Heritage buildings in Edmonton

As of 2008^[update] there are currently ten sites in Edmonton with plaques erected by Parks Canada and listed in the Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada, and one recommendation to create a new plaque in Edmonton. Only National Historic Sites commemorate buildings, and there are only two National Historic Sites in Edmonton: the former location of Fort Edmonton near the Alberta Legislature Building,^[1] and Government House.^[2] There are also four plaques for National Historic People and National Historic Events in the city.

The federal government also has a separate heritage register for buildings it owns, under the Federal Heritage Buildings program. In Edmonton, two buildings are listed: the Grierson Centre's former RCMP Centre Building 3 (now a prison),^[3] and the Headquarters Army Western Command Building J-3^[4] at CFB Edmonton.

The only other heritage recognition provided to buildings by the federal government is that of Heritage Railway Station under the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act (because railways are federally regulated). The former Strathcona Canadian Pacific Railway Station is one such station.^[5][6]

Historic designation in Alberta is governed by the Historical Resources Act.^[7] Sites owned and run by the provincial government as a functioning historic site or museum are known as Provincial Historic Sites. The two Provincial Historic Sites in Edmonton are the Royal Alberta Museum, and Rutherford House. Buildings and sites owned by private citizens and companies or other levels or branches of government may gain one of two levels of historic designation: "Registered Historic Resource" or "Provincial Historic Resource" (the later being the higher designation).^[8] There are 54 Provincial Historic Resources and 30 Registered Historic Resources listed with the Alberta Register of Historic Places within Edmonton city boundaries.^[9] Since 2007 the provincial government has also recognized the Old Strathcona district as a "Provincial Historic Area", only the second such area in Alberta.^[10]

The province also lists buildings deemed historically significant by municipal governments on the Alberta Register of Historic Places, which is also part of the larger Canadian Register of Historic Places although this does not imply provincial or federal government status or protection.^[11]