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Parks Canada investing $19.5 million in Fort Henry
Kingston, Ont. — A new federal-provincial agreement between Parks Canada and the St. Lawrence Parks
Commission to ensure the future sustainability of Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada was announced at the
end of August 2007 by the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks
Canada, and the Honourable Jim Bradley, Ontario Minister of Tourism. Both governments also announced significant
financial contributions to protect and operate the fort, recently designated as part of Ontario’s first World Heritage
Site.
On behalf of their respective governments, Mr. Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, and Mr. Jim
Brownell, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Member of Provincial Parliament for Stormont-
Dundas-Charlottenburg, joined together at the fort’s popular Sunset Ceremony to sign a new memorandum of
agreement that marks a renewed commitment to Kingston’s most iconic heritage tourism attraction.
The agreement provides for the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, to
continue overseeing all operations of the fort, including its various heritage interpretation programs. Parks Canada
will oversee capital conservation of the historic site.
Parks Canada will invest $19.5 million over seven years to assure the future protection of Fort Henry, beginning
with $1.5 million in new funding in 2010/11, and a $3-million commitment in each of the succeeding six years. Over
the past five years, significant work has been undertaken at Fort Henry which has resolved the fort’s most urgent
and pressing structural problems. This new federal funding will continue this stabilization program.
“I am pleased to be here, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to announce this contribution and new
agreement for Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada,” said Mr. Brown. “With the recent UNESCO designation
of Fort Henry, the Martello Towers and Rideau Canal as Ontario’s first World Heritage Site, our investment will
ensure the long-term sustainability of this important heritage site.”
The province will continue to provide annual operating funding for the fort, investing more than $25 million over the
next 10 years to support such award-winning programs as the renowned Fort Henry Guard, live interpretation and
guided tours, museum displays and a range of special events that bring Canadian history alive for visitors from
across Canada and around the world. Beginning in 2010/11, the province will also contribute an additional $2.8
million over seven years for conservation efforts.
“On the strength of our programming, Fort Henry contributes $25 million annually to the regional economy, and
accounts for more than 10 per cent of local visitor spending,” said Mr. Brownell. “The Ontario government is pleased
to partner with Parks Canada to preserve and promote the Fort as a unique heritage landmark that contributes to
economic vitality and pride of place in eastern Ontario.“
On behalf of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, Chair Peter Watson underlined the Commission’s commitment to
maintaining strong stewardship of the fort. “We will continue to provide engaging visitor experiences, so that the
heritage of the fort and its role in our history is preserved for future generations.”
The new agreement between Parks Canada and the St. Lawrence Parks Commission solidifies an ongoing
partnership between the federal and provincial governments, which has seen extensive stabilization work already
done at the fort. It ensures that the cultural heritage of Ontario and Canada is presented and protected for the
enjoyment, education and appreciation of all Canadians, today and in the future.
Posted Sept. 5, 2007
Kingston, Ont. — A new federal-provincial agreement between Parks Canada and the St. Lawrence Parks
Commission to ensure the future sustainability of Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada was announced at the
end of August 2007 by the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks
Canada, and the Honourable Jim Bradley, Ontario Minister of Tourism. Both governments also announced significant
financial contributions to protect and operate the fort, recently designated as part of Ontario’s first World Heritage
Site.
On behalf of their respective governments, Mr. Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, and Mr. Jim
Brownell, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Member of Provincial Parliament for Stormont-
Dundas-Charlottenburg, joined together at the fort’s popular Sunset Ceremony to sign a new memorandum of
agreement that marks a renewed commitment to Kingston’s most iconic heritage tourism attraction.
The agreement provides for the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, to
continue overseeing all operations of the fort, including its various heritage interpretation programs. Parks Canada
will oversee capital conservation of the historic site.
Parks Canada will invest $19.5 million over seven years to assure the future protection of Fort Henry, beginning
with $1.5 million in new funding in 2010/11, and a $3-million commitment in each of the succeeding six years. Over
the past five years, significant work has been undertaken at Fort Henry which has resolved the fort’s most urgent
and pressing structural problems. This new federal funding will continue this stabilization program.
“I am pleased to be here, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to announce this contribution and new
agreement for Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada,” said Mr. Brown. “With the recent UNESCO designation
of Fort Henry, the Martello Towers and Rideau Canal as Ontario’s first World Heritage Site, our investment will
ensure the long-term sustainability of this important heritage site.”
The province will continue to provide annual operating funding for the fort, investing more than $25 million over the
next 10 years to support such award-winning programs as the renowned Fort Henry Guard, live interpretation and
guided tours, museum displays and a range of special events that bring Canadian history alive for visitors from
across Canada and around the world. Beginning in 2010/11, the province will also contribute an additional $2.8
million over seven years for conservation efforts.
“On the strength of our programming, Fort Henry contributes $25 million annually to the regional economy, and
accounts for more than 10 per cent of local visitor spending,” said Mr. Brownell. “The Ontario government is pleased
to partner with Parks Canada to preserve and promote the Fort as a unique heritage landmark that contributes to
economic vitality and pride of place in eastern Ontario.“
On behalf of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, Chair Peter Watson underlined the Commission’s commitment to
maintaining strong stewardship of the fort. “We will continue to provide engaging visitor experiences, so that the
heritage of the fort and its role in our history is preserved for future generations.”
The new agreement between Parks Canada and the St. Lawrence Parks Commission solidifies an ongoing
partnership between the federal and provincial governments, which has seen extensive stabilization work already
done at the fort. It ensures that the cultural heritage of Ontario and Canada is presented and protected for the
enjoyment, education and appreciation of all Canadians, today and in the future.
Posted Sept. 5, 2007
Guards at Fort Henry, Kingston, 1951; Department of Travel and Publicity, Publicity Branch; Reference Code: RG
65-35-3, 11764-X2199; Archives of Ontario, I0005501
65-35-3, 11764-X2199; Archives of Ontario, I0005501