The National Trust for Canada, the country’s leading charity dedicated to protecting and promoting heritage places, is marking the 50th anniversary of Canada signing the UNESCO World Heritage Convention beginning with a series of events across the country this month.
Celebrations will be held at three of Canada’s World Heritage Sites: the Rideau Canal in Ottawa on July 23, Old Town Lunenburg in Nova Scotia on July 25, and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in Alberta on July 29. Family-friendly, free and open to all, each event will feature cultural and musical performances, guided tours, and interactive activities, giving the public an opportunity to learn about the importance of World Heritage in Canada.
Canada’s World Heritage Sites are part of a global list that includes some of the most iconic places on earth, from the Great Wall of China and the Galápagos Islands to Stonehenge and Machu Picchu. Here at home, Canada’s 22 World Heritage Sites span from L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland to Tr’ondëk-Klondike in the Yukon. Their recognition and protection reflect a commitment Canada made in 1976 when signing the World Heritage Convention, joining a global effort to protect places of lasting significance for present and future generations.
The National Trust for Canada will also mark the anniversary with the launch of online resources for youth and teachers, and will host a national gathering in fall 2026 to advance the conversation about the World Heritage Convention and the country’s role as a steward of places that matter to Canadians and the world.
“Canada’s World Heritage Sites are places of extraordinary natural and cultural significance, but they are also living places shaped by the people and communities who care for them,” said Dr. Patricia Kell, CEO of the National Trust for Canada. “This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate, and to invite Canadians of all generations to experience these places, interact with their stories, and see themselves as part of their future.”
The National Trust for Canada invites Canadians to join the celebration at the following events:
Rideau Canal: July 23, 2-5 p.m. at Bytown Museum and Ottawa Locks
The event will feature Indigenous and Celtic music and dance performances, guided tours of the Ottawa Locks, and interactive activities, as well as opportunities to engage with World Heritage experts and connect with the history and significance of this iconic site.
Old Town Lunenburg – Lunenburg, NS: July 25, 1-5 p.m. ADT. Programming centred near Town Hall and the Heritage Bandstand
Old Town Lunenburg is marking a double milestone this July. The event coincides with the recent 30th anniversary of the town’s UNESCO World Heritage designation and will feature live performances, walking tours, and the much-anticipated reopening of the restored Heritage Bandstand.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump – Near Fort Macleod, Alta.: July 29, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. MDT at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump outdoor plaza and Interpretive Centre
The event will include free admission to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, drumming and dancing performances, and a range of activities that highlight the site’s World Heritage designation and importance as a living site of Indigenous culture and history. The event will also honour Elders from within the Blackfoot Confederacy who have been long-standing champions of preserving the site’s heritage.
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