Listing Municipal Historic Resources on the Alberta Register of Historic Places
In order for sites designated as Municipal Historic Resources to be listed on the Alberta Register of Historic Places and become eligible for funding through the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, municipal officials must submit a package of mandatory documentation on the designated site to the Head of Alberta's Historic Places Designation Program. Included within the mandatory documentation is locational data on the site, as well as a Statement of Significance which clearly articulates the heritage value of the historic place and a Statement of Integrity which demonstrates that the historic place has retained the physical features of the site necessary to convey its significance. All mandatory documentation for Municipal Historic Resources is submitted to the Head of Alberta's Historic Places Designation Program via the internet on an electronic form (e-form). Once a resource has been designated as a Municipal Historic Resource and a copy of the bylaw has been sent to the Office of Alberta's Historic Places Designation Program, a user code and password to access the e-form will be assigned.
The heart of mandatory documentation is the Statement of Significance, a document that describes what a historic place consists of, why it is significant, and which features must be retained in order to preserve its heritage value. A Statement of Significance includes three sections:
- Description of the Historic Place - what the resource is;
- Heritage Value - why the resource is significant; and
- Character-Defining Elements - the features which need to be kept to maintain the heritage value.
When completed, the Statement of Significance should provide guidance to owners, planners, architects and others involved in conserving or rehabilitating the resource. A Statement of Integrity demonstrates that sufficient historic materials and features of the resource remain for it to convey its significance. The Statement of Integrity takes into account the resource's character-defining elements (the essential physical features that must be present for a resource to communicate its significance) and describes whether or not the applicable aspects of integrity (see below) have been retained:
- Location
- Design
- Environment
- Materials
- Workmanship
- Feeling
- Association
When completed, the Statement of Integrity, along with current images of the site, must demonstrate that the historic place as it currently exists retains the features that define its significance.
For further information on designation, contact the
Head, Historic Places Designation
Program.