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  Researching the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada
  Recherche sur la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg Lieu historique national du Canada

Parks Canada Staff: Cape Breton Field Unit

I am pleased to present to you a draft of the Charter for the Parks Canada Agency and to invite you to comment upon it. By establishing its Charter, Parks Canada will both fulfil a requirement of the Parks Canada Agency Act and respond to a commitment in the Minister’s Action Plan with respect to the Report of the Panel on the Ecological Integrity of Canada’s National Parks.

Employees and stakeholders across Canada are being asked for their comments and suggestions so that the document can be finalized. Please feel free to ask questions about the Charter or to provide suggested changes during staff meetings or by sending them to Tim Reynolds for Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Aynsley MacFarlane for Alexander Graham Bell, and Carol Whitfield for the Fortress of Louisbourg and St. Peter’s Canal. You can also e-mail comments or concerns to Tom Lee at PKS-Charte Parcs Canada-Parks Canada Charter (or to his office if you do not have access to e-mail) by September 15, 2000.

The Charter will set out the values and principles governing the provision of services to the public by the Agency and the management of its human resources. It builds on the foundation established by the Parks Canada Human Resources Values and Operating Principles document approved in February 1999.

DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION

THE PARKS CANADA AGENCY CHARTER

The Parks Canada Agency was established by the Parliament of Canada for the purpose of ensuring that Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and related heritage areas are protected and presented for this and future generations. In so doing, Parks Canada has a responsibility to reflect Canada’s values and identity, to contribute to enhancing pride in Canada, and to provide quality services to visitors and the Canadian public.

OUR MANDATE

1. We will manage Canada’s heritage programs and places in accordance with cultural resource and ecosystem management principles and meet commemorative and ecological integrity objectives through adaptive management and collaboration with others. This will be our foremost priority.

2. We will collaborate with Canadians and government agencies at the local, regional, provincial and national levels to identify Canada’s significant heritage places, persons and events, and designate or establish national historic sites, historic canals, heritage railway stations, federal heritage buildings, national parks, national marine conservation areas and heritage rivers.

3. We will provide quality services, including learning and discovery opportunities that are consistent with ecological and commemorative integrity objectives in order to inspire, make us proud and bring us closer together as Canadians through an understanding of our natural and cultural heritage.

4. We will advance ecosystem and cultural resource conservation beyond the places we manage through partnerships and co-operative arrangements with others.

Our Commitment as Employees

We will act and make decisions in ways that reflect a culture of conservation. We will uphold the values of competency, respect and fairness. We will honour and practice these values in ways that are consistent with the principles of accountability, efficiency, effectiveness, consistency, adaptability, simplicity and openness.

Affirming our Commitments

On behalf of the employees of the Parks Canada Agency, I confirm that we will act in accordance with this Charter to the best of our abilities.

Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada Agency:

__________________ Date: __________________

A noter: Version française aussi disponible

Carol Whitfield

Bras d’or Lakes Interpretive Centre

Parks Canada via AGB has lent a helping hand to the start-up of a new attraction in Baddeck called Bras d’Or Lakes and Watershed Interpretive Centre which is making its home in the fully restored Old Post Office building on Chebucto Street near the village wharf area. This Centre is sponsored by the Bras d’Or Preservation Foundation which assists private landowners and communities to meet the threats to the well-being of the Lakes. The Centre opened its doors in June. There is a small admission fee and visitors have the opportunity to learn about the unique qualities of the Lakes and Watershed, and the need to conserve them. A very interesting exhibit at the centre is a map made of satellite images of the Lakes and their watershed area. This map is about the size of a pool table so it’s easy to find rivers, roads and communities.

Summer Programs

It’s a busy season so far at AGB with our visitor numbers about on par with numbers for the same period of ‘99. Our regularly scheduled Kite-making Program is being offered daily at 2 p.m. and the Experiment Program daily 3:30 p.m. in July and August. These ever popular activities are aimed at children but are very successful at attracting children of all ages. Slide show programs are offered daily at 10:30 a.m. (English) and l1 a.m. (French) providing more in depth information and images from the life and work of AGB, Mabel Bell and Beinn Bhreagh.

Staff Moving On

The last few seasons have seen AGB saying goodbye to heritage interpretive staff and this year is no exception. Anne Gillis who worked in interpretation for 5 years is now working at the local Vet Clinic in reception; Christina Rogers after 4 years at AGB started her new summer job with Marine Atlantic last week; Cheryl Myette who was with us for 3 years starts her job with the new call centre in Sydney finishing here on July 28^th. In their place we have welcomed students Abby Arseneau, Diedre Crowdis and Stephanie Beaton.

Did you know.....

...Christopher Moore, a former Louisbourg historian and winner of the Governor General’s Medal for the book Louisbourg Portraits will deliver a public lecture entitled "The People of Louisbourg Portraits" in the Bigot Theatre on August 9^th, 2000.

...the Consul General of Japan visited Louisbourg Tuesday, July 25^th.

...The Jingdezhen@Louisbourg Porcelain Festival ended successfully. Over the 16 days, 14950 people visited the exhibit. News about the festival went international when the Hong Kong Standard newspaper (now called Imail) ran the article about the festival that first appeared in the Globe and Mail on July 8^th.

...The Town of Louisbourg is host to tall ships arriving Wednesday, July 26^th and departing Friday morning, July 28^th. The tall ships are the U.S. Brig Niagara, Road to the Isles, Avalon Mist and Norfolk Rebel. They are moored at the Guy Hiltz wharf and nearby wharves.

Condolences:

Sincere condolences are extended to Tom Meagher (General Works Manager) and his family on the recent death of his father.

Sincere condolences are extended to Sheila Fudge (Cleaning Services Person) and her family on the death of their son, Devon.

Also sincere condolences are extended to the family of Joseph Trimm, husband of a former employee, Sylvia Trimm.

All our thoughts are with these families during this very difficult time.

If you would like to make a submission to the Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Newsletter, please direct same to Donna MacNeil at 733-3551 or e-mail at donna_macneil@pch.gc.ca.