Historic Resources

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Historic Resources are buildings, structures, fragments, landscapes or features that represent an important development in Edmonton. It may have a unique architectural style or have been associated with a prominent person or event in Edmonton’s history.

Heritage Places Strategy

The Heritage Places Strategy represents an exciting shift in Edmonton’s evolving approach to heritage, updating how places that matter to Edmontonians are identified, commemorated and conserved.

Overview

The Heritage Places Strategy will contribute to The City Plan, the Indigenous Framework and many City priorities including reconciliation, climate resilience and local economic development.

The Heritage Places Strategy includes:

Guiding Principles (six) that express the shared values to guide all elements of the strategy
Pillars (four) that serve as the updated focus areas with recommended directions for Natural Heritage, Indigenous Heritage, Community and Cultural Heritage and Built Heritage
Implementation Priorities (six) that will advance various directions through specific projects

Proposed Council Policy C450C (Encourage the Recognition of Heritage Places in Edmonton) is being recommended to replace existing Policy C450B (Encourage the Designation and Rehabilitation of Municipal Historic Resources in Edmonton) to update guidance in alignment with the Heritage Places Strategy.

An Appendix to the Heritage Places Strategy provides a list of tools and tactics used by other cities across Canada and beyond to support heritage. This research, together with engagement feedback, helped to inform the development of the strategy.

The new strategy will replace Edmonton’s 2009 Historic Resource Management Plan.

Project Details

Timeline

The Heritage Places Strategy included 3 phases and a variety of ways for people to learn more and provide feedback.

Spring - Summer 2025:
- Phase 1 - Launch and idea generation
Fall 2025:
- Phase 2 - Draft recommendations
Winter - Summer 2026:
- Phase 3 - Heritage Places Strategy development

Get Involved!

The Heritage Places Strategy and proposed policy update will be presented to Council’s Urban Planning Committee on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. To attend, tune in or register to speak at the meeting, visit the Council and Committee Meetings web page.

Phase 3 - Public Engagement

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey, asked a question, shared their thoughts on Engaged Edmonton, met with us or emailed their feedback as part of Phase 3 engagement in March and April 2026.

The Phase 3 What We Heard Report Full Version provides a full recap of the common themes, insights heard, and next steps.

The Phase 3 What We Heard Report Executive Summary provides a quick snapshot of the themes and insights heard.

The What We Did Summary provides a brief overview of how the feedback was used to create the final draft.

Phase 2 - Public Engagement

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey, asked a question, shared their thoughts on Engaged Edmonton, met with us or emailed their feedback as part of Phase 2 engagement in November 2025.

The Phase 2 What We Heard Report Full Version provides a full recap of the recurring themes, insights heard, and next steps.

The Phase 2 What We Heard Report Executive Summary provides a quick snapshot of the themes and insights heard.

Your input will be used to help inform refinements to the draft Guiding Principles and Pillars and the preparation of the overall strategy as part of Phase 3.

Phase 1 - Public Engagement

Phase 1 Engagement took place in the spring and summer of 2025.

The Phase 1 What We Heard Report Full Version provides a full recap of the recurring themes, insights heard and next steps.

The Phase 1 What We Heard Report Executive Summary provides a quick snapshot of the themes and insights heard.

Keep Up to Date

Receive project updates as information becomes available and learn about engagement opportunities.

Stay Informed

Neon Sign Museum

The Neon Sign Museum, the first in Canada, features a collection of historic signs that tell a story about Edmonton’s neon past.

Financial Incentives for Municipal Historic Resources

Incentives may be available for restoration, rehabilitation and maintenance of designated Municipal Historic Resources.

The City maintains a Register and Inventory of Historic Resources in Edmonton to protect and support historical resources.

Historical Walking Tours

Take a self-guided walk through some of Edmonton's historic areas and buildings.

Heritage Areas

There are neighbourhoods and commercial districts within Edmonton that have areas worthy of being recognized as historic or character areas.

High Level Bridge

The High Level Bridge has been a landmark in Edmonton since its construction between 1910 and 1913 by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).

Historic Resources Management Program

The Historic Resources Management program was developed to identify and save Edmonton’s historic resources with the goal that today’s developments are tomorrows heritage. The City is committed to preserving historical resources that represent our past and enhance our urban environment.

The Program

The Historic Resources Management Program was put in place to identify, facilitate and manage the protection and reuse of Edmonton’s Historic Resources.

The City works with property owners to make historical resource projects feasible. The program offers opportunities for buildings to expand and change while maintaining the character defining elements and key features of the historic resource’s period. There are also financial incentives available to assist with some costs of restoring the building.

The Historical Resources Management Program focuses on the following:

Register and Inventory of Historic Resources
Ensure important resources are identified and recorded in the Register and Inventory with the goal that they’ll be designated as Municipal Historic Resources
This enables appropriate effort and policy to be put in to place to protect and/or incorporate historic resources facing ongoing development pressures
Financial incentives
Promotion - bring awareness to the benefits of heritage conservation
Enabling individuals to access appropriate resources, advice and assistance to allow them to evaluate and protect historic resources
Monitoring - ensure historic resources are accounted for in the development process and part of long term management
Broader Heritage Initiatives - Integrating the Historic Resource Management Program with other heritage initiatives such as museums, archives and archaeological efforts

Benefits

Improves tax base when historic structures are maintained
Creates demand for a wider range of skills, services and materials within the local economy
Creates historical, architectural and cultural attractions
Retains the character of communities and neighbourhoods
Can be marketed as a tool to create positive economic development and cultural sustainability
Has a strong positive impact on developing communities and creating a culture of creativity and innovation
Adapting and recycling of existing buildings makes good use of building stock and prevents materials ending up in landfills
Owners can apply for financial incentive programs to designate
Desirable locations to live or work and are good investments in the long term when well maintained
Free advice to owners and users of historic resources to help maintain, save or develop properties
Heritage planners may act as a liaison for owners during the permitting process

History

Learn how the Register and Inventory Program started and expanded over the years.

2008: City-wide Study to Assess Modern Resources

A city-wide study assessed buildings built up to 1959 in recognition of a significant collection of modern resources. The modern structures selected were added to the Inventory. The Register and Inventory continues to expand as significant resources are identified.

2005 to 2007 - New Heritage Plan Developed

The format of the Register and Inventory changed between 2005 and 2008. The Historic Resource Management Plan was updated because:

the federal and provincial heritage preservation standards changed
the inventory of designated heritage resources increased

The process featured a series of visioning exercises that were held in 2006 and 2007 to ask those with interest in heritage matters where they would like to see Edmonton in 20 years.

The process aligned itself with national terminology, standards and processes. “A” and “B” designation of resources was removed, and all resources were given equal value.

Summary of Vision, November 2006

Summary of Vision, February 2007

The Art of Living 2008-2018

1995 - City Council Meeting

The Register and Inventory of Historic Resources in Edmonton and the Historic Resource Management Program was presented to City Council.

While the Register and Inventory lists, identifies and locates each of the Historic Resources, the Historic Resource Management Program describes how these resources will be monitored and managed by the City.

1992 - Project Team to Identify all Historical Resources

A project team identified significant buildings, bridges, landscapes, cemeteries, trees, architectural fragments, street furnishings and monuments to add to the Inventory. Natural resources, monuments, cemeteries and fragments were listed separately as Appendices. Historic resources of all types were evaluated using nationally recognised criteria.

1988 - City-wide Inventorying Project

City Council directed Administration to "conduct a comprehensive inventory of all historical and architecturally significant buildings in Edmonton."

A system was developed to evaluate buildings consistently. At that time, the Register and Inventory had two groupings of Resources; the “A” and “B” Lists. “A” listed buildings were considered to be the more historically significant than the “B” listed buildings.

1984 - First Register of Historic Buildings

In response to City Council's request to be notified when demolition threatened any heritage buildings. Initially, only downtown buildings were inventoried. This list gradually expanded to include the inner city residential communities surrounding downtown Edmonton and Strathcona.

The inventorying was done without a consistent standard with limited staff to manage the list.

Contact Us

8th Floor, Edmonton Tower
10111 104 Avenue NW
Edmonton AB T5J 0J4

Email	heritageplanners@edmonton.ca