2.0 Determining National Historic Significance

2.0 Determining National Historic Significance

Only those aspects of Canadian history that have been declared by the Minister to be of national historic significance will be commemorated.

2.1 Scope
2.2 Criteria
2.3 Designation


2.1 Scope

2.1.1
Any aspect of Canada's human history not specifically excluded by policies of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada may be considered for a Ministerial designation of national historic significance. Living persons and places located outside Canadian territory are among the exclusions.

2.1.2
With the exception of Prime Ministers, who are eligible for commemoration immediately upon death, a minimum of 25 years must normally elapse following the death of an individual, in order to allow the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada to make an informed, impartial recommendation based solely on historical considerations concerning the possible national significance of that person.

2.1.3
The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will not recommend that religious and ethnic groups per se be specifically commemorated except where their contributions are represented by sites, individuals, or events of national historic significance.


2.2 Criteria

Designations of national historic significance will be based on the following general criteria:

i) the subject under consideration will have had a nationally significant impact on Canadian history, or will be deemed to represent a nationally important example or illustration of Canadian human history.

  • Uniqueness or rarity are not, in themselves, evidence of national historic significance, but may be used as criteria in connection with i);
  • A representative example may be deemed to warrant a designation of national historic significance because it eminently typifies an important aspect of Canadian history.

ii) a site, structure or object may be designated by virtue of an association with a nationally significant aspect of Canadian history, provided that the association is itself sufficiently important for the site to merit a designation of national historic significance.


2.3 Designation

2.3.1
The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will consider proposals for commemoration that have originated with the public and other sources. Public involvement in proposing subjects that might qualify as being of national historic significance will be encouraged.

2.3.2
Recommendations of national historic significance and the forms of commemoration relating thereto will be forwarded to the Minister for consideration. To ensure that the commemorative program is one of high calibre, advice to the Minister will be based on sound research.

2.3.3
Parks Canada will advise the Minister on operational and other implications of approving a Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada recommendation of national historic significance, specifically as it relates to the form of commemoration.

2.3.4
A designation of national historic significance will be made when the Minister approves a recommendation from the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada to that effect.

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