Our Rural Heritage
Canada's built heritage is an important
guide to our past. Buildings noted for their historic and other
associated values are not only found in city centres but also in
our rural environment. Indeed, Canada has a rich tradition of rural
ways of life, evidence of which is expressed in many historic
places. Some of them commemorate important achievements in
agriculture, an industry that reaches an important peak in the late
summer and fall seasons. Let's celebrate the harvest and get in the
Thanksgiving spirit by exploring some of our country's rural and
agricultural heritage places.
The cultural landscape of
Grand Pré in Nova Scotia is an excellent example of how
settlers adapted farming techniques to life in a new land. In the
17th century, Grand Pré was the site of the innovations
in farming techniques, including the use of wooden
aboiteaus, which are still in use today. For these
reasons, and for its strong ties with the Acadians throughout the
world, it was listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in
Farmer's Market Building in Welland, Ontario (left) is a
testament to the importance of agriculture to the community's
historical livelihood, and the building maintains an ongoing
association with its agrarian past. Built in 1919, the building is
a unique blend of Spanish revival and Prairie styles. The market
always took place on this site, and the building was constructed to
meet the needs of a growing agricultural community and rising
farming industry in the Niagara region.
A less common rural building is the
Strathclair Agricultural Society Bandstand in Manitoba. Built
in 1900, it is located in the town's fairgrounds and was designed
for use as an outdoor entertainment venue. The bandstand is a
community gathering place where concerts were held for the benefit
of returning veterans, among other uses. After a long day's work in
the fields, farmers could come to Strathclair and enjoy a summer's
evening entertainment. The S