Conservation Guidelines

Introduction

The aim of 'conservation' is to safeguard an object of cultural value and extend its physical life for the benefit of future generations. In the context of the Cenotaph/Monument Restoration Program, the objects of cultural value are Cenotaphs and Military Monuments as defined by the Program. A fundamental principle of conservation is minimum intervention, which allows the safeguarding of the valued objects with the least physical change.

The primary purpose of these Conservation Guidelines for the Cenotaph/Monument Restoration Program is to provide sound, practical conservation advice appropriate to the repair and restoration of Cenotaphs and Monuments in Canada. These Guidelines are not intended to replace the role of conservation practitioners or professionals, or to provide detailed technical specifications appropriate for every situation. They are intended to provide guidance and direction to assist in investigating, planning, and completing the conservation of a Cenotaph/Monument.

The secondary purpose of these Guidelines is to assist the custodians of Cenotaphs and Monuments who intend to apply for funding support through the Veterans Affairs Canada Cenotaph/Monument Restoration Program, in determining a scope of work that is both necessary and appropriate. The Guidelines will form the basis for the technical criteria against which submissions for funding through this program will be evaluated.

The Guidelines are divided into five sections. The first section addresses the treatment of the Cenotaph/Monument as a whole. The remaining sections present guidelines for the treatment of the most common materials used in the construction of Cenotaphs/ Monuments: masonry, concrete, metal, and wood. Basic background information on these materials, including how they are formed or are fabricated, and a brief discussion on the most common types of deterioration that affect the materials is provided at the beginning of each Guideline section. A glossary of some specific terms is also included at the end of the Guidelines.

The Guidelines have been developed following the internationally accepted conservation principle of 'minimum intervention', meaning, wherever possible, the conservation of the Cenotaph/Monument should be achieved through approaches that require the least amount of modification, alteration, or removal of the original fabric. For example, it is highly preferable that a cracked stone be repaired rather than replaced. Within the Guidelines, recommendations are presented in order from the lowest level of intervention to the highest.

These Guidelines have been developed, in part, using Parks Canada's Cultural Resource Management Policy and the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, to ensure that the guidance provided represents best practice in heritage conservation, and to ensure that it is relevant and appropriate, should a Cenotaph/Monument ever be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Canada.

Conservation is inherently an interdisciplinary process, requiring many individuals with different types of expertise to work together towards a common goal of protecting the Cenotaph/Monument. These guidelines should be shared with and referred to by all of the stakeholders in the conservation project: custodians, consultants, and contractors, to help ensure the success of the work.