YORK FACTORY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OF CANADA ...

markers and fences, affects site drainage, and conceals the vast area once occupied
by York Factory.
The Hayes River gave life to York
Factory, helped shape its history, and
will have a major impact on its future.
Planning in the face of riverbank
erosion and other environmental
threats is essential to York Factory’s
future and the focus of this
management plan. When preparing
this management plan, we knew very
little about these threats, or the best
available and affordable means to
mitigate them.
1.4 Management Planning
Eroding bank on the Hayes River in front of
the Depot, 2005. A historic drain box is
falling out of the bank. (K. Skaftfeld)
A management plan, with provisions for commemorative integrity, resource
protection and visitor use, must be tabled in Parliament for each and every national
historic site administered by Parks Canada (from the Parks Canada Agency Act). This
plan meets that requirement.
The heritage values, resources, and messages defining the commemorative integrity
for York Factory NHSC are described in the York Factory National Historic Site
Commemorative Integrity Statement (1988). This document serves as a reference point
for management planning. As well as giving direction to maintain or improve a
site’s commemorative integrity, the management plan must also give direction for
enhancing meaningful visitor experiences, and promoting public awareness and
understanding about York Factory and the Parks Canada mandate. The principles
and practice of Parks Canada’s Cultural Resource Management Policy were applied in
developing these directions and an environmental assessment of the plan was done
as per The Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and
Program Proposals, 2004.
The development of this plan involved the exchange of information and ideas
among Parks Canada staff from a number of research and management functions,
First Nations communities associated with York Factory, tour operators and
outfitters, professional engineers and scientists outside of Parks Canada, and
interested public. Parks Canada is committed to continuing consultation and
dialogue with First Nations, stakeholders and interested public on York Factory
NHSC for the life of the management plan, its implementation and review, and
beyond. A summary of the planning and consultation process is in Appendix A.
York Factory NHSC Management Plan Page 6