Nine in 10 Canadians believe it’s important to preserve historical places in this country, while 64 per cent say such landmarks tell our collective story, according to a recent survey.
In particular, the study finds residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are most interested in learning more about heritage sites due to the generations of people related to these places.
“Our diverse heritage matters. Our places, including cultural sites and landscapes, tell a unique story that contributes to our sense of identity, belonging and place,” Ingrid Cazakoff, CEO of Heritage Saskatchewan, said in a news release. “Experiencing these places, either virtually or on-site, provides us with an understanding of our past, help us learn from it, and build a shared future.”
The National Trust of Canada commissioned a study recently that found 90 per cent of Canadians believe it’s vital to preserve and celebrate the country’s heritage places, historic sites and traditional neighbourhoods, explained the news release.
Canadians’ esteem for the roles these places have in telling the story of this country’s people and its unique history powers support for preservation; 64 per cent believe heritage sites help present this country’s collective narrative.
The study showed many Canadians are aware of and support the benefits of preserving heritage sites. Three in five Canadians believe historical places are essential for tourism and 52 per cent are interested in visiting a heritage site to get involved in preservation.
Forty-three per cent believe preservation is important because many of these sites could be lost, while 36 per cent would show their support by going to a restaurant or shop in a historic area.
In particular, Canadians in the Prairie provinces are the strongest supporters of traditional downtown districts that benefit small businesses, have a keener interest in learning more about industrial sites, and want to know more about the generations of people linked to a particular place.
A great way for Canadians to experience the country’s rich history this summer is to participate in Canada Historic Places Day, which launched on July 4 and runs through August, the news release said. Hosted by the National Trust with support from Parks Canada, Canada Historic Places Day is a nation-wide celebration co-ordinated across hundreds of historical sites.
These sites encourage Canadians to engage with, support and learn more about their heritage places and Canada’s history and culture.
The Canada Historic Places Day is now in its fourth year. Recognizing that this year will be different due to the coronavirus pandemic, National Trust for Canada is encouraging Canadians to engage with and support historical places and learn about this country’s history and culture — virtually or physically, depending upon each region’s physical distancing guidelines.
The survey also found that 86 per cent of Canadians agree that preserving historic sites is more environmentally friendly than building new structures. This is especially true for older Canadians, with 96 per cent of people older than 70 years of age holding this view.
This summer, the National Trust of Canada is also holding two contests with prizes for both visitors and participating sites.
The first is a digital selfie contest on social media, where one visitor and one participating historic site can each win $1,000. This launched on July 4 and goes until the end of the month.
The second is an Online Adventures contest that will launch on Saturday, Aug. 1. The month-long contest encourages Canadians to submit a story linking their favourite historic places for the chance to win $1,000. A prize pack worth $5,000 will also be awarded to one participating historic place.
For more information, visit www.historicplacesday.ca.
