Historic Places Initiative

Three years ago (2000), the Department of Canadian Heritage and Parks Canada began a wide-ranging series of consultations on the best means to preserve and celebrate Canada's historic places. There has been a tremendous sense of co-operation and good will from the provinces and territories, municipalities, an Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Members of Parliament, other elected officials, heritage experts and volunteers, archaeologists, planners, government departments, Agencies, Crown Corporations, and a cross-section of other thoughtful and committed Canadians.

This process has taken time because it is important to be fully inclusive, open to all good ideas and focused on undertaking the most significant and long-term heritage conservation action ever in Canada. Out of the consultations has arisen a broad based strategy—the Historic Places Initiative—which is the most important federal heritage conservation proposal in Canada's history.