 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, 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 a Kwantlen Elder, Hazel. 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, present potentially serious risks to the preservation and presentation of natural and cultural resources at the site and impact visitor attendance and experiences.

Parks Canada completed a climate change assessment to help identify the key climate change hazards of concern at Fort Langley National Historic Site, including 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 levels as a key element of this work.

Parks Canada is working to mitigate and address the impacts of climate change on natural and cultural resources, while also working to protect and support in the recovery of species at risk, and control invasive species. It is anticipated that climate change will also impact regional flora and fauna at and adjacent to the site. Parks Canada considers both preventative and restorative measures and works together with national, regional, and local experts to address invasive species such as Himalayan Blackberry and English Ivy. Climate change also impacts salmon populations, a valuable resource to local First Nations and a key component of the story of Fort Langley National Historic Site. Climate change also impacts local First Nations access to other traditional food and medicine sources, as well as an interconnected web of species at risk, such as Southern Resident Killer Whales. At the site, 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.

Key considerations

This is the fourth management plan for Fort Langley National Historic Site. 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 consultations, management priorities over the next ten years are outlined below.

Growing Indigenous relations

While Parks Canada has existing relationships with members of the Kwantlen First Nation and Métis Nation British Columbia, there is a desire to further relationships with other Indigenous communities in the region. It is important for Parks Canada to acknowledge the impact of colonial history and the designation of this national historic site on Indigenous people, to make sure Indigenous peoples feel welcome, and to support the meaningful, tangible presence of Indigenous peoples at the site. There are opportunities for Parks Canada to create a platform for sharing histories, stories, language, and interactive experiences in collaboration with local Indigenous peoples. For example, First Nation communities have expressed interest in planting and harvesting 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. Collaboration with community groups interested in on-site events and programs, along with renewed attention to recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers from a diversity of backgrounds, is important for providing quality visitor experience and for respectfully sharing the multifaceted stories at Fort Langley National Historic Site.

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

Asset and cultural resource sustainability

Ensuring the 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 need to be returned. Parks Canada will determine how to best manage the impacts of climate change on Fort Langley National Historic Site. The cumulative impacts 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 obtain a better understanding of the potential impact of climate change and help inform future conservation responses, and 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 National Historic Site. Several development projects are currently underway adjacent to the site, including a residential development and a new arts, culture, and heritage facility. 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 to 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 about soil erosion along the bank that may affect the site’s archeological objects. Lack of vegetation maintenance at the site can change or obscure 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 now include development outside Parks Canada’s administered site, including the new museum and residential area that can be seen from the interior of the palisade. Climate change is expected to further affect these important environmental elements of the site. Monitoring and collaboration with community partners and interest-holders is important to address the environmental impacts at the site and to inform site management decisions.

4.0 Development of the management plan

A range of topics and opportunities were considered for this management plan, including Parks Canada’s corporate priorities, feedback from First Nations, Métis Nation British Columbia, site research, supporting plans (for example, visitor experience strategy), and comments from consultation.

In August 2023, Parks Canada conducted the first phase of consultation to prepare the draft management plan, helping to shape the management direction for Fort Langley National Historic Site. Letters of notification and invitations to participate were sent to First Nations, Métis Nation British Columbia, and other partners and interest-holder groups. The purpose of this consultation was threefold:

1. introduce the planning program
2. identify opportunities to be involved in shaping the management plan
3. begin discussing topics of mutual interest that might help shape the draft plan

A second phase of consultation was held in summer 2024 to obtain feedback on the site’s draft management plan.

Parks Canada used a variety of methods to obtain feedback including an online platform and survey, as well as virtual and in-person meetings and 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 and the tourism industry also participated.

Participants in both phases of consultation provided a range of feedback. Common themes that emerged include Indigenous people sharing their own stories; visitors learning about Indigenous connections to Fort Langley National Historic Site; 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.

All feedback provided during consultations was carefully reviewed and considered to finalise the 2024 Fort Langley National Historic Site Management Plan. A consultation summary was developed in the form of a What We Heard report and is available. Many thanks to all who participated. Your feedback helped to shape the management plan for the site.

5.0 Vision

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

Fort Langley National Historic Site protects, commemorates, presents, and promotes the challenging histories shaped by the fur trade and establishment of British Columbia. The site is known as a place for everyone to gather and feel welcome, explore complex stories, and create lasting memories. Parks Canada has meaningful relationships with First Nations, Métis, and diverse communities with opportunities for them to share their stories in their own voices.

Parks Canada is committed to conserving the natural and cultural heritage at Fort Langley National Historic Site by providing a level of stewardship focused on effective asset and cultural resource management. Landscapes, historic structures, and cultural resources will continue to be cared for and maintained so that they can be discovered and appreciated by future generations.

A variety of meaningful experiences will give visitors a better understanding of the lived experiences and realities of the past, connect with nature and culture, and explore history through various perspectives, including the impacts of colonialism in Canada. Visitors leave inspired to deepen their understanding of themselves and each other. They reflect on their experiences with a desire to learn more, be curious, and revisit the site to continue the dialogue with classmates, friends, and family.

6.0 Key strategies

In this section

• Key strategy 1: Building relationships
• Key strategy 2: Building experiences
• Key strategy 3: Conserving for future generations

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
• 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 interest-holders, Parks Canada will make decisions to meet the targets identified in this plan. This approach allows flexibility based on evolving priorities, available resources, and emerging opportunities. Indigenous peoples, partners, interest-holders, and the public will be updated through annual implementation reports 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 the desired outcomes following the implementation of program activities. The measurement of targets is in comparison to 2024 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 timeframes for reaching targets are provided where possible; where no timeframe 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 guide the management direction for Fort Langley National Historic Site.

Key strategy 1
Building relationships

This key strategy focuses on the importance of collaboration, community connections, and relationships that support the success of Fort Langley National Historic Site. Strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities continues to be a priority for Parks Canada with the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission playing an integral role.

Through dialogue and collaboration, Parks Canada will develop a better understanding of how Indigenous communities want to be involved in the stewardship of the site, recognising unique cultural distinctions and values while addressing topics such as the riverfront property, species at risk, culturally significant plantings and objects on the site, and the impacts of colonialism. Indigenous peoples, including Elders and youth, will share their histories, stories, language and culture through their own voices.

Parks Canada will continue building community connections and support by providing opportunities for people to be a part of the work being done at the site. This includes targeted community outreach for participation in on-site events and programs with renewed attention to recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers from a range of backgrounds. Parks Canada will foster and promote a culture that embraces equity, diversity, and inclusion by investing in its employees and volunteers. This will provide opportunities for diverse communities and generations to share stories from their own perspectives and experiences and encourage visitors 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 the 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 toward increased Indigenous collaboration, participation, economic opportunities, and stewardship at the site.

Targets

• Agreement(s) between Parks Canada and First Nations are co-developed and established in mutually beneficial ways
• Agreement(s) between Parks Canada and Métis Nation British Columbia are maintained and evaluated regularly
• The Indigenous relations indicators are rated in collaboration with local Indigenous groups in the next state of site assessment

Objective 1.2

Parks Canada will strengthen relationships with diverse community groups and interest-holders, resulting in more meaningful collaborations.

Targets

• The number of site-specific formal partners at Fort Langley National Historic Site increases from 2024 levels
• The number of collaborations with diverse communities on site increases from 2024 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 increase from 2024 levels
• The number of volunteers at the site increases from 2024 levels

Key strategy 2
Building experiences

This key strategy focuses on connecting visitors to the natural and cultural heritage at Fort Langley National Historic Site 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 encourages their participation in conversations. Visitor feedback will be instrumental in continuously enhancing the service offer, 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 to help visitors develop a deeper understanding of their historical presence and the activities that took place at the site. Visitors will be inspired to challenge their own biases and create interpretation programs centred around dialogue and diverse perspectives.

Parks Canada will also focus its efforts on strengthening relationships with diverse communities and inviting their members to share their stories in their own voices, providing visitors with a broader perspective on 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 work with community members to create dedicated spaces (for example, accessible exhibits, interpretive nodes and quiet spaces for reflection), whether on-site or virtually, where visitors can interact with the stories and histories associated with the site’s themes. These spaces will inform how their stories and any associated objects or displays will be presented, and how visitors can have an interactive experience while still ensuring the integrity of artefacts. Parks Canada will collaborate with cultural heritage groups including First Nation and Métis communities on education programming and visitor experiences to demonstrate and share the importance of the cultural resources on-site and in storage, and to ensure that these resources are showcased.

Parks Canada will monitor and respond to, as appropriate, the impact of increased density in the community, including continuing to assess relevant development projects that are on or adjacent to the site and managing on-site parking availability for visitors. Parks Canada will implement effective approaches to better manage traffic congestion and maintenance of the parking lot as well as ongoing parking pressures at the site (for example, transitioning to a paid parking model for non-visitors).

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 visit and learn more about the national historic site.

Objective 2.1

Visitation at Fort Langley National Historic Site increases in a sustainable manner.

Targets

• School and youth programming is maintained at 2024 levels
• Visitation, including repeat visitation, at the site increases from 2024 levels
• National, annual and ambassador pass sales increase from 2024 levels
• At least 90% of surveyed visitors are satisfied with their overall visit

Objective 2.2

Visitors’ sense of personal connection to the site increases through high-quality activities and programs.

Targets

• At least 80% of surveyed visitors consider the site meaningful to them
• The number of facilitated dialogues or programs, focused on deeper conversations and reflection among visitors, offered at the site per year increases from 2024 levels

Objective 2.3

Visitors’ understanding of the natural and cultural heritage of Fort Langley National Historic Site increases.

Target

• At least 80% of surveyed visitors learn something about the natural and cultural heritage of the site

Objective 2.4

The awareness of the site among Canadians increases through enhanced promotions and outreach efforts.

Targets

• Virtual reach increases from 2024 levels
• The number of public interactions through outreach initiatives increases from 2024 levels

Objective 2.5

Through continued collaboration with tourism and transportation operators, transportation options and wayfinding information related to accessing the site improve.

Targets

• In collaboration with tourism and transportation operators, transportation options to the site increase from 2024 levels
• At least 80% of visitors surveyed are satisfied with planning their trip to the site

Key strategy 3
Conserving for future generations

This key strategy focuses on conserving Fort Langley National Historic Site’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 the 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 or conditions. Parks Canada will work with accessibility organisations to continue to enhance the accessibility of 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 the long-term sustainability of cultural heritage at the site. Parks Canada will assess the heritage value and provenance of the Native Sons collection, donated in the 1950s, as capacity allows. This assessment will help identify the origin of Indigenous artefacts and belongings in the collection and provide a basis for engagement with Indigenous communities about appropriate options for the display, storage, or return of the objects. In addition, this assessment will help determine which artefacts and belongings in the collection need to be returned to other communities.

Parks Canada recognises that reconnecting people to the riverfront would enhance the visitor experience at the site. 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 the projected future climate will impact the site will be a priority for Parks Canada. This includes obtaining climate data and information and assessing the impacts of climate change on the site’s values, assets, and cultural resources. This is essential to site management and environmental improvements as well as visitor comfort and safety. Parks Canada will focus its efforts on 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 mitigation that will address changing climate conditions at Fort Langley National Historic Site. 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 the recovery of species at risk, and control invasive species impacting the site.

Objective 3.1

Built assets at Fort Langley National Historic Site 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 (for example, accessible facilities and services) of the built environment increases at Fort Langley National Historic Site to provide visitors with meaningful access to the site.

Target

• Through strategic investment, the site’s rating improves in the next accessibility audit

Objective 3.3

The collection of objects of national significance at the site improves because of a thorough assessment by Parks Canada. This includes removing and returning objects from the collection 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 (for example, 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
  • This will help assess the impacts resulting from climate change, increased usage from events, and increased development adjacent to the site

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 Strategy and Parks Canada’s Sustainable Development Strategies.

Target

• Fort Langley National Historic Site fuel and electricity greenhouse gas emissions reduce from 2024 levels