Evaluation Criteria

Proposed Subject Evaluation

In order to verify that the subject is of national symbolic importance and fits appropriately within the context of the Capital, a set of mandatory evaluation criteria is used to evaluate all proposals. To assist in this evaluation, the NCC will consult with various subject experts, community leaders and officials in other federal government departments. In addition, the NCC will assemble an external committee of experts to advise on a proposed commemorative subject. The NCC may also conduct additional research or request additional research from the project sponsor, in order to make an informed assessment of the significance of the subject, and to ensure that the subject enjoys a high level of popular support. The results of this evaluation determine whether or not the proposed subject is eligible for a national commemoration on federal lands in Canada’s Capital Region.

Mandatory Evaluation Criteria

The subject of a commemoration shall be of national symbolic importance, uphold Canadian values and identity, and be relevant to Canadians in their lives today.
Individuals or groups shall have made a contribution to Canada of outstanding and enduring impact that goes beyond their particular community. Ten years must have passed following the death of an individual or the last surviving member of a group.
Ideas, principles, concepts or events shall be considered as having an exemplary and positive influence on the lives of Canadians. Events should signify key turning points in the evolution of Canada. At least 20 years must have passed after the occurrence of the event. Disasters, whether natural or human-caused, will not normally be considered.
Military commemorations should recognize collective efforts, rather than those of individuals. Commemorations to branches of the Canadian Armed Forces (the army, navy and air force) will be considered as well as commemorations to major military conflicts sanctioned by the Government of Canada.
In a case where a commemoration to a particular subject already exists on federal lands in Canada’s Capital Region, a duplicate commemoration of that subject will not normally be considered.

During the evaluation, other factors are considered in order to determine the degree to which the subject is of national symbolic importance and how the subject contributes to making the Capital more representative of Canada and Canadians. An example of such a factor is the geographic impact of the subject, assessed by the number of provinces, territories or regions of Canada affected.

Once the subject has been approved by a committee of experts, the site selection process is then initiated. The NCC will identify appropriate sites based on Canada’s Capital Commemoration Potential Site Inventory, in consultation with the project sponsor.

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