Canadian Heritage Rivers System facts for kids
The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) is a special program in Canada. It's like a team effort between the federal government and the governments of the provinces and territories. Their main goal is to find and protect the most amazing rivers in Canada. They want to make sure these rivers are recognized across the country and that everyone can enjoy and learn about them.
This program is a partnership involving the Canadian government, nine provinces, and all three territories. A group of 14 people, called a national board, helps manage the program. This board decides which rivers get the special "Canadian Heritage River" title.
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History of the Program
The Canadian Heritage Rivers System started in 1984. The very first river to be given this special title was the French River in Ontario. That happened in 1986.
By 1996, there were 29 rivers that had been recognized. Today, there are 39 rivers with the "Canadian Heritage River" title. There are also three more rivers that have been suggested for the title. Almost every province and territory in Canada has at least one designated river.
Rivers with Special Recognition
Many rivers across Canada have been named Canadian Heritage Rivers. This means they are important for their natural beauty, their history, or for the fun activities you can do there. Here are a few examples of these special rivers:
| River | Province/Territory | Year Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Alsek River | Yukon | 1986 |
| Athabasca River | Alberta | 1989 |
| Bloodvein River | Manitoba/Ontario | 1987/1998 |
| Cowichan River | British Columbia | 2003 |
| French River | Ontario | 1986 |
| Hayes River | Manitoba | 2006 |
| Kazan River | Nunavut | 1990 |
| Margaree River | Nova Scotia | 1998 |
| Saint John River | New Brunswick | 2013 |
| Yukon River (The Thirty Mile Section) | Yukon | 1991 |
Rivers Suggested for Recognition
Sometimes, a river is suggested to become a Canadian Heritage River, but it hasn't received the official title yet. These are called "nominated" rivers.
| River | Province/Territory | Year Nominated |
|---|---|---|
| Coppermine River | Nunavut |
Quebec's Role
Quebec is the only province that doesn't currently have any rivers listed as Canadian Heritage Rivers. The province decided to stop being part of the program in 2006.
Because Quebec isn't participating, it can be tricky for rivers that flow through both Quebec and another province. For example, part of the Restigouche River in New Brunswick was named a heritage river in 1998. But the part of the river in Quebec was not included. The same happened with the Ottawa River. It was named a heritage river in 2016, but only the part in Ontario was included. The Canadian government is still working with Quebec to try and recognize the important heritage of the Quebec part of the Ottawa River.
See also
In Spanish: Sistema de ríos del patrimonio canadiense para niños
