Nomination Grand Pré Celebrates Nomination Proposal

Grand Pré took another step in its quest for designation on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Nomination Grand Pré, the provincial, federal and municipal governments and other partners gathered today, Jan. 21, to celebrate the completion of the nomination proposal.

If accepted, Grand Pré would be included on the list with some of the world's most outstanding sites, including the Serengeti, Egypt pyramids and the Great Barrier Reef.

Lunenburg was added to the list in 1995 and the Joggins fossil cliffs in 2008.

The Canadian delegation to the World Heritage Committee will submit the proposal to UNESCO by Feb. 1. A decision is anticipated in July 2012.

"Preparing this proposal is an achievement that all Nova Scotians, including local residents and the farming and Acadian communities, can take pride in," said Dave Wilson, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage. "The landscape of Grand Pré would benefit from this recognition and we hope for a successful outcome in 2012."

Mr. Wilson, Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay and representatives from Parks Canada, the Municipality of the County of Kings, the Kings Regional Development Agency, the Grand Pré and Area Community Association, Société Promotion Grand-Pré, Société nationale de l'Acadie and the Grand Pré Marsh Body were on hand to sign letters of support.

Since 2008-09, the province has contributed $105,000 from the former department of Economic and Rural Development, $83,000 from the former department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage and $42,000 from the Office of Acadian Affairs and the Agreement on French-language Services toward the project. The province also contributed in-kind services, including translation, archaeological field work and historical research.

"We value the province's expertise and financial contribution toward the project," said Peter Herbin, co-chair of the Nomination Grand Pré Advisory Board. "We feel that the province and all of our partners have strongly supported our efforts to have Grand Pré recognized in this way."

The nomination proposal for the landscape of Grand Pré aims to focus the world's attention on the agricultural value of the dykelands and on the symbolic importance of the landscape to Acadians worldwide.