Lunenburg chosen as location for UNESCO heritage milestone by National Trust for Canada

It’s been 50 years since Canada signed the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

It’s been 50 years since Canada signed the UNESCO World Heritage Convention and the National Trust for Canada, a charity dedicated to protecting heritage places, is celebrating the milestone with a party in Lunenburg. The town itself is approaching 30 years since earning it’s UNESCO designation, a fact that made it a natural fit for festivities, said Patricia Kell, CEO for the National Trust for Canada.

“Lunenburg was inscribed as a World Heritage site because of the town layout, which is an excellent example of 18 th- century British colonial town planning, but also because of the exceptional role of the community in preserving that plan and the amazing houses that are testaments to the community and rich relationship with fishing,” Kell told The Chronicle Herald. “There’s much to celebrate.” Related A timeline of the Chelsea shooting and fallout Lunenburg Shipyard eyes 150 new jobs over five-year period through $20 million expansion Old Town Lunenburg was officially designated as a World Heritage Site in 1995.

Kell said celebrations will take place July 25 in Old Town Lunenburg, with festivities kicking off at 1 p.m. Guests can expect live performances, guided walking tours and the reopening of the town’s bandstand, which was a major project initiated by this iteration of town council. The event is free. Lunenburg councillor Alison Strachan said the event highlights the town’s storied history.

“We get to live in this town every day and it sort of becomes matter of fact how much history is around us. I’m looking forward to being rejuvenated and engaging with the heritage and celebrating our town together,” she said. “ It’s so great to see the community work together on it.”

Kell said Lunenburg is one of three celebrations organized across the country to mark the anniversary of Canada signing the World Heritage Convention, with events also planned at the Rideau Canal in Ottawa and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in Alberta. All three locations are examples of the types of preservation upheld by UNESCO designations. “By being part of the World Heritage Convention, Canada, and the places that have been identified in Canada, puts itself on a par with places like the Pyramids or the Great Wall of Chine as places that are so significant to all people,” said Kell.

“These should be places we’re proud to celebrate.” Marc Kiely, who works as the director of community development for the town, said it’s a chance to showcase what Lunenburg has to offer. “It’s an opportunity, as hosts, to showcase the world heritage site in our own backyard,” he said.

“It should be a very family-oriented, fun atmosphere. We really want to encourage everyone to stop in.” Lunenburg was founded in 1753 by a group of German, Swiss and French immigrants on behalf of the British Crown.