Management plans establish the long range direction for national historic site activities and are commitments to the public of Canada from the Minister responsible for Parks Canada regarding the use, protection and presentation of these special places. A management plan constitutes the local expression of the general policies of the department and incorporates public knowledge, expertise and suggestions. The direction established in a management plan responds to Parks Canada's fundamental responsibilities to ensure the commemorative intergrity of the national historic site, to provide quality service to visitors, and to utilize public funds in a wise and efficient manner. As such, it is through the implementation of the mangement plan that we deliver on our obligations to the people of Canada.
The direction in a management plan is reviewed on a cyclical basis to assess its continued relevance to today's economic conditions and to existing government legislation and policies. A management plan review may result in one of three products: a confirmation of the direction in the existing management plan; an amendment to the exisiting management plan to reflect current direction; or a revised management plan. Fort Langley National Historic Site's previous management plan dates from 1987 - and much has changed from that time which affects how we do business and how we plan for the future. A key document which has had a major impact upon the direction established in this revised management plan is the recently approved "Parks Canada Guiding Principles and Operational Policies". The principles, practices and values embodied in the new National Historic Sites Policy and the Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Policy have guided the Fort Langley management plan review. The ideals Parks Canada strives for in its management of national historic sites, which are reflected in a series of managment planning principles (see Appendix A), have also guided the direction established in this management plan.
In 1992, a fire at the site resulted in the loss of operational facilities. The impact of this event upon site operation has also been considered in the review of the direction for this site. This management plan was developed with the understanding that government appropriations would not be available to cover all of the investments proposed. Much more emphasis must be placed on partnerships and volunteers to achieve the goals and objectives set out for this national historic site.
Fort Langley was established on the Fraser River by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) as part of the expansion of the Company's fur trade west of the Rockies. Originally built in 1827, two and a half miles downstream, it was rebuilt on its present site in 1839 and totally rebuilt again following a disastrous fire in 1840. Fort Langley operated at this site for 47 years from 1839 to 1886, and prior to 1858 played an economically crucial and diverse role in sustaining the Company's trade and thereby ensuring a British/Canadian presence on the Pacific Slope. It was particularly fitting that this post should be the place where the Colony of British Columbia was proclaimed in 1858.
Fort Langley National Historic Site (FLNHS) is located along the south bank of the Fraser River approximately 48 km east of Vancouver in the village of Fort Langley within the township of Langley. Following the 1923 designation of the site as a place of national historic significance, the government of Canada in 1924 acquired one acre surrounding the surviving fur trade era building and the municipality of Langley bought an adjacent two acres for a park. To mark the centenary of the proclamation of the Colony of British Columbia at Fort Langley in 1858, additional lands were assembled and a partial reconstruction of three buildings was completed. In 1967 river frontage was added to the site. FLNHS now comprises 8.4 hectares or 21 acres of land and includes the core historic landscape and one surviving structure of the HBC occupation, four reconstructed buildings, partial reconstruction of the palisades, and two buildings constructed for interpretive purposes.
The site's property holdings are bisected by roads and the Canadian National Railway (CNR) mainline into three parcels. The largest portion is south of the CNR tracks and River Road and contains all site development to date. The land north of the track and bordering the Fraser River is undeveloped as is the portion west of the fort. Due to a fire in 1992, visitor service facilities and operational support are currently housed in temporary structures west of the palisade. There is also a car and bus parking facility in the areas west of the palisade.
Gerry Borden's Home Page ||
Heritage Interpretation Page
: April 11, 1998