Persons of National Historic Significance (National Historic People) are people designated by the
Canadian government
The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assuming distinct roles: the executive, as the ''Crown-in ...
as being nationally significant in the history of the country. Designations are made by the
Minister of the Environment
An environment minister (sometimes minister of the environment or secretary of the environment) is a cabinet position charged with protecting the natural environment and promoting wildlife conservation. The areas associated with the duties of an ...
on the recommendation of the
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada
National Historic Sites of Canada (french: Lieux historiques nationaux du Canada) are places that have been designated by the federal Minister of the Environment on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC), as bein ...
. Approximately 70 nominations are submitted to the board each year. A person is eligible to be listed 25 years after death, but Prime Ministers may be designated any time after death.
Parks Canada administers the program, and installs and maintains the federal plaques commonly erected to commemorate each person, usually placed at a site closely associated with them. The intent is generally to honour the person's contribution to the country but is always to educate the public about that person.
Canada has related programs for the designation of
National Historic Sites and
National Historic Events. Events, Sites, and Persons are each typically marked by a federal plaque, but the markers do not indicate which designation a subject has been given. The
Welland Canal
The Welland Canal is a ship canal in Ontario, Canada, connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. It forms a key section of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes Waterway. Traversing the Niagara Peninsula from Port Weller in St. Catharines ...
is an Event, while the
Rideau Canal is a Site. The cairn and plaque to
John McDonell (Aberchalder) does not refer to a National Historic Person, but is erected because his home, Glengarry House, is a National Historic Site. Similarly, the plaque to
John Guy officially marks not a Person, but an Event—the Landing of John Guy.
List of Persons of National Historic Significance
this list contains 730 entries. The searchable database provided by Parks Canada
returns 726 records, and may not be up to date.
See also
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Canada: A People's History
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Fathers of Confederation
The Fathers of Confederation are the 36 people who attended at least one of the Charlottetown Conference of 1864 (23 attendees), the Quebec Conference of 1864 (33 attendees), and the London Conference of 1866 (16 attendees), preceding Canadian ...
*
Heritage Minutes
''The Heritage Minutes'' is a series of sixty-second short films, each illustrating an important moment in Canadian history. The ''Minutes'' integrate Canadian history, folklore and myths into dramatic storylines. Like the Canada Vignettes of t ...
*
List of Canadian awards
This is a list of all known awards in Canada, conferred by either members of the royal family, viceroys, governments, or private organizations.
National awards
Royal awards in the federal jurisdiction
Viceregal awards in the federal jurisdicti ...
*
List of National Historic Sites of Canada
National Historic Sites of Canada (french: Lieux historiques nationaux du Canada) are places that have been designated by the federal Minister of the Environment on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC), as being ...
*
List of Canadian Victoria Cross recipients
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest award of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom honours system. It is awarded for Courage, gallantry "Combat, in the face of the enemy" to members of the British armed forc ...
*
List of Companions of the Order of Canada
Companions of the Order of Canada, the highest level of the Order of Canada, have demonstrated the highest degree of merit to Canada and humanity, on the national or international scene. Up to 15 Companions are appointed each year, with a limit of ...
References
External links
Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
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