Canadian Heritage Rivers System

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) (French: Le réseau de rivières du patrimoine canadien) was established in 1984 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. Quebec withdrew its participation in 2006.

The first Canadian Heritage River was the French River in Ontario, designated in 1986, and rivers are now designated in every province and territory except for Quebec. There are currently 38 designated and four nominated rivers.

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	Alberta/British Columbia	1989
Main River	Newfoundland	2001
Margaree River	Nova Scotia	1998
Mattawa River	Ontario	1988
Missinaibi River	Ontario	2004
North Saskatchewan River	Alberta/British Columbia	1989
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	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 (The Thirty Mile Section)	Yukon	1991

Nominated rivers

River	Province/Territory	Year
Adams River	British Columbia	2008
Churchill River	Saskatchewan
Coppermine River	Nunavut
Ottawa River	Ontario	2007

Quebec participation

As of 2011, Quebec was the only province or territory to not have a designated or nominated river. Quebec withdrew its participation in the Canadian Heritage Rivers System in 2006.

Quebec's lack of participation potentially impacts nominations for rivers shared with other provinces. In 1998, the New Brunswick portion of the Restigouche River was designated (as "Upper Restigouche"), while the Quebec portion was not. The Ottawa River was nominated in 2007, but local media reports acknowledged the challenge facing the Ottawa River's bid, as only the Ontario portion of the river would be designated and protected. Unlike the Restigouche, the Ottawa River forms much of the Ontario-Quebec border, so protecting the Ontario shore would be somewhat pointless if the Quebec shore wasn't also protected.

See also

• American Heritage Rivers, America's counterpart to the Canadian Heritage Rivers System

External links

• Canadian Heritage River Website