The Events of National Historic Significance, also called National Historic Events (French: Les événements d'importance historique nationale), are events that have been designated by Canada's government, on the advice of the national Historic Sites and Monuments Board to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, as being defining actions, episodes, movements or experiences in Canadian history.^[1] To be designated, an event must have occurred at least forty (40) years previous; events that continue into the more recent past are evaluated on the basis of what occurred at least 40 years ago.^[2] As of June 2023, there are 500 National Historic Events that are already recorded.^[3][4][5]

Related federal designations exist for National Historic Sites and National Historic Persons.^[1] Events, Sites, and Persons are each typically marked by a federal plaque, but the markers do not indicate which designation a subject has been given. The Welland Canal is an Event, while the Rideau Canal is a Site. The cairn and plaque to John Macdonell does not refer to a National Historic Person, but is erected because his home, Glengarry House, is a National Historic Site.^[6][7] Similarly, the plaque to John Guy officially marks not a Person, but an Event—the Landing of John Guy.^[8]

Events have been designated in all ten provinces and three territories, as well as Belgium, China, France, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

List

As of August 2023^[update], there are 501 National Historic Events recorded. The "Location" column identifies the place where an event happened or, in the case of widespread or non-specific locations, marks the place where a federal plaque to the event is located or is likely to be located, if known.