Review of commemorative plaque texts and national historic designations
On this page
- Telling complex stories from Canada’s past
- Expanding perspectives
- Reviewing existing designations
- Learn more about the review process
- Results of reviews
- Review of designations related to residential schools
- Request a review
For over one hundred years, Parks Canada has been working with the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (the Board) to identify and share defining moments of history in Canada. More than 2,270 persons, places and events have been recognized as national historic designations for their role in shaping the country.
Telling complex stories from Canada’s past
Canadians value learning about the country’s past, in all its richness and complexity. This history includes fascinating stories of greatness, valour, exploration, and innovation, but also stories that are challenging, uncomfortable and, in some cases, tragic. National historic designations reflect this diverse range of subjects.
Perspectives and interpretations of history in Canada have changed a lot over the last century. Some designations and their commemorative bronze plaques include dated, inaccurate, or insensitive content that does not reflect what is known or important to say about the country's history today.
Expanding perspectives
Over the years, the Board and Parks Canada have undertaken reviews of Canada's national historic designations. By revisiting these designations with new evidence, broader sources, and incorporating a wider range of perspectives, we can develop a deeper understanding of the place we now call Canada.
When considering contested or controversial designations, it is important not to erase history. Instead, it is the responsibility of Parks Canada and the Board to add to history by bringing previously ignored or underrepresented stories to light. This important work is grounded in research, aimed at ensuring that our interpretation of the past is rigorous and well-informed.
The Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site has undergone a series of name changes since it was first designated in 1958 as Fort Amherst National Historic Park. In 1985, the name was changed to Fort Amherst/Port La Joye to include the site’s connection to Acadian history. In 2018, the Mi’kmaw word Skmaqn (meaning “waiting place”) was officially added to the name. With community input, Mi’kmaw, British and French perspectives are now recognized in the site’s name and reasons for designation.
Reviewing existing designations
Parks Canada’s Framework for History and Commemoration (2019) outlines the approach for the careful review of existing national historic designations and their plaque texts. The review focuses on incorporating new knowledge and expanded perspectives to ensure that national historic designations reflect the broad spectrum of history in Canada. This includes the histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples.
Designations are reviewed for the following reasons:
- colonial assumptions: designations related to colonial and religious leaders and their actions, and to settlement and nation building that were written from an overly European perspective
- terminology: designations that include outdated or offensive terms or word choices
- absence: designations that have an absence of a significant layer of history, most frequently associated with the exclusion of Indigenous peoples
- controversial beliefs and behaviours: designations, in particular persons, who are now associated with views, actions, and activities condemned by today's society
- new research: designations that need to be updated to reflect new information, new sources, or recent scholarship
Parks Canada worked with Timiskaming First Nation to update the name and the reasons for national historic significance for Obadjiwan-Fort-Témiscamingue National Historic Site, designated in 1967. The 2019 revised reasons and name include the role of Indigenous peoples in the fur trade and their long history at this place before Europeans arrived.
Learn more about the review process
When a national historic designation has been identified for review, a Parks Canada historian researches the designation to determine whether its reason for designation or plaque text need to be updated. The historian engages with members of the public who are knowledgeable about the subject. This may include the person who requested the review, an implicated community (including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples), subject-matter experts, and/or local stakeholders or community members.
The Board is an autonomous group of historians and heritage professionals that advise the Government of Canada on important matters of history in Canada.
A research report is then presented to the Board for their consideration.
Ultimately, the Board may recommend to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada:
- new or modified reasons for designation
- to maintain the existing reasons
- that there is insufficient historical knowledge or another issue that makes it impossible to provide a recommendation at this time
The Board also provides a recommendation on the form of commemoration for a designation. This includes whether the designation should be commemorated with a plaque or through some other form of commemoration.
Results of reviews
The following is a list of recently completed reviews of designations. As additional reviews are completed, they will be added to this list.
| Designation name | National historic designation type (person, site or event) | Year of review | Reason(s) for review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrien-Gabriel Morice, O.M.I. National Historic Person | National historic person | 2024 | Colonial assumptions |
| Albert Lacombe, O.M.I. National Historic Person | National historic person | 2024 | Colonial assumptions; Terminology |
| Alexander Morris National Historic Person | National historic person | 2024 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| Alexandre-Antonin Taché National Historic Person | National historic person | 2024 | Colonial assumptions |
| Bishop Modeste Demers National Historic Person | National historic person | 2024 | Colonial assumptions |
| Congrégation de Notre-Dame National Historic Event | National historic event | 2023 | Colonial assumptions |
| Creation of the Northwest Mounted Police National Historic Event | National historic event | 2024 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| David Laird National Historic Person | National historic person | 2024 | Colonial assumptions |
| Duncan Campbell Scott National Historic Person | National historic person | 2023 | Colonial assumptions; Terminology; Absence |
| Edgar Dewdney National Historic Person | National historic person | 2023 | Colonial assumptions; Terminology; Absence |
| Ernest Thompson Seton National Historic Person | National historic person | 2022 | Colonial assumptions; Terminology; Absence |
| Fort Laprairie National Historic Site of Canada | National historic site | 2021 | Colonial assumptions; Terminology |
| Fort Richelieu National Historic Site of Canada | National historic site | 2022 | Colonial assumptions; Terminology |
| Frank Oliver National Historic Person | National historic person | 2023 | Controversial beliefs and behaviours; Colonial assumptions; Terminology; Absence |
| Grey Nuns of Montréal National Historic Event | National historic event | 2023 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| James Isbister National Historic Person | National historic person | 2022 | Error identified |
| Jesuit Fathers National Historic Event | National historic event | 2023 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| L'Anse Amour National Historic Site of Canada | National historic site | 2022 | Colonial assumptions; Terminology |
| Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate National Historic Event | National historic event | 2023 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| Montmorency Park National Historic Site of Canada | National historic site | 2022 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| Nicholas Flood Davin National Historic Person | National historic person | 2023 | Colonial assumptions |
| Notre Dame des Victoires / Lac La Biche Mission National Historic Site of Canada | National historic site | 2024 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| Reverend Adolphus Egerton Ryerson National Historic Person | National historic person | 2023 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| Reverend George Millward McDougall National Historic Person | National historic person | 2024 | Colonial assumptions; Terminology |
| Rose Fortune National Historic Person | National historic person | 2022 | n/a |
| Sir Adams Archibald National Historic Person | National historic person | 2024 | Colonial Assumptions; Absence |
| Sir Hector-Louis Langevin National Historic Person | National historic person | 2023 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| Sir John A. Macdonald National Historic Person | National historic person | 2024 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| Sir Joseph William Trutch National Historic Person | National historic person | 2023 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| Sisters of Charity of Ottawa National Historic Event | National historic event | 2023 | Colonial assumptions; Absence |
| Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Halifax National Historic Event | National historic event | 2023 | Colonial assumptions |
| Sisters of Providence National Historic Event | National historic event | 2023 | Colonial assumptions |
| Sisters of Ste. Anne National Historic Event | National historic event | 2023 | Colonial assumptions |
| Sisters of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary National Historic Event | National historic event | 2023 | Colonial assumptions |
| Skoki Ski Lodge National Historic Site of Canada | national historic site | 2022 | Error identified |
| William McDougall National Historic Person | National historic person | 2024 | Colonial assumptions |
Review of designations related to residential schools
Designated persons, events, and sites are being reviewed for their connection to the history and legacy of the residential school system. This review examines why these topics were initially designated and expands Canadians’ knowledge of Indigenous histories as directed in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 79.
The following designations have been reviewed by the Board for their connection to the history and legacy of Indian Residential Schools:
Review of events related to residential schools
National historic events reviewed in relation to the history of the residential school system.
Review of persons related to residential schools
National historic persons reviewed relating to residential schools the history of Indigenous Peoples.
Review of sites related to residential schools
National historic sites reviewed relating to residential schools.
As more reviews are completed, these pages will be updated to include the results.
Request a review
The Rideau Canal National Historic Site was originally designated in 1925 as an engineering achievement. Following a public request and additional research, the designation and its plaque were expanded in 2014 to include the contributions of different groups of labourers who built the canal.
To request a review of a designation, members of the public can contact Parks Canada's Secretariat for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board at clmhc-hsmbc@pc.gc.ca. Please identify which designation or plaque is of interest to you and provide a brief description of your concerns. While Parks Canada's goal is to complete this work as quickly as possible, these reviews are undertaken on a case-by-case basis, as time and resources permit.
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