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Canadian Heritage River Systems

Screenshot of CHRS home page
Website
https://www.chrs.ca/en

Services: Web Design, Web Development, Drupal 9 CMS

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS), led by Parks Canada, is a national program dedicated to recognizing, conserving, and promoting some of Canada’s most remarkable waterways. Its 40 designated rivers showcase the country’s cultural heritage, ecological diversity, and natural beauty — from untouched wilderness routes to historically important trade corridors.

Project summary: While CHRS plays a vital role in fostering public appreciation for river conservation and supporting communities, tourism, and environmental stewardship, its existing website no longer met modern expectations. The site lacked visual impact, was not mobile-friendly, and didn’t effectively convey the rich stories behind these iconic rivers.

To better inspire outdoor enthusiasts, educators, tourists, and conservationists, CHRS required a complete digital revitalization — a platform that could serve as a national hub for storytelling, exploration, and education. Parks Canada partnered with our team to design and develop a dynamic new website that brings these rivers to life in an engaging, accessible, and fully GoC-compliant way.

DrupalBliss’ Impact: The original CHRS website was outdated and failed to capture the inspiring stories of Canada’s heritage rivers. Parks Canada needed a modern platform that could showcase the natural beauty and cultural significance of each river, tell engaging stories through interactive maps, offer intuitive, mobile-friendly navigation, meet government accessibility and design standards, and empower their team to manage and update content independently.

DrupalBliss developed a vibrant, user-focused website that brings Canada’s heritage rivers to life. The site highlights each river with rich imagery and engaging, interactive story maps powered by ArcGIS, allowing visitors to explore their unique histories, landscapes, and ecological features. Its layout is fully responsive, easy to navigate, and compliant with government accessibility standards, ensuring a seamless experience for all users.

To enhance exploration, we added a robust search tool that makes it simple to find rivers, publications, or other information. The website was built for long-term sustainability, with security, scalability, and ease of management in mind. We also trained the CHRS team to confidently maintain and update the site independently, ensuring it remains a dynamic resource for years to come.

Result:  

The new CHRS website was a big success — both within Parks Canada and among river enthusiasts across the country. Some of the highlights:

  • 15% Increase in River Visits: The updated site inspired more people to visit Canada’s heritage rivers.
  • User Appreciation: Interactive story maps resonated with visitors, deepening their connection to the rivers.
  • Lasting Impact: The Parks Canada team now has full control of the site and can confidently manage it on their own, thanks to the knowledge transfer and training provided.