Alberta Community Development
Cultural Facilities and Historical Resources Division
Alberta Community Development
Old St. Stephen’s College
8820 – 112 Street
Edmonton, AB T6G 2P8
Phone: 780-431-2300
Fax: 780-427-5598
The mandate of the Cultural Facilities and Historical Resources Division, in its Divisional Core Business, is preserving, protecting and presenting Alberta’s unique cultural and natural history.
The division comprises five branches
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The Historic Sites Service
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The Planning, Cultural Facilities and Foundation Services Branch
In addition, the Division supports two Crown agencies
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the Government House Foundation.
A Program Support unit, including the office of the Assistant Deputy Minister and support staff, assists the five branches and two foundations in the administration of their programs and services. As well, co-ordination of the provincial activities to commemorate the Millennium, and support for the planning and implementation of Alberta’s centennial in 2005 are undertaken through the Cultural Facilities & Historical Resources Division.
The divisional goal is to improve the quality of life for Albertans through the preservation of and promotion of appreciation for Alberta’s diverse natural, historical and cultural resources.
This goal will be met by
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Operating 18 provincial historic sites and museums, the Provincial Archives of Alberta and the Northern and Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditoria, in partnership with Friends Societies, and supporting the operations of the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation and the Government House Foundation
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Identifying, acquiring, protecting, developing and managing historical resources of significance to Albertans, and delivering public programs and exhibits on those historical resources
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Acquiring, preserving and making available for research private and public records of provincial significance
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Regulating land-based development activity to preserve significant historical resources
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Providing professional and technical advice and funding assistance to parties involved in heritage preservation
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Providing opportunities for Albertans to experience cultural performances of local, national and international stature at the Jubilee Auditoria
This goal is intended to achieve the following desired outcomes
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Alberta’s natural, historical and cultural resources are preserved and presented to the public
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The quality of life of the people of Alberta and visitors to the province is improved through the receipt of knowledge about, access to, and increased appreciation of the province’s rich cultural, natural and historical heritage
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Artifacts and archival records of provincial, national and international significance are preserved and protected
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Significant historical resources are identified and preserved through the regulation of land-based development within the province
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Community-based heritage preservation initiatives are realized, using appropriate professional and technical advice and funding assistance
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The Jubilee Auditoria continue to attract the best international performing arts productions available and offer the Alberta performing arts community world-class facilities that serve both as a home base and a spring-board to the national and international stage
Historic Sites Service:
The mandate of the branch is:
To preserve and present Alberta’s historic resources as articulated in the Historic Resources Act, and to operate the province’s two industry, technology and transportation museums and one historic village.
The Branch core business is preserving and presenting Alberta’s unique cultural history.
The Branch consists of one co-ordinating unit (the Director’s office) and five Sections:
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Community Heritage Services
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Northern Operations and Central Services
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Reynolds-Alberta Museum
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Southern Operations
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Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
The goal of the Branch is to improve the quality of life for Albertans through the preservation and presentation of Alberta’s in situ historical resources; through the operation of two museums of industry, technology and transportation; and through the operation of an historic village.
Since its creation in 1987, the Alberta Main Street Programme has been a catalyst for downtown revitalization and community economic development initiatives through the historic restoration of Alberta’s Main Streets. The program’s objective is to help selected communities capitalize on their heritage resources as a source of pride, a business opportunity and a mechanism to increase tourism.