Hundreds of residents attended the River Heritage Festival at the Brant Park Conservation Area on Sunday, September 22, 2024.
The festival celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Grand River and its major tributaries.
Nearly 20 exhibitors and activities were on hand to help educate people on the cultural and natural heritage and recreational opportunities available on the Grand River and its tributaries.
The event, which was organized by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), was held on the internationally-celebrated World Rivers Day.
Highlights of the event included getting up close to birds of prey from the organization Wild Ontario, getting the chance to try paddling with Grand River Rafting and learning about trail systems through the Grand River watershed.
There are 40 rivers in Canada that have achieved the heritage river designation. The Grand River and its tributaries, the Conestogo, Eramosa, Nith and Speed rivers, were designated Canadian Heritage Rivers in 1994. To maintain heritage river status, the GRCA prepares annual and ten-year monitoring reports that are submitted to the Canadian Heritage Rivers board. These reports detail the state of the river’s human heritage and recreational values.
