Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada
Name	Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada
Formation	1919
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario
Parent organization	Parks Canada

Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada is a federal advisory body established in 1919 to identify and commemorate places, persons, and events of national historic significance in Canada. The board advises the Minister responsible for Parks Canada on designations that include national historic sites, persons, and events, and its recommendations have shaped public memory alongside institutions such as Parks Canada, Library and Archives Canada, and the Canadian Museum of History. Its work intersects with heritage law such as the Historic Sites and Monuments Act, and with provincial and territorial heritage organizations including Ontario Heritage Trust, Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, and Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador.

History

The board was created in 1919 following recommendations from figures like Sir William Peterson and in the aftermath of World War I influences including the Imperial War Graves Commission and commemorative practices seen in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Early members included representatives connected to Royal Ontario Museum, Canadian Historical Association, and the National Museum of Canada. Through the interwar years the board worked alongside projects such as the Champlain Monument initiatives and responded to debates about commemoration raised by events like the Vimy Ridge Memorial and the centennial of Confederation. Post‑World War II expansion saw collaboration with veterans’ groups including the Royal Canadian Legion and engagement with regional heritage movements such as the Acadian Renaissance and Indigenous activism. The board’s practices evolved amid federal policy changes including the creation of Parks Canada Agency and the introduction of multiculturalism policies under leaders like Pierre Trudeau.

Mandate and Functions

The board’s statutory mandate derives from the Historic Sites and Monuments Act and includes identifying subjects of national historic significance, advising on designations, and guiding commemorative wording. It evaluates proposals related to figures such as John A. Macdonald, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and events like the Battle of the Plains of Abraham and the October Crisis. The board consults archival collections from Library and Archives Canada, artefacts from the Canadian Museum of History, and expertise from academic institutions like the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of British Columbia. It also interfaces with provincial ministers responsible for heritage, municipal authorities such as the City of Ottawa, and Indigenous organizations including the Assembly of First Nations.

Composition and Appointment

Membership traditionally comprises historians, archaeologists, and heritage professionals appointed by the federal executive, drawing from institutions such as National Archives of Canada, Royal Ontario Museum, and provincial heritage agencies like the British Columbia Heritage Trust. Appointments are made by the Minister responsible for Parks Canada and have included academics affiliated with Queen's University, Université de Montréal, and Simon Fraser University. The board has featured members representing disciplines tied to Canadian Studies, maritime history institutions such as the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston, and Indigenous scholarship linked with organizations like the Native Women’s Association of Canada.

Designation Process and Criteria

Proposals originate from sources including local historical societies, descendants of historical figures such as Sir Wilfrid Laurier or Emily Carr, municipal governments like City of Halifax, and national bodies such as the Canadian Historical Association. The board assesses significance using criteria related to association with persons, events, or places exemplified by sites like L'Anse aux Meadows, Fort York, and Rideau Canal. Evaluations reference documentary evidence from repositories such as Hudson's Bay Company Archives and use comparative analysis across subjects like Klondike Gold Rush properties and Canadian Pacific Railway structures. Following recommendation, official designation is announced by the Minister and often marked alongside plaques in coordination with organizations including the National Trust for Canada.

Commemorations and Markers

Commemorative plaques and markers have been installed at hundreds of locations from Signal Hill to Batoche National Historic Site, reflecting the board’s interpretive texts about figures like Laura Secord and events including Red River Rebellion. The board's plaque program interacts with heritage signage used by institutions such as Parks Canada and municipal heritage programs in places like Quebec City and St. John’s. Commemorative activities have accompanied anniversaries of events like the War of 1812 bicentennial and the Canada 150 celebrations, and often coordinate with museums including the Canadian War Museum and cultural festivals such as the Calgary Stampede.

Controversies and Criticism

The board has faced criticism over selections and wording, especially in cases involving contested figures like John A. Macdonald and events tied to settler colonialism and Indigenous dispossession, prompting scrutiny from groups including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations. Debates have paralleled controversies seen in other jurisdictions over monuments such as the Confederate monuments controversy in the United States and discussions around decolonizing heritage in institutions like the British Museum. Critics have also cited lack of representation for women, Métis, Inuit, and Black Canadians, prompting calls from organizations like the Black History Month committees and scholars at Dalhousie University for reform.

Impact and Legacy

Over a century the board’s designations have shaped national narratives embodied in sites such as Fortress of Louisbourg, Haida Gwaii, and Fogo Island. Its decisions influence tourism economies in regions like Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and inform curricula at universities like McMaster University and University of Alberta. The board’s legacy includes an extensive registry used by planners, educators, and curators at institutions such as the Canadian Museum of History and the National Gallery of Canada, and ongoing debates continue to refine how Canada commemorates a diverse and contested past.

Category:Heritage organizations of Canada