HPI FAQ

What is the Historic Places Initiative?

The Historic Places Initiative (HPI) is a partnership between the federal and provincial or territorial governments that aims to advance an appreciation for our historic places and strengthen our ability to take appropriate action to conserve and maintain the historical integrity of these places.

Two tools have been developed under the Historic Places Initiative to help Canadians identify, appreciate, and learn about historic places and how they can be preserved. These are the Canadian Register of Historic Places (CRHP), and Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.

The publication, Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, was developed to encourage the use of appropriate conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation practices for all historic places. Copies are available at Here.

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What is the role of Ontario in the Historic Places Initiative?

In Ontario, the Ministry of Culture is cooperating with Parks Canada’s HPI office to deliver the tools and infrastructure of the Historic Places Initiative.

HPI Ontario has the authority to initiate, review, and process requests for nomination to the Canadian Register of Historic Places from private, corporate, and government sectors. Properties must meet the eligibility and documentation requirements for nomination to the CRHP.

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What is a Historic Place?

The Historic Places Initiative defines a “historic place” as a structure, building, group of buildings, district, cultural landscape, archaeological site, or other type of place in Canada that has been “formally recognized” for its heritage value by an appropriate authority within a jurisdiction.

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What is the Canadian Register of Historic Places (CRHP)?

The Canadian Register of Historic Places will be a searchable electronic (Internet) database managed by Parks Canada through the Historic Places Initiative. It lists and describes formally recognized historic places that meet the eligibility and documentation requirements for nomination by federal and provincial or territorial governments. The Canadian Registrar is responsible for listing eligible historic places on the CRHP. Listing on the CRHP is honorific and does not put any additional legal constraints on property owners.

The CRHP will be a valuable source of easily accessible and standardized information about historic places across Canada. It will be useful for government authorities, land-use planners, developers, the tourism industry, educators, researchers, owners, heritage professionals, and the public. It also will define the universe of historic places potentially eligible for future federal financial and taxation incentives.

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What is the Commercial Heritage Property Incentive Fund?

The Commercial Heritage Property Incentive Fund (CHPIF) is a federally administered grant program available to commercial historic places listed on the CRHP. Announced in fall 2003, the Fund is a three-year program with an annual budget of $10 million.

Commercial properties eligible to apply must be revenue generating and owned by a taxable Canadian corporation that is not controlled, directly or indirectly, by a tax-exempt entity. An applicant leasing a property from any entity will be considered to own the building if at least 20 years remains on the lease at the date of application to the CHPIF. The property must also be listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places. Financial assistance is to help cover costs associated with conservation work that complies with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. Approved projects can receive 20% of total eligible costs, to a maximum of $1 million. Deadlines for application to the CHPIF are September 1, 2004, and March 1, 2005.

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What are the benefits of being listed on the CRHP?

A CRHP listing recognizes and celebrates the importance of a historic place to its community, province or territory, or the nation. By raising public awareness and providing easily accessible and standardized information about historic places across Canada, the CRHP will encourage and promote research and informed decision-making about their conservation.

A CRHP listing does not put any additional legal or legislative constraints on property owners.

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How is a Historic Place nominated to the CRHP?

In Ontario, to be eligible for listing on the CRHP a heritage property must meet the definition of a historic place; be formally recognized under the Ontario Heritage Act through municipal designation, ownership by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, or heritage conservation easements; have a publicly identifiable location; and, meet the CRHP documentation requirements for identification and description.

For more information on Ontario nominations to the CRHP contact HPI Ontario at
Tel: 416-314-0008 Email: historicplaces@mcl.gov.on.ca

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Step 1: Requests for Nomination

Requests for nomination can originate with anyone, including property owners, individuals, corporations, organizations, committees, and other authorities. Requests are made to HPI Ontario, which will advise on eligibility and documentation requirements. Written permission from the property owner to collect, use, and disclose site information is required only for properties owned by individuals.

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Step 2: Determining Eligibility

The historic place must be formally recognized:

In the initial phase of HPI implementation in Ontario, historic places must be “formally recognized” under the Ontario Heritage Act through municipal designation bylaws, heritage conservation easements, or ownership by the Ontario Heritage Foundation. The eligibility of historic places recognized for their heritage value under other legislation, such as the Planning Act or Municipal Act, is under review.

The Canadian Registrar is responsible for listing National Historic Sites, federally owned sites, and railway stations governed by An Act to Protect Heritage Railway Stations.

The historic place must have a publicly identifiable location:

As the CRHP is a public register, the historic place cannot be listed when the location of a historic place cannot be shared with the public for reasons of privacy, religion, site protection, or resource conservation.

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Step 3: Documentation Requirements

HPI Ontario will assist applicants for nomination to the CRHP, or their agent, in compiling the documentation required to identify and describe the historic place.

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Step 4: Nomination to CRHP

Once the documentation requirements for listing are met and reviewed, HPI Ontario will nominate the historic place to the CRHP. The Canadian Registrar is responsible for reviewing all nominations and listing eligible historic places on the CRHP.

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