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For many people, Canadian Heritage Rivers are summer places: canoe routes, fishing holes, swimming spots, and picnic pullouts. But for me—and for a surprising number of Canadians—they become something entirely different in winter. They turn into corridors of quiet, frozen cathedrals, and, in a few special places, gateways to some of the most remarkable ice climbing terrain in the world.

At five hundred and one kilometres in length, Missinaibi River’s size and location – entirely within Missinaibi Provincial Park, in a remote and rugged corner of Northeastern Ontario – presented a challenge for its river steward, Ontario Parks: How do you collect new life science information for the river with limited staff and resources? The community science app, iNaturalist, can help with that!

Climate change is the Cowichan River’s biggest threat. Warmer, drier summers have led to increasingly low flows, dangerously warm-water temperatures, and fish kills — including the loss of an estimated 85,000 juvenile steelhead during a 2023 drought. But there’s optimism on the horizon.

Netley-Libau Marsh is the largest freshwater coastal wetland in North America and forms an expansive delta where the Red River meets Lake Winnipeg. Over the last century, Netley-Libau Marsh has lost more than 10,000 acres of vegetation, reducing habitat quality and ecological functions in this critical wetland ecosystem. The Netley-Libau Marsh Restoration Project is an interdisciplinary partnership among many different organizations working towards a shared goal. The first step in restoring ecological functions in Netley-Libau Marsh is to reverse the loss of vegetation that has occurred over the last century.

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System, in partnership with the Canadian Canoe Museum, is proud to announce Elder Sheila De Corte as the recipient of the 2025 Canadian River Heritage Award.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) Youth Council brings together young people from across TRCA’s jurisdiction - from Mississauga to Ajax and north to Mono – to unite youth who are passionate and committed to building healthy communities through improved connection to greenspace and nature, and to inspire empowered and engaged youth.

East Grand Lake, situated on the Canada–U.S. border within the St. Croix River basin, is renowned for its large, self-sustaining population of togue (lake trout) and lake whitefish. The lake supports a high-quality recreational fishery, despite remaining relatively understudied, as its international nature complicates coordinated research and long-term monitoring.

The Margaree River in Nova Scotia to this day remains the bustling and lively place that earned it its Canadian Heritage River status in the first place. While aspects of climate change are impacting the river each year, notably with issues of drought in summer and flood conditions in spring and fall, the river’s stewardship by local organizations is significant. These numerous groups showcase the history of the region, promote recreation, and engage in river improvement activities.

From October 6–10, 2025, the Canadian Parks Council (CPC) and Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) came together for Congress 2025 at the Wilderness Edge Retreat & Conference Centre in Pinawa, Manitoba. This year’s Congress was co-hosted by Nunavut Parks and Manitoba Parks, showcasing a powerful example of interjurisdictional collaboration and cultural exchange. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Nunavut Parks team, who traveled great distances to lead, host, and enrich the Congress with their knowledge, warmth, and cultural traditions. Their contributions were central to the success of this year’s gathering.

Rivers and their associated floodplains and wetlands are both natural and cultural landscapes. The ecological health of river corridors is important to human cultures and land-uses and have been for millennia. Used by Indigenous peoples as trading routes, sources of food, and transportation pathways, river valleys have strong cultural meaning. They were significant to the settlers and hold strong connections for many cultures across the planet. They continue to be vital to the livelihoods of millions of people today.