How to use the Directory of Federal Heritage Designations

Learn how to search the Directory of Federal Heritage Designations (DFHD), use filters to refine results, and explore detailed records about federal heritage designations across Canada.

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Start your search using the portal

Step 1: Go to the search portal of the DFHD (opens in new tab) and choose your area of interest

Explore the heritage designations by:

  • designation type
  • keyword
  • province or territory
  • commemorative plaques
  • custodian for federal heritage buildings

Tip: Use the pre-defined searches on the portal for a quick start.

The term "custodian" is defined in the glossary of the DFHD.

Step 2: Click on a link to open the search tool

The search tool includes a map and a results list and is the main tool for searching the directory.

The first time you access the search tool, a pop-up will appear with tips to aid your search.

The search tool pop-up window, a text description follows.

The pop-up window shows the layout of the search tool, listing 1) Search bar, 2) Map, 3) Result list, and 4) Help button.

Close this pop-up once you are familiar with the layout of the search tool.

The subtitle of the search tool confirms your selected area of interest.

In the search bar, you will see Advanced Search. This is the active filter of your selection; do not remove it.

An example of the search bar function of the DFHD search tool, a description follows in the image caption.

In this example, the subtitle Search: National Historic Site of Canada defines the search interest, and the active filter has been set as Advanced Search.

Step 3: Explore

You can now:

  • consult the list of results below the map
  • view detailed information about a designation or a commemorative plaque
  • refine your search using the keywords bar
  • change how the information is displayed on the map

To go back to the search portal and start a new search, click on the search button at the top right of the page.

The top content of the portal, the title: Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, is followed by a button labeled Home and a button labeled Search.

Clicking on the search button at the top right of the search tool returns to the portal.

Watch the video to see how to start a search using the directory's search portal.

Descriptive transcript

This video demonstrates step by step how to start a search using the portal and access the search tool. For detailed instructions, refer to the Start your search using the portal section of this tutorial.

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View detailed information about a heritage designation

Step 1: Using the search tool (opens in new tab), browse the result list displayed below the map

Each designation or commemorative plaque is represented by:

  • an icon indicating the record type
  • the title
  • the designation type
  • the location for places and commemorative plaques
  • a brief statement highlighting the heritage value (if applicable)
An example of a Historic Place designation card, it contains the following fields: Title, Type of designation, Location, Highlight, and Map.

Clicking on the Title icon of a designation card opens the related page, clicking on the Map icon centres the map on the designation site.

Note: Historic persons and events do not appear with a map icon.

The icon indicates the record type.

Icons by record type, a description follows in the caption.

The icons by record type are a building for a historic place, a compass for a commemorative plaque, a person for a historic person, and a calendar for a historic event.

Step 2: Open the designation or commemorative plaque page

Click on the title. The related page will open in a new window.

Step 3: Explore the designation or commemorative plaque page

On the page, you will find:

  • top: photos/map, description of the heritage value
  • middle: additional technical information
  • bottom: links to related topics, designations or commemorative plaques

Watch the video to see how to open and explore a heritage designation record.

Descriptive transcript

This video demonstrates step by step how to select a heritage designation from the search results and explore its detailed record. For detailed instructions, refer to the View detailed information about a heritage designation section of this tutorial.

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Find places by searching the map

Step 1: In the search tool, find the Zoom to location bar within the map

Note: the keyword bar within the map zooms in to geographic locations, such as municipalities, cities, parks, and addresses, but does not filter the result list.

A detail of the keyword search and zoom to location fields in the search tool.

Following the prompt Type a keyword... in the keyword bar finds designations and customizes the result list below the map. Searching with Zoom to location zooms to geographic locations on the map.

Step 2: Enter a location

Type a municipality, city, address, or place name in the map keyword bar and select a location from the suggestions.

Step 3: Explore the map

The map will zoom to the selected location.

Step 4: Open records directly from the map

Click on the map to view information about the designations or commemorative plaques and open a record directly from the map.

A record card opened from a designation marker on the search tool map. It features a designation title and description, a browsing feature, an open record feature, and a filter by map feature.

The arrows next to the designation title browse overlapping designations. The Open Record link at the bottom left opens the designation record in a new window.

Watch the video to see how to find heritage designations by searching a location on the map.

Descriptive transcript

This video demonstrates step by step how to search for a location on the map and explore heritage designations in that area. For detailed instructions, refer to the Find places by searching the map section of this tutorial.

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Change how information is displayed on the map

Step 1: Find the map tools in the top right corner of the map

These tools change how the information is shown on the map.

The map tools featured in the search tool: Basemap, Overlays, and Legend. The functions of each tool are described in the caption.

The Basemap changes the map background, the Overlays show or hide designations by type or commemorative plaques, and the Legend explains what each colour means.

Step 2: Change the basemap

Select Basemap to choose a different map background.

The basemap feature with the streetmap option selected.

Selecting Streetmap in the Basemaps tool.

The basemap feature with the satellite image option selected.

Selecting Satellite image in the Basemaps tool.

Tip: Use the satellite view to see the site's surroundings, or the street map to identify roads and place names.

Step 3: Choose your overlays

Select Overlays to show or hide designations by type or commemorative plaques on the map.

The overlay tool, in this example, the toggle is selected for National Historic Sites, rather than Federal Heritage Buildings. Further function of the tool is described in the caption.

Using the toggle shows or hides designations by type or commemorative plaques on the map.

Tip: You can click and drag overlays up or down to change their order on the map. Designation types at the top of the list are displayed on top of the ones lower in the list.

Step 4: View the legend

Select Legend to see what each colour on the map represents.

Watch the video to see how to change the information displayed on the map.

Descriptive transcript

This video demonstrates step by step how to use the map tools to change the basemap, display or hide overlays, and view the legend. For detailed instructions, refer to the Change how information is displayed on the map section of this tutorial.

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Find commemorative plaques

Option 1: Find commemorative plaques from the search portal of the DFHD (opens in new tab)

Step 1: Select an area of interest

Under Find commemorative plaques by designation type, click the link that matches your area of interest.

The search tool opens with a map and a list of results.

Step 2: Explore the results

You can now:

  • consult the list of results below the map
  • view detailed information about a commemorative plaque
  • refine your search using the keywords bar

Tip: On the map, use the overlays to display only the commemorative plaques. How to change the information displayed on the map.

Option 2: Find commemorative plaques from a designation record

Some designations are commemorated by a plaque.

Step 1: Find a related commemorative plaque

On a designation page, scroll down to the Related Resources section. If there is a related commemorative plaque, you will find a link in this section.

Step 2: Open the commemorative plaque record

Click the link to open the commemorative plaque record.

Option 3: Find commemorative plaques using the map

Step 1: Find the map tools

On the search tool, find the map tools in the top right corner of the map.

Step 2: Show commemorative plaques on the map

Open the overlays panel and turn on the Commemorative plaques overlay. Turn off the other overlays.

The overlay tool, in this example, the toggle is selected for Commemorative plaques. Further function of the tool is described in the caption.

Toggling on Commemorative plaques while toggling off all other overlays will display only commemorative plaques on the map.

Step 3: Open a commemorative plaque record

On the map, click on a plaque point to view the name.

You can also open the record of the commemorative plaque by clicking on Open Record.

A record card opened from a commemorative plaque designation marker on the search tool map. It features a designation title and description, an open record feature, and a filter by map feature.

Clicking a commemorative plaque designation marker on the map opens a record card. The records card features an Open Record link at the bottom left.

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Explore the Directory of Federal Heritage Designations

Apply what you have learned by exploring the Directory and searching for federal heritage designations across Canada. You can search for historic places, federal heritage buildings, heritage lighthouses, heritage railway stations, commemorative plaques, persons, and events.

Find a designation

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