Government of Canada Appoints Two Outstanding Canadians to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Français
OTTAWA, March 5, 2019 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is connecting Canadians to the significant people, places, and events that have shaped our country.
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, announced the appointment of two distinguished Canadians to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC):
- William Waiser, Saskatchewan: Appointed to the Order of Canada in 2017, Dr. William (Bill) Waiser is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the University of Saskatchewan, full-time writer, consultant, public speaker and a past recipient of the Governor General's literary award for non-fiction. He spent more than three decades with the Department of History at the University of Saskatchewan, is a former historian with Parks Canada, and has participated and led numerous heritage boards and committees at the local, provincial, and national levels including Canada's History Society.
- Diane Payment, Manitoba: Mrs. Diane Payment is an ethnohistorian and author, specializing in the history of women, Métis history, and the Francophone history of Western and Northern Canada. She spent thirty years working as an historian and cultural resources specialist for Parks Canada and has been actively involved in heritage organizations in her community, as a member of the Union Nationale Métisse, past president of La Société historique de Saint-Boniface and as a member of the Manitoba Heritage Council for over a decade.
The members will be part of the HSMBC which is comprised of a representative from each province and territory, as well as the Librarian and Archivist of Canada, an officer of the Canadian Museum of History, and an officer of Parks Canada.
Quote
"We are connecting Canadians to the significant people, places, and events that have shaped our country's rich and varied history. I welcome Dr. Waiser and Mrs. Payment joining the Board as it prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Both of these outstanding Canadians will help shape the future of the Board and ensure Canada's diverse heritage is remembered and better understood, now and for future generations."
The Honourable Catherine McKenna,
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
Quick Facts
- The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2019.
- In addition to making recommendations regarding designations of national historic significance, the Board also provides advice on Heritage Railway Stations, grave sites of Canadian Prime Ministers, and Heritage Lighthouses.
- Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national historic significance of places, people, and events that have contributed to Canada's history. Together with Parks Canada, the Board ensures that subjects of national historic significance are recognized and these important stories are shared with Canadians.
- To date, based on recommendations from the HSMBC, the Government of Canada has designated over 2,150 national historic sites, events, and persons. Each of these designations contributes its own unique story to the greater story of Canada, and helps us better understand our country and our identity.
- The Government of Canada is committed to an open, transparent, and merit-based process for selecting Governor in Council's appointees, to encourage continued trust in Canada's democracy and ensure the integrity of its public institutions. The selection process reflects the fundamental role that Governor in Council's appointees play in our democracy as they serve on commissions, boards, Crown corporations, agencies, and tribunals across the country.
Associated Document
Backgrounder: New Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Members
Related Links
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada
Parks Canada
Current and ongoing Governor in Council appointments
SOURCE Parks Canada
Sabrina Kim, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-938-9413, [email protected]; Media Relations, Parks Canada Agency, 855-862-1812, [email protected]
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