Monuments are defined within the Surveyors Act as being a prescribed metal bar of a certain length and width.  They will either have an identification on the bar itself or on an orange plaque to identify the surveyor who installed that particular monument.  It may be embedded into rock or soil.  The Surveys Act defines a monument as being anything accurate to ascertain a point where the corner, bend or direction of a line is known.

Monuments are important evidence of the deeds which declare ownership over rights to land.  To avoid public nuisance, these monuments are protected under the criminal code of Canada.