FAQs

The Edmonton Historical Board is a volunteer committee that actively encourages public participation. There are eleven positions for members-at-large on the Board. For more information on getting involved with the Edmonton Historical Board please see the Board Recruitment Profile on the EHB website at http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/city_organization/edmonton-historical-board.aspx

If you would prefer to serve as a member at large of one of the three sub-committees (the Historic Plaques Committee, the Historical Resources Review Panel, and the Policy & Planning Committee) please contact the Edmonton Historical Board for details and vacancies.

Recognizing a building for its historical significance can happen in two different ways. The first is through its inclusion on the Inventory of Historic Resources in Edmonton. By doing a little research and filling out an application form, anyone can nominate a building for this list. The application is reviewed by the City and/or the Heritage Resource Review Panel of the Edmonton Historical Board to determine if it is eligible for inclusion on the inventory. The inventory is a list of historically significant sites in Edmonton but does not limit future alterations nor does it provide any protection from demolition.

The second form of recognition available is through designation by listing the building on the Register of Historic Resources in Edmonton. Any building listed on the Inventory is eligible for designation. Designated buildings are legally protected from demolition and unsympathetic alteration, and are eligible for municipal and provincial grants, as well as an Edmonton Historical Board plaque. Buildings can only be designated by their owners.
For more information on the process of placing a building on the Inventory or Register please visit the City of Edmonton Historic Resources Program website http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/edmonton_archives/historic-resources.aspx.

Buildings that are designated by the City as Municipal Historic Resources are eligible for plaques. These small metal panels are mounted at the sidewalk and tell passersby about the building’s history. It is a great way to both educate the public about significant buildings in Edmonton as well as to celebrate the designation program. For more information please visit the City of Edmonton Historic Resources Program website https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/edmonton_archives/historic-resources

There are numerous places one can go to find information on Edmonton’s history. The Edmonton Public Library has an extensive collection of books on local history and also hosts a number of online resources.

www.epl.ca

The City of Edmonton Archives is also a great resource for researchers. They maintain the records of the City, as well as numerous individuals and organizations within Edmonton. This is the destination of choice those seeking primary sources relating to Edmonton’s past. The Archives is open Monday to Friday, and also has tens of thousands of photos digitized and available online! It is a great place to work on house histories or genealogy.

https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/edmonton_archives/city-of-edmonton-archives

The Provincial Archives of Alberta is also a great place for researchers. Although they maintain a collection relating to the entire province, they do have records relating to Edmonton.

https://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/

Yes! The Edmonton Historical Board meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month and the meetings are open to the public. However, space is limited, so please contact the Board in advance to ensure there will be seating. If you would like to present at one of the committee meetings you are more than welcome to do so. Just contact the Edmonton Historical Board with your idea to be added to the agenda. 

This website contains many archival photographs, courtesy of the City of Edmonton Archives. The Archives has a wonderful collection of photographs from Edmonton’s past. Tens of thousands of them have been digitized and are available online through their website https://cityarchives.edmonton.ca/, and even more are available onsite. You can order high-quality photos from the archives for a nominal fee by filling out the order form, available online, or by visiting the archives in person. You can also download the images from this website or the archives’ website for personal research only. They must not be cropped and must retain the Archives name and image number watermark if applicable. Permission must be obtained from the Archives for downloaded images to be used on websites, online platforms or print publication, and photos may not be uploaded or used on websites or online platforms that claim copyright on uploaded images (ex: Facebook).

If you would like to book a wedding or other function at a building you have seen on this website, you need to contact the building/venue directly.

The Edmonton Historical Board does not own or run any of these buildings and therefore cannot book any of these venues.