About this Guide

INTRODUCTION

Click here to view a larger version of this image. (This image is larger than 450 pixels) Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada © Parks Canada

Who hasn't heard the questions "What is a Canadian?" "How are we different?" To answer these questions we could reach for images of peacekeepers in Kosovo, ideas such as "multiculturalism," or adjectives such as "friendly," "trustworthy," "honest," "open," "loyal," and "funny". But where is Canada's heart? What are the stories of Canada and where can we find them? "Our history is written on the surface of the land."

History is the chronicle of change. It is shaped by differences of opinion - even conflicts - and their resolution. Knowing our history promotes understanding of social and political concerns as well as tolerance for different views and perspectives. Learning from the past can help us to make wise decisions for the future. The national historic sites of Canada chronicle and commemorate those places, persons, and events considered to have shaped the country. They have powerful and provocative stories to tell about our history, about who we are, and about what is important to us as a country. Found all across Canada, these sites define important aspects of our diverse but common heritage and identity.

By incorporating the national historic sites in the study of history, your students can explore Canada's past through the stories of the places, people, and events that shaped our country. As they do so, they will develop a clearer understanding about the past's influence on the Canada of today, our current influence in the world, and the meaning of citizenship.

There are more than 850 national historic sites in Canada. Because of their proximity to many communities across the country, it may be possible for you and your students to actually visit a national historic site, to savour the experiences and information that can be found there. Alternately, you can access these sites via the Internet to simulate a visit and gather information.

Involve your students in finding information from the past by using the tools of today. At the Parks Canada Web site, students can take a virtual tour through an historic site, meet noted individuals to learn about their lives, and gather facts and impressions about significant historical events. As students use the Internet to explore history, they will learn:

• how our historic sites are connected to our individual and collective history
• what stories groups and individuals have to tell us about the issues and events that motivated them
• how an event can be understood from the multiple perspectives of the people who lived it.
   

* Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Science, 1951.