Benchmark Program

Dedicate a commemorative plaque displayed on benches in the City’s parks and open spaces.

STATUS: Active
The Benchmark Program is now accepting applications for commemoration on existing benches. The program’s focus is on refurbishment of existing benches. Applications to install a bench in a new location are extremely limited, and will only be considered in cases where significant need within the park space can be demonstrated. Please follow the Donor Application Process.

About the Program

The Benchmark Program was established to offer individuals and groups the opportunity to honour loved ones or to celebrate special occasions through the placement of a commemorative plaque on a bench in City parks and open spaces.

Existing benches in City parkland and open spaces are available for refurbishment and dedication. Your donation of $2,500 includes the refurbishment of your chosen existing bench, individualized bronze plaque, and related maintenance over a 10-year period. Applications to install a bench ($4,200) in a new location are extremely limited, and will only be considered in cases where significant need within the park space can be demonstrated. All Benchmark plaques will be displayed for a period of 10 years from the time of installation. Prior to the end of the commemoration period, the donor can submit a renewal application to request that the City continue to display the plaque under the Benchmark Program for an additional fee. While intake is ongoing, refurbishments and plaque installations take place from May to October.

Please contact the Program Coordinator to learn about the parks that have benches available for commemoration and visit the Benchmark Program Guidelines for a comprehensive outline of the program.

For more information on the Benchmark program, please review the Frequently Asked Questions.

Program Guidelines

Program Administration

The City has the sole and absolute discretion whether to approve or deny any Application and Renewal Application.
The City at all times remains the exclusive owner of all benches, plaques and chattels associated with the Benchmark Program.
The City will only accept charitable donations to the Benchmark Program which are tax-deductible under Canada Revenue Agency legislation and guidelines.
Tax receipts will be issued by the City to the Donor(s) in the following calendar year in which the donation is received, typically in late February and prior to April.
The Benchmark Program is strictly limited to honouring individuals and non-commercial special occasions. The Benchmark Program cannot be used to further any commercial interest.
Location is subject to availability and final approval by the City.
Bench styles for dedication vary by location, and are subject to change.
The City may, in its sole discretion, temporarily or permanently relocate the bench or plaque for reasons such as safety, maintenance, construction, or park redevelopment. The City will use reasonable efforts to notify the Donor of changes.
The City does not guarantee that the bench will have a clear view free from obstruction during the Commemoration Period. The view may change for many reasons including but not limited to construction, vegetation growth, and tree planting.

Donor Contact Information

The City will only communicate and engage with the named Donor in the Application Form through the Application process and during the 10-year Commemoration Period of the dedication except as provided for below.
The named Donor in the Application Form is responsible to provide updated contact information for themselves and for the Alternate Contact in a timely manner to the City at all times through the Application process, the Commemoration Period and any renewal period approved by the City.
Notwithstanding that two or more persons may contribute charitable donations toward a plaque and commemoration, the City will exclusively engage with the named Donor in the Application Form for any and all matters, issues, discretionary decisions, notices, or any other details relating to the plaque, commemoration and renewals.
In the event we cannot reach the Donor at any time during the Commemoration Period, the City will contact the Alternate Contact listed by the Donor.

Application Process and Installation

Contact the program coordinator by using the online inquiry form or calling 311 to discuss the available options and locations.
Complete the online Application Form that the Program Coordinator has shared with the Donor.
The Program Coordinator will review the Application Form and work with the Donor to finalize all details.
Once details are finalized and application is approved, the Program Coordinator will send a Confirmation email to the Donor along with the plaque proof and an invoice.
The Donor must respond to the City’s Confirmation email within 30 days if they want to proceed with the approved location and plaque proof provided by the City.
Full payment of the charitable donation is required within 30 days from the date of the invoice. The City will not commence any work until the invoice is paid in full.
If the Donor does not respond in 30 days from the date of the Confirmation email, the City may in its sole discretion release the location to other potential donors and may deem the Application abandoned.
Bench and plaque installations will only occur between May and October. The City may not be able to install the plaque in the first May-October period after approval of an Application due to constraints including, but not limited to, workforce capacity and inclement weather.
The Program Coordinator will notify the Donor once installation is completed.

Commemoration Period

New plaques will be displayed for a 10-year time period (the “Commemoration Period”) beginning from the date of installation. The City will remove the plaque and it will no longer be displayed with the bench at the end of the Commemoration Period.
It is the responsibility of the Donor to submit a request for renewal to the City prior to the end of the Commemoration Period. In its sole discretion, the City may consider and accept the request for renewal from a person other than the Donor or Alternate Contact.
Prior to the end of Commemoration Period, the Donor can submit a Renewal Application to request that the City continue to display the plaque under the Benchmark Program for an additional period of time. An additional charitable donation in accordance with the Benchmark Program policies and guidelines will be required. The time frame for any renewal period will be specified in the Benchmark Program policies and guidelines in effect at the time of the Renewal Application.

Donation Options

The Benchmark Program focuses on offering existing benches for dedication.
The City will consider requests for new bench installations. Please contact the Program Coordinator to discuss.
The minimum donation specified in the Application Form has been determined based on various factors including the cost of maintenance, replacement and installation of the bench, and the plaque.
Minimum donation amounts are reviewed on an annual basis and are subject to change.

Payment Options

The donation can be made via cash, cheque, money order, debit or credit card. Once the City and Donor have finalized all details of the plaque and dedication, an invoice will be sent to the donor with payment information.
The City will refund the payment if the Donor cancels their application on or before 14 days after the day on which their payment was received by the City.

Plaque

The plaque size, character limit, and font are standard however some aspects can be personalized.
The plaque design and content must adhere to the City’s visual identity standards. The City has the sole and absolute discretion to approve the wording and formatting of the plaque.
Website addresses or any other means of identifying internet content cannot be included in the plaque inscription.
For Benchmark commemorations, the City will allow a maximum of two plaques per bench, as long as the donations are made from the same family/group as the first plaque.
If a donor chooses not to renew their commemoration, they may request the plaque as a gift from the City. If the plaque is not claimed, it will be held for a period of one year from the end of the Commemoration Period, after which point it will be recycled.

Maintenance

The City will care for and maintain the plaque, amenity and surrounding areas in accordance with the applicable policies in force from time to time for maintenance of City owned lands and assets.
Benchmark benches will be inspected on an approximately three-year cycle for preventative maintenance and minor repairs.
Within the Commemoration Period, a commemorative plaque that is damaged or stolen will be replaced by the City at no cost to the donor. Donors can report such incidents to the City through 311.
Within the Commemoration Period, if a commemorative bench is damaged or vandalized, reasonable efforts will be made to refurbish the item in a timely manner, at no cost to the donor. Donors can report such incidents to the City through 311.

Donor Application Process

Before You Apply

Consider locations within City of Edmonton parks
Contact the program coordinator by phoning 311 or by using the online inquiry form
- The program coordinator will respond and discuss availability and suitability
- The program coordinator will send you the application form if you want to proceed

Application

Complete and submit the application form
If you need assistance completing the application form, please contact the program coordinator

Approval

The coordinator may approve your application immediately if an existing bench is selected OR
- New bench projects will require circulation and approval;
- Circulations with stakeholders may take up to three months;
- Once feedback is received from the circulation with stakeholders and approval is given, the program coordinator will move forward with the application
At the same time, the program coordinator will work with you to develop a proof of your commemorative plaque

Confirmation

The program coordinator will send a confirmation email with the approved location, plaque proof and invoice
- Please respond to the confirmation email and pay the invoice within 30 days of receipt
- Once your payment has been received, the program coordinator will schedule the installation and order the plaque. Plaque production takes 4 to 6 weeks.

Installation

Installations take place May to October
Once the installation is complete, the program coordinator will email you an update with a photo of the completed installation
Your 10-year Commemorative period will begin upon installation

General Inquiries

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Commemorative Programs?

Commemorative programs provide Edmontonians an opportunity to honour loved ones or celebrate special occasions through a commemorative dedication on a bench or near a tree. The City of Edmonton currently has three commemorative programs:

Benchmark
Commemorative Tree
Legacy

All charitable donations received from individuals through commemorative programs are used by the City for the purpose of enhancing and beautifying parkland and public spaces for the benefit of all Edmontonians.

What commemorative options are currently available for donation under the Benchmark program?

The Benchmark program offers commemoration on benches in City parks and open spaces. Currently, the following options are available:

Add dedication to existing bench - $2,500
Renewal of existing dedication - $2,500
Additional plaque on existing dedication - $600

New bench ($4,200) applications are limited, and will only be considered in cases where significant need within the park space can be demonstrated.

What is the process for requesting a new bench installation?

Donors may request an area for a new bench to be installed. The City then consults with planners and operations staff to find a suitable location within your requested area. If the location is near residential neighbourhoods, public consultation will be conducted and must receive 66% approval to proceed.

Why aren’t new benches available at all City parks?

Benchmark program benches may only be installed on City parkland. Some parks and open spaces containing a high number of existing benches will not be eligible for additional new benches to be installed. However, these parks may have existing benches available for dedication.

What should I do if my Benchmark application is not approved?

Your Benchmark application may not be approved if your chosen location does not get approval from the stakeholders during circulation, or does not receive support from neighbours close to the vicinity. The Program Coordinator will work with you to find another suitable location for the bench, or an existing bench that could be commemorated instead.

If I make a commemorative donation, who owns the bench and plaque?

The City at all times remains the exclusive owner of all benches, plaques and fixtures associated with the Benchmark program.

How long will my commemorative plaque be displayed on a bench?

All Benchmark plaques are displayed for a Commemoration Period of 10 years from the time of installation. During this timeframe, the City is responsible for the maintenance of the bench and the plaque.

What happens if the commemorative bench or plaque that I dedicated is damaged or stolen?

Within the Commemoration Period, a commemorative plaque that is damaged or stolen will be replaced by the City at no cost to the donor. Within the Commemoration Period, if a commemorative bench is damaged or vandalized, reasonable efforts will be made to refurbish the item in a timely manner, at no cost to the donor. Donors can report such incidents to the City by phoning 311.

What happens to the plaque after the 10-year Commemoration Period?

Prior to the end of Commemoration Period, the donor can submit a renewal application to request that the City continue to display the plaque under the Benchmark program for an additional period of time. An additional charitable donation in accordance with the Benchmark program policies and guidelines in effect at the time of renewal will be required. It is the responsibility of the donor to submit a request for renewal to the City prior to the end of the Commemoration Period.

If a donor chooses not to renew their commemoration, they may request the plaque as a gift from the City. If the plaque is not claimed, it will be held for a period of one year from the end of the Commemoration Period, after which point it will be recycled.

What happens if the City can’t get in contact with me during the Commemoration Period?

The donor is responsible to provide updated contact information for themselves and for the alternate contact in a timely manner to the City at all times through the application process, the Commemoration Period and any renewal period approved by the City. If contact information is out of date, the City will not be able to reach out to the Donor:

When changes are required to the commemorative item, such as removal for refurbishing, change of location due to construction or other activities
Toward the end of the Commemoration Period to check if the Donor would like to renew their commemoration or not

In the event that the City cannot reach the donor at any time during the Commemoration Period, the City will contact the alternate contact listed by the donor.

What will happen to my Benchmark commemoration if there wasn’t a clear Commemoration Period established at the time I made the donation?

The 10-year Commemoration period and renewal option that were introduced to the Benchmark Program in 2016 do not apply to Benchmark donations that were made prior to 2016 and that did not have a clear commemoration period established. Benchmark benches installed prior to 2016 will continue to be maintained by the City as part of the existing inventory without requiring any renewal donation.

How can I customize the commemorative plaque? What will it look like?

You may use a combination of upper and lower case lettering to suit your message, as well as italics. Some text can appear larger, such as the name of the person being commemorated. In your application form, use an asterisk (*) next to the line(s) you wish to have larger. Some symbols can be added, such as a flower, bird or tree. Usually a minimum amount of text creates a more elegant message.

Please find below an example of an existing plaque. A proof of your plaque inscription will be sent to you for approval along with the confirmation email. Once the proof is approved by you, it will take approximately 4-6 weeks for your plaque to be created. You will be notified when your plaque has been installed along with a photo of the bench.

What is included in my Benchmark donation amount and is there GST?

For new bench installations, the cost includes a new bench, concrete pad and individualized plaque, as well as all related maintenance over a 10-year period.

For an existing bench, the cost includes a complete rebuild of the bench and individualized plaque, as well as all related maintenance over a 10-year period.

Prices quoted online are the full donation amount. There is no GST for Benchmark donations.

How can I make payment for my donation?

The donation can be made via cash, cheque, money order, debit or credit card. Once the City and donor have finalized all details of the plaque and dedication, an invoice will be sent to the donor with payment information.

Will I get a refund of the donation if I change my mind after payment?

The City will refund the payment if the donor cancels their application on or before 14 days after the day on which their payment was received by the City.

Will I receive a tax receipt for my Benchmark donation?

Yes, tax receipts will be issued by the City to the Donor(s) in the following calendar year in which the donation is received, typically in late February and prior to April. The City will only accept charitable donations to the Benchmark Program which are tax deductible under Canada Revenue Agency legislation and guidelines.

Will a tax receipt be issued to all donors if there is more than one donor?

Yes, a tax receipt will be issued to all donors as long as they are listed in the Declaration of True Donor form. Please indicate on your Application Form if there is more than one donor so that the Benchmark Program Coordinator can send you the Declaration of True Donor form. The minimum donation amount is $20 if a donor wants to receive a tax receipt.

How long does it take for a Benchmark request to be installed?

Each request is unique and installation times may vary. Requests for new benches will require more time to process to allow for stakeholder review and public consultation when necessary. Please contact the Benchmark Program Coordinator for more details on the installation timelines specific to your request.

Typically, bench and plaque installations will only occur between May and October. Benches and plaques are installed in the order the requests are received. The City may not be able to install the plaque in the first May-October period after approval of an application due to constraints such as workforce capacity and inclement weather.

What kind of maintenance is conducted for commemorative benches?

Maintenance for benches includes:

Inspection, repair/refurbishment and/or replacement of bench materials every three years or as required
Repair, refurbishment and/or replacement of the commemorative plaque as required
Repair and refurbishment resulting from acts of vandalism, as required

Maintenance for benches does not include:

Site maintenance such as snow removal, grass maintenance and upkeep of the overall park/green space
Bench cleaning to remove dust, dirt or surrounding debris
Any additional staining to change, darken or enrich the coating colour or shade

How can I find GPS coordinates of my preferred location for commemoration?

If you’d like to share the location of a bench you are interested in, you can send the GPS coordinates to the Program Coordinator.

First, open a map app on your phone and search for the location you are interested in
Once you have found the location, zoom in as far in as possible
Press and hold anywhere on the screen and drop a pin onto that location
An info or detail card will appear at the bottom and you should see a 'Share' option on the info card

The sharing method differs depending on your phone and map app you are using.

Photos