Heritage River Plaques

The designation of the Grand River and its tributaries as Canadian Heritage Rivers was marked with a ceremony in Cambridge on September 26, 1994. A plaque was unveiled to commemorate the designation.

Other plaques followed in communities along the other four rivers of the Grand River system.

Plaque locations

  • Grand River: Mill Race Park, Cambridge

  • Conestogo River: Optimist Park, St. Jacobs

  • Nith River: Scott Park, New Hamburg

  • Speed River: Royal City Park, Guelph

  • Eramosa River: Rockwood Conservation Area

Plaque Text

The plaques carry a message in English, French, Mohawk (Cambridge, Speed and Eramosa plaques) and Ojibwe (Speed and Eramosa plaques):

A photo of the River Heritage Plaque along the Grand River located in Mill Race Park in Cambridge is shown as an example.

"The Grand River, including its major tributaries, the Speed, Eramosa, Nith and Conestogo, flows from the Dundalk Highlands to Lake Erie. A mosaic of First Nations and European cultural sites tell the stories of thousands of years of human history within the watershed. Winding through marshes, woods and Carolinian forests, the river connects a harmonious blend of natural and cultural landscapes.

The designation of the Grand as a Canadian Heritage River was built on a local tradition of cooperative watershed management to preserve the valley's natural beauty, cultural diversity, and recreational opportunities.

This plaque is testimony to people working together to make the Grand River an ever-better place for people and nature."

Contact Us

Grand River Conservation Authority
400 Clyde Road, PO Box 729
Cambridge, ON
N1R 5W6
Phone: 519-621-2761
Toll Free: 1-866-900-4722
grca@grandriver.ca