Canadian Heritage Rivers System
The Canadian Heritage Rivers System is a joint program administered by the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to conserve and protect the best examples of Canada's river heritage, to give them national recognition, and to encourage the public to enjoy and appreciate them. It is a cooperative program of the governments of Canada, nine provinces, and the three territories. A 14-member national board, created under the Parks Canada Agency Act, administers the program and approves the designation of specific rivers.
Individual jurisdictions can co-nominate and co-designate their respective rivers or river segments in accordance with guidance from the program Charter, and Strategic Plan, and the Principles, Procedures and Operational Guidelines.
History
The Canadian Heritage Rivers System was established in 1984. The first Canadian Heritage River was the French River in Ontario, designated in 1986.By 1996 there were 29 designated rivers.
Quebec withdrew its participation in 2006. There are currently 42 designated, and one nominated river or river segments; with rivers designated in every province and territory except for Quebec.
The most recent designation under the Canadian Heritage Rivers System has been a 718-kilometre segment of the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta, which was originally nominated by Smoky Lake County in 2021, and finally designated in 2024 and extends the 49-kilometre portion within Banff National Park which was originally recognized in 1989.
Designated rivers
The rivers currently designated as a Canadian Heritage River are:| River | Province/Territory | Year |
| Alsek River | Yukon | 1986 |
| Arctic Red River | Northwest Territories | 1993 |
| Athabasca River | Alberta | 1989 |
| Bay du Nord River | Newfoundland | 2006 |
| Bloodvein River | Manitoba/Ontario | 1987/1998 |
| Bonnet Plume River | Yukon | 1998 |
| Boundary Waters | Ontario | 1996 |
| Clearwater River | Saskatchewan/Alberta | 1987/2004 |
| Cowichan River | British Columbia | 2003 |
| Detroit River | Ontario/Michigan | 2001 |
| Fraser River | British Columbia | 1998 |
| French River | Ontario | 1986 |
| Grand River | Ontario | 1994 |
| Hayes River | Manitoba | 2006 |
| Hillsborough River | Prince Edward Island | 1997 |
| Humber River | Ontario | 1999 |
| Kazan River | Nunavut | 1990 |
| Kicking Horse River | British Columbia | 1989 |
| Main River | Newfoundland | 2001 |
| Margaree River | Nova Scotia | 1998 |
| Mattawa River | Ontario | 1988 |
| Missinaibi River | Ontario | 2004 |
| North Saskatchewan River | Alberta | 1989 |
| North Saskatchewan River | Alberta | 2024 |
| Ottawa River | Ontario | 2016 |
| Red River | Manitoba | 2007 |
| Rideau Waterway | Ontario | 2000 |
| Saint John River | New Brunswick | 2013 |
| Seal River | Manitoba | 1992 |
| Shelburne River | Nova Scotia | 1997 |
| Soper River | Nunavut | 1992 |
| South Nahanni River | Northwest Territories | 1987 |
| St. Croix River | New Brunswick | 1991 |
| St. [Marys River (Michigan-Ontario)|St. Marys River] | Ontario | 2000 |
| Tatshenshini River | Yukon | 2004 |
| Thames River | Ontario | 2000 |
| Thelon River | Nunavut | 1990 |
| The Three Rivers | Prince Edward Island | 2004 |
| Upper Restigouche River | New Brunswick | 1998 |
| Yukon River | Yukon | 1991 |
Quebec participation
Quebec is the only province or territory to not have a designated or nominated river. The province withdrew its participation in the Canadian Heritage Rivers System in 2006.Quebec's lack of participation affects nominations and designations for rivers shared with other provinces. In 1998, the New Brunswick portion of the Restigouche River was designated, while the Quebec portion was not. The Ottawa River was nominated in 2007 and designated in 2016, but only the Ontario portion of the river was included. The federal government says it's working with Quebec "to establish recognition of the heritage value of Quebec's stretch of the Outaouais River".
Recent program updates
Changes to the program's Principles, Procedures and Operational Guidelines, and the latest Strategic Plan have aimed to modernize the system.Specifically, the 2020-2030 Strategic Plan identifies four priorities:
- Advancing Reconciliation on Canadian Heritage Rivers
- Strengthening the Canadian Heritage Rivers Network
- Excellence in River Management and Conservation
- Engaging Canadians in Celebrating and Stewarding Heritage Rivers
Awards
The organization has two awards, the Heritage River Award and the Canadian River Stewardship Award. Previous recipients of the Heritage River Award include:| 1994 | Mr. Kirk Wipper, Founder of the Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association, Toronto |
| 1998 | Mr. Bill Reid, Haida Artist and Sculptor, Vancouver |
| 2001 | Mr. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada, Montreal |
| 2004 | Elder William Commanda, Algonquin Nation of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, Maniwaki, Quebec |
| 2007 | Mr. Hap Wilson, author, wilderness adventurer and artist, Temagami, Ontario |
| 2009 | Mr. Max Finkelstein, paddler, author and river advocate, Ottawa |
| 2013 | Mr. Don Gibson, river conservation advocate and long-time National Manager of the CHRS program, Ottawa |
| 2016 | Professor Bruce and Carol Hodgins, wilderness canoe leaders, educators and operators of Camp Wahnapitae, Peterborough |
| 2021 | Bobbi Rose Koe, advocate for youth, river conservationist, watershed protector, Yukon |