Ian Forsyth 

Highlights

Ian Forsyth’s archival career spanned 40 years during which he promoted integrated archival, records management, and access to information and privacy initiatives. He volunteered frequently, striving to learn from his colleagues; help build a stronger, sustainable Canadian archival system; and mentor archival professionals. 

Education and Background 

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Forsyth received a BA (1977) from McGill University and a MA (1980) from Wilfrid Laurier University, both degrees concentrating in Canadian and US history and politics. During his archival career he completed the Archives Course sponsored by the National Archives of Canada as well as courses in copyright administration and digital records preservation. 

Professional Career 

Forsyth started his career as an Archivist in 1984 at the then National Archives of Canada (now Library and Archives Canada) in the Manuscript Division, Public Affairs Section. He went on to hold positions at the Ontario provincial archives, starting as a Senior Archivist (1984-1987), then as the Archives’ first Freedom of Information and Privacy Coordinator (1987-1990), and last as Deputy Archivist of Ontario (1989-1994). In 1994 he began serving as University Archivist and Coordinator of Information and Privacy at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver, British Columbia. At SFU, he managed an integrated university-wide program for archives, corporate records management, and FOI/Privacy. During his 21-year tenure (1994-2015) he also coordinated copyright administration and compliance across the University (2004-2013), helped plan and establish SFU’s response to Canada’s anti-spam legislation (2014), and initiated a digital records repository to preserve access to the University’s electronic records of enduring business and historical value. Forsyth concluded his career serving as University Secretary to SFU’s Board of Governors (2015-2020). During this time, he continued to oversee the university’s systems of record-keeping to preserve institutional memory, was SFU’s designated head for FOI/Privacy compliance, and the Archives continued to report to him. Forsyth retired in early 2020.  

Forsyth also developed and taught a graduate course on the administration of access to information and privacy law in the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies at the University of British Columbia (2000-2006). 

Contributions to the Profession 

Forsyth volunteered actively throughout his career, contributing to both archival and institutional professional organizations. During the 1980’s he held positions with the Toronto Area Archivists Group (Secretary, Vice-Chair, Chair and Education Foundation Director), the Ontario Association of Archivists (member of the Constitutional Review Committee and Executive Committee) and the Ontario Council of Archives (Secretariat). His service to the ACA started in 1988-1989 when he chaired the Select Committee on FOI and Privacy Legislation and continued for the next 35 years in various roles. They included Vice-President (1992-1993) and then President (1993-1994); Chair of the Nominations, Elections and Awards Committee (1996-1998); a Vice-Chair, Co-Chair and Coordinator respectively for the 1998, 1999 and 2002 conferences; Chair of the University and College Archives Special Interest Section (1999-2002); a Director for the ACA Foundation (2014-2018); and a member and later Chair of the Governance Committee (2020-2024).  

Forsyth is one of only two people to ever lead both of Canada’s national archival professional bodies. During the 2000’s, he served as a special advisor and member of the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA), the organization representing Canada’s provincial/territorial network of archival institutions. This included Vice-Chair (2005-2006) and Chair (2006-2010). 

Honours, Awards and Recognition 

• ACA Fellow, 2017 

Further Information 

As a consultant Forsyth: 

• Advised the Ontario University Registrars Association on student records retention (1985-1986) 
• Authored “A Proposal on the Future of Archives Canada” (the national catalogue of archival descriptions), prepared for the Advisory Committee on Archives Canada, LAC and CCA 
• Undertook external reviews of the Queen’s University archives program (2004) and records management program (2013)  
• Authored a “Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Implementation User’s Guide” for the Council of Ontario Universities and its member universities (2006) 
• Forsyth, Ian. 2003. “Access Law and Lost Records: A Commentary on "In Search of the Chill”. Archivaria 55 (May), 21-26. https://archivaria.ca/index.php/archivaria/article/view/12403. 

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