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 Strathclair Bandstand is one of a few
bandstands, both ural and urban, that are listed on the
Canadian Register of Hstoric Places.
buildings were in fashion across Canada for a brief period in the
early 20th century. Saskatchewan's
Octagonal Building (right) was built in 1905 on the Prince
Albert Exhibition Grounds. The building's height adds to its
prominence as a landmark in the Exhibition Grounds. The Ladies'
Section of the Lorne Agricultural Society initiated the
construction of this building as a place to display produce,
baking, needlework and horticultural products. The building's
second floor was used for community gatherings and social
Once found everywhere in the prairies, grain elevators are
becoming rare. The
Old Val Marie Elevator in Saskatchewan is one of the last
remaining grain elevators in the area and speaks to the development
of the grain industry in Canada's Prairies. The elevator was built
around 1924, with an addition in the 1950s, and was operational
until 2000. The structure still stands today and represents the
community's rich agricultural history.
A beautifully intact farm complex is
Stewart Farm in Surrey, British Columbia (left). This farm is
comprised of eight traditional farm buildings: a farmhouse, a root
cellar, a wood shed, a pole barn, a bunkhouse, a machine shed, a
threshing machine shed and a garage. It is the only remaining
farmstead of its kind in the region and is associated with pioneer
life. The farmhouse dates from 1894, while the other buildings were
added between 1894 and the 1920s. The farm's development also
reflects changes in society. For example, the farm's owner, John
Stewart, owned an early Model T truck and he therefore needed a
purpose-built garage. The Stewart Farm is protected and is operated
by the City of Surrey as a museum promoting the agricultural
heritage of the area.
Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, Ontario is a large rural
and agricultural landscape within Canada's capital city. The
designation includes built and natural components of the farm,
including traditional structures, a flower garden and an arboretum.
The farm is also home to the Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum, a space
where the public can come to learn about farm life, experimental
crops and innovations in our agricultural heritage.
There are so many ways to learn about our rural heritage.
barns can be found across the country and remind us that our
rural past is tied importantly to agriculture and farming.
Thanksgiving is a perfect time to acknowledge those who have worked
so hard to build Canada's rural heritage!