Nomination Grand-Pré


The World Heritage Convention is an international agreement signed in 1972 between countries to protect properties of outstanding natural and cultural importance that are part of the common heritage of humanity.  As of 2006, there are 184 states party to the Convention.  The World Heritage List is a list of natural and cultural properties that the World Heritage Committee has judged of being of outstanding universal value to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.  In order for a site to be nominated as a potential World Heritage Site, it must first be on a State Party's Tentative List.

In 2004, Grand-Pré was one of eleven national properties, out of 250 considered, included on Canada's tentative list! 

In March 2007, a group began discussing the possibility of beginning the process to have Grand-Pré designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  An advisory board was formed and a steering committee was selected to manage the project.  The Kings RDA and the Société promotion Grand-Pré (SPGP) co-chair both groups.The Grand-Pre nomination proposal is at step one:

 Advisory Board Organizations   Steering Committee Organizations 
 Kings RDA (Co-Chair)
 Société promotion Grand-Pré (Co-Chair)
 Société nationale de l'Acadie (SNA)
 Parks Canada
 Kings Hants Heritage Connection
 Kings Federation of Agriculture
 Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
 NS Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage (DTCH)
 NS Office of Acadian Affairs (OAA)
 Grand-Pre Marsh Body
 Nova Scotia Economic and Rural Development
 Glooscap First Nation
 Municipality of the County of Kings
 Eastern Kings Chamber of Commerce
 Destination Southwest Nova Scotia 		 Kings RDA (Co-Chair)
 Societe promotion Grand-Pré (Co-Chair)
 Parks Canada
 Municipality of the County of Kings

World Heritage cultural sites need to :

  1. Demonstrate the outstanding universal value, meaning that the cultural significance is so exceptional at the international level that its permanent protection is important to humanity as a whole;
  2. Meet the test of authenticity in design, material, workmanship or setting and in the case of cultural landscapes their distinctive character and components;
  3. Meet the test of integrity relating to conditions of physical fabric, control of deterioration processes, protection of necessary elements, and relationships within cultural landscapes, historic towns and living properties;
  4. Have adequate legal and/or contractual and/or traditional protection and management mechanisms to ensure its conservation.

The target date to send the nomination proposal to UNESCO is February 2010.

For more information about Nomination Grand Pré, please visit www.nominationgrandpre.ca.