The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) and Parks Canada are pleased to share their ongoing collaboration to protect and steward Niagara Shores Park, a 14-hectare forested natural area located along the Lake Ontario shoreline in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Building on productive discussions and site visits over the past two years, NPCA and Parks Canada are advancing a Licence of Occupation Agreement that allows NPCA to undertake land care, research, and community-based planning for the property, while it remains in federal ownership. This collaborative approach reflects a shared commitment to maintaining Niagara Shores Park as a natural area in public ownership for current and future generations.
Niagara Shores Park lies within a highly valued ecological and cultural landscape. The forested parcel contributes to shoreline resilience, habitat connectivity, and biodiversity within the Niagara Peninsula watershed. Protecting and enhancing these natural features directly supports Goal 1.4 of NPCA’s 2021–2031 Strategic Plan, which focuses on managing conservation lands to increase biodiversity, habitat connectivity, and natural cover and aligns with NPCA’s Land Securement Strategy. The strategy provides a framework for securing and managing lands that deliver long-term ecological, hydrological, and community benefits.
Through the agreement, NPCA will be able to:
- Conduct ecological research and site studies
- Provide land care and natural heritage management
- Work collaboratively with Parks Canada, the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Indigenous partners, community members, and other levels of government
- Lead the development of a long-term land management plan to guide appropriate use and conservation of the park
This collaboration represents a strategic and practical step forward in safeguarding an ecologically significant shoreline property while ensuring decisions are informed by science, community values, and long-term watershed health. By working together, NPCA, Parks Canada, and Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake are demonstrating how collaboration can deliver meaningful outcomes for nature, climate resilience, and the community.
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“Conserving natural areas requires more than intention - it requires partnership. This collaboration represents a meaningful step toward lasting protection,” says Leilani Lee-Yate, NPCA CAO. “By uniting scientific expertise, community values, and shared stewardship, NPCA, Parks Canada, and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake are demonstrating how collaborative action can strengthen ecosystems, enhance long-term watershed health, and safeguard these natural resources for future generations.”
“The Government of Canada is pleased to collaborate with a local organization like the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority to administer, protect and present Niagara Shores Park for the use and enjoyment of the community of Niagara-on-the-Lake and visitors to the area,” says the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature. “Parks Canada and the Conservation Authority share a similar vision for the care of these lands. This collaboration will ensure this waterfront window to Lake Ontario remains a natural public space for the community.”
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About Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority:
As a community-based natural resource management agency, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority envisions a healthy and vibrant natural environment with shared greenspace and clean water for all. NPCA’s work supports the conservation, enhancement, and sustainability of healthy watersheds with programs and services that focus on drinking water source protection, flood and hazard management, ecosystem restoration, community stewardship, education, and land management.
NPCA is the caretaker of 43 conservation areas within the Niagara Peninsula watershed held in public trust for recreation, heritage preservation, conservation, and education. These natural and shared greenspaces marry nature, culture, and adventure to create limitless opportunities for discovery.
About Parks Canada
The Niagara National Historic Sites are a collection of seven sites administered by Parks Canada and located in the Niagara Region. With the exception of Brock’s Monument (at Queenston) and Navy Island (upstream from Niagara Falls), they are all located within the community of Niagara-on-the-Lake, at the mouth of the Niagara River. In fact, they occupy 25% of lands in the Old Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and protect important Carolinian forest reserves, home to nine Species at Risk.
Media inquiries to be directed to:
Jennifer McQuillan
Communications & Marketing Specialist
Mobile: 905.933.0532
jmcquillan@npca.ca