Thank you to those who participated in this engagement. You can learn more about this project below, or subscribe to Participate Wood Buffalo to get involved with future engagement projects impacting our region.
Preserving Heritage in Wood Buffalo: Creating a plan to identify, evaluate, and manage what's important to you.
Residents of Wood Buffalo are invited to join the process of developing a sustainable plan to showcase and safeguard heritage resources in the region. Learn more about the Heritage Resources Management Plan below before you complete a short survey, join a virtual discussion, or get in touch to schedule a one-on-one.
Where We Are Now
Formal engagement on this project is now complete. Developing a successful Heritage Resources Management Plan requires the involvement of the community. There are many ways you can get involved throughout the process. Information gathered from November 2021 to August 2022 will be reviewed and considered for the Heritage Resources Management Plan. The Plan was presented to Council on January 24, 2023, and adopted by unanimous vote.
Phase one engagement took place from November 8, 2021 to March 31, 2022. Information was gathered through online surveys, virtual group discussions, and one-on-one sessions. The findings from this phase of engagement can be found by reading the What We Heard Report. Phase two of engagement included exploring heritage values, vision, and places of interest in the region. One-on-one discussions and in-person engagements took place throughout the Spring and Summer of 2022, completing August 15, 2022.
What is a Heritage Resources Management Plan (HRMP)?
Heritage resources management planning is a process designed to preserve and protect local historical resources. The purpose of the HRMP is to provide a useful and proactive framework to encourage and facilitate heritage conservation activities in Wood Buffalo and to guide future initiatives for the identification, stewardship, and management of heritage resources. Here is how the three-phase process will work to develop Wood Buffalo's management plan:
 | Phase One: Identify what resources are here |
 | Phase Two: Evaluate what is important and why |
 | Phase Three: Manage discoveries by deciding what we do with findings |
Stay informed on the progress of this project by registering for updates!
Please Note: All identified Indigenous partners and stakeholder groups will be contacted with engagement opportunities. If you haven’t received the invitation for your group to participate yet but would like to confirm your interest, please contact us at participate@rmwb.ca or contact Pulse at 780-743-7000.
Did you know? The Wood Buffalo waterways have traditionally been a vital means for transportation and connection to Indigenous peoples of the region. Photo courtesy of the Katherine Richardson Collection, Fort McMurray Heritage Society.
Helpful Definitions
Historic Resource means any work of nature or humans that is primarily of value for its palaeontological, archaeological, prehistoric, historic, cultural, natural, scientific, or esthetic interest including, but not limited to, a palaeontological, archaeological, prehistoric, historic or natural site, structure or object.
Historic Site means any site that includes or consists of an historical resource of an immovable nature or that cannot be disassociated from its context without destroying some or all its value as an historical resource and includes a prehistoric, historic, or natural site or structure.
Cultural Landscape is defined as any geographical area that has been modified, influenced, or given special cultural meaning by people, and that has been formally recognized for its heritage value. Cultural landscapes are often dynamic, living entities that continually change because of natural and human-influenced social, economic, and cultural processes.
Do you have questions about this project? Contact us today by asking your question below.
Survey
CLOSED: This survey has concluded.
Preserving Heritage in Wood Buffalo Survey
The Municipality is creating a plan to identify, manage, preserve and commemorate heritage in Wood Buffalo. We want to know: What’s important to you? Share your thoughts in this short survey and check out additional opportunities to join the conversation at one of our virtual discussions.
Consultation has concluded
