Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

1. Who is paying for this process?
2. What makes it worth the investment?
3. How will it be governed?
4. If the nomination goes ahead and Grand Pré becomes a World Heritage Site, will traffic increase and how will this impact on my quality of life. What will you do about this?
5. What are your predictions on tourism numbers after the designation? Based on what?
6. What’s the connection with the municipal planning process?
7. What will be the tangible benefits to area residents?
8. Why “protect” what is already protected?
9. In what way will restrictions and covenants affect daily life?
10. In what way will restrictions and covenants affect business and farming?

1. Who is paying for this process?
   The project is currently being funded through ACOA, NSED and the Municipality of Kings County. Additionally, there are significant in-kind contributions form Park Canada, Kings Community Economic Development Agency, Society Promotion Grand Pre, the Municipality of Kings and the Province of NS. There are also many volunteers are contributing their time and expertise.

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2. What makes it worth the investment?
   Other sites have seen an increase in community pride and the designation of a World Heritage site by UNESCO helps to preserve and enhance the heritage integrity for generations to come. The reason why this is important was perhaps best stated by the Auditor General of Canada, in her 2003 report concerning the upkeep/preservation of heritage sites: "These places recall the lives and history of the men and women who built this country, and they foster awareness of how Canadian society evolved. They help us to better understand the present and prepare for the future. They contribute in important ways to Canadians' sense of belonging to their community. When important parts of Canada's built heritage are lost, future generations of Canadians are deprived of access to key moments of their shared history."

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3. How will it be governed?
   The Management Plan working group was formed this spring and continues to meet to develop a management system for the proposed area. A sustainable plan will be developed and will be submitted to the Advisory Board for approval.

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4. If the nomination goes ahead and Grand Pré becomes a World Heritage Site, will traffic increase and how will this impact on my quality of life.
   What will you do about this?
   A traffic study will be completed to understand what kind of traffic is happening in Grand Pré right now, a history of trends, and a forecast of what kind of traffic we can expect. We will also ask for recommendations on what the limit of traffic would be and how to best manage that. Grand Pré in effect has had more traffic in the past then there is right now. As an example, the park until the mid-1990s had an average of 120,000 visitors annually. Currently, it welcomes an average of 30,000 people. Another example of the amount of activity in Grand Pré in the past, are the light industries that used to operate in Grand Pré, such as the sod business that operated until recently. North Grand Pré is already a very busy place with the beds and breakfasts, campgrounds, and Evangeline beach that attract visitors every year.

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5. What are your predictions on tourism numbers after the designation?
   Based on what?
   It is expected that tourism will increase based on other UNESCO site experiences. A positive economic outcome of designation is increased tourism, especially foreign tourism. Between 1990 and 1995, for example, foreign visitation to American World Heritage sites increased by 9.4%, whereas over the same period foreign visitors to all national parks increased by 4.2% (Yeager, 1999: 3), which suggests that World Heritage designation attracts foreign visitors.
6. An economic impact study was conducted in the summer of 2008. The conclusion are as follows:

1. Total visitor spending in Valley attributable to Grand Pré is about $1.8 million per year but trend is downward.
2. The tourism industry in NS and Valley faces challenges (passports / recession/exchange rates) - Valley accommodation nights down 5% in each of last 2 years.
3. The UNESCO designation may allow Grand Pré to return to its historic average (1998-2008) for visitors. Doing so would mean (base case) about 2,000 more visitors and an injection of $200,000 per year into the local economy.

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6. What’s the connection with the municipal planning process?
   The Community Plan will be presented to Council for adoption as a Bylaw to advance the vision of the community beyond the scope of the Municipal Planning Strategy.

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7. What will be the tangible benefits to area residents?
   The UNESCO Nomination process will ascertain what is of “universal value” in Grand Pre and Area and seek to commemorate an area that represents this value. A World Heritage commemoration will provide an additional incentive to protect the essential quality of the place well into the future.

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8. Why “protect” what is already protected?
   Municipal and some federal regulations do protect the landscape in Grand Pre but these regulations protect general designations such as agriculture, environment, parks, etc. A specific designation that speaks directly to universal value will ensure that those essential qualities are protected and brought to light in the community.

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9. In what way will restrictions and covenants affect daily life?
   The Community Plan is the vehicle used to express your ideas concerning the experience you want in your community. Municipal regulations may provide a safer environment for pedestrians, more views of the beautiful landscape, and less urban development in Grand Pre. These are just some of the ideas expressed by community members so far.

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10. In what way will restrictions and covenants affect business and farming?
    The business and agriculture communities also have a strong voice in the development of the Community Plan and in the regulations that shape their area. There are goals, or broad directions, in place now for both business and agriculture. These goals provide focus to ensure that all regulations affect business and agriculture toward desired outcomes. The agricultural community in Grand Pre has voiced a strong interest in sustaining its agriculture in terms of protecting agricultural land and enhancing agricultural practices, such as accessing the dykeland with farm equipment. The Community Plan will address the concerns of the agricultural community.

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