Over 200 historic places across Canada are celebrating the first-ever Canada Historic Places Day.
“Historic Places Day is really about getting Canadians excited about heritage places close to home. We’re hot on the heels of Canada Day and the 150th anniversary of Confederation and we know that people have been thinking about our history,” said Natalie Bull, executive director of the National Trust for Canada.
The trust and Parks Canada are hosting this celebration together and according to Bull, their message is, “Why travel abroad? We have this great opportunity to visit places that are important to us right here close to home — places that are waiting to tell their stories.”
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Historic sites abound across the country, from libraries to parks.
One place in Alberta particularly stands out to Bull, however.
Bull said she enjoys visiting sites such as the ranch because she appreciates how authentic they are.
“I think everyone comes to historic places with different interests and expectations, but for me they really tell our collective story better than any textbook,” she said. “They’re tangible touchstones with the past, with the people and the events that came before us and really shaped our communities and our country.”
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Not all of the sites in Canada Historic Places Day are designated as historic, but Bull does believe the recognition is important.
LISTEN: Natalie Bull, executive director for the National Trust for Canada, on the collaboration with Parks Canada:
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