Susan Bazely, PhD in Geography, supervised by Drs Brian Osborne & Joan Schwartz

Topic: Changing heritage practice on the Rideau Canal and Kingston Fortifications World Heritage Site. Overview: The Rideau Canal corridor is comprised of a complex combination of resources, stories and activities that today serve multiple interests. The philosophies, policies, and management of heritage sites are experiencing pressures emanating from the demands of ‘experiential tourism’, the opportunities and challenges of ‘virtual reality’ presentations, and the economic pressures of escalating maintenance costs. My research will assess the current value of, and potential threats to the Rideau Canal and Kingston Fortifications and its UNESCO World Heritage designation by examining how this landscape resource is perceived today. During this research the interrelationship between the site, interpretation, presentation, stewardship, public use and experiences with the site are explored, considering threats and benefits to the site, the communities and world heritage status.