Places at Risk

Every year, heritage buildings and cultural landscapes are threatened due to neglect, lack of funding, development pressures, innappropriate alterations and weak legislation.

Although they make up some of the most important historic landmark buildings in our communities, lighthouses, historic places of faith and schools are building types that have been facing ever-growing challenges when it comes to their conservation.

Canada is the only G8 country without laws to protect historic places owned by the federal government. Although the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office (FHBRO) can recommend the designation of federal heritage buildings (carried out under the authority of Treasury Board Policy on Management of Real Property) as either "Classified" (the highest level) or "Recognized," they are not binding on federal departments.

In the case of historic buildings owned by Crown Corporations (Canada Post, Bank of Canada, Canada Lands Company, national museums, etc.), they are exempt from the Treasury Board Policy and any review under FHBRO.

Do you know a place at risk? Consider nominating it to our Top Ten Endangered Places List.