YORK FACTORY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OF CANADA ...

Heritage presentation has been
done as a tour of the Depot and
the cemetery guided by Parks
Canada staff. Within the Depot,
staff tell stories about living and
working at York Factory while
referring to the building’s
architecture, layout, the graffiti,
artifacts and photographs.
Besides the Depot, there is a
Parks Canada welcoming sign at
the north and south entry points
to the site and a sign about the
cemetery and Powder magazine,
but nothing else for signage. The Visitors in the Depot, 2004. Artifacts on display.
intent has been to use as few
(P. Carroll)
signs and displays as possible so
not to intrude on the spirit of place of York Factory.
From public consultation a number of ideas were
suggested to enhance the stories told at York
Factory and make more use of the wealth of
historical documents, photographs and artifacts
that can be creatively displayed in the Depot.
Even so, most visitors rate the program and
services as very satisfactory. Keeping the guided
tours was seen as fundamental. Some see the
changing environment in Canada’s North, the
environmental threats facing York Factory, and
the challenge to protect this historic place as very
topical stories waiting to be told to visitors and
the Canadian public. Also important to
completing the story of York Factory is the telling
of the community’s history, including what
happened to the people and where did they go
after the trading post closed.
Nothing Short of
Awesome
“The strength of this site lies in
the stories and experiences of
the people who lived and
worked there. The wealth of
information and resources –
from personal letters and
memoirs and business records
is nothing short of awesome.
Tapping into that is the key to
making York Factory a stellar
visitor destination”. Comment
during public consultation,
2005)
Outreach is done via the Parks Canada website
and an exhibit at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre in Churchill. An education kit is
available on the Hayes River. Because York Factory is inaccessible to most
Canadians due to its remoteness, comprehensive outreach will be necessary to meet
Parks Canada objectives.
York Factory NHSC Management Plan Page 16