Canada | World Heritage Explorer

Canada has been a State Party to the World Heritage Convention since 1976. With 22 inscribed properties, the country is one of the more prominent contributors to the World Heritage List. Its inscriptions include cultural and natural properties, representing a diverse heritage portfolio. Some of these properties are shared with neighboring countries, demonstrating cooperation across borders in heritage conservation.

Canada as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: July 23, 1976

Status: Acceptance

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 1976-1978, 1985-1991, 1995-2001, 2005-2009

Total of Mandate Years: 18

Total of Mandates: 4

WHC Electoral Group: I (Western Europe/North America)

World Heritage Sites in Canada (22)

Cultural: 10 | Natural: 11 | Mixed: 1

Anticosti · Natural
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks · Natural
Dinosaur Provincial Park · Natural
Gros Morne National Park · Natural
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump · Cultural
Historic District of Old Québec · Cultural
Joggins Fossil Cliffs · Natural
Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek · Natural (Transboundary)
Landscape of Grand Pré · Cultural
L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site · Cultural
Miguasha National Park · Natural
Mistaken Point · Natural
Nahanni National Park · Natural
Old Town Lunenburg · Cultural
Pimachiowin Aki · Mixed
Red Bay Basque Whaling Station · Cultural
Rideau Canal · Cultural
SGang Gwaay · Cultural
Tr’ondëk-Klondike · Cultural
Waterton Glacier International Peace Park · Natural (Transboundary)
Wood Buffalo National Park · Natural
Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi · Cultural

Map of World Heritage Sites

This interactive map shows the location of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Canada.

Tentative World Heritage Sites (10)

Transatlantic Cable Ensemble · submitted: December 20, 2022
Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area · submitted: April 13, 2018
Qajartalik · submitted: April 13, 2018
Sirmilik National Park and Tallurutiup Imanga (proposed) National Marine Conservation Area · submitted: April 13, 2018
Stein Valley · submitted: April 13, 2018
Wanuskewin · submitted: April 13, 2018
Yukon Ice Patches · submitted: April 13, 2018
Gwaii Haanas · submitted: October 1, 2004
Ivvavik / Vuntut / Herschel Island (Qikiqtaruk) · submitted: October 1, 2004
Quttinirpaaq · submitted: October 1, 2004

Source: UNESCO Tentative Lists

Country Profile Canada

Official Name: Canada

Continent: Americas

Subregion: North America

UNESCO Region: Europe and North America

Capital: Ottawa

Population (2024): 41,288,599

Land Area: 8,788,700 km²

Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: State Party Canada

About States Parties

States Parties are countries that have joined the World Heritage Convention. They commit to identifying, nominating, and protecting properties of outstanding cultural or natural value on their territory. States Parties are also expected to monitor and report on the condition of inscribed sites.

World Heritage Insights

How Politics and Institutions Shape the UNESCO World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage List is usually seen as a catalogue of the world’s most important cultural and natural places. Yet behind every inscription there is a structured decision process: countries must first join the Convention, run for a seat on the World Heritage Committee, prepare nominations through a fixed procedure, and finally obtain enough votes for inscription.

World Heritage Info

Background

Learn about UNESCO, the World Heritage Convention, Tentative Lists, and how World Heritage Sites are selected and preserved. Explore the history, structures, and processes that protect humanity’s cultural and natural treasures.

Portions of this page are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset. Changes made. Original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE) is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Commission. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.