Receiving the special designation
The application process goes through Parks Canada first. If it appears to meet the criteria, Parks Canada researchers will pull together material to put together a full application to present to the board for review.
The board also provides advice on Heritage Railway Stations, Heritage Lighthouses and the National Program for the Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers.
The board keeps on top of local issues pertaining to heritage events and sites, so
from the public to determine whether a site, event or person should be designated a national historic site, event or person under the National Program of Historical Commemoration.
“They have to be nationally significant in some way,” Philpott explains. “Which doesn't mean that someone in Vancouver knows about a story in Newfoundland, but it means that it tells a story about our development as a nation or how Newfoundland developed as a nation
Philpott says members of the public can get in touch with members of the board in their jurisdiction if there is something they would like to discuss.
Although, he adds, they cannot say whether something would be designated or not.
The board is also responsible for attending and officiating plaque unveilings tied to an event, person or site that has received designation.
The next meeting to review applications is in
before joining Canada even.”
In Newfoundland and Labrador, that includes such historic places as Signal Hill, people such as Joey Smallwood and Shanawdithit and events such as the mid-20th century Canadian military presence in Newfoundland.
In this new role, Philpott is most looking forward to reviewing the first application package.
“I'm really looking forward to reading some of these very thorough backgrounds on topics potentially of national
Halifax in June. The second meeting will be in Ottawa this December.
“If anyone reading, I just encourage them if they have a topic or a site or person or event of potentially national significance or something that shaped Newfoundland and Labrador, give it a search on the directory and if it's not there, consider making an application,” recommended Philpott.
Applications can be made at parks.canada.ca/culture/ designation/proposernominate.
significance,” he says.
He was also enthusiastic about some changes the process is going through. Since 2019, Parks Canada has a new framework for commemorations, identifying new areas of priority, including diversity and Indigenous perspectives.
When Philpott spoke to the Central Wire, he said the federal government was reviewing a bill that could alter the makeup of the board to add Indigenous representation.
THE BACKGROUND
Philpott's background prepares him well for his new role.
Upon graduating high school, he pursued an English degree followed by a degree in architecture in Halifax. Philpott subsequently worked as a heritage officer with the Heritage Foundation of NL for six years.
In that role, he did site visits to historic buildings, accepted applications for designation for historic buildings in the province and, although he wasn't responsible for making decisions, participated in meetings where the board reviewed applications and repaired packages.
He did research reports on sites, new applications and topics of provincial significance.
Philpott also served on the Built Heritage Experts Panel in St. John's, which, per the City of St. John's, “provides expertise, opinion and perspective about built heritage, its protection and designation in the City of St. John's.”
He is also a board member with the Historic Trust.
Currently, Philpott, who lives in St. John's, works as a consultant with Human Space, a Toronto-based consulting firm focusing on accessibility and inclusion in the built environment.
He is responsible for Heritage for All, their multi-year research project examining and making recommendations regarding the accessibility of federal heritage buildings.
“I just find it so interesting,” Philpott states about his line of work. “I think it really helps you build a connection to the place you live.”
He adds even if someone stops to read a plaque about a designated site, you build a stronger connection to that place.
“I think it's important for even homeowners, who have older homes, when you know the story of your building and how it evolved or who lived there.
“It builds a bit more of a connection and an appreciation for it.”