Licensing and Permissions
The digital reconstruction of the Fortress of Louisbourg is an original work by Daniel C. MacNeil / Avalon Design Studio. You are welcome to explore it online for free. Other uses, from classroom downloads to exhibits and publications, need a licence or written permission.
Licence tiers
| Tier | Best for | What it covers | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| View and share | Everyone | Exploring the model, map, gallery and videos on this website, and sharing links to them. | Free |
| Educator | Teachers and classrooms | The free lesson plan, plus classroom use of the model under a simple licence. | Free lesson plan. Licence by quote. |
| Institutional | Schools, school boards, universities, libraries and museums | Display and teaching use on your premises and in your materials, with a copy of the licensed files. | By quote |
| Commercial and tourism | Retail, corporate events, tourism operators, exhibits, books and media | Public display, events, printed and digital publications, or products that use the model or renders from it. | By quote |
| Commissioned work and footage | Producers, publishers and organizations | Custom renders, fly-throughs and diagrams, and licensing of existing renders and footage. | By quote |
Tiers are a guide. The final terms for any licence are set out in a written licence agreement. To request a licence or permission, contact: daniel@digital-louisbourg.ca.
How to credit the work
Wherever the model, or images and video made from it, are shown, please include this credit:
Original digital reconstruction created by Daniel C. MacNeil.
Where you are using licensed material, the credit may also name Avalon Design Studio and link to digital-louisbourg.ca.
What is not included
- Names, logos and marks of others. The Fortress Louisbourg Association’s name and logo, and any Parks Canada names, marks or protected identifiers, belong to their owners and need their own approval. A licence for the model does not grant them.
- Historical source material. The plans, maps, documents and research the model draws on remain the property of their creators and institutions. A licence covers the reconstruction, not those sources.
- Resale, redistribution and modification. Licences do not include the right to resell, redistribute or alter the model without written permission.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use screenshots or video in a school project or presentation?
Please ask first, and include the credit above. Short, non-commercial educational uses are the easiest requests to approve.
Can I download the model?
A free, simplified full-fortress version and larger detailed versions are offered through the site. Terms for each are shown on the download or product page. Detailed and building-by-building versions are licensed separately.
Can I use the model in a museum, exhibit, tour, book or video?
Yes, with a licence. These uses fall under the Institutional or Commercial and tourism tiers. Get in touch with a short description of what you have planned.
Is the model approved by Parks Canada or the Fortress Louisbourg Association?
No. Digital Louisbourg is an independent project and is not endorsed by or officially associated with Parks Canada or the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. It is created in association with the Fortress Louisbourg Association, but that acknowledgement does not mean the Association endorses any licensed product or use.
Is the model an exact copy of the 1750 town?
No. It is an interpretation built from plans, maps, archaeological records, LiDAR terrain data and photographs. Where the record is incomplete, parts involve informed judgement. See the Disclaimer and Research Methodology pages.
Can I change or build on the model?
Not without written permission. If you need adaptations, such as a different file format or a new view, ask about a commissioned project.
© 2026 Avalon Design Studio. This page is a summary, not a contract.