About EHB

About the EHB

The Edmonton Historical Board (EHB) is an advisory board to City Council. It advises City Council on historical issues and heritage policy, liaises with community groups involved with heritage issues, and works to educate citizens on the history of Edmonton. As well, the Board has a mandate to encourage, promote and advocate for the preservation and safeguarding of historical properties, resources, communities, and documentary heritage.

The Edmonton Historical Board consists of four committees.

• Engagement Committee (EC)
• Historic Plaques Committee (HP)
• Historical Resources Review Panel (HRRP)
• Policy & Planning Committee (PPC)

Engagement Committee

The Engagement Committee was established in 2021, after the EHB completed an extensive review of the mandate, activities, and committees.

The Committee's primary focus is for communicating Board positions, recommendations, feedback, and coordinating formal advice to City Council, Council Committees and City of Edmonton Administration, as well as coordinating communications and engagement with stakeholders and the media when required.

The Committee also:

• Coordinates and shares Board strategy,
• Participates in City of Edmonton engagement activities and consultations on behalf of EHB as required,
• Participates in stakeholder engagement activities on behalf of EHB as required
• Convenes heritage policy stakeholders meeting, at minimum annually.

Historic Plaques Committee

Since 1974, the EHB has prepared and installed interpretive plaques on buildings, building fragments, and sites of historical significance on the land on which the City of Edmonton resides. These plaques are important as they inform and remind the public of the historic importance of the site or structure.

The Committee oversees the work to completed the plaques. Previous buildings and sites recognized with plaques include: The Strathcona Hotel, the Al Rashid Mosque, Garneau Theatre, Harbin Gate, Borden Park Bandshell, and the Grotski-Schuurmans Residence.

The Committee also oversees this website.

Historical Resources Review Panel

The HRRP was established by the EHB to provide a pool of expert professional and technical knowledge to the Board on the historical, architectural, social and other related values of buildings, sites and areas within the City of Edmonton.

HRRP  is responsible for:

• Assisting in identifying and selecting historic resources for inclusion on the City of Edmonton's Inventory of Historic Resources.
• Recommending to the Edmonton Historical Board on the suitability of proposed amendments to the Inventory of Historic Resources,
• Advising the Heritage Officers when so requested.

HRRP is composed of:

• Chair and 3 members of the EHB
• 1 representative from Historic Places Stewardship Section, Culture and Status of Women
• 1 or 2 historians
• 1 or 2 representative(s) from the Alberta Association of Architects
• 1 -3 community member(s) with an interest in conservation of heritage resources
• At least 1 Principal Heritage Planner
• The City Archivist or their designate

Policy & Planning Committee

The PPC was established in 2021 to actively support the EHB's advisory role to City Council.

The Committee's primary focus is to assist the EHB in coordinating and conducting research, synthesizing and articulating a proactive policy agenda and platform of recommendations on heritage policy and planning matters.

The Committee also:

• Assesses city planning and policy reports for alignment to the Heritage Resource Management Plan (HRMP),
• Develops and maintains an EHB Heritage Policy Agenda and platform of recommendations,
• Coordinates policy research activities and engagement with heritage partners and other stakeholders, as needed

 

Membership

The Edmonton Historical Board consists of 11 members appointed by City Council for a term of one year to a maximum of six consecutive terms.

The EHB works very closely with the City Archives. The Board receives administrative support through the City Archives and Community Services Department. The City Archivist, or designate, is an observer on the EHB and its committees. The EHB’s Administrator is supervised by the City Archivist.

The EHB has a representative member on the Naming Committee to provide perspective and advice from a heritage standpoint. The Naming Committee recommends to City Council, through the City's Urban Planning and Economy Department, on the name of sites, buildings, roads, and other infrastructure.

The City of Edmonton’s Heritage Planners attend meetings of the Board. The Planners address the heritage aspects of City planning  including ensuring the protection and preservation of heritage sites, coordinating the identification of historic resources, and the designation of Municipally Historic Resources.

History

The Edmonton Historical Board was created on October 25, 1938 as the Archives Committee of the City of Edmonton. It was responsible for the archives of the City. In 1947, the Archives Committee became the Archives and Landmarks Committee with the additional responsibility of marking historical sites. In 1958, the Committee established the first museum about Edmonton in association with the Northern Alberta Pioneers and Old Timers Association.

In 1966, the Archives and Landmarks Committee was transformed into the Edmonton Historical Board. With the City Archives established as a separate unit in 1971, opening in 1973. The Edmonton Historical Board no longer manages the City’s Archives, but instead plays an advisory and promotional role.

If you have questions, please see the FAQ, or contact the Board by visiting the Contact Us page.

For more information on the Board please see the City of Edmonton webpage.