Cape Breton River Receives Heritage River Status

This weekend the Margaree-Lake Ainslie River System will officially join the great Canadian family of heritage rivers.

A ceremony marking the occasion will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 1 at the Drs. Coady & Tompkins Memorial Library in Margaree Forks, Cape Breton.

"The Margaree-Lake Ainslie River System will now be part of the fastest growing river conservation system in the world," said Dale Smith, director of protected areas with the Nova Scotia Department of the Environment. "The Canadian Heritage Rivers System was launched to recognize and protect Canada's outstanding rivers. There is no doubt this beautiful waterway deserves this prestigious designation."

The Margaree-Lake Ainslie River was formally designated a Canadian Heritage River in September 1998 after an extensive process involving the federal and provincial governments and local citizens.

"This is the culmination of much work on the part of the people who live here, work here and use this river system every day," said Pierre Chiasson, chair of the Margaree-Lake Ainslie River System advisory committee. "This recognizes that the people of the Margarees have been good stewards of the river -- and that work will continue."

The formal designation recognizes the natural beauty of the Margaree River, renowned for its Atlantic salmon and speckled trout. The Margaree also reflects a rich cultural heritage. Before European settlement, the river was used for fishing, hunting and trade by Mi'kmaq peoples. Distinct settlement patterns of both the French and the Scots can still be recognized in present land ownership patterns.

Past and present land uses have never overwhelmed the river system. The river's ecosystem is healthy and provides habitat to a large number of fish species, wildlife and flora. Water quality tests show the river is in very good shape and the integrity of its heritage values exceptional.

This is the second river in Nova Scotia to join the Canadian Heritage River System. The Shelburne River was declared a Heritage River in September 1997.