Draft Management Plan

What is a management plan?

The management of a national historic site is guided by a site management plan. A management plan provides strategic and long-term direction for site management, outlining a 15 to 20-year vision as well as objectives for the 10-year lifespan of the plan.

A management plan is a key instrument for ensuring that Parks Canada delivers on its commitments to the people of Canada. The process of management planning allows Indigenous communities, stakeholders, partners, local residents and the public to have an effective voice in shaping the future of the site.

Invitation to provide feedback

A draft management plan for Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site has been prepared by Parks Canada to replace the 2015 management plan, and it is now ready for public review.

This draft plan was shaped through collaboration and engagement with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia, local communities, and organizations representing innovation, tourism, education, and sustainability interests, along with the broader Canadian public.

We invite you to review the draft management plan and share your feedback. Hearing from people with a range of perspectives will help inform and strengthen how this unique site is protected, presented, and shared in the years to come.

Consultation on the draft plan is open from June 16 to July 31, 2025. Your voice will help shape the future of a site that celebrates curiosity, creativity, and connection.

As you review the plan, here are some guiding questions to consider

• Does the vision for the site reflect how you imagine Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in 15 to 20 years? If not, what’s missing?
• Do you support the key strategies, such as inclusive storytelling, sustainability, and enhanced visitor experiences? Are there other priorities we should include?
• Does the plan support the conservation of the site’s cultural, historical, and environmental values—including the Bell family collection and Mi’kmaw knowledge systems?
• Does it reflect the importance of strengthening relationships with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia, the local community, and key partners?
• Are the proposed actions appropriate for adapting to climate change and advancing accessibility while preserving the site’s unique character?

Vision and Key Strategic Directions

Vision

In 15 to 20 years, Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site will remain a place where the impossible feels possible—where the spirit of invention, exploration and imagination thrives. Inspired by the legacy of Alexander and Mabel Bell—and by the knowledge, resilience and ingenuity of the Mi’kmaq and settler innovators who still call Unama’ki home—this site remains a catalyst for discovery.

Here, diversity is the engine of innovation. Accessibility and adaptability are built into every experience. Visitors from around the world will feel welcome—free to explore, connect and be inspired by the museum’s interactive spaces and the breathtaking view across Baddeck Bay on Pitu’poq or the Bras d’Or Lake.

This will be a living place of ideas—where sound moves through light, boats skim like insects across water, and experimentation is encouraged. Artifacts and stories will be more than static displays; they will spark dialogue, wonder and discovery.

The site will continue to be a gathering space for the community—a hub for shared learning, celebration and reflection. A place to support local initiatives and forge new connections with the land and one another.

With co-management shaping Parks Canada places in Nova Scotia, Mi’kmaw perspectives will lead in how the site is cared for and interpreted. Etuaptmumk—Two-Eyed Seeing—will guide this work, weaving together Indigenous and western ways of knowing to create a richer, more dynamic understanding of the past, present and future.

This is not a place of looking back alone. It is a place of movement, of ideas taking flight—just as it was for the Bells. A site that invites all who enter to imagine, experiment, and experience the world in new and meaningful ways.

Key Strategic Directions

Key Strategy 1: A welcoming and inclusive place of curiosity

The intent of this key strategy is to renew visitor experiences and facilities at Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, creating a dynamic and inclusive space that reflects the diverse legacies of Alexander and Mabel Bell and invites all visitors to explore their own curiosity, creativity and connection to this place. Through engaging interpretation, collaboration with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia and other partners, and enhanced accessibility, the site will grow as a vibrant and meaningful destination for Canadians and international visitors alike.

This strategy will:

• Renew interpretation and programming to reflect a broader range of stories, including Mi’kmaw knowledge systems, the history of the deaf, and the achievements of Mabel Hubbard Bell;
• Enhance the visitor experience through hands-on exhibits, STEM-based learning, and storytelling that connects Bell’s legacy to everyday life;
• Improve accessibility and inclusivity of facilities and programs, ensuring a welcoming environment for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities; and
• Strengthen relationships with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia, including through the Toqi’maliaptmu’k Arrangement (2025), by embedding Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing) and Netukulimk in all aspects of site management. This collaborative approach will support shared storytelling, cultural tourism, Indigenous leadership in heritage conservation, and inclusive decision-making that weaves together Mi’kmaw and Western knowledge systems.

Key Strategy 2: Stewardship and sustainability for future generations

This key strategy focuses on the long-term care of the site’s cultural resources, natural surroundings, and the Bell family collection. Rooted in a respect for both tangible and intangible heritage, it integrates Mi’kmaw knowledge and principles of land stewardship, recognizing the deep connections between people, place, and environment. By advancing environmental sustainability and climate resilience, and through investments in conservation, digitization, and green technologies, the strategy pays tribute to the land and to all those who have interacted with these places from time immemorial to the present day, while keeping the well-being of future generations always in sight. These efforts will protect the legacy of the Bells and ensure the site remains a place of learning, reflection, and inspiration for generations to come.

This strategy will:

• Improve artifact care through upgrades to climate control, enhanced storage, and the digitization of the Bell family collection to expand access and engagement;
• Advance Parks Canada’s net-zero commitments through energy-efficient infrastructure and sustainable asset management;
• Deepen connections to the natural landscape, informed by Mi’kmaw perspectives on land stewardship and a shared responsibility to care for the land; and
• Foster public appreciation and support for heritage conservation through meaningful partnerships, outreach, and increased community involvement in the site’s stewardship.