The main cultural assets of Canada

Canada is a large country that has been shaped by its varied natural and cultural heritage, inclusive of the cultural traditions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Today, Canada is a multicultural society that reflects a rich tapestry of cultural traditions and heritage assets.

The legal framework on cultural heritage conservation

Canada’s legal framework for cultural heritage conservation is shared between federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous governments. All provinces and territories have enacted legislation and/or regulations protecting archaeological sites and built heritage. Federal legal protection for Canada’s cultural heritage sites and heritage activities is realized through several federal Acts and policies. For instance, the Parks Canada Agency Act establishes the Parks Canada Agency and ensures that Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and related heritage areas are protected for current and future generations. The Department of Canadian Heritage Act centres on fostering and promoting Canadian identity and values, cultural development, and heritage. Along with other federal laws with provisions for protection of specific types of heritage assets, the Historic Sites and Monuments Act provides for the designation and commemoration of historic places.

The cultural and natural sites on the World Heritage List

The Parks Canada Agency is the Canadian government authority responsible for implementing the World Heritage Convention in Canada. Since 1978, 20 Canadian cultural and natural heritage sites have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Canada is particularly recognized internationally for its leadership on protecting and presenting Indigenous cultural heritage, as well as for deepening understanding of nature-culture connections in the context of the World Heritage Convention.

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Mandates in ICCROM Council since 1958:

ICCROM Staff since 1959: - None -

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Governmental Cultural Institutions

• Parks Canada Agency
  
• Canadian Conservation Institute
  
• Canadian Heritage Information Network
  
• Canadian Museum of History
  
• National Gallery of Canada
  
• Canadian Museum for Human Rights
  
• Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
  
• Canada Science and Technology Museum
  
• Canadian Museum of Nature

Museums and Cultural Heritage Institutions

• Royal British Columbia Museum
  
• Museum of Anthropology
  
• Royal Tyrell Museum
  
• Royal Ontario Museum
  
• Art Gallery of Ontario
  
• Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
  
• Musée de la Civilisation
  
• Nova Scotia Museum
  
• The Rooms
  

* ICCROM reserves the right to moderate the content provided by Member States for country profiles to ensure that they remain within the scope of ICCROM’s mission and pertinent to cultural heritage. However, ICCROM does not take responsibility for the accuracy and validity of the content supplied. The ideas and opinions expressed are those of the Member States.