National Historic Sites of Canada - Designations

Designations

National Historic Sites are organized according to five broad themes: Peopling the Land, Governing Canada, Developing Economies, Building Social and Community Life, and Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life. To be commemorated, a site must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• illustrate an exceptional creative achievement in concept and design, technology or planning, or a significant stage in the development of Canada;
• illustrate or symbolize, in whole or in part, a cultural tradition, a way of life or ideas important to the development of Canada;
• be explicitly and meaningfully associated or identified with persons who are deemed to be of national historic significance; or
• be explicitly and meaningfully associated or identified with events that are deemed to be of national historic significance.

Designation as a National Historic Site provides no legal protection for the historic elements of a site. However, historic sites may be designated at more than one level (national, provincial and municipal), and designations at other levels may carry with them some legal protections.

Most National Historic Sites are marked by a federal plaque bearing Canada's Coat of Arms. In earlier years, these plaques were erected on purpose-built cairns, and in later years have been attached to buildings or free-standing posts. These maroon and gold markers are typically in English and French, though some are trilingual where another language is relevant to the subject being commemorated.