The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS; French: Le réseau de rivières du patrimoine canadien) 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.[1] 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.[2]
The Canadian Heritage Rivers System was established in 1984.[3] The first Canadian Heritage River was the French River in Ontario, designated in 1986.[4]
By 1996 there were 29 designated rivers.[2]
Quebec withdrew its participation in 2006.[5] There are currently 39 designated and three nominated rivers; with rivers designated in every province and territory except for Quebec.[6]
The rivers currently designated as a Canadian Heritage River are:
| River | Province/Territory | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yukon | 1986 | ||
| Northwest Territories | 1993 | ||
| Athabasca River (Jasper National Park) | Alberta | 1989 | |
| Newfoundland | 2006 | ||
| Manitoba/Ontario | 1987/1998 | ||
| Yukon | 1998 | ||
| Ontario | 1996 | ||
| Saskatchewan/Alberta | 1987/2004 | ||
| British Columbia | 2003 | ||
| Ontario/Michigan | 2001 | ||
| British Columbia | 1998 | ||
| Ontario | 1986 | ||
| Ontario | 1994 | ||
| Manitoba | 2006 | ||
| Prince Edward Island | 1997 | ||
| Ontario | 1999 | ||
| Nunavut | 1990 | ||
| Kicking Horse River (Yoho National Park) | British Columbia | 1989 | |
| Newfoundland | 2001 | ||
| Nova Scotia | 1998 | ||
| Ontario | 1988 | ||
| Ontario | 2004 | ||
| North Saskatchewan River (Banff National Park) | Alberta | 1989 | |
| Ontario | 2016 | ||
| Manitoba | 2007 | ||
| Ontario | 2000 | ||
| New Brunswick | 2013 | ||
| Manitoba | 1992 | ||
| Nova Scotia | 1997 | ||
| Nunavut | 1992 | ||
| Northwest Territories | 1987 | ||
| New Brunswick | 1991 | ||
| Ontario | 2000 | ||
| Yukon | 2004 | ||
| Ontario | 2000 | ||
| Nunavut | 1990 | ||
| Prince Edward Island | 2004 | ||
| New Brunswick | 1998 | ||
| Yukon River (The Thirty Mile Section) | Yukon | 1991 |
| River | Province/Territory | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nunavut | |||
| North Saskatchewan River (Alberta) | Alberta | 2022[7] |
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 (as "Upper Restigouche"), 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".[8]