Legislation

Protection to historic buildings, sites and places can occur through federal, provincial and/or municipal legislation. At the federal level, this is afforded through the Federal Protection Program. Further, a national leadership role in the preservation of the built heritage has been played by the Heritage Canada Foundation.

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board is a commemorative program that advises the Minister of Canadian Heritage and, through him or her, Parks Canada on the commemoration of nationally significant aspects of Canada's past, including the designation of national historic sites.   

Provincially, Alberta Community Development (formerly Alberta Culture and Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism) has been a leader in the development of legislation and support programs. The Heritage Resource Management Branch, has preservation and planning specialists who advise individuals and communities about the designation process and standards for restoration. Funding support is provided through the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, which initiated the Alberta Main Street Programme.

For further information on associated regulations for the Historical Resources Act please visit the Queen's Printer Catalogue. The Catalogue allows you to conveniently search for laws by title, Chapter/Regulation number, or by the ministry responsible. It also allows you to browse for any associated Regulations under the Statutes. The Catalogue provides the option of purchasing fully formatted copies (in Word or WordPerfect) of Alberta’s laws for immediate download to your computer or delivery by mail.

At the local level, generally speaking, there is some  protection afforded to historic buildings. The cities of Edmonton and Calgary have heritage planners in their employ and there are limited incentives for designation and preservation. The national Historic Places initiative has been designed to empower municipalities to better manage their built heritage.

In Edmonton, the Edmonton Historical Board was established in 1966 (originally the Archives and Landmarks Committee) to advise City Council on matters relating to history and heritage. The Board comprises 11 members drawn from citizens-at-large and appointed from Edmonton and District Historical Society and the Northern Alberta Oldtimers' and Pioneers Association. Members of the Edmonton Historical Board sit on the Historic Resources Review Panel, which works with the city's Planning and Development Department the register of historic resources.

In Calgary, the Heritage Advisory Board was established in 1979 to advise City Council on heritage issues. Eleven members of the public are appointed annually by City Council, including the Director of the Planning & Building Department and one representative from the Building Owners and Managers Association and the Historical Society of Alberta. The chairman is chosen annually by the Board members. The Heritage Planner acts as a non-voting professional resource.