The Humber is an outstanding and exceptional river. It has a rich human history as a home for Indigenous peoples and early European settlers along the banks
TORONTO: Twenty years ago, the collaborative efforts of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and community members helped designate the Humber River as a Canadian Heritage River under the Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS).
In honour of this anniversary, a wide range of activities across the watershed is being planned to celebrate and raise awareness for the cultural, recreational, and heritage of the Humber River.
CHRS is working hard on celebratory events that residents will not want to miss. Here’s a sneak peak of what you can expect:
• Community plantings, medicinal gardens, and events that celebrate cultural and natural heritage.
• The third annual Humber By Canoe. Slated to be bigger and better than ever, there will be wonderful entertainers, food vendors, and more for this FREE paddling event on Sunday, September 8, 2019.
• Other activities this year will include heritage walks, urban farm events, and community cleanups across the watershed.
What is a Canadian Heritage River?
The CHRS is Canada’s national river conservation program. The program promotes rivers as essential to healthy communities and our identity as Canadians. The CHRS team is composed of the CHRS Board, Parks Canada, a Technical Planning Committee, and the managers of each designated river.
For a river to be nominated to the CHRS, it must have outstanding natural heritage, human heritage or recreational values and a high level of public support.
The Humber River more than fits the bill as an outstanding and exceptional river. It has a rich human history as a home for Indigenous peoples and early European settlers along the banks, and is known as the Carrying Place Trail – a vital transportation route and site of many settlement homes and industries.
Today, it continues to play an integral role in the lives of watershed residents as a place to reconnect with nature and culture in the midst of the bustling city.
The last two decades have been filled with projects and events that have helped CHRS enhance, restore, celebrate the Humber River, and engage the community.
Here are some of our biggest achievements:
- “Crossing the Humber” Heritage Bridge Inventory
- Designation of McVean Barn and Wiley Bridge as “Category A” Heritage Resources in the City of Brampton
- Humber Watershed Report Cards
- Humber River Watershed Plan
- The Carrying Place Trail Book
- The Shared Path Program
- Canadian Heritage Rivers System Heritage Plaques
- Agricultural initiatives on TRCA lands
- Restoration and enhancement – including reforestation, wetland rehabilitation, and creation of fishways for fish migration