Department of Tourism and Culture

Historic Designation in Yukon

Minister of Tourism and Culture Elaine Taylor

In the Yukon, there are three types of historic designation – the formal recognition of the historical importance of a site – based on its location, and level and nature of significance:

1. Under the Historic Sites and Monuments Act, National Historic Sites are deemed significant on a national level and are designated by the federal government.

2. Under the Historic Resources Act (HRA) and the Yukon First Nations Umbrella Final Agreement (UFA), the Minister of Tourism and Culture can designate a historic place as a Territorial Historic Site if it is an important illustration of the historic development, people, cultures, or natural history of the Yukon.

3. Also under the HRA, municipalities can designate sites of local significance as Municipal Historic Sites. The City of Whitehorse Heritage Program was created shortly after the Yukon Government proclaimed the HRA. Whitehorse is the first and only municipality in Yukon so far to to take advantage of these powers and adopt a heritage bylaw.