June 17, 2026 Gaspé, Quebec Parks Canada
A renewed collaboration between the Association of Persons Expropriated from Forillon and their Descendants (the Association), the Musée de la Gaspésie and Parks Canada mark an important step in documenting, understanding and promoting the historical collection of Forillon National Park. Over fifty years after the expropriation of 225 families for the creation of the park, this initiative serves to acknowledge and honour this unique chapter of history.
The collection, comprising of some 12,500 objects, illustrates the daily life of the communities on the peninsula before the park was created. It includes tools, furniture and agricultural and fishing implements, around 35% of which came directly from the expropriated families. A process of examining the objects according to their heritage value is underway to focus conservation efforts on those whose heritage significance is directly linked to the history of Forillon.
This approach represents best practice, fostering collaboration between experts and affected families to ensure shared stewardship. Since 2023, a working group bringing together the three partners has been carrying out an in-depth examination of the objects. The process includes documenting the objects, assessing their state of conservation and determining their heritage value. In 2024, members of the Association and the Musée de la Gaspésie visited Parks Canada's storage facilities in Quebec to observe the diversity and richness of the objects.
This initiative is part of the consolidation of the collections under Parks Canada's responsibility, aimed at preserving over 25 million heritage objects in optimal conservation conditions. Parks Canada and its partners are committed to maintaining an open and respectful dialogue with the expropriated families, and to exploring the best ways of ensuring that this heritage remains accessible to the community.
