This plan helps preserve Canada’s heritage and connects Canadians to history in Coastal British Columbia.

LANGLEY, BC, Dec. 13, 2024 – Canada’s national historic sites showcase its diverse heritage, offering opportunities for Canadians to learn about their history. Parks Canada’s network of heritage sites highlights the best of Canada, sharing stories of its people, including Indigenous histories, cultures, and contributions.

The updated management plan for Fort Langley National Historic Site has been presented to Parliament. Required by the Parks Canada Agency Act and reviewed every ten years, these plans guide the management of national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas.

The revised Fort Langley National Historic Site plan includes these key strategies:

• Strengthening relationships – Prioritizes collaboration, community engagement, and partnerships vital to Fort Langley’s success, notably enhancing ties with Indigenous communities.
• Enhancing visitor experiences – Focuses on connecting visitors with Fort Langley’s natural and cultural heritage through engaging experiences and outreach.
• Preserving for the future – Concentrates on preserving the site’s buildings, cultural, and natural resources.

Fort Langley’s history is integral to Canada’s fur trade narrative and the establishment of a British presence on the Pacific Coast. It now serves as a community gathering place for reflection on diverse histories, including Indigenous experiences and the impact of colonialism. Parks Canada invites visitors to engage, connect, and act as stewards in shaping Canada’s future at Fort Langley.

This management plan incorporated input from First Nations and Métis communities, partners, stakeholders, local residents, and visitors. Through this plan, Parks Canada will protect a significant piece of Canadian cultural heritage, engage with Indigenous peoples, and offer innovative ways for Canadians to experience history.

The 2024 Fort Langley National Historic Site Management Plan is accessible on the Parks Canada website at: . To learn more about Fort Langley National Historic Site, please visit .

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“National historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas safeguard our shared natural and cultural heritage, support biodiversity, and tell Canada’s stories from all perspectives. They are places where numerous Canadians and international visitors connect with history and nature. I thank everyone who contributed to Fort Langley’s management plan, which will shape this valued site’s future. As Parks Canada’s Minister, I commend this collaborative effort to ensure Fort Langley National Historic Site continues to protect our shared national heritage for generations to come.”

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault,
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

Quick Facts

• Fort Langley NHS is situated beside the Fraser River on the unceded territory of the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Máthxwi (Matsqui), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations in Metro Vancouver, roughly 48 kilometres from downtown Vancouver and 30 kilometres from Abbotsford, within Fort Langley village in Langley Township, British Columbia.
• Built in 1827, Fort Langley was a Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading post on the Fraser River, part of a British Empire trade route among a significant Indigenous population.
• Fort Langley was part of a network of fur trade forts in the New Caledonia and Columbia Districts (present-day British Columbia and northern Washington). After the 1846 border establishment between British North America and the United States, Fort Langley became a key trans-shipment point, linking to ocean and international markets.
• In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 79, Parks Canada is dedicated to incorporating Indigenous histories, voices, and perspectives in heritage sites. Parks Canada and Indigenous peoples collaborate on interpretive materials and activities at national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas to foster understanding of Indigenous perspectives, cultures, and traditions.

Associated Links

SOURCE Parks Canada (HQ)

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