Telling Canada's Story: Developing a Method of Inclusive Commemoration for Canada's National Historic Sites

Abstract

National Identity is upheld through the commemoration of Canada’s story at our national historic sites. In recent years the Canadian practice of heritage preservation has begun to examine the divisive and exclusionary role of colonialism, patriarchy, and racism embedded into the ideologies, forms and structure of Canada’s historic sites and monuments. Currently under a revaluation The Citadel Hill Fortress in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Built in the first days of North American British colonization, the Citadel site is deeply woven into Canada’s story and stands as the monument of the City of Halifax. This thesis explores the intersection of the revaluation of Canadian commemoration practices with the development of an inclusive national identity ; asking can adapting the program of National Historic Sites to reinforce their informal civic role to offer an inclusive public space for monumental gathering, inclusive commemoration and developing a true and free Canadian identity?