A National Historic Site is a designation given to a small protected area of historic significance. The government run program to identify and preserve certain aspects of Canadian history was created in 1919 when James B. Harkin, the Commissioner of Dominion Parks convinced the federal government to establish the Advisory Board for Historic Site Preservation. This division of Parks Canada recognizes significant places, persons and events. All designations are made by the Minister of the Environment on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board, and public input.