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Early Bird Registration Now Open for the ACA 2026 Virtual Conference

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:37:27 GMT

Early Bird Registration Now Open for the ACA 2026 Virtual Conference

The Association of Canadian Archivists is pleased to announce that Early Bird registration is now open for the ACA 2026 Virtual Conference, taking place June 8–11, 2026.

This year’s conference, “How Does That Help Me? Making Archival Theory Relevant to Daily Practice,” will explore the connections and disconnections between archival theory and the everyday realities of archival work. Across four days of virtual programming, participants will hear from archivists working across and beyond the discipline on topics including engagement with systematically marginalized communities, preservation on a budget, and implementation of the Reconciliation Framework released by the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives.

Register by April 22, 2026 to take advantage of Early Bird pricing. As a special promotion, Early Bird non-member registration includes a complimentary ACA membership valid through December 31, 2026.

A limited number of subsidized tickets are also available to help support access to the conference. Those wishing to request a fee subsidy are invited to complete the Fee Subsidy Form.

We are also inviting support through our sponsor and vendor opportunities, and welcome donations to the Association of Canadian Archivists Foundation (ACAF) to help create additional fee subsidies for attendees.

To learn more, view the preliminary program, or register, visit the 2026 Virtual Conference page. Questions may be directed to Mab Coates-Davies, Executive Director, at Executive.Director@archivists.ca.

Member News: Sarah Hanahem Featured in CBC Story on Bill C-3 and Growing Pressure on Archives

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:50:37 GMT

The Association of Canadian Archivists is excited to see ACA member Sarah Hanahem, Chair of the Public Awareness & Advocacy Committee, featured in recent CBC coverage about Bill C-3 and its impact on archival organizations. Sarah’s inclusion in the story helps spotlight the essential role archivists play in supporting access to documentary evidence and family history.

Bill C-3, which came into force on December 15, 2025, changed the rules around Canadian citizenship by descent and expanded eligibility in some circumstances beyond the first generation born abroad. These changes have increased public demand for archival records and related research support.

Sarah’s voice in this national story is an example of public awareness and advocacy in action. At a time when many archives are facing growing workloads from citizenship-related requests, this visibility helps underscore the value of archival labour and the need for sustainable support for archival organizations.

Read the story here.

ACA Sends Letter Regarding Bill C-3

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 22:18:24 GMT

The ACA has sent a letter to express its concern over the unintended consequences of Bill C-3, an amendment to the Citizenship Act, on archival institutions and professionals across the country.

Bill C-3’s retroactive “citizenship by descent” policy has resulted in an unprecedented increase in requests for documentation proving ancestral ties to Canada. As the primary custodians of vital statistics, military service records, and sacramental records (including baptismal, marriage, and burial registers), archives have been inundated with requests for certified copies of these records.

Some archives are reporting a five-fold increase in requests, and close to a thousand requests per month since the beginning of the year, with no capacity to increase staffing. This imposes an extreme and unsustainable burden on archival professionals.

We asked the government for the following:

Provide Clear Guidance on the viability of using mid-19th-century or even earlier historic records for citizenship purposes (e.g., does having a Canadian great-great grandfather qualify you for citizenship?). If these records do not meet the evidentiary threshold for IRCC, we urge the Government to issue a formal statement to that effect.
Restore Funding to the DHCP: It is a contradiction to drastically increase the work of archival institutions while simultaneously cutting what little government funding they can apply for. Many of the organizations most affected by these changes are those who desperately need the Documentary Heritage Communities Program.

Read our full letter here.

ACA Responds to Proposed Reductions at Access to Information and Privacy at Library and Archives Canada

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:58:50 GMT

Last week, the ACA sent a letter to Minister Marc Miller expressing our concerns about proposed reductions to the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) and Proactive Access functions at Library and Archives Canada (LAC).

The proposed $13.6M reduction in federal funding will impact positions in the ATIP Branch and across the organization. Cuts to ATIP functions will adversely affect the ways in which information is accessible to the public. Canadians attempting to access information about personal and national histories already face significant barriers to access.

As records professionals, we recognize the importance of creating, preserving and providing access to records as an essential element of a healthy democracy. Open access to records promotes democracy and protects citizens’ rights. Accessing information in Library and Archives Canada is also a component of supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. These proposed cuts will hinder that access.

Read the letter here.

The Board of Directors for the Association of Canadian Archivists

Documentary Heritage Communities Program (DHCP) Funding Cut - ACA Call to Action

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:03:30 GMT

Early this week the ACA Board received an email from Leslie Weir, Library and Archivist of Canada, informing us that the Documentary Heritage Communities Program (DHCP) has been permanently discontinued and that there will be reductions to the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) functions. These measures are the result of cuts in the federal budget.

The DCHP provides program funding that helps underfunded community-based organizations increase access to, and awareness of their holdings; and increase their capacity to keep and preserve Canada's documentary heritage. Over the past 10 years, the DHCP has provided $16 million in funding to support more than 400 projects aimed at preserving and increasing access to local, regional, and national history.

The ACA Board is sending letters to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, the Honourable Marc Miller, protesting the elimination of the DHCP and the reduction to ATIP. We have also completed a call to action to restore the DCHP that has been published below and will be included in this month's Scope and Content, as well as, on the ACA website.

1. Letter addressed to The Honourable Minister Marc Miller

2. Downloadable Call to Action Package (.docx). Package includes Statement and template emails.

The Board of Directors for the Association of Canadian Archivists

ACA Appoints New Executive Director

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:27:56 GMT

The Association of Canadian Archivists is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director, effective 9 February 2026.

Mab Coates-Davies will assume the role of Executive Director, bringing more than seven years of experience in nonprofit leadership. Mab currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Textile Museum of Canada in Toronto. They hold a Bachelor’s degree in Public History from Concordia University and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy from Carleton University.

The ACA Board of Directors welcomes Mab and looks forward to their leadership in advancing the Association’s mission.

Board of Directors
Association of Canadian Archivists

Mentorship Program 2026 - Opens November 15, 2025 and Closes December 15, 2025

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 17:01:49 GMT

The ACA Membership Committee is pleased to announce that applications for the 2026 cohort of mentors and mentees is now open. Applications will be open until December 15, 2025 with pairing completed by the end of January.

The program aims to integrate new archivists (mentees) into the Canadian archival community by matching them with experienced archivists (mentors) who advise and guide them on career and professional development, with an added option for archivists who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour (BIPOC) to meet together.

Being a volunteer mentor is a rewarding opportunity for ACA members with at least 5 years of experience as an archivist (exceptions possible). BIPOC mentors who require financial assistance are eligible for a limited number of subsidized individual memberships.

Students and new professionals applying to be mentees must also be ACA members. New professionals identifying as BIPOC can request the ACA's student membership rate if they require financial support to participate.

Mentors are matched with mentees based primarily on shared interests and secondarily on geographic location. The Membership Committee is grateful to partner with the ACA's BIPOC Special Interest Section, who will match BIPOC-to-BIPOC mentorships.

More details on the mentorship program and application forms are at archivists.ca/Mentorship

Send questions about the program to Mentorship Program Coordinators Susan McClure and Heather Hubert at mentorship.program@archivists.ca

The forms can be accessed here.

Kind regards,

Membership Committee

Funding Available to Digitize Arctic & Northern Collections

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:16:30 GMT

The Rasmuson Foundation is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity for Canadian archives, libraries, museums, and other memory institutions to take part in a digitization initiative focused on the Arctic Circumpolar region.

With funding from the Rasmuson Foundation, this project will support the digitization of primarily textual collections (including ephemera), related to: the Arctic/Circumpolar; Canadiana and Northern regional histories; the fur trade, including materials connected to the voyageurs and trade routes extending into Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan; Canadian railroad history, particularly as it relates to northern expansion and infrastructure; and First Nations cultures and histories, especially those of the North and the Northwest Coast (British Columbia).

The work will be carried out primarily at the Internet Archive Canada digitization centre in Toronto. Participating institutions will receive full digital copies of their materials.

Access & Reuse: All digitized content will be made available on archive.org, collections will also be featured on a dedicated digital portal for Arctic and Northern materials: https://circumpolarnavigator.org/.

Timeline: All projects must be completed by October 2026.

How to Get Involved: If your organization holds relevant collections, please complete and submit the digitization inquiry form: https://digitization.archive.org/contact-us/ or express your interest by emailing loren@archive.org.

We plan to secure future grants and funding, so we can keep in touch with potential Canadian partners beyond whom we work with on this grant.

Call for Nominations: Inscriptions on the Canada Memory of the World Register

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 18:58:07 GMT

The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) is pleased to launch the 2025-26 Call for Nominations for Inscription on the Canada Memory of the World Register. Please note that only those invited to the second step of the process will be asked to fill out the Nomination Form. For more information follow the link: https://en.ccunesco.ca/initiatives/memory-of-the-world

The ACA Mourns the Passing of Dr. Brian Owens

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 19:08:49 GMT

The Board of the Association of Canadian Archivists offers our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Brian Owens, Archivist Emeritus of the Leddy Library Archives & Special Collections at the University of Windsor on his untimely passing. Brian was the first professional archivist employed at the University of Windsor, where he remained for 21 years from 1994-2015. Between 1994 and 2000, he ran the MA History (Archives) program in the University of Windsor's History Department. Prior to his time at the University of Windsor he worked for the University of Alberta library system, the Alberta Society of Archivists (now Archives Society of Alberta), the City of Calgary Archives, and the McGill University Archives. He was an active member of the Archives Association of Ontario (AAO), the Bureau of Canadian Archives, the Historical Society of Alberta and the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) where he served as secretary of the Board from 1985-1988.

The ACA Mourns the Passing of Paulette Dozois

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 19:16:50 GMT

The Board of the Association of Canadian Archivists would like to offer condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Paulette Dozois on her passing. Since the early 1980s, Paulette was an active member of the ACA, first serving on the Membership Committee and later on the Public Relations Committee. Over the years she participated in many ACA Conferences, both as a presenter and as member and/or chair of several ACA Conference Program Teams. She also made contributions to Archivaria, both as an author and a member of the editorial team. Paulette was also instrumental in getting approval to form the Special Interest Section on Access and Privacy. Her presence in the archival community will be greatly missed.

55e congres de AAQ, CFP

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:51:02 GMT

The AAQ has just released its call for papers for its 55th Annual conference, being held 13-15 May 2026 at the Fairmont Chateau Montebello. The theme is "Everything is political".

See the call here: https://www.archivistes.qc.ca/global/gene/link.php?doc_id=320&edit_lang=fr

UK Archive Sector Survey 2025 Report

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 14:24:23 GMT

We are pleased to announce that the reports and dataset from the first UK-wide annual sector survey are now available on The National Archives’ website for you to read: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sector/our-archives-sector-role/annual-uk-archive-sector-survey/findings-from-previous-surveys/archive-sector-survey-2025

This survey was conducted in partnership with National Records of Scotland, the Scottish Council on Archives, Welsh Government, Archives and Records Council Wales and Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

We received 330 responses from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and this included a vast range of services such as local authorities, universities, charities, museums and galleries, schools, businesses, arts organisations and more.

There is a UK-wide report as well as a report for local authorities, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and each region of England. The UK report and Wales report are both also available in Welsh.

Oct 16th is #AskAnArchivist Day

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:41:57 GMT

Each year, our colleagues at the Society of American Archivists dedicate a day of American Archives Month to #AskAnArchivistDay, a public initiative during which archivists answer all your archives-related questions on social media. This initiative has since expanded and involves participation of archivists from around the world. Join us on October 16th, 2025 in participating by asking questions and answering questions all day. Just follow the hashtag to see what folks want to know about us!

Digital Infrastructures and Data Storage Systems Survey

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 17:55:38 GMT

The Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) is currently preparing for a new information system infrastructure. As part of the research process, we are conducting a survey that aims to gather information about digital preservation infrastructures and data storage systems across institutions in the cultural field (archives, museums, libraries, historical societies, etc.).

The survey is roughly 30 questions long, covering general information, backup and recovery, standards and compliance, cost and sustainability, management and governance and interoperability. By participating, you will be entitled to receive a summary of the findings. Direct answers from institutions will be kept confidential.

If interested, please contact Alexandra Jokinen, Digital Archivist, at ajokinen@cca.qc.ca by Friday, September 19th.

Geraldine Grace and Maurice Alvin McWatters Visiting Fellowship

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 17:54:46 GMT

It is with great pleasure that Queen's University Archives<https://archives.queensu.ca/ invites interested individuals to submit applications to The Geraldine Grace and Maurice Alvin McWatters Visiting Fellowship for 2025-2026.

The Fellowship is designed to foster, promote, and support original archival research by scholars, authors, or artists/creatives in the collections located at Queen's University Archives.

This Visiting Fellowship has a stipend of $5,000 which is intended to help defray living, travel, or research expenses of successful applicants to come to Kingston, Ontario, Canada to conduct their research.

The deadline for submission of this year's application is Friday, September 26, 2025.

For further information and to download an application or promotional flyer, please visit our Geraldine Grace and Maurice Alvin McWatters Visiting Fellowship page https://archives.queensu.ca/lectures-fellowships/geraldine-grace-and-maurice-alvin-mcwatters-visiting-fellowship

Please share this opportunity!

Online lecture - The Ideal Book, 25 Sep 2025

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:39:26 GMT

You are cordially invited to a free online lecture (25 September 2025 at 12 p.m. EST): “The Ideal Book: Introducing the Doves Press and Bindery Collection at McMaster University.”

In 2024, McMaster acquired a complete run of all vellum-bound editions produced by the Doves Press (1900-1916) — that high point of Arts and Crafts typographic excellence — as well as the associated output of the Hammersmith Publishing Society and a significant collection of related primary documents. Taken together with our existing holdings from this enterprise, McMaster now possesses one of the most comprehensive Doves collections in the Americas. To celebrate this extraordinary acquisition, join McMaster’s conservator and librarians for a 90-minute discussion about the significance and legacy of the Doves Press and Bindery. We will explore their aesthetic milieu and broader cultural context, their immense impact on subsequent printing and book design, the personalities and (often fractious) relationships between key figures associated with the project, and — not least — the astonishing story of how the legendary Doves Type came to be destroyed, meaning that the output of the press could never be replicated.

This lecture will be led by Bronwen Glover, McMaster’s Archives and Book Conservator; Myron Groover, Archives and Rare Books Librarian; and Ruth-Ellen St. Onge, Distinctive Collections Cataloguing Librarian.

Registration for AABC/YCA conference opens

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:16:25 GMT

We are pleased to announce that registration for the 2025 AABC / YCA Joint Conference "Archival Innovations: Archives in the 21st Century" is now open!

Join us online October 7 - 9, 2025 for an engaging schedule of presentations and the pre-conference workshop "Managing an Oral History Program". Learn how archival practitioners have risen to challenges in unique and innovative ways - using experience, technology, tools, and partnerships to leverage a new dynamic path forward.

Conference information including session and speaker introductions, a daily schedule, and links to our supporting sponsors, can be found on the conference website <https://aabcycaconference2025.wordpress.com/>.

*Not sure if you should still register if you can't attend the whole online conference? We will be recording the presentations so if you have to step away, you will receive the conference link that you can watch afterwards!*

*A bundled registration rate is available for the pre-conference workshop and the conference registration!*

Registration links can be found on the conference website at: Registration – AABC & YCA 2025 Conference <https://aabcycaconference2025.wordpress.com/registration/>.

August Issue of Archives Matters available

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:02:20 GMT

The August issue of Archives Matter from the Australian Society of Archivists is available now: https://www.archivists.org.au/communications/id/712

Petition to urge Halton to reverse its decision to dismantle Heritage Services

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:24:51 GMT

A Halton community member has started a petition aimed at the Halton Region council and a reversal of its decision: https://www.change.org/p/reverse-the-decision-to-close-halton-region-s-heritage-operations.

Advocacy - Dismantling of Halton Heritage Services

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:36:04 GMT

The ACA has sent a letter to Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, over the Halton Region's decision to dismantle Halton Heritage Services, and to de-accession its collection. The letter can be viewed here.

ACA Presentations at the University of Toronto

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:39:16 GMT

Please join us for the Association of Canadian Archivists at the University of Toronto.

Archivists from the University of Toronto community will be presenting the papers they delivered at the Association of Canadian Archivists Conference this past June. A detailed schedule is below and in the RSVP link.

You're welcome to drop in for individual sessions or stay for the entire day — we look forward to seeing you there!

When: 9:15 – 3:30, Thursday, August 7

Where: Maclean Hunter Room, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, 120 St. George Street, Toronto

The event is free and open to everyone.

RSVP: To help us plan coffee breaks, please RSVP to: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/aca-at-uoft-tickets-1526643514849?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Schedule:

9:15 – Welcome

9:30-10:00 - Cheryl Regehr on Humanizing Archives of Human Suffering

10:00-10:30 – Wendy Duff and Arden Hody, on At What Cost? The Emotional Impact of the Changing Role of the Archivist

10:30-11:00 – Break

11:00-11:30 - Andrew Wiebe on Astrolabes and Other Structural Cosmologies in the Archives: An Indigenous Critique of Archival Structures and Values

11:30-12:00 - Simon Rogers on The Past, Present, and Future of Monetary Appraisal

12:00-12:30 - Francesca Rousselle on Archivist as Curator and Educator: A Case-Study from the John M. Kelly Library Special Collections

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch

1:30- 2:00 – Thomas Fox and Adam Williamson (Fiorella Foscarini) on The Invisibility of Translation in Archival Research

2:00-2:30 - Kelli Babcock on CTRL+F: User Behavior in Archives Discovery Systems

2:30 – 3:00 - Break

3:00-3:30 - June Chow on Community Approaches to Access and Repair: Chinese Immigration records in Canada’s national archives

ACA 2026 Virtual Conference Program Chair

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:51:03 GMT

Call for 2026 Virtual Conference Program Team Chair

The ACA is seeking a Conference Program Team Chair for the 2026 Virtual Conference. This is an opportunity to shape the conference program and give back to your professional community.

Responsibilities:

The 2026 Program Team Chair will oversee the annual conference, from recruiting the members of the Program Team to leading the development of the conference theme and overall programming. The Program Team Chair is (thankfully!) not responsible for all aspects of the conference and works closely with the Conference Planning Committee (CPC), the ACA Office, and the members of the Program Team. Specific duties include leading the Program Team to:

Develop, in consultation with the Conference Planning Committee, a conference theme;

Submit the conference theme and a call for submissions to the Board for approval;

Announce the approved theme and call for submissions;

Review submitted proposals and select the content of the conference;

Solicit plenaries based on conference theme and facilitate conference participation;

Solicit and evaluate conference workshop submissions and poster proposals and select for the conference;

Communicate with accepted proposals and those not accepted;

Announce a call for session chairs and placement within the program; and

Work with the ACA Board and Host Team to schedule and plan the conference opening.

Time Commitment:

The Program Chair will begin planning work in the summer of 2025 by forming the Program Team and beginning work on developing a conference theme. The Program Team typically meets once a month, excepting the period when the committee is evaluating proposals for inclusion (which is more time intensive), and the Program Team Chair is expected to attend monthly Conference Planning Committee meetings. If selected, the Program Team Chair is expected to attend the Conference that will be held virtually in June 2026. The Program Chair is also responsible for identifying and contacting plenary speakers. This requires a large time commitment, and it is recommended that interested individuals have some institutional support.

Qualifications:

You must be a member in good standing of the Association of Canadian Archivists. Preference will be given to individuals with previous ACA volunteer and conference planning experience. The successful candidate should have some of the following attributes:

Experience leading a committee or group with diverse members;

Experience delivering projects within budget;

Strong communication skills;

A collaborative outlook and willingness to delegate;

Excellent organizational skills, meeting deadlines and deliverables; and

Awareness of current trends in archives and recordkeeping.

Application Process:

Please submit a short expression of interest of no more than 250 words detailing your qualifications, conference planning (or similar) experience, and engagement with ACA to executive.director@archivists.ca by end of day July 28, 2025.

The Association is open to considering Co-Chairs should that be of interest. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to CPC Chair Max Otte at conference.planning@archivists.ca or Ottawa Program Chair Patti Harper at Program.Team.2025@archivists.ca if they have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity.

ACA Office closed 4-8 August 2025

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 19:35:45 GMT

The ACA Office will be closed from August 4, 2025 (Civic Holiday) to August 8, 2025 for the summer break.

The office will reopen on August 11, 2025 at 9 am.

Passing of David W Leonard

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 12:43:58 GMT

[Posted on Arcan-L)

Dear Friends, It is with sadness that I share the news of the passsing of David W. Leonard, esteemed historian and archivist, and recipient of the Alberta Order of Excellence. David's contributions to the preservation of Alberta's history are well-summarized here: https://www.alberta.ca/aoe-david-leonard.

On a more personal note, David was a wonderful supervisor during the time I worked at the Provincial Archives of Alberta as a Government Records Archivist, which is where we first met. He became a lifelong friend, and was a kind and generous soul. Ever passionate about history, he was an avid collector of old vinyl records and movies from from the 1940s and 1950s, often recording excerpts of musical numbers from these to share with his friends. We also wrote three books together: one on tracing your ancestors in Alberta and two others on the history of Alberta's Peace River Country, having many adventures driving around in Peace River country searching for old homesteads and other landmarks.

With David's passing, the Alberta, and Canadian, archival community has lost an outstanding community member.

Best wishes,

Victoria Lemieux

Victoria Lemieux, MAS, PhD, CISSP (she/her/hers) Professor,Archival Science, School of Information Co-Lead, Blockchain@UBC research cluster Faculty Associate, Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems Affiliated Faculty Member, Faculty of Applied Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering The University of British Columbia

ASA Bursary (deadline July 31. 2025)

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:32:51 GMT

ASA members who are attending graduate school in archival studies are eligible to receive a bursary of $1500 to support their studies.

*Eligibility:*

- Alberta resident or has a permanent address in Alberta

- ASA individual member in good standing

- Full-time student in a graduate program in archival studies

*Criteria for Selection:*

- Academic and/or professional merit

- Potential for contributing to Alberta’s archival community

- Preference given to first-time applicants

*Deadline:* *July 31, 2025*

For more information and to apply visit:

https://archivesalberta.org/professional-development/bursary/

If you have questions, please contact Rene Georgopalis at reneg@archivesalberta.org.

Online survey on positionality statements in scholarly publications

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:01:22 GMT

We would like to request your participation in an online survey on the current use of positionality statements in scholarly publication. This research project is being conducted by Principal Investigator Dr. Alex H. Poole, Associate Professor at Drexel University’s Department of Information Science and Dr. Ashley Todd-Diaz, Assistant University Librarian for Special Collections and University Archives at Towson University.

If you decide to take part in this research study, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. You may choose not to answer any question you do not wish to answer. Your participation in this research will last approximately 10 minutes. There are no more than minimal risks involved. We may publish the results of this research. However, your participation will remain anonymous. We will not share your research information to be used for future research. This project was determined to be exempt from federal human subjects research regulations by Drexel University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).

The survey can be accessed at this link: https://drexel.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bezAOtYGGyc5azc

The deadline to submit for the 2025 Dodds Prize is soon approaching!

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:40:10 GMT

Archivaria is now accepting submissions for the 2025 Dodds Prize!

The Dodds Prize recognizes superior research and writing on an archival topic by a student enrolled in a master's level archival studies program at a Canadian university.

To be considered, a faculty member or instructor associated with the program must submit a student paper and verify that it was written within the context of an archival studies program between May 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025. Submissions must be received by June 30, 2025. Papers must be between 5,000 and 8,000 words and written on an archival topic (broadly understood). The submission form and procedures are available here<https://archivists.ca/EmailTracker/LinkTracker.ashx?linkAndRecipientCode=%2fhoyfRD%2bZlXn0yQcnj30IBtrw%2f845Mrz3kB1LiHtm002bXNwzVnDGA6DWpDaoTxlJjtUVHNMmHf09neghno8QQI77mnP8TMEzoOhHVyWUgU%3d>

Submissions will be judged by the Dodds Prize Adjudication Committee on the quality of their scholarship, creativity, and clarity of writing. The Adjudication Committee comprises the General Editor of Archivaria (or delegate), the ACA Board Liaison to Archivaria (or delegate), and two additional ACA members chosen annually by the General Editor. Delegates will be used in cases where a conflict of interest exists.

Winners will receive a certificate, a cash prize, publication of the winning entry in Archivaria, and a listing on the ACA website.

For more information, click here<https://archivists.ca/EmailTracker/LinkTracker.ashx?linkAndRecipientCode=%2f5hALxkcMbed82yUbnXcaGYxkMZ1EUI2i0sv74yOQ%2bi4vwaFItV750RvNL6Yjwc8I2scjDcA7n3dUsC7Xh15IYwxI6wQTIIMpBTBkyUhYUc%3d%3e> or contact Rebecka Sheffield at managing.editor at archivists.ca<https://mailman.srv.ualberta.ca/mailman/listinfo/arcan-l> with any questions.

Rebecka Sheffield

Managing Editor, Archivaria

Library Association of Alberta Statement on Provincial Government Announcement re School Libraries

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:33:36 GMT

LAA Statement on Provincial Government Announcement Regarding School Libraries

(May 27, 2025) The Library Association of Alberta (LAA) is surprised and concerned by the provincial government’s news release yesterday that it intends to ban books in Alberta school libraries starting in September.

At no point has the province previously expressed any concern to the LAA about the books in our province’s school libraries.

Schools and school boards take great care, and are guided by sound policies and processes, in selecting books for school libraries and ensuring the books are age-appropriate and relevant for students’ developmental stages, learning needs, and lived realities.

The best way for the province to strengthen school libraries for the benefit of students is to provide more adequate educational funding targeted to school libraries and reading resources.

As the Edmonton and Calgary public school boards said in their statement, school boards already have rigorous selection guidelines developed by librarians and other library professionals, to ensure age-appropriate collections that are relevant to students’ lives and educational growth and maturation.

We are delighted to hear the government is invested in ensuring exceptional school library collections, and we urge it to invest in the system and in the professionally trained library staff required to curate balanced and responsible access to a broad range of library materials for all students.

The Library Association of Alberta would be pleased to assist the government and the Minister of Education and Childcare in supporting existing policies and practices for school libraries that enrich the educational experiences of all students across the province.

Laura Winton, LAA President

On behalf of the LAA Board of Directors

Released: May 27th, 2025 12:27 PM
https://www.libraryassociationalberta.com/news/laa-statement-on-provincial-government-announcement-regarding-school-libraries/

Trivia Night is now at capacity

Fri, 30 May 2025 12:37:50 GMT

Trivia Night on June 10th is now at capacity and we are closing registration.

Thank you!

Death of Ed Atkinson

Thu, 29 May 2025 18:08:16 GMT

The Board of the Association of Canadian Archivists would like to offer condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ed Atkinson on his passing. As an active member of the ACA, Ed was a regular participant at many ACA conferences. His love for archives and for Nunavut was evident. His presence in the archival community will be greatly missed.

Conference Schedule

Thu, 29 May 2025 13:30:43 GMT

The final conference schedule and program is now available online - https://archivists.ca/Conference-Schedule

First timers and welcome reception

Tue, 27 May 2025 14:45:52 GMT

The First Timers and Welcome Reception held at LAC on June 9th is now at capacity. Thank you!

Lunch and dinner/dance will close June 1st

Tue, 27 May 2025 13:10:25 GMT

In order to meet the deadline to order the food for the Thursday lunch, and the dinner/dance Thursday night we will have to close the registration for those two events on June 1st. We cannot take registration after that date.

If you wish to attend the dinner portion of the dinner dance or wish to have a box lunch you will have to register by that time.

LAC Gatineau Preservation Centre is now at Capacity!

Mon, 26 May 2025 13:51:29 GMT

The tour of the Gatineau Preservation Centre on June 9th is now at capacity. Thank you!

Ottawa Black History Tour is sold out!

Thu, 22 May 2025 13:30:37 GMT

Thanks to everyone who registered. The Black History tour being given on June 10th is now at capacity.

Archivaria 99 - Print Issues

Wed, 21 May 2025 16:26:51 GMT

Archivaria 99

Printed issues of Archivaria 99 are in transit to the Canada Post Station near the printers. Barring a settlement, Canada Post workers will walk off the job at midnight local time on May 23, 2025. This will impact the delivery of your print issue.

Letter of concern for the Historical Material of the Hudson's Bay Company

Thu, 15 May 2025 16:35:09 GMT

The ACA has sent a letter to HBC CEO Richard Baker, and Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc, Court-appointed monitors for the HBC its concern over the proposed auction of historical artifacts from the Hudson's Bay Company collection. Read the letter here.

Archivaria 99 Published!

Wed, 14 May 2025 13:37:50 GMT

Hello Archives community,

I am pleased to announce that Archivaria 99 (Spring 2025 )<https://archivaria.ca/index.php/archivaria/issue/archive> is now available online. It will also be available on Project Muse and Erudit within the coming days. The print issue is in production and will be mailed to members and subscribers in the next few weeks. In accordance with our one-year rolling access window, the entire content of Archivaria 97 (Spring 2024) is now available to all readers.

Many thanks to the authors who have contributed to the new issue, the peer reviewers who have offered their time and expertise, as well as to the Archivaria Editorial Team and the ACA office staff for all the hard work it takes to put an issue together. This is my last issue as General Editor and I want to thank all involved that have made this a really rewarding experience for me, as well as the Canadian archival community that supports and fosters this wonderful journal.

In the newest issue you can look forward to reading about the future of descriptive standards in Canada, archival silence, perpetual privilege and the records of lawyers, teaching with archives and the Dodds award winning article. On top of that are reviews to tempt your summer reading and viewing lists.

Happy reading!

Heather Home

Archivaria General Editor (2022-2025)

Queen's University Archives, Queen's University

Archivaria is now accepting submissions for the 2025 Dodds Prize

Wed, 07 May 2025 12:54:32 GMT

The Dodds Prize recognizes superior research and writing on an archival topic by a student enrolled in a master's level archival studies program at a Canadian university.

Winners will receive a certificate, a cash prize, publication of the winning entry in Archivaria, and a listing on the ACA website.

Rebecka Sheffield

Managing Editor, Archivaria

ACA Support of U.S. Archives, Libraries, Museums, & Cultural Institutions - Revised

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:54:32 GMT

The Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) stands with our colleagues working in archives, libraries, museums, and cultural institutions across the United States of America who are experiencing attacks on their professions by the current administration. We echo the concerns raised by the Society of American Archivists (SAA), the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums (ATALM), the American Library Association (ALA) and other related organizations about:

The widespread firing of archivists and cultural heritage workers across the United States, including the removal of the 11^th Archivist of the United States (AOTUS);
The large-scale destruction of government documents, including classified records, risking non-compliance with the Federal Records Act, which governs records from executive branch agencies;
The extensive security breaches due to allowing non-government staff access to sensitive personal information;
The massive funding cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, who fund museums, libraries and Indigenous cultural institutions.

The actions of the current administration jeopardize the accountability, authenticity, integrity, and transparency of decision-making by the federal government and its mandate to safeguard the records of the nation for the people of the United States. We will continue to support our colleagues working in archives, libraries, museums and cultural institutions, and support the mission and work done by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Your Canadian colleagues are standing with you.

For more information, please see:

See our advocacy page: https://archivists.ca/Advocacy

Revised 15 May 2025.

Room Blocks set to expire

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 13:57:34 GMT

Just a reminder that the room blocks that the ACA negotiated with some downtown Ottawa Hotels have closing dates, and that some will expire next week, and the week afterwards.

Please don't forget to reserve you hotel rooms soon, if you wish to take advantage of these rates.

Thank you

https://archivists.ca/Ottawa-Accommodations

SAA Advocacy Webiner - Free to attend

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 15:57:34 GMT

Attend Free SAA Webinar: Raising Your Voice for Archives

On April 21 at 2:00 p.m. CT, SAA is hosting a webinar to discuss how best to practically and effectively address advocacy issues surrounding archives. This free webinar will provide just-in-time training to assist archivists who want to speak up on issues as they emerge. Register here.

The 2025 Government of Canada Survey of Heritage Institutions, Deadline until March 21, 2025 / L’Enquête 2025 du gouvernement du Canada sur les établissements du patrimoine, date limite jusqu'au 21 mars, 2025

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:30:50 GMT

English

The Department of Canadian Heritage is once again conducting the Government of Canada Survey of Heritage Institutions. The previous survey, launched in 2021, enquired about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canada’s Heritage Sector.

Canadian Heritage sent out the survey on the week of March 3^rd via email, and the cut-off date to respond is March 21^st. If you haven’t already responded, please check your email for your personalized survey link!

For more information about the survey, please email the Department of Canadian Heritage at PCH.infoegcep-gcshiinfo.PCH@canada.ca

French

Le ministère du Patrimoine canadien mène à nouveau l'Enquête du gouvernement du Canada sur les établissements du patrimoine. L'enquête précédente, lancée en 2021, portait sur les répercussions de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur le secteur du patrimoine canadien.

Patrimoine canadien a envoyé l'enquête par courriel dans la semaine du 3 mars, et la date limite pour répondre est le 21 mars. Si vous n'avez pas encore répondu, veuillez vérifier votre courriel pour obtenir votre lien d'enquête personnalisé !

Pour plus d'informations sur l’Enquête, veuillez communiquer avec le ministère du Patrimoine canadien, par courriel à l’adresse PCH.infoegcep-gcshiinfo.PCH@canada.ca

Invitation to Register for Concordia University's Library Research Forum 2025 (Deadline: April 11, 2025)

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:56:58 GMT

On behalf of the 2025 Library Research Forum Committee, 

Tomasz Neugebauer, Kate Ripley, Pat Riva, Ellen Wright (Chair) 

lib-forum@concordia.ca 

****************************************************************** 

You are cordially invited to register to attend Concordia University's 23rd annual Library Research Forum. Registration is free and all are welcome.

This year’s Research Forum will be a one day in-person event, at Concordia University’s Loyola Campus on Friday, April 25, 2025.

The annual Research Forum provides an opportunity for librarians, archivists, graduate students, teaching faculty, and information professionals to describe and promote their completed or in-progress research, or practical case studies. The Forum also provides a venue for researchers to seek suggestions for enhancing their research interests, to identify potential new partners for projects, to test the effectiveness of their undertakings, and to promote research in academic libraries.

This year’s Keynote speaker will be Sophie Montreuil – Executive Director of Acfas.

The Forum is free to attend, but registration is required for planning purposes.

Deadline for registration is April 11, 2025.

To register and for more details about the event, including a full schedule, please visit https://library.concordia.ca/about/staff/forum/

Questions? Please contact the Forum Committee at lib-forum@concordia.ca 

Letter sent to Gov't of Canada regarding funding of investigation into missing children and unmarked burials

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 18:42:19 GMT

Letter sent to Ministers Anandasangaree and Hadju:

On behalf of the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) and the Association des Archivistes du Québec (AAQ), we are writing to express our concerns about the reports of cuts in funding to support the investigation into missing children and unmarked burials associated with Indian Residential Schools across Canada.

Letters.

Sold out - Workshop - Accessibility strategies for a more inclusive Canadian Archive

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 21:05:54 GMT

The Workshop Accessibility Strategies for a more inclusive Canadian Archive has sold out.

If some places become free closer to the date, anyone on the waiting list will be contacted.

Online Lecture - "Usurpers of the Delphic Name: Dolphin Imposters in the Long Eighteenth Century" 27 February 2025

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 20:56:36 GMT

You are cordially invited to a free online lecture (27 February 2025 at 12 p.m. EST): “Usurpers of the Delphic Name: Dolphin Imposters in the Long Eighteenth Century.”

Join Dr. David Hou for an exploration of eighteenth-century conceptions of the dolphin. Dolphins are deeply embedded in classical mythologies, appearing as messengers of the gods, oceanic saviors, or sometimes even as the gods themselves in disguise. Furthermore, dolphins frequently appeared in art and literature, responding to and reflecting the numerous real encounters those ancient cultures had with this friendly oceanic mammal.

Despite all of that, knowledge about the dolphin seemed to have slowly faded from the public memory – by the late sixteenth century, naturalists bemoaned the state of popular conceptions of the dolphin, a creature that had increasingly become more of a reference to a symbol than a real living animal. The advent of more formalized branches of biological study in the eighteenth century did surprisingly little to halt the cultural effacement of the dolphin we know today. This degradation reached its peak in this period, culminating in the name fracturing into the ‘dolphin of the ancients’ and the ‘dolphin of the moderns’. In this talk, Dr. David Hou traces the development of this taxonomic instability and proposes that it can be best understood through the era’s particular blend of utilitarian and aesthetic values.

This lecture is hosted by McMaster University Library’s Archives Alive program in partnership with McMaster University Alumni.  

Please feel free to share this invitation with other interested parties.

Forum on IRS Archival Research

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:06:42 GMT

We are a group of researchers who hope to provide training regarding research in archives concerning Missing children, unmarked graves and burial sites associated with Indian Residential Schools. We are fortunate enough to have received a grant to develop and offer basic training with little or no cost. Before creating this training, we will consult and establish relationships with different groups of interest, including research teams, archivists, and translators, to hear about their experiences and the needs they observe. We see this as a collaborative effort and value your input.

On October 23rd, we hosted our first online forum, where we heard from IRS research teams across the prairie provinces. This time, we are hoping to engage with archivists who collaborate directly and indirectly with IRS research teams.

This will be an opportunity for you to share about your own needs regarding training and learning regarding the history of residential schools, and the needs you have seen in IRS research teams. The forum will include presentations from panelists and will leave plenty of room for you to share your experiences, needs, and thoughts as well.

The Speakers will include:

Sarah Story, Archives Advisor and Office Manager for the Association of Manitoba Archives (AMA)

Heather Bidzinski, archivist for the University of Manitoba

We now hope to hear from archivists. We invite you to join us on Tuesday, January 28 2024, from 9-11:30 (SK time), through Zoom:

https://uregina-ca.zoom.us/j/92735915102?pwd=ZWTC7HIqblIjCCBeDNCO9zwg1OxNMj.1

Your participation would be greatly appreciated and we look forward to the possibility of working together. If you have any questions, we will be happy to discuss this project further with you. Please feel free to share this invitation with everyone who might be interested. Thank you in advance for your collaboration.

Best,

Véronique Mireault

On behalf of Jérôme Melançon (U of R), Emily Grafton (U of R), Winona Wheeler (U of S), Anne-Marie Wheeler (U of S), and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner.

SAA Travel Awards

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 15:43:28 GMT

Are you looking for financial assistance to attend ARCHIVES * RECORDS 2025 in Anaheim, CA? There are four travel award opportunities available to help with registration, transportation, and lodging costs while attending the SAA Annual Meeting. See descriptions and requirements of individual awards below. Nominations will be accepted until February 28, 2025. Note that you can apply for multiple awards in a single cycle, but may only receive one. All applications must be submitted online.

Brenda S. Banks Travel Award

The Brenda S. Banks Travel Award recognizes and acknowledges individuals, such as those of African, Asian, Latinx, Middle Eastern/North African, Native American, Alaska Native, or Pacific Islander descent, who have demonstrated professional archival experience and who manifest an interest in becoming active members of SAA. Recipients receive full complimentary registration and related expenses for hotel and travel to attend the SAA Annual Meeting during the year in which the award is received. In addition, recipients receive a complimentary one-year membership in SAA.

Click here to preview the application and/or to apply for the Brenda S. Banks Travel Award. All applications must include the following:

Personal statement/essay of no more than 500 words;
CV or resume.

If you have any questions regarding the award or the application process, please contact Jane Cross, Brenda S. Banks Travel Award Committee Chair, at jane_cross@yahoo.com.

Donald Peterson Student Travel Award

The Donald Peterson Student Travel Award supports students and recent graduates from graduate archival programs within North America to attend SAA’s Annual Meeting. This participation must include either a presentation of research during the Annual Meeting or active participation in an SAA-sponsored committee, section, or roundtable.

Click here to preview the application and/or apply for the Donald Peterson Student Travel Award. All applications must include the following:

A 500-word essay describing the applicant's career goals and potential impact on the archival profession.
Unofficial transcript to verify student status or copy of graduate diploma.
Two letters of recommendation from individuals having definite knowledge of the applicant's qualifications.

If you have any questions regarding the award or the application process, please contact Megan Mummey, Donald Peterson Student Travel Award Committee Chair, at megan.mummey@uky.edu.

Harold T. Pinkett Student of Color Award

The Harold T. Pinkett Student of Color Award recognizes and acknowledges graduate students of color, and seeks to promote their participation in SAA and in the archival profession. Up to two awards may be given during an awards cycle. Recipients receive full complimentary registration and related expenses for hotel and travel to attend the SAA Annual Meeting during the year in which the award is received. In addition, each recipient receives a complimentary one-year membership in SAA.

Please note that this year, in an effort to encourage the broadest and most inclusive pool of applicants, the awards committee has removed the requirement for official transcripts and letters of recommendation. Learn more about the Pinkett Award and preview the application.

All applications must include the following:

Personal statement/essay of no more than 500 words discussing your experiences with and/or commitment to working with, or documenting and preserving, the histories of communities of color.
CV or résumé.

If you have any questions regarding the award or the application process, please contact Kimberly Barzola, Pinkett Award Committee Chair, at kimvillafuertebarzola@gmail.com.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Award

The Oliver Wendell Holmes Award enables international archivists, who are currently training or studying in the United States or Canada, to augment their experience by traveling to the Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists. Recipients receive a certificate and a cash award of $1,000 to help cover costs of the SAA Annual Meeting for archives students who are not U.S. or Canadian citizens (or permanent residents) and are studying in the United States or Canada. Self-nominations are welcome.

Please click here for additional details and to preview the online application for the Holmes Award. All applications must include the following:

Personal statement/essay;
CV or resume.

If you have any questions regarding the award or the application process, please contact Susan Swiatosz, Oliver Wendell Holmes Award Committee Chair, at s.swiatosz@unf.edu.

Competency Framework has been released!

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 14:26:07 GMT

The Association of Canadian Archivists has released its Competency Framework. The Competency Framework outlines competencies generally required in the archives profession. Core competencies provide the foundation of the framework, describing the knowledge and skills needed to achieve professional goals. It is available on the ACA Website : https://archivists.ca/resources/Documents/2024-ACA%20Competency%20Framework.pdf

The ACA would like to thank all members, past and present, of the Professional Competencies for Archivists Working Group for their time and effort creating the framework.

Letter of support for funding the investigation into missing children and unmarked burials associated with Indian Residential Schools

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:08:12 GMT

On December 31, 2024, the ACA Board and PAAC sent a letter to Ministers Anandasangaree and Hadju urging the Government of Canada to further support funding the investigation into missing children and unmarked burials associated with Indian Residential Schools across Canada. The text is linked below.

ACA-PAAC_Letter in Support of Funding for Unmarked Burials (1).pdf

Trauma-Informed Archives Resource List

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:54:24 GMT

The ACA’s Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee (PAAC) has developed a Trauma-Informed Archives Resource List. This list includes English and French-language resources from within and outside of the archival profession for both individual practitioners and organizations.

The intention is for this list to be dynamic and to develop over time. If you have any feedback or suggestions for additional resources, please get in touch with the ACA at aca@archivists.ca.

Visit the list here: https://archivists.ca/Trauma-Informed-Archives-Resource-List

Issues with invoicing on membership renewals

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 14:30:44 GMT

Please note that our membership system (Wild Apricot) has been having some issues with membership levels, randomly changing membership salary levels for some members. Please check that the salary level is correct on your invoice before paying. If it is not correct please contact the office at aca@archivists.ca so that we can change it back to the correct level.

We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused.

Letter of opposition to Bills 33 and 34 (Alberta)

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:08:54 GMT

A letter of opposition to the Government of Alberta against the proposed bills 33 and 34, intended to replace the existing Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act has been sent on behalf of the Board of the Association of Canadian Archivists.

As noted in this letter, the Board of the ACA believes that these bills in their current form serve to suppress rather than promote government transparency by creating additional barriers to accessing government information. These bills also erode the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's (OIPC) ability to serve as an independent oversight body.

The Board of the ACA strongly urges the Government of Alberta to engage in good faith consultations with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC) and amend these bills.

Call for Proposals for Concordia University's Library Research Forum 2025 (Deadline: January 24, 2025)

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 21:05:58 GMT

La version française suit 

Call for Proposals for Concordia University's Library Research Forum 2025 (Deadline: January 24, 2025) 

Presentation proposals are now being accepted for Concordia University's 23rd Library Research Forum. This year's Research Forum will be a one-day event, with presentations taking place in person at Concordia University’s Loyola Campus on Friday, April 25, 2025.

This year’s plenary speaker will be Sophie Montreuil. Sophie holds a Masters from the Université de Montréal and a doctorate and post-doc from McGill University. She is the Executive Director of Acfas as of December 2019, having been first Director of Research then part of the higher administration at Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. She currently or has recently served on the boards of several organizations and she chaired the Board of the Cegep du Vieux-Montréal for a six-year term. She has co-edited several collections, including Faire connaissance : 100 ans de sciences en français, published in 2023 by the Éditions Cardinal for the 100th anniversary of Acfas. In 2023, she was named to the rank of Chevalier in the Ordre des Palmes académiques, and, in 2024, became a mentor for the Trudeau Foundation.  

Proposal deadline: January 24, 2025. For more details about the event and how to submit a proposal, visit: https://library.concordia.ca/about/staff/forum/index.php

Questions? Please contact the Forum Committee at lib-forum@concordia.ca

Library Research Forum Committee 2024-2025: Tomasz Neugebauer, Kate Ripley, Pat Riva, Ellen Wright (chair)

******************************************************************

Appel à propositions pour le Forum de recherche de la Bibliothèque de l’Université Concordia 2025 (Date limite : le 24 janvier 2025)

Vous êtes invités à soumettre une proposition pour le 23^e Forum annuel de recherche de la Bibliothèque de l'Université Concordia. Le Forum de recherche de cette année aura lieu sur place au Campus Loyola de l’Université Concordia vendredi le 25 avril 2025.

Cette année, notre conférencier invité est Sophie Montreuil. Sophie est détentrice d’une maîtrise de l’Université de Montréal et d’un doctorat et postdoctorat de l’Université McGill. Elle est directrice générale de l’Acfas depuis décembre 2019, après avoir été directrice de la recherche, puis cadre supérieure à Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Elle a été ou est toujours membre du conseil d’administration de plusieurs organismes et elle a présidé celui du cégep du Vieux-Montréal pendant six ans. Elle a codirigé plusieurs collectifs, dont Faire connaissance : 100 ans de sciences en français, paru 2023 aux Éditions Cardinal pour les 100 ans de l’Acfas. Elle a été nommée, en 2023, au grade de Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes académiques et, en 2024, est devenue mentore pour la Fondation Trudeau.

Date limite pour les propositions : le 24 janvier 2025. Pour plus de détails sur l'événement et sur la façon de soumettre une proposition, visitez : https://library.concordia.ca/about/staff/forum/francais.php

Questions? Veuillez contacter le comité du forum au lib-forum@concordia.ca

Le comité organisateur du Forum sur la recherche en bibliothéconomie 2024-2025 : Tomasz Neugebauer, Kate Ripley, Pat Riva, Ellen Wright (présidente du comité),

Call for Applications: CAPAL Early Career Researcher & Student Research Paper Awards

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:29:06 GMT

The CAPAL Awards Committee is excited to announce two prestigious new awards from CAPAL: the Early Career Researcher Award and the Student Research Paper Award. These awards aim to recognize and encourage excellence in research within our community.

Early Career Researcher Award

This award, which includes a $500 prize and a one-year CAPAL membership, is designed to encourage excellence in research among early career professional academic librarians. It is open to individuals who have graduated from a Master of Library and Information Science program or equivalent within the last five years. Group submissions are welcome, with the prize money split among winners.

Application deadline: January 31, 2025

Student Research Paper Award
This award recognizes research excellence in an unpublished paper written by students completing an MLIS or equivalent degree. The award includes a $500 prize and a one-year CAPAL membership. It is open to both individual and group submissions, with the prize money split among winners.

Application deadline: March 1, 2025

Applications for both awards should be submitted to capalawards@gmail.com.

For detailed information about the eligibility criteria, application requirements, and submission guidelines for each award, please refer to these documents: Early Career Researcher Award, Student Paper Award on the CAPAL Awards Committee webpage.

We look forward to celebrating the innovative research contributions of our members. Apply today and showcase your impactful work!

AABC Webinar - Fighting Fungi: Mould Control Solutions for Archives - Dec 11, 2024

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:59:02 GMT

Colleagues,

We invite you to join us for the upcoming webinar "Fighting Fungi: Mould Control Solutions for Archives", led by Megan Fisher, the Conservation Associate at Kelowna Museums Society. This webinar will be useful for those who work in the heritage field and want to learn how to effectively manage the threat of mould in their collections with the right knowledge and techniques. This webinar will cover:

- Understanding mould: what it is, how it grows, and the environmental

factors that contribute to its development.

- Identifying mould: how to spot both active and dormant mould in

archival materials.

- Safe removal: techniques for removing mould without damaging

collections or compromising safety.

- Preventative measures: best practices for mould prevention and

long-term care of archives.

Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Time: 10:00 - 11:30am PST

Cost: members $20.00, non-members $35.00 CAD

Registration deadline: Tuesday, Dec. 10 @5:00pm

The registration link for this webinar can be found at:

https://aaobc.wildapricot.org/Webinars

Membership Renewals - Retirees billing

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:14:30 GMT

For reasons unknown at the present, the membership system adjusted all retirees' memberships to not retired.

If you are retired and your were billed incorrectly, please contact Maureen at Membership services (aca@archivists.ca ) to have your invoice adjusted.

We are so sorry for the inconvenience!

X̱wi7x̱wa Library at UBC wins ATALM Library Institutional Excellence Award

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:55:56 GMT

The Library Institutional Excellence Award honours an Indigenous library that profoundly demonstrates outstanding service to its community. X̱wi7x̱wa Library is the only Indigenous branch of an academic library in Canada, often looked to as a leader in Indigenous Academic Librarianship in British Columbia, Canada and internationally. X̱wi7x̱wa is known for its use of the Brian Deer Classification System and its unique approach to decolonizing subject headings. X̱wi7x̱wa strives to incorporate Indigenous community perspectives and voices into its unique collections, programs, and services. X̱wi7x̱wa Library is also known as a space for raising up Indigenous librarians and has been the starting place of many well-known Indigenous librarians who are making significant changes in the world of librarianship.

Submission on behalf of the CCA in response to the Government of Canada's Public Consultations on Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 17:25:34 GMT

Submission made on behalf of the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) in response to the Government of Canada’s Public Consultations on Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. The submission has been fully endorsed by l’Association des archivistes du Québec, and the Association of Canadian Archivists.

Version francaise

English Version

The passing of the Honourable Mr Justice Murray Sinclair

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:05:18 GMT

The ACA mourns the passing of the Honourable Mr. Justice Murray Sinclair, former judge, senator and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). Also known by his traditional Anishinaabe name, Mizhana Gheezhik (the One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky), Sinclair was a national leader in Indigenous justice and advocacy. In 1988, Sinclair became Manitoba’s first Indigenous judge – a position he held for 28 years. He then went on to lead the TRC, which shone a light on the cultural genocide of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The TRC’s 94 Calls to Action were a watershed moment in our nation’s history and had a profound impact on the Canadian Archival community. Call to Action 70, which called for a national review of archival policies, gave rise to the Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce (TRCTF) of the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives (SCCA); a report that highlights the need for systemic change in archives and provides a road map to start making that change.

Sinclair was later appointed to the Senate in 2016 and became the 15th Chancellor of Queen’s University in 2021.

The ACA joins the rest of the nation in mourning the loss of this great man and extends our heartfelt condolences to the Honourable Murray Sinclair’s family.

Choose the 5oth Anniversary Logo

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 17:36:46 GMT

The deadline for design submissions has passed and it is now time to choose the logo for the 50th Anniversary of the ACA. Ballots are here, and the deadline for submitting your choice is the 15th of November 2024. The webpage has full sized versions of the candidates.

Remembrance Day Exhibit, UWinnipeg Archives, Nov 7- Dec 20, 2024

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:48:42 GMT

The University of Winnipeg Archives invites you to attend an opening reception for the launch of our latest exhibition titled To Go Forward with a Man Like Lovatt: Remembering a Student's Sacrifice. The exhibit is centred on Private Charles Wesley Lovatt, a student at Wesley College who interrupted his studies to enlist in the Canadian Army Medical Corps and served in the First World War as a stretcher-bearer with the 12th Canadian Field Ambulance. Lovatt's story of service and sacrifice is told through a diary he started the day he enlisted and ceased entries two days before he died in the Battle of Passchendaele on October 29, 1917. The diary and other records documenting his life were lovingly retained by family members over the years and have recently been donated to the University of Winnipeg Archives as the Lovatt Family fonds<https://main.lib.umanitoba.ca/lovatt-family-fonds> in an act of enduring remembrance.

The diary and other records illustrating the life of Private Lovatt, as well as those documenting the wartime experience at Wesley College (one of the founding colleges of the University of Winnipeg), will be on display in the Archives reading room from November 7 to December 20, 2024. The opening reception will be held November 7 at 12:30 PM also in the Archives reading room where a short film about Private Lovatt, produced by his family, will be shown. Information about the location of the Archives and where to park can be found on our website.<https://archives.uwinnipeg.ca/using-the-archives/index.html> We hope to see you there.

Special Interest Section on Indigenous Archives - meetup time changed

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 13:52:57 GMT

The Special Interest Section on Indigenous Archives meeting today has been moved from 1pm to 1:30 pm ET.

To register link here: https://archivists.ca/event-5892576

University and Colleges Archives Special Interest Group Meetings

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 18:37:21 GMT

The University and College Special Interest Group will be meeting October 30, 2024 at 11 am. Please register now for your zoom link here: https://archivists.ca/event-5921428

All are welcome!

U.C.A.S.I.S will hold meetings every month (except December). The schedule and registration links are below:

Wednesday, November 27 at 11am
https://archivists.ca/event-5921499

Wednesday, January 29 at 11am
https://archivists.ca/event-5921507

Wednesday, February 26 at 11am
https://archivists.ca/event-5921519

Wednesday, March 26, at 11am
https://archivists.ca/event-5921527

Wednesday, April 30, at 11am
https://archivists.ca/event-5921533

Archives Alive lecture--“Shot Down and Hiding Out with the Resistance: The Keith Patrick Archive at McMaster University Library”

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 18:15:28 GMT

You are cordially invited to a free online lecture (7 November 2024 at 12 p.m. EST): “Shot Down and Hiding Out with the Resistance: The Keith Patrick Archive at McMaster University Library.”

Join McMaster archivist Bridget Whittle and librarian Saman Goudarzi for an exploration of the Second World War-era service of Keith Patrick, a Canadian wireless operator/air gunner whose Halifax Bomber was shot down in France in June 1944. Seriously injured, Keith Patrick and his pilot, Don Fulton, were sheltered by members of the French resistance before being liberated by allied forces in September 1944.

Keith Patrick’s archive, housed in McMaster University Library’s department of Archives and Research Collections, reveals how Royal Canadian Air Force crews prepared for adverse outcomes through escape kits and evasion maps. The archive also provides insight into the tremendous efforts of the French resistance to shelter and care for allied troops, including the assignment of false French identity cards and the housing of soldiers with French families.

This lecture is hosted by McMaster University Library’s Archives Alive program in partnership with McMaster University Alumni.

Please feel free to share this invitation with other interested parties.

Indigenous Matters Working Group Assessment and Recommendations - released

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 16:18:38 GMT

The Indigenous Matters Working Group Assessment and Recommendations Final Report, and the Caretaking Memory: A Resource Guide for Archival Practitioners Working in Indigenous-centred Archives has been released!

You can find both documents here.

Thanks to all of the members of the Indigenous Matters Working Group for their hard work!

Du politique dans l’usage des archives filmiques. Lectures et pratiques décoloniales

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:18:20 GMT

Cet automne le CRIalt vous invite à participer au cycle de projections – débats intitulé « Du politique dans l’usage des archives filmiques. Lectures et pratiques décoloniales ». Cette série d’événements, organisé par Marion Froger et Claudia Polledri, en collaboration avec Karine Bertrand, Monika Diaz, André Habib et Zaira Zarza, se déroulera du 24 septembre au 10 décembre 2024. Elle constitue le dernier volet du cycle de projections « Politiques du film d’archives. Face à la violence de l’histoire » débuté l’année dernière (2023-2024) à l’initiative de Rémy Besson et Philippe Despoix et pensé comme un espace de discussion sur la dimension politique des gestes posés par les documentaristes travaillant à partir d’archives. Les quatre séances de l’automne visent à aborder cette réflexion d’un point de vue décolonial. Chacune explore un contexte géographique et historique différent pour situer les pratiques des cinéastes dans des cadres politiques divers et proposer des lectures qui tiennent compte des effets escomptés du (re)montage d’archives de sources variées.

https://crialt-intermedialite.org/le-futur-de-larchive-dans-le-cinema-autochtone/

2024 Dodds Prize

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 19:21:43 GMT

I am pleased to announce that Andrew Sandock has been awarded the 2024 Dodds Prize for his paper "In Search of a Liberatory Appraisal for Palestinian Archives.”

Andrew graduated from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information this past spring. He also holds a Joint Honours Bachelor of Arts from McGill University, focusing on World Islamic and Middle East Studies & International Development. While completing his degree, Andrew worked at OISE Library where he provides reference services and research consultations for students and researchers using historical and special collections. His paper was submitted by Fiorella Foscarini.

Instituted in 2011, the Dodds Prize recognizes superior research and writing on an archival topic by a student enrolled in a Master's level archival studies program at a Canadian university. The award honours Gordon Dodds (1941–2010), first President of the ACA, and Archivaria's longest-serving general editor. Submissions received for the 2023-24 academic year were reviewed by adjudication committee members Amy Marshall Furness, Shyla Seller, Anna Gibson Hollow, and Heather Home. I thank the committee for their service.

Andrew’s paper will be published in the Spring 2025 issue of Archivaria. The citation reads:

In the examination of past (and present) colonial actions, decolonization efforts and liberatory futures, the author brings the complexities of the archival endeavour to the fore through the lens and application of contemporary theoretical propositions. Weaving together contemporary news, official reports, classic and contemporary archival theory, and heavyweight cultural theory this paper pulls the reader headlong into the abyss of genocide and epistemicide and guides us towards a way of thinking about how to constitute archives in apocalyptic times.

Congratulations, Andrew, on your excellent work.

Rebecka Taves Sheffield

Managing Editor

Archivaria

McWatters Visiting Fellowship at Queen's University Archives - Applications due this week!

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:45:47 GMT

The Geraldine Grace and Maurice Alvin McWatters Visiting Fellowship

Queen’s University Archives is issuing a final call to invite interested individuals to submit applications for the Geraldine Grace and Maurice Alvin McWatters Visiting Fellowship for 2024-2025. The Fellowship allows the successful candidate to spend a month on-site in Kingston, Ontario, Canada undertaking research using the rich and varied holdings of Queen’s University Archives. The Fellowship Honorarium ($5000 CDN) will assist in defraying costs such as accommodation, travel, and research expenses. The deadline for submission of this year’s application is 27 September 2024. For further information visit our website.

"A Return to Memory" Screening, Montreal, Oct. 17, 2024

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 16:28:12 GMT

The NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA
invites you to

A RETURN TO MEMORY

Directed by Donald McWilliams

Special launch event
at the NFB Space

Thursday, October 17
Alanis Obomsawin Theatre
1500 Balmoral Street, Montreal
(Place-des-Arts Metro)

The screening will be in English and will be followed by a reception.

Film screening
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Reception
7:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are free but must be claimed in advance.
Limit of two tickets per person.

claim tickets

A Cup of Cold Water - MFNERC

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 19:02:06 GMT

In honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre invites and encourages all to watch their short documentary film titled “A Cup of Cold Water.”

This moving documentary, produced by the amazing folks at the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC), looks at the years of advocacy work undertaken by Alfred J. Kirkness in the 1960s and 70s when he lobbied various levels of Manitoba government to take responsibility for the care of the multiple unmarked graves at the Brandon Residential School. His persistent letter writing campaign was rediscovered through the detailed archival research efforts of Archivists Anne Lindsay and David Cuthbert and has more recently been used by the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to locate and identify the children who lost their lives while in the care of the Brandon Residential School.

Video link: https://vimeo.com/863594400?share=copy

Password: alfred

Bridging the Gap - The Current State of Historical Societies in Canada

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 13:12:59 GMT

Bridging the Gap – The Current State of Historical Societies in Canada

In the context of the 100^th anniversary of the Canadian Historical Association (CHA) in 2022, and in the wake of the research project Agents mémoriels, un engagement d’hier à aujourd’hui, the CHA and the Fédération Histoire Québec (FHQ) took the opportunity to launch exchanges on the shared contribution to historical knowledge of the various historical societies in Canada.

A first webinar, bringing together seven organizations, took place in February 2023. At a follow-up meeting in May 2023, it was agreed to produce a current state of historical societies in Canada. A steering committee made up of the CHA, the FHQ, the Institut d’histoire de l’Amérique française (IHAF) and the British Columbia Historical Federation (BCFHS) was then set up to coordinate its production.

Published digitally in June 2024, the report presents data from a survey of 14 Canadian historical societies, both professional and citizen-based, pan-Canadian as well as provincial and territorial. In addition to overall observations, the report presents responses according to five themes:

Mission, objectives and organizational history
Organizational life
Achievements
Collaborations
Challenges and outlook

The report was the subject of a presentation at the Canadian Historical Association’s annual meeting in Montreal in June 2024, a recording of which can be found on the CHA’s YouTube channel.

We encourage you to read the report and share it as widely as possible. We also invite you to share this press release as widely as possible.

The report is available online:

Full version: Bridging the Gap – The current state of historical societies in Canada
Abridged version: Bridging the Gap – The current state of historical societies in Canada

To find out more about this initiative, visit Bridging the Gap – The State of Canada’s Historical Societies.

The Steering Committee
Rosa Flinton-Brown, President Jean-Louis Vallée, President
British Columbia Historical Federation Fédération Histoire Québec

Thomas Wien, President Donald Wright, President
Institut d’histoire de l’Amérique française Canadian Historical Association

Contact – cha-shc@cha-shc.ca

Towards an International Convention on Indigenous Languages with Dr Wilton Littlechild

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 13:06:21 GMT

Join Dr. Wilton Littlechild, PEB '67, MA '75 LLB '76, LLD (Hon.) '07, as he outlines the development history and current activities related to the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages within the framework of the United Nations' Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032). It highlights global efforts, including conferences, policy developments, educational programs, and community projects.

The proposal advocates for an Indigenous-led resolution at the United Nations to establish an International Convention on Indigenous Languages. This legally binding convention would aim to ensure legal protection, mobilize resources, integrate Indigenous languages into educational systems, and preserve cultural heritage.

September 24, 2024, 12-1pm MT

Free

https://www.ualberta.ca/en/events/augustana/indigenous-speaker-series/wilton-littlechild.html

@Risk North 3: Safeguarding the Canadian Digital Record

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 13:02:51 GMT

We are pleased to invite you to @Risk North 3: Safeguarding the Canadian Digital Record, a 1.5-day open summit co-hosted by CARL and key partners including the Canadian Research Knowledge Network, Library and Archives Canada, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Internet Archive Canada, Digital Research Alliance of Canada, and the Digital Preservation Coalition.

Dates: November 21-22, 2024

Location: Library and Archives Canada, 550 Bd de la Cité, Gatineau, QC, J8T 0A7 This event will focus on the latest developments, challenges, and opportunities in digital preservation within the Canadian context. It will feature a keynote address, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and ample networking opportunities. Networking events, including a reception and an optional tour of the Library and Archives Canada’s Gatineau Preservation Centre, are also included in the program.

To register for the @Risk North 3 summit, please complete the <https://form.simplesurvey.com/f/s/risk-north-3-registration> Registration Form<https://form.simplesurvey.com/f/s/risk-north-3-registration>, including payment, by Friday, November 15th, 2024. We encourage 1-3 representatives per organization to attend, as registration is limited to 100 attendees, and is open outside of CARL member institutions.

Additionally, we ask that you take a few moments to complete a brief <https://form.simplesurvey.com/f/s/risk-north-3-community-survey> 5-question survey<https://form.simplesurvey.com/f/s/risk-north-3-community-survey> to share your perspectives and priorities in digital preservation, which will help shape the summit and future national strategies.

For more information, visit the <https://www.carl-abrc.ca/mini-site-page/risk-north-3-safeguarding-the-canadian-digital-record/> Event Webpage<https://www.carl-abrc.ca/mini-site-page/risk-north-3-safeguarding-the-canadian-digital-record/>, which includes registration, accommodation, and a <https://www.carl-abrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/@Risk-North-3-Program-2024.pdf> Preliminary Program.<https://www.carl-abrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/@Risk-North-3-Program-2024.pdf>

Seeking representatives for the Historic Sites and Monument Board of Canada

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 19:53:30 GMT

The Government of Canada is looking for candidates to become representatives of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (the Board). A national campaign was launched to create a pool of qualified candidates for all provinces and territories while prioritizing Manitoba where the position of representative is currently vacant. Candidates from other provinces and territories may be added to a roster of qualified candidates for future vacancies.

We encourage candidates to apply now. Submitted applications will be evaluated from August 27, 2024.

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada is responsible for advising the Minister responsible for Parks Canada on the designation of places, persons and events that have marked and shaped the history of Canada.

The Board is made up of one representative from each province and territory, as well as one representative from Library and Archives Canada, the Canadian Museum of History and the Parks Canada Agency. Additional information about the Board is available at: National historic designations (canada.ca)

A member of the Board must reside in the province or territory they represent. They must also be willing to:

take part in the evaluation process and make recommendations to the Minister who has the authority to designate sites, events or persons of national historic significance;
advise the Minister on the Heritage Railway Stations Program, the National Program for the Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers and the Heritage Lighthouses of Canada Program;
participate in Full Board meetings held twice a year and ‘as and when required’ in relation to the Board’s committees;
communicate the Board position on specific heritage issues at public meetings, interviews with media, and in communications with groups and individuals;
serve as Master of Ceremonies at Board commemorative plaque unveiling ceremonies and represent the Board at other events when requested to do so; and
monitor heritage issues or initiatives within your province or territory and provide advice to Parks Canada officials and the Board on such matters as required.

Further information on the process and a link to the application form can be found here: Member - Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Thank you for your help and should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Émie Labrecque, Acting advisor, Heritage Designation Programs at emie.labrecque@pc.gc.ca.

Sincerely,

Secretariat

Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC)

Parks Canada / Government of Canada

30 Victoria Street, (P3-03-M), Gatineau, QC J8X 0B3

clmhc-hsmbc@pc.gc.ca

www.parkscanada.gc.ca

Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan - Annual Report 2023-4

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:45:05 GMT

On behalf of the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan Board of Directors and the Provincial Archivist:

I invite you to read our annual report on our website:
Annual Report for April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024

The Provincial Archives collects, preserves, and makes accessible for research the province’s historical records from government and individuals, organizations, businesses, and associations. The Archives also provide expertise and advice to the government about records and information management, policy standards, and the development of sound record-keeping practices in the public sector.

As the custodian of the documentary heritage of Saskatchewan, the Archives connects with the public, organizations, and government to make the provinces’ rich collections engaging and accessible through online and in-person discovery.

I hope you will enjoy reading about the many strategic plan activities and events undertaken by the Archives over the past year.

Sincerely,

Carol Radford-Grant
Provincial Archivist

Request for donations from the Philippine Libraries Association - Typhoon Carina

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:37:17 GMT

As you may be aware, the Philippines was recently hit with a serious typhoon that has put Manila in a state of calamity. While the Philippines frequently experiences typhoons, Typhoon Carina is unique for its serious devastation, and the vulnerability of Philippine infrastructure caused by recent years of government neglect and intensifying resource extraction in the country (including by Canadian mining companies). You can learn more about the context and impact of Typhoon Carina from BAYAN Canada’s social media page.

The Philippine Libraries Association Inc. is collecting donations to support librarians, archivists, and other information professionals in the Philippines impacted by Typhoon Carina. They have a Google form for donors. I kindly request that you share this link and the BAYAN Canada social media post in your networks.

Call for Submissions for the ACA 50th Anniversary Logo

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 17:44:53 GMT

The Association of Canadian Archivists is pleased to announce the launch of a Call for Submissions for the ACA 50^th Anniversary logo. This logo will be used by the Association during the ACA’s 50^th anniversary celebrations in 2025. The logo will mainly be used online (website, Scope and Content, and social media) with some potential use in print. There are no existing brand elements that must be included in the logo.

Submission: Please send your submission to Dr. Gillian I. Leitch, Executive Director, at Executive.Director@archivists.ca. Include your name, email address, a short paragraph about your design,your preferred Creative Commons license option (recommended: CC BY-ND 4.0),and your 50^th anniversary logo.

Technical requirements: Dimensions of the logo should be 1600x1600 pixels and submitted in PNG format.

Deadline for submissions: Sunday, October 20, 2024

Determination of Winner: The Association of Canadian Archivists Board of Directors will review the submissions and select logos for the contest.Association of Canadian Archivists Members will electronically vote to select the winning logo. In the event of a tie, the Association of Canadian Archivists Board of Directors will determine the winner.

The winning submission will be awarded a free one-year membership to the Association of Canadian Archivists. Only one prize is available. There is no monetary compensation for creating or putting forward a submission for this call.

Node Library Digital Storage Survey

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 18:40:31 GMT

My name is Reiko Pleau and I’m writing as a student member of the ACA, because I am currently recruiting survey participants for a research study on digital storage, as part of an internship I am completing at 221A’s Node Library, throught the Mitacs Accelerate program, and under the supervision of Dr. Victoria Lemieux of UBC's iSchool and Blockchain@UBC.

Details:

As part of its pilot phase, the Node Library is engaging in the research and development of a digital storage system prototype utilizing the network infrastructure of decentralized protocols.

We’re conducting a short (5-10 minutes) anonymous survey to understand how arts and cultural heritage workers use digital storage technologies in order to inform the development of a web3 storage system for our sector.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the survey by August 5, 2024!

Survey link: https://221a.ca/event/survey-digital-preservation-of-cultural-assets/

Thank you for your consideration!

Warmly,

Reiko Pleau

UBC MAS 2024

Blockchain@UBC Graduate

221A Node Library Research Intern

rpleau@student.ubc.ca

Scope and Content Deadline July 26

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:00:59 GMT

This is our monthly call for content for Scope and Content: The ACA Newsletter. The next issue will be published on Thursday, August 1, and the content submission deadline is Friday, July 26! Submissions can be sent to this email address.

What is it? Scope and Content is a news digest, or round-up of news about business, activities, events, initiatives, and calls for participation relevant to the ACA. It is sent directly to ACA members' email inboxes. Its goal is to ensure that readers know what the ACA is up to and have opportunities to engage.

What do we want from you?

Send us info (and especially links!) to any news from your committee/group. That might include:

· Workshops;

· Group meet-ups;

· Conference-related news;

· Calls for volunteers;

· New or completed initiatives;

· and more!

Give us the summary version and the link to where folks can learn more. Images are also encouraged!

If info needs to be added or changed on the ACA website, please let Gillian know.

What about non-ACA business? If you want to include something about archives/archivists in the news, conferences, initiatives/projects by other groups, etc., please forward those along as well! We will highlight them in the Archival Community News and Archivists in the News sections.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

LAC's Future of Archives and Libraries: How Technology and AI are (re)Shaping Heritage Institutions

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:46:53 GMT

You are invited to attend Library and Archives Canada’s upcoming symposium: “Future of Archives and Libraries: How Technology and AI are (re)Shaping Heritage Institutions” on September 5, 2024, in Ottawa, Ontario.

As documentary heritage institutions face rapid technological advancements, the integration of innovative technologies presents transformative opportunities and significant challenges. This event explores these impacts, focusing on how technology and AI can enhance the preservation, accessibility and management of documentary heritage.

Event details:

*   Date: September 5, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time)
*   Venue: Library and Archives Canada, Pellan Room, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario
*   Simultaneous translation: Offered in English and in French
*   Registration deadline: August 22, 2024
*   Register via Eventbrite: LAC / BAC Symposium 2024 Tickets, Thu, 5 Sep 2024 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lac-bac-symposium-2024-tickets-934651306217?aff=oddtdtcreator
Key highlights:

*   Keynote presentation by Dr. Michael Ridley, an expert on explainable AI and its implications within libraries and archives.
*   Panel discussions featuring Avery Swartz, CEO and founder of Camp Tech, and Sonia Bonspille Boileau, award-winning filmmaker, among other panellists.
*   Showcase of innovative projects in the sector, including presentations by Lisa Mullins, Archivist for Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada, and Mathieu Sabourin, Manager of Digital Access at Library and Archives Canada.
Don’t hesitate to share this invitation and we hope you will attend and join the discussion surrounding the future of documentary heritage institutions!
For more information, please contact: conferences@bac-lac.gc.ca<mailto:conferences@bac-lac.gc.ca

Call for Proposals: Archivaria 100: Legacies of Critical Theory in Archives

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:15:06 GMT

http://www.archivalobjects.com/archivaria100

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Archivaria and the 30th anniversary of the English language publication of Jacques Derrida’s Archive Fever: A Freudian Impression, this special issue look towards the legacy of critical theory in discussions on archives, particularly within the pages of Archivaria, and its impact on the far ranging and interdisciplinary landscape of contemporary archival thought. Born of the union between archival practice and what was alternately called “poststructuralism” or “postmodernism,” early forays into the critical interrogation of archival praxis were rooted in the effort to reclaim the theorization of “the archive” from the proverbial clutches of philosophers, postmodernists, and others not steeped in the quotidian struggles of stewarding cultural heritage and memory.

Archivaria was at the forefront of this new and syncretic force in scholarship, and rarely shied away from asserting the theoretical challenges posed by archives, and their implications for the cultural, historical, and socio-political landscape. In contrast to sister publications on the North American continent, Archivaria’s focus was pointedly dedicated to wrestling with the anti-foundationalist and boundary pushing work emanating from critical theory in the 1980s and 1990s, and its ramifications for the intersectional relationship of archives with feminism, queer theory, critiques of racism, and Eurocentric assumptions about history. Furthermore, this engagement with critical theory precipitated the necessary reconsideration of fundamental understandings and definitions of archives, and the entrenched praxes that had functioned as professional gatekeepers, laying the ground for a greater opening in archival thinking and practice.

This special issue, in turn, seeks submissions that are in conversation with this legacy of critical theory in archives and in Archivaria, but which moreover engage with the current and future use of critical theories to understand archives, the people that work with them, and their impact on the world. Even with the democratization of archival theorization and the increased proliferation of “archives” as a phenomenon across a number of disciplines, there continues to be a need for archivists themselves to interrogate the tools of their trade and to lead this critical conversation. We welcome submissions on a wide variety of topics, including:

* Impacts (local, national, or international) of Archivaria on the discourse of archives and critical theory within the field as well as other disciplines

* Contemporary and critical receptions to Archive Fever from the archival community, the humanities, and the social sciences

* Legacies and contemporary locations of critical theory in archival scholarship and praxes

* Conversations between archives, feminist and queer theory, and critical race theory

* Relationships between critical theory, materiality, and archives

Guest Editors

Mario H. Ramirez, Associate Dean and Chief Librarian, The City College of New York, CUNY Rebecka Taves Sheffield, Head, Special Collections & Archives, University of Waterloo

Submission Process – Important Dates

October 15, 2024: Expressions of interest: Abstracts up to 500 words. Please email your submissions to: mramirez3@ccny.cuny.edu<mailto:mramirez3@ccny.cuny.edu>

November 15, 2024: Notification of acceptance February 1, 2025: Full papers due December 2025: Special issue published

Author Guidelines and Peer Review Process Please consult IJIDI Author Guidelines and IJIDI Peer Review Process at: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/ijidi/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Any questions related to this issue should be addressed to Dr. Mario H. Ramirez, mramirez3@ccny.cuny.edu<mailto:mramirez3@ccny.cuny.edu>

Call for submissions, ACA Blog: In the Field

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 12:37:56 GMT

The ACA Blog: In the Field is seeking conference presenters and attendees to share post-conference debriefs, recaps and reflections!

The 2024 ACA conference wrapped up two weeks ago now, and for July’s Archives Spotlights theme, we’d like to shine a retrospective spotlight on this year’s conference. Which session was your favourite and why? Did you learn something new at the conference or gain a new perspective? What is something you will be taking into your practice after this year’s conference? Perhaps you’d like to share your conference or poster presentation in a blog post format. Whether you have memories from many past conferences or whether this was your first ACA conference—we want to hear about it!

If you would like to publish a short article, reach out to us and start writing! The In the Field blog publishes pieces between 500 and 2,000 words (check out the full submission guidelines here<https://archivists.ca/Blog-Submission-Form>). Send us your blog post submissions at blog@archivists.ca<mailto:blog@archivists.ca> or use the blog submission form<https://archivists.ca/Blog-Submission-Form> by July 15th. We look forward to reading your pieces!

Many thanks,

Catherine Barnwell

Editor, In the Field blog

Special offer for ACA 2024 Conference attendees

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:43:47 GMT

Digital Transitions has a special offer for all attendees, to take their DT Digitization Certification 101 class for free. Sign up for the class HERE. Please use the coupon code DTVIP24-ACA at checkout to receive the class for no fee.

About DT:

A leading provider of digitization hardware, software, and services, Digital Transitions has enabled organizations and individuals around the globe to activate and leverage their physical heritage collections archives. Whether customers are looking to build their own internal digitization program or hire a team of experts to help preserve their heritage collections, Digital Transitions is the partner of choice for best-in-class, preservation grade, digitization solutions. Among others, our clients include The J. Paul Getty Trust, The Smithsonian Archives of American Art and the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, The Phillips Collection Archive, MoMA, New York Public Library, Morgan Stanley, Princeton University, Iron Mountain, General Motors, Disney Pixar, and the Library of Congress.

Digital Transitions Invites ACA Attendees to Take Our Online Digitization Certification Course for Free
Digitization has undergone a rapid and profound transformation in the past two decades. Legacy systems built on scanning have been replaced with modern instant capture systems. Direct-to-TIFF workflows are being replaced by RAW workflow. Institutions are adopting FADGI and other guidelines that ensure digitization is done at a preservation-grade of quality, but require a more nuanced understanding of image quality than relying on manufacturer’s stated PPI. Digital Transitions has created a fully-online certification course for people wanting to update their knowledge of modern digitization processes and techniques and add additional certification credentials to their resume.

BIPOC Special Interest Meeting - June 17, 2024

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 17:46:01 GMT

Save the date! Are you a BIPOC archivist or memory worker? Come join the ACA BIPOC Forum organized by the ACA BIPOC Special Interest Section next Monday June 17th at 4pm ET/1pm PT!

Join us online to share your post-conference impressions, network with colleagues, and look ahead to ACA 2025 in Ottawa.

This group is a safe space for the BIPOC community to network and discuss topics related to our profession. To sign up, please email bipocarchivists@gmail.com to receive the meeting link.

Please note this event is open to BIPOC archivists and memory workers only. ACA membership is not required to participate.

ACA 2024 Virtual Conference!

Thu, 30 May 2024 17:59:11 GMT

Registration for the ACA Virtual Conference closes on June 8, 2024

ACA AGM June 19, 2024

Thu, 30 May 2024 17:53:05 GMT

Join the ACA Board of Directors on Tuesday, June 19, 2024 1:00 pm EDT / 10:00 am PDT for the Annual General Meeting - ACA. The meeting agenda will include board reports, an update on ACA activities, including committees, SISs and Student Chapters. Members will also have an opportunity to review ACA audit documents and the ACA 2025 budget.

This meeting will take place online, via Zoom. The agenda and supporting documents are available in the Bulletin.

CCA Update - Standards Committee

Wed, 08 May 2024 14:37:08 GMT

The CCA Board of Directors agreed, at the February 1, 2024 meeting to reconstitute the Standards Committee based on community discussion and interest with regard to work previously undertaken to discuss revisions to Rules for Archival Description (RAD).

For additional context, the preface to the 2008 revision to RAD provides a brief history of the Rules, from inception in 1990, through the establishment of the Canada-US Task Force on Archival Description (CUSTARD), to the emergence of RAD2 in 2003.

It continues:

Over the course of 2004 there was comprehensive consultation on the draft RAD2 document. Not unlike the CUSTARD project, this consultative process revealed widely divergent opinions from within the Canadian archival community. Following a careful review of feedback received, CCAD put forward to the CCA a number of options for proceeding with the development of RAD. The approved option saw the Committee move forward to draft a series of revisions to RAD based on those aspects of draft RAD2 that received the most consensus from the Canadian archival community.

Since 2008 there have been no revisions to the standard.

On February 4th, 2016, invited participants met at Library and Archives Canada on the Future of RAD. From this meeting, a number of takeaways emerged, including the view that Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) should be considered as an example of a national implementation of General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G).

Eight years later, the Standards Committee is considering RAD within the context of the Reconciliation Framework, ACA’s Indigenous Matters Working Group Report, and other community-driven descriptive tools. The Standards Committee's work will consult and consider how and if a distinctive Canadian standard should be updated, leaving control within the Canadian archival system or if we should build on the work that has already been undertaken around the world.

DACS, last updated in 2022, and work that has been produced by the International Council on Archives will be considered by the committee as a whole, and smaller working groups will review past work, new documentation, and by the Fall 2024, consult with the community with a series of recommendations for the November 2024 CCA Annual General Meeting. As noted in 2016, it is important to ensure that the archival community is continually consulted with efforts made to achieve consensus on the issues/options for RAD and other standard options in the coming months.

If you would like to be part of the work that will take place from June to September, please reach out to the CCA by either contacting Jo McCutcheon, CCA Executive Director <execdirector@archivescanada.ca> or Paul Henry, Chair of the Standards Committee <paul.henry@ottawa.ca>. The next meeting will take place May 31st and then another meeting will be held on the 21st of June. There may be an additional meeting the 7th of June depending on the work planned.

Chers membres de la communauté archivistique,

Le Conseil d'administration du CCA a décidé, lors de sa réunion du 1er février 2024, de reconstituer le Comité des normes en fonction des discussions et de l'intérêt de la communauté concernant les travaux précédemment entrepris pour discuter des révisions des Règles de description archivistique (RDDA).

Pour plus de contexte, la préface de la révision 2008 des RDDA présente un bref historique des règles, depuis leur création en 1990, en passant par l'établissement du groupe de travail conjoint Canada-États-Unis, le Canada-US Task Force on Archival Description (CUSTARD), jusqu'à l'émergence des RDDA2 en 2003.

Elle se poursuit :

Au cours de l’année 2004, une vaste consultation fut menée auprès de la communauté archivistique canadienne à propos du projet RDDA2. À l’instar du projet CUSTARD, la consultation a fait ressortir des divergences importantes au sein de la communauté archivistique. Après avoir examiné attentivement les commentaires reçus, le CCDA a proposé au CCA un certain nombre d’options pour l’évolution des RDDA. L’option retenue consistait à préparer un projet de révision des RDDA basé sur les éléments des RDDA2 ayant fait l’objet d’un consensus, ou ayant reçu un accueil largement favorable de la communauté.

Depuis 2008, la norme n'a fait l'objet d'aucune révision.

Le 4 février 2016, des participants invités se sont réunis à Bibliothèque et Archives Canada pour discuter de l'avenir des RDDA. Cette réunion a permis de dégager un certain nombre d'idées, notamment le point de vue selon lequel Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS) devrait être considéré comme un exemple de mise en œuvre nationale de la norme générale et internationale de description archivistique, ISAD(G).

Huit ans plus tard, le Comité des normes examine les RDDA dans le contexte du Cadre de réconciliation, du rapport de l’Indigenous Matters Working Group de l'ACA et d'autres outils descriptifs pilotés par la communauté. Le travail du Comité des normes consistera à consulter et à examiner comment et si une norme canadienne distincte devrait être mise à jour, en laissant le contrôle au système archivistique canadien ou si nous devrions nous appuyer sur le travail qui a déjà été entrepris dans le monde entier.

Le DACS, dont la dernière mise à jour date de 2022, et les travaux produits par le Conseil international des archives seront examinés par le comité dans son ensemble, et des groupes de travail plus restreints examineront les travaux antérieurs, la nouvelle documentation et, d'ici l'automne 2024, consulteront la communauté avec une série de recommandations pour l'assemblée générale annuelle du CCA de novembre 2024. Comme indiqué en 2016, il est important de veiller à ce que la communauté archivistique soit continuellement consultée et que des efforts soient faits pour parvenir à un consensus sur les questions/options pour les RDDA et d'autres options de normes dans les mois à venir.

Si vous souhaitez participer aux travaux qui se dérouleront de juin à septembre, veuillez contacter Jo McCutcheon, directrice exécutive du CCA <execdirector@archivescanada.ca> ou Paul Henry, président du Comité des normes <paul.henry@ottawa.ca>. La prochaine réunion aura lieu le 31 mai et une autre se tiendra le 21 juin. Il est possible qu'une réunion supplémentaire ait lieu le 7 juin en fonction du travail prévu.

J.M. (Jo) McCutcheon, PhD

( she | her | elle )

Executive Director / Directrice Executive Canadian Council of Archives / Conseil canadien des archives

130 Albert, Suite 1912, Ottawa, ON

K1P 5G4

C-613-853-1867

Postponed: Muslims in Canada Archives Webinar

Thu, 02 May 2024 16:20:39 GMT

Due to a family emergency the speaker for the upcoming Muslims in Canada Archives Webinar has been postponed. A new day and time will be announced at a later time.

Thank you for your understanding.

Award Nominations deadline extended to April 26th.

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 13:03:04 GMT

The deadline for nominations for the annual awards for the ACA has been extended to April 26, 2024.

See here for the criteria for the different awards.

Nomination forms are found here.

Artefactual Systems and ACA Foundation: Joint Statement Announcing Sponsorship Agreement

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 13:29:45 GMT

Artefactual Systems Inc and the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) Foundation are pleased to announce a two-year sponsorship agreement. The agreement, valued at $3000 over two years, will provide students and emerging professionals with increased access to the annual ACA conferences, with a special focus on students presenting on the topic of digital preservation and access. This sponsorship will provide dozens of students with access to the virtual ACA conference in June 2024, and will fully subsidize a student presenting at the 2025 conference in Ottawa.

Artefactual was founded in 2000 and is a Canadian professional services and software development company. They provide technical support and domain expertise in archival access and digital preservation to their clients and the community. Access to Memory (AtoM) and Archivematica are the two projects for which they are most well-known. The Association of Canadian Archivists Foundation was established and federally incorporated in 2006, with the goal of providing students in archival programs with funds to support their education.

The ACA Foundation thanks Artefactual Systems for their support of the Foundation, and the wider archival profession.

If you are a member who is a student, or precariously employed, please contact the ACA Office for a subsidized conference registration code. The Office can be reached at aca@archivists.ca .

Invitation Table ronde étudiante MétArchives – L’exploration des archives menteuses | 27 avril 2024

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:25:06 GMT

Samedi 27 avril, 13h à 15h, En présentiel et en ligne
Café Fou AELIES et YouTube Live
Gratuit, ouvert à tous, étudiant.e.s, membres et non-membres.

Nous espérons que vous passez une belle fin de session ! Pour bien terminer celle-ci, l’AAQ souhaite vous inviter à notre quatrième édition de table-ronde étudiante MétArchives !

Nous vous invitons à venir de nouveau interagir avec nous dans une ambiance conviviale de style podcast pour discuter sur un sujet en particulier, soit l’exploration des archives menteuses.

Cet événement est possible grâce à la présence de nos trois participants :

Caroline-Isabelle Caron est professeure dans le département d’histoire de l’Université de Queens. Elle se spécialise dans l’histoire culturelle francophone des XIXe et XXe siècles. Dans ses recherches, elle s’intéresse aux représentations du passé, sous forme de généalogies et de commémorations, et aux représentations du futur, sous forme de science-fiction, pour mieux comprendre la culture populaire des communautés acadiennes et québécoises.

Étienne Gagnon est étudiant candidat au doctorat en ethnologie et patrimoine depuis 2021 à l’Université Laval. Participant depuis 2020 à l’Unité mixte de recherche Capitales et patrimoines (UMRcp), il s’intéresse particulièrement aux discours tenus par les acteurs autour du « prisme patrimonial » que représente le site Cartier-Roberval, de même qu’aux manières par lesquelles les processus de patrimonialisation permettent la participation d’un nombre grandissant d’acteurs.

Mathieu Paradis est étudiant à la maîtrise en histoire à l’Université de Montréal et membre étudiant du Centre d’histoire des régulations sociales. Ses actuels projets de recherche concernent l’écriture autobiographique chez les militantes communistes montréalaises ainsi que les pratiques discursives du périodique révolutionnaire parti pris. Il s’intéresse aux archives dites « des marges » tout comme aux rapports de pouvoir qui influencent la production et la préservation des archives, mais aussi, l’histoire académique.

Cette table-ronde, initiée en 2023 par Catherine Girard et Jean-Samuel Bisson, s’adresse aux étudiants et diplômés en archivistique, membres et non membres, mais également à tous ceux intéressés par le sujet. Plus on est, mieux c’est !

Venez poser des questions et échanger avec nous pour en apprendre plus sur le côté interdisciplinaire de l’archivistique !

Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant pour confirmer votre présence, et rendez-vous en présentiel au Café Fou AELIES, à Québec, dès 13h ou en direct sur la chaîne YouTube de l’AAQ !

C’est GRATUIT ! Consommation à vos frais !

Pauline Johnson and Her Archive: A Conversation with Dr. Rick Monture

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 14:47:34 GMT

You are cordially invited to a free online lecture (18 April 2024 at 12 p.m. EST): “Pauline Johnson and Her Archive: A Conversation with Dr. Rick Monture.”

Emily Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake) (1861-1913) was born on the Six Nations reserve near Brantford, Ontario. Of Kanyen’kehà:ka (Mohawk) and European descent, she spent her early years in the community, where her father, George Johnson, held a position of prominence as a Mohawk Wolf Clan Chief and a translator for the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Council. Pauline Johnson would go on to become a successful poet and performer, touring across North America and the UK and publishing six volumes during her lifetime. She was a strong advocate for the rights of Indigenous peoples and women, writing many newspaper articles on these topics; she has also drawn criticism for her espousal of assimilationist sentiments. She is, as Dr. Rick Monture writes, “an enigmatic figure” whose complex legacy still draws interest more than a century after her death. Join Dr. Rick Monture for an exploration of Pauline Johnson, her legacy, and her archive at McMaster University Library.

Dr. Rick Monture is a member of the Mohawk nation, Turtle clan, from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. He is Associate Professor in the Departments of Indigenous Studies and English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University and the author of Teionkwakhashion Tsi Niionkwariho:ten (“We Share Our Matters”): Two Centuries of Writing and Resistance at Six Nations of the Grand River (UMP 2014).

This lecture is hosted by McMaster University Library’s Archives Alive program in partnership with McMaster University Alumni.  

Invitation to Register for Concordia University's Library Research Forum 2024

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 14:36:21 GMT

Invitation to Register for Concordia University's Library Research Forum 2024 (Deadline: April 10, 2024)

You are cordially invited to register to attend Concordia University's 22^nd annual Library Research Forum. Registration is free and all are welcome.

This year’s Research Forum will be a two-day hybrid event, with presentations taking place virtually on Zoom on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, and in person at Concordia University’s Loyola Campus on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

The annual Research Forum provides an opportunity for librarians, archivists, graduate students, teaching faculty, and information professionals to describe and promote their completed or in-progress research, practical case studies or projects. The Forum also provides a venue for researchers to seek suggestions for enhancing their research interests, to identify potential new partners for projects, to test the effectiveness of their undertakings, and to promote research in academic libraries.

This year’s Keynote speaker will be Aaron Johnson – Associate Dean – Research and Infrastructure, Faculty of Arts and Science, and Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Concordia – who will speak on the topic of Open Scholarship in Research.

The Forum is free to attend, but registration is required for planning purposes.

Deadline for registration is April 10, 2024.

To register and for more details about the event, including a full schedule, please visit http://library.concordia.ca/about/staff/forum

Questions? Please contact the Forum Committee at lib-forum@concordia.ca

"Save As" Conference - Ottawa - March 21, 2024

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 15:40:39 GMT

The International Film Festival of Ottawa (IFFO) will gather Canadian and international film archivists, distributors, and filmmakers for the third annual SAVE AS, a day-long conference is dedicated to examining issues of preservation, restoration, distribution, and exhibition of the always-endangered heritage cinema. SAVE AS consists of expert panel discussions, case studies of restored cinema classics, and special public screenings of those restored classic films.

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024
Location: Arts Court Theatre, 2 Daly Ave.

This year's program includes a spotlight on Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna and restoration case studies on Guy Maddin’s Archangel and Timothy Findley’s The Wars directed by Robin Phillips

View the full SAVE AS program: https://www.iffo.ca/2024/saveas

Passes are $20 and include access to all panels and more.

Volunteers needed!

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 19:44:26 GMT

Are you a member in good standing? Are you interested in making a difference? Volunteer for one of the ACA’s committees!

We have several openings:

1) Nominations and Awards Committee (NAAC) - contact Angela Fornelli

2) ACA Governance Committee – contact Ian Forsyth

3) ACA Financial Review Committee (FRC) contact Kyle Pugh

Volunteer with Us

Update from the Dept of Canadian Heritage

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 20:04:00 GMT

Good day ACA members,

Please see below, an email update from the Department of Canadian Heritage re: their museum policy renewal work.

Warmest regards,

Erica Hernandez-Read

Hello,

Thank you for participating in the 2022-23 Consultations on the renewal of the Museum Policy conducted by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Your feedback was invaluable and gave us an opportunity to hear the priorities and concerns of the sector.

Synthesizing what you’ve told us was a significant process and we wanted to do it with care and diligence.

We are now pleased to share with you the final report from the consultation, summarizing the findings from Canadians, heritage stakeholders, Indigenous heritage organizations and experts, Modern Treaty Holders and provinces and territories: What we heard: 2022-2023 consultations on the renewal of the Canadian Museum Policy.

We hope you will see your comments captured in the What we heard report.

As the Department continues its work on the renewal of the museum policy, please do not hesitate to contact the team should you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you and we appreciate your contribution.

Sincerely,

Museum policy team

Applications for the 2024 Ancestry Continuing Education Awards are now open

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 15:45:25 GMT

Applications for the 2024 Ancestry Continuing Education Award are now open. This scholarship, valued at $1200 CAD, is open to members of the BIPOC community who are pursuing an education in the field of archives and records management. The award also includes a complimentary membership to the ACA for one year. The Award is administered by the Association of Canadian Archivists Foundation.

Applications close 31 March 2024. The English application form can be found here<https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/ancestry_continuing_education_award>, and the French application form here<https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/programme_de_bourse_de_formation_continue_ancestry>.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Kyle Pugh

treasurer@archivists.ca

Call for Student Papers and the Emerging Voices Session - ACA Virtual Conference

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 14:25:56 GMT

CALL FOR STUDENT PAPERS AND THE EMERGING VOICES SESSION

ACA Virtual Conference

10-13 June 2024

The ACA 2024 Conference Program Team invites students of library, archives and information studies who have written a paper, conducted research, or participated in a project to share their experience and submit proposals. That's right, take it to the next level and gain valuable public speaking skills while building your resume. We encourage you to submit proposals related to the key topics of the ACA 2024 Conference: Artificial Intelligence and Archives; the Climate Crisis; and social and political conflict. However, the CALL for Student Papers and the Emerging Voices Session welcomes all topics and first-time presenters!

All Student submissions will be considered by the ACA Foundation Board Members for selection in the Emerging Voices Session. Three successful applicants will be invited to present virtually in the Emerging Voices Session, and will receive a monetary award and complimentary conference registration. To receive this award, you must be an ACA Student member. Submissions that are not selected for the Emerging Voices Session will be considered for the general conference program.

Deadline for Submissions is 19 February, 2024 at 11:59 pm MST

ACA 2024 Student Submission Form

If you have any questions, please contact the Chair of the ACA Conference Program Team at Program.team@archivists.ca

GRSIS Meeting Jan 18th - postponed to February

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 14:53:09 GMT

Dear GRSIS members,

We are rescheduling the next GRSIS coffee chat until a time that will work for more members. Please stay tuned for a February gathering! Meanwhile, if you have suggestions for discussion topics or a new approach to these coffee chats, please contact me. Personally, I am inspired by the fabulous new NFB documentary UnArchived, and would be very interested to hear what work our community is doing that addresses the issues it raises.

Here's a link to that film if you haven't seen it yet: https://www.nfb.ca/distribution/film/unarchived

See you in February!

Susan Hart

susanhart314@gmail.com

Oliver Wendell Holmes Travel Award

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 14:22:05 GMT

Do you know an international archivist who is studying in the United States or Canada?

The Oliver Wendell Holmes Award enables international archivists, who are currently training or studying in the United States or Canada, to augment their experience by traveling to the Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists. Recipients receive a certificate and a cash award of $1,000 to help cover costs of the 2024 SAA Annual Meeting for archives students who are not U.S. or Canadian citizens (or permanent residents) and are studying in the United States or Canada. Self-nominations are welcome.

Please click here for additional details and to preview the online application for the Holmes Award. The deadline is February 28, 2024 at 11:59 PM CST.

All applications must include the following:

Personal statement/essay
CV or resume

If you have any questions regarding the award or the application process, please contact Tamar Zeffren, Oliver Wendell Holmes Award Committee Chair, at tzeffren@ajhs.org.

Archival community response to the Consultation on Copyright in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:04:12 GMT

Below (and attached) is the archival community response to the Federal Government Consultation on Copyright in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence, submitted by the Canadian Council of Archives and endorsed by the Association of Canadian Archivists and l’Association des archivistes du Québec. A French translation of the submission will be posted when it becomes available.

The submission was prepared by the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) Statutory Review Working Group - established to examine and address issues related to the Canadian archival community in the review of the Canadian Copyright Act, and the ongoing consultations instituted by the federal government. The Working Group is composed of: Nancy Marrelli, Chair; Jean Dryden, appointed by the Association of Canadian Archivists; Nancy Marrelli is also Interim representative of l’Association des archivistes du Québec.

The consultation submissions required responses to an online questionnaire, so the attached document replicates the questions and our responses. Some questions were not applicable to our community and they have been tagged as Not Applicable (NA)

Copyright and Generative AI Consultation
Questionnaire Responses from the Canadian Archival Community

January 14, 2024
Technical Evidence

The Government of Canada invites views on technical aspects of AI technologies, including on the following questions:

• How does your organization access and collect copyright-protected
content, and encode it in training datasets?

NA (not applicable)

• How does your organization use training datasets to develop AI
systems?

NA

• In your area of knowledge or organization, what measures are taken to
mitigate liability risks regarding AI-generated content infringing existing
copyright-protected works?

NA

• In your area of knowledge or organization, what is the involvement of
humans in the development of AI systems?

NA

• How do businesses and consumers use AI systems and AI-assisted and AI-
generated content in your area of knowledge, work, or organization?

The holdings in Libraries, Archives and Museums (LAMs) are a major source of documents for AI researchers in their development of training datasets for use in training AI models, particularly those datasets used to train large language models. Canadian archival holdings are a rich treasure trove of records in all formats that serve as the raw material for scholars, students, and ordinary citizens. Archival institutions have eagerly embraced the opportunities provided by the Internet to digitize and make our holdings available online. When digitized, traditional records can be mined for valuable historical information. For example, fur traders’ journals document decades of weather patterns, relations between indigenous people and settlers, and early commercial activities; and tax rolls record the names of residents, which are of great interest to family historians. In addition, archival institutions are acquiring born-digital records and research data
sets from their parent institutions and private donors.

Transparency and ensuring non-bias in training datasets is of concern to LAMs because of our public service mission. Although it may be onerous, it is very desirable to create the metadata to be able to identify and link the training datasets to the generative AI output created by the AI tool. This metadata will provide transparency and oversight to the users, and also for the creators and rightsholders whose works are used in the datasets in a non-consumptive way. Canadian LAMS are also beginning to use some of the emerging generative AI tools for their own purposes. Archives can use AI tools to generate basic metadata, transcriptions, and create important access points for all manner of digitized documents, thereby providing greatly improved access to our holdings for their researchers and the General Public. (See Pavis, Mathilde. Artificial Intelligence: a digital heritage leadership briefing, 2023 https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/about/insight/research/artificial-intelligence-digital-heritage-leadership-briefing.). Along with many other materials, Canadian archives include a large volume of orphan works (works for which the rights holder is unknown or unreachable) on a wide variety of topics and archivists and researchers would benefit greatly from more clarity on whether or not orphan works can be digitized to enable this kind of improved access. The newly created metadata that can be produced by generative AI will unlock access to the content of archival holdings that goes well beyond what is possible with the limited human resources currently available in archival institutions.

Recommendations:
• Provide clarity in the Copyright Act for the legal use of data for training
generative AI tools
• Require AI researchers and developers to ensure training datasets have
identifiable metadata that can be linked to generative AI output

Text and Data Mining

The Government of Canada invites views on whether any clarification is needed on how the copyright framework applies to text and data mining (TDM) activities, notably on how and when rights holders could or should be compensated for the use of copyright-protected content as inputs in the development of AI. Although all comments are welcomed, the Government is particularly interested in receiving feedback on the following questions:

• What would more clarity around copyright and TDM in Canada mean for
the AI industry and the creative industry?

NA

• Are TDM activities being conducted in Canada? Why or why not?

NA

• Are rights holders facing challenges in licensing their works for TDM
activities? If so, what is the nature and extent of those challenges?

NA

• What kind of copyright licenses for TDM activities are available, and do
these licenses meet the needs of those conducting TDM activities?

NA

• If the Government were to amend the Act to clarify the scope of
permissible TDM activities, what should be its scope and safeguards?

Libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs) are unlikely to be AI developers, so
LAMs don’t need an exception that permits them to use copies to train machines. LAMs are more likely to be asked to make copies of their holdings for AI developers upon request. If so, the fair dealing provision (s 29) of the Copyright Act (CA) may well serve, with some changes. The changes proposed below build upon provisions that are part of the balance between the rights of copyright owners and the interests of users already established within the CA. Before describing the proposed changes, it is important to note that provisions such as fair dealing and the exceptions for LAMs are fundamental to the balance inherent in a well-functioning copyright system. Canada’s approach to the challenges of AI must begin with established principles. The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has established that exceptions are not just loopholes, but users’ rights (CCH v LSUC 2004 SCC 13 para 48), and we steadfastly defend their presence (particularly the fair dealing provision) as a fundamental principle. Since fair dealing is not limited to particular user groups, rights, formats, or categories of
protected matter, everyone can benefit from it to access and use copyrighted material without authorization or payment, provided that the dealing is fair as determined by the SCC’s two-step test.

As beneficiaries of fair dealing, LAMs already can make copies upon request for the purpose of research. Provided that TDM is appropriately defined to be clear that it is included within a broad and liberal interpretation of research, making copies for TDM falls within one of the allowable purposes of fair dealing. That uncertainty would be clarified if the fair dealing provision were amended by adding TDM or computational data analysis to the list of authorized purposes, OR by making the purposes illustrative rather than exhaustive, i.e., “fair dealing for purposes such as research, private study, ...do not infringe copyright.” A further condition would require the LAM to inform the requester that the copies were provided for research only, that any further uses may require the permission of the rights holder, and that it is the responsibility of the requester to obtain any necessary permissions. Admittedly, the scope of fair dealing may have to be clarified through litigation, since the limited case law cited in the consultation paper does not address situations where the copied images were used to train a
machine.

Since users’ rights are fundamental to a balanced copyright system, constraining them through contractual agreements undermines the system. Thus, the Copyright Act must be amended to provide that any contractual provision contrary to the exceptions in the Act shall be unenforceable.

The proposed amendments would provide legal clarity for both LAMs and AI
developers by enabling LAMs to provide copies to AI developers to be used in the training of machine learning models.

Recommendations:
• Amend the fair dealing provision of the Copyright Act to provide that TDM lies within the scope of fair dealing.
• Amend the Copyright Act to provide that copyright exceptions cannot be
overridden by contract terms.

• What would be the expected impact of such an exception on your industry
and activities?

NA

• Should there be any obligations on AI developers to keep records of or
disclose what copyright-protected content was used in the training of AI
systems?

Having sufficient metadata that would identify and link the training datasets to the generative AI output created by the AI tool would be highly desirable.
Requiring AI developers to provide such metadata would provide transparency to the users of AI tools, and to the creators and rightsholders whose works are used in the datasets in a non-consumptive way. In order to ensure transparency and clarify rights issues, generative AI output should always be tagged as such.

Recommendation
• Require AI researchers and developers to ensure training datasets have
identifiable metadata that can be linked to generative AI output.
• Generative AI output should always be tagged as such.

What level of remuneration would be appropriate for the use of a given work in TDM activities?

NA

• Are there TDM approaches in other jurisdictions that could inform a
Canadian consideration of this issue?

The possibility of a more general exception to permit TDM falls outside the scope of the archival community’s direct interests. If, however, such an exception is needed, the provisions of Singapore’s Copyright Act pertaining to computational data analysis (sections 243-244) are well thought out in terms of scope and appropriate safeguards.

Its strengths are:
• Definition of “computational data analysis” (s. 243)
• Limited purpose (only Computational data analysis) (s. 244)(2)(a) & (b))
• Copy supplied/communicated to another only in very limited circumstances (s.244)(2)(c) & 244)(4))
• User must have lawful access to source materials (s. 244)(2)(d))
• Infringing source materials can be used subject to specific limited conditions (s.244)(2)(e))

Authorship and Ownership of Works Generated by AI

The Government of Canada invites views on how the copyright framework should apply to AI-assisted and AI-generated content. Although all comments are welcomed, the Government is particularly interested in receiving feedback on the following questions:

• Is the uncertainty surrounding authorship or ownership of AI-assisted and
AI-generated works and other subject matter impacting the development
and adoption of AI technologies? If so, how?

In Canada the basic principle is well established that copyright is automatic
for original creations that include human skill and judgment, as specified
in the Supreme Court decision (CCH Canadian Ltd. v. Law Society of Upper
Canada, 2004 SCC 13, para. 25). The output that results from the generative
AI mechanical process cannot meet this requirement for skill and
judgment and is therefore not protected by copyright. The humanly
created algorithm does meet the requirement and is protected by
copyright.

The current principle of not assigning copyright protection to generative AI
output does not at all appear to be limiting the rapid development and
adoption of AI technologies. The lack of certainty is, however, having a
profound effect on creators and how they view their future prospects from
both an economic and social standpoint.

• Should the Government propose any clarification or modification of the
copyright ownership and authorship regimes in light of AI-assisted or AI-
generated works? If so, how?

We believe that assigning full intellectual property rights to the output of
generative AI processes is inappropriate. LAMs have a long history of
advocating for clarity in the Copyright Act and we believe this issue must be
addressed in the legislation, to provide as much clarity as possible.
Even with the current constraints and uncertainties, AI is profoundly
disruptive in many ways, particularly to the creative communities. Assigning
copyright protection to AI output would very negatively affect the work of
creators and their contribution to society, resulting in a negative effect on
incentive to create. Extending copyright protection to AI output calls into
question the value we place on human creativity and expression.
AI processes can be programmed to create mass output that could quickly
monopolize the creative space, thereby disrupting in profound ways human
creative activity, the copyright balance, and the marketplace.

The rapid development and dissemination of AI has already created
considerable disruptions to the creator community, and these will continue
to be a major problem. Creators contest that the ingest of their works in
the creation of the AI training models without attribution, permission, or
financial compensation is a serious problem that will affect them in many
ways. But fair dealing and/or a TDM exemption would permit data mining
for research purposes of the millions or billions of documents in the data
sets used for training.

The prospect of directly compensating creators within the structure of the
Copyright Act raises many thorny problems. Copyright law should not be
used to address broad societal problems and challenges. However,
copyright law is not the only way that we can reward creators. We
recommend that the Government create a system outside the copyright
regime to reward and acknowledge creators for the part their work plays in
generative AI, such as a program in which AI developers are required to
contribute to a fund that will be plowed back into the creator community to
support a broad spectrum of Canadian creativity. (Other examples of this
type of scheme are Canada’s Public Lending Rights, Telefilm). The details of
how such a program would work would have to be carefully considered,
with input from the creator community, and the outcomes would have to
include mandatory contributions by those developing the training datasets,
and money paid out to the creator community. This would help redress the
balance between human creators and the potential dominance of large
corporate AI in the marketplace and the creation landscape. Such a
program would enhance Government efforts to ensure support for
Canadian creators and creative industries, while simultaneously fostering
Canadian AI competitiveness, innovation, and support for maintaining
overall access to Canadian creation, all of which are important public policy
objectives.

Recommendations:
• Amend the Copyright Act to maintain and clarify the basic principle that
copyright protects original creations that are the product of human skill and
judgment and that the mechanical generative AI output is in the public
domain, but the humanly created algorithm is protected by copyright.
• Create a system outside the copyright regime, that rewards and
acknowledges creators for the part their work plays in generative AI, whereby
generative AI developers are required to contribute to a fund that will be
plowed back into the creator community to support a broad spectrum of
Canadian creativity.

Are there approaches in other jurisdictions that could inform a Canadian
consideration of this issue?

With further study and careful consideration, it is possible to consider very
limited rights for AI outputs in particular circumstances, a variation of what
is sometimes referred to as “thin copyright”, such as the limited rights
sometimes accorded to databases. But these should be very limited in both
scope and duration.

Recommendation:
• Consider very limited rights for AI outputs in particular circumstances, a
variation of what is sometimes referred to as “thin copyright”.

Infringement and Liability regarding AI

The Government of Canada invites views on questions about copyright
infringement and liability raised by AI, particularly since there is a lack of evidence currently available in this regard. Although all comments are welcomed, the Government is particularly interested in receiving feedback on the following questions:

• Are there concerns about existing legal tests for demonstrating that an AI-
generated work infringes copyright (e.g., AI-generated works including
complete reproductions or a substantial part of the works that were used in
TDM, licensed or otherwise)?

NA

What are the barriers to determining whether an AI system accessed or
copied a specific copyright-protected content when generating an infringing
output?

At present, there is no requirement for AI developers to provide metadata that would identify and link the training datasets to the generative AI output created by the AI tool. Requiring AI developers to provide such metadata would assist in determining whether protected material had been copied when generating an infringing output, in addition to providing transparency to users of AI tools, and to the creators and rightsholders whose works are used in the datasets.

Recommendations
• Require AI researchers and developers to ensure training datasets have
identifiable metadata that can be linked to generative AI output.

• When commercialising AI applications, what measures are businesses taking to mitigate risks of liability for infringing AI-generated works?

NA

• Should there be greater clarity on where liability lies when AI-generated
works infringe existing copyright-protected works?

It is clear that there should be greater clarity on where liability lies when AI-
generated works infringe copyright-protected works. The current liabilities for copyright infringement should apply, but the issues will be clarified through litigation. Resolving the potential continuum of responsibility that arises with the actual situations in the litigation will be a more realistic approach, rather than rushing into a legislative solution that may have unintended consequences. The solutions must be consistent with the public policy issues discussed in other sections of this questionnaire

Recommendations
• Continue to apply current liability provisions and remedies for copyright
infringement.
• Resolve liability and remedies issues that arise with ongoing litigation, to be consistent with sound public policy

• Are there approaches in other jurisdictions that could inform a Canadian
consideration of this issue?

NA

“Rare Virtues & Most Ingenious Men: Benito Arias Montano, Christophe Plantin, and the Remarkable Emblem Book Humanae Salutis Monumenta.”

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 18:13:46 GMT

You are cordially invited to a free online lecture (9 February 2024 at 12 p.m. EST): “Rare Virtues & Most Ingenious Men: Benito Arias Montano, Christophe Plantin, and the Remarkable Emblem Book Humanae Salutis Monumenta.”

In 1568, the erudite priest and scholar Benito Arias Montano made the arduous journey from his homeland of Spain to the city of Antwerp to oversee the edition of the Polyglot Bible by the renowned press of Christophe Plantin. The two men struck up an ardent and enduring friendship while producing some of the most fascinating and historically significant texts of sixteenth-century Europe. McMaster University’s Archives and Research Collections holds several books resulting from this partnership, including two copies of Arias Montano’s Humanae Salutis Monumenta (Monuments of Human Salvation) — a lavishly illustrated emblem book with a complex publication history. Though both copies share the same title page, dated 1571, they are otherwise typographically and visually distinct. How can this be?

Join Ruth-Ellen St. Onge, McMaster’s Distinctive Collections Cataloguing Librarian, on an exploration of sixteenth-century emblem books, the friendship and working partnership of Arias Montano and Plantin, and the intricate and surprising differences between two copies of one book. This deep dive into the publishing history and physical features of Humanae Salutis Monumenta aims to provide fresh insights into a time of great crisis and intellectual ferment.

This lecture is hosted by McMaster University Library’s Archives Alive program in partnership with McMaster University Alumni.

Register using this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/7117029337060/WN_YJ6K3R2YStyLooXIzk7Eqw#/registration. Please feel free to share this invitation with other interested parties.

Best wishes,

Gillian

Gillian Dunks, M.A., M.A.S. (she/her)

Archives Arrangement & Description Librarian

President, McMaster University Academic Librarians’ Association

Archives and Research Collections

McMaster University

905-525-9140 x 23361

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations, and within the lands protected by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement.

DEADLINE EXTENDED - CFP for ACA Conference extended to January 19, 2024

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 17:27:25 GMT

The deadline for submissions for the 2024 ACA Virtual Conference has been extended to January 19, 2024, 11:59 PM MST.

Visit the site for more information on the conference.

A call for RCMP recordkeeping accountability in relation to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 19:20:38 GMT

As a part of a UBC iSchool course on Public Programming, students Harron Hall, Laura Dickson and Oluwatomilola Ojo wrote this compelling letter to the political powers that be, calling for RCMP recordkeeping accountability in relation to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. This call is in response to recommendations published in Forsaken: The Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, informally known as the “Wally Oppal” report, which focuses on the RCMP’s court challenge to allow for the destruction of evidence in the Robert Pickton case.

Please consider adding your name to the online petition linked at the end of this document.

December 7, 2023

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions

and Intergovernmental Affairs, Government of Canada

269 Laurier Avenue West

Ottawa ON K1A 0P8

Niki Sharma, Attorney General of British Columbia

Room 232 Parliament Buildings, Government of British Columbia

Victoria BC V8V 1X4

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General

British Columbia, Government of British Columbia

PO Box 9282 Stn Prov Govt

Victoria BC V8W 9J7

Mike Duheme, Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

RCMP National Headquarters

73 Leikin Drive

Ottawa ON K1A 0R2

Re: A call for RCMP recordkeeping accountability in relation to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people

We are a group of information professionals who are deeply concerned about the scarcity of sufficient, comprehensive records relating to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls shows that although it is likely that more than 1,000 Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people are missing or murdered, the exact number and the affected communities remain unknown.

The enduring colonial relationship between the justice system and Indigenous people is fraught with bias and discrimination. As a result, recordkeeping relating to these cases is insufficient and sometimes inaccurate—families often dispute the official conclusions of case files. This is especially clear in the Robert Pickton case, as families have advocated for co-conspirators to be charged and for Pickton to be charged with the remaining victims. Furthermore, inadequate record-keeping practices are outlined in the Forsaken: The Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, informally known as the “Wally Oppal” report. Commissioner Wally Oppal outlines that the lack of information systems hindered proper investigation. This caused a significant barrier to solving the cases sooner and enforcing justice.

The recent application submitted by the RCMP to dispose of roughly 14,000 exhibits relating to the Robert Pickton cases further demonstrates that recordkeeping and documentation around this issue are still not taken seriously. While we recognize the amount of resources needed to preserve the evidence, we also acknowledge that we are in an era of reconciliation, and it is past time to answer the recommendations outlined in the two inquiries, along with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. Moreover, this letter endorses the recent RCMP Destruction of Evidence “open letter.” Moreover, consistent with the National Inquiry’s Final Report calling for nationwide consistency in reporting mechanisms for missing Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people, we call on the RCMP to implement a strict, consistent, and comprehensive record-keeping policy for cases involving MMIWG2S+. This is imperative for justice, accountability, transparency, and truth and reconciliation. Furthermore, a database for existing records and new caseloads must be maintained. This database must be trauma-informed, Indigenous-led, and centered on impacted families.

Therefore, in upholding our commitment towards reconciliation as information professionals, we call on the RCMP and governments of BC and Canada to intervene and support the request to preserve evidence in the Pickton case. We endorse the following Calls to Action outlined in the RCMP Destruction of Evidence “open letter.”

1. Moratorium on Evidence Destruction: We call for an immediate end to the RCMP’s disposal (including dispersion or destruction) of evidence related to the Pickton case and for adequate resources to be allocated to ensure the integrity of this evidence is preserved to ensure a thorough investigation into the unsolved cases and prevent impunity for co-conspirators.

2. Legislative Review and Reform: We call for a review and reform of the legislative framework governing evidence disposition, particularly in unsolved cases involving Indigenous and marginalized women and girls. This review should aim to create a clear, consistent, and transparent national policy that aligns with Canada’s human rights obligations to prevent and remedy violence against women

3. Strengthening Accountability: Reinforce mechanisms of accountability within the RCMP and related judicial bodies to ensure that the handling of evidence always reflects the highest standards of investigation and respects the principles of reconciliation, human rights and equality.

4. Prioritize Resources Towards the Unsolved Missing Women’s Investigations: We call for the RCMP to exercise their due diligence by prioritizing adequate resources towards the investigations of the unsolved missing women’s cases related to Pickton to ensure that they are capable of leading to prosecutions and remedies for victims. This includes ensuring that all legal avenues are explored

Both the Wally Oppal and MMIW2S+ reports play a pivotal role in unveiling the pervasive issue of violence against Indigenous women and girls, providing a comprehensive understanding of the historical and systemic challenges they face. Ignoring the preservation and prioritization of information management and archival records within the justice system carries profound consequences. The primary risk lies in hindering transparency and perpetuating historical injustices. By neglecting this critical RCMP record, there is a danger of marginalizing the voices of Indigenous women and girls who have experienced violence, denying them the societal acknowledgement they deserve.

Additionally, the failure of the RCMP and the Government of Canada to prioritize the RCMP record undermines the efforts of Indigenous people in seeking information about their family members. This neglect erodes the potential for truth and reconciliation, hindering the healing process for affected communities and obstructing the path toward justice. As technology advances, there is an opportunity to identify the DNA of co-conspirators and charge Robert Pickton with the murder of the remaining victims.

Moreover, RCMP and the Government of Canada overlooking the proper documentation and keeping of this record will jeopardize the broader goal of addressing systemic issues, hindering progress toward a more equitable and just society. The consequences extend beyond the immediate implications for Indigenous communities, impacting the collective understanding of historical events and impeding the ability to learn from the past.

In essence, ignoring the significance of the calls to action identified places at stake the pursuit of transparency, justice, and the comprehensive recognition of the experiences of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. It diminishes the potential for societal healing and reconciliation, perpetuating a cycle of historical oversight and systemic neglect.

Sincerely,

Harron Hall

MAS student

University of British Columbia

EMAIL: hall29@ubc.student.ca

Laura Dickson

MLIS student, UBC

Oluwatomilola Ojo

MLIS Student, UBC

Enclosed:

Endorsers/Signatories - Re: A Call To Preserve Evidence In The Pickton Case (google.com)

Call for Submissions - ACA 2024 Virtual Conference

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 20:13:27 GMT

ACA 2024 Virtual Conference

Future-Proofing: Centring Care Now for Archives Tomorrow

Future-Proofing: Centring Care Now for Archives Tomorrow discusses designing systems and processes, and relationships that anticipate future needs of users, archivists, and society. What strategies and tools can archivists use to prepare for future challenges, known and unknown? What practices can archivists draw upon to support our resilience and that of our materials while we consider the still-developing challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Climate Crisis, and social and political conflict? Future-Proofing: Centring Care Now for Archives Tomorrow explores how we can proactively prepare our profession to ensure that archival organizations remain relevant to their communities, responsive to the evolving record-keeping landscape, and in accordance with professional ethics.

Location: Virtual/ Alberta

Dates: June 11 - 13, 2024
Format: Virtual

PROPOSALS DEADLINE:

Friday, January 5, 2024, 11:59 pm, MST

The 2024 ACA Program Team invites proposals that reflect on the theme of Future-Proofing: Centring Care Now for Archives Tomorrow.

Types of Proposals (All VIRTUAL):

Traditional Session: Presentation of research papers, case studies, and thought pieces. 20 minutes per speaker followed by a question period.
Panel Discussion: Presentation of research papers, case studies, and programs or projects. 10 minutes per speaker followed by a discussion period.
Roundtable: Presentations of programs, projects, and tools. 5 minutes per speaker with open discussion.
Focused Debate on Specific Topic: Brief presentations with debate to follow.
Sprint Session on Specific Challenge: Presentation of a challenge to registered group of participants. Timed exercise to brainstorm a solution to a problem.
Performance: Presentation of a short film, video, dance, song, or performance. 5-15 minutes. Discussion period.
Storytelling session
Workshops: Virtual interactive workshops using Zoom. 1.5 – 3 hrs in length. Participation can be limited to a specific number if necessary.
Other format: Please share your ideas!

Suggested Conference Topic Areas:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Archives

AI tools for archival processes (appraisal, arrangement & description, preservation, and access)
AI and Digital Curation for online archives
Ethical considerations of AI and Archives
Access, Privacy and AI
Increasing accessibility with AI
Trustworthiness of AI-generated records
Building competencies for new technologies, such as AI into archival education programs for students and professionals.
Indigenous perspectives and approaches to AI and Archives
Bias and representation in AI training data

Climate Crisis

Emergency & Disaster Preparedness
Wildfire Response & Case Studies
Climate Emergency Toolkit Creation
Conservation & Treatments for Archival Materials
Considering digital preservation through a Climate Change lens
Adapting appraisal and selection strategies to address Climate Change
Climate Activism and Archives
Building competencies for Climate Change adaptation into archival education programs for students and professionals
Indigenous perspectives and approaches to stewardship and Climate Crisis

Social and Political Conflict

Integrating trauma-informed practice into archival appraisal and selection
Trauma-informed Practices and Disaster Recovery
Trauma-informed Practices and Oral History during Crisis Events
Advocacy for adapting trauma-informed practices in Archives
Mis/dis information and recordkeeping during conflict
Human rights and Archives
Indigenous knowledge and archives as sites of conflict
Truth and Reconciliation strategies and case studies

While topics related to AI, Climate Crisis and Social & Political Conflict will be highlighted at the 2024 ACA Conference, the Program Team will consider proposals exploring other areas and encourage practitioners to submit proposals related to current actions to make archives more accessible and/or relevant in the future.

The Call for Student Papers and a Call for Posters will be announced in early 2024. Scholarships are available to students and are administered by the ACA Foundation.

Please feel free to direction questions to:

Jessica Bushey

Chair, ACA 2024 Conference Program Committee

Program Team Members

Jonathan Bowie

Linnet Chappelka

Sam Frederick

Emma Morros

Karen Ng

Lelland Reed

Corinne Rogers

Olivia White

Call for Proposals for Concordia University's Library Research Forum 2024 (Deadline: January 26, 2024)

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 14:19:37 GMT

La version française suit

Call for Proposals for Concordia University's Library Research Forum 2024 (Deadline: January 26, 2024)

Presentation and poster proposals are now being accepted for Concordia University's 22nd Library Research Forum. This year's Research Forum will be a two-day hybrid event, with presentations taking place virtually on Zoom on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, and presentations and posters taking place in person at Concordia University’s Loyola Campus on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

This year’s plenary speaker will be Aaron Johnson, Principal Investigator at Concordia’s Vision Lab and Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure in Concordia’s Faculty of Arts and Science, as well as Resident Researcher at the Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR), whose research in human vision spans a range of areas from low-level computational models of vision, to applied research in the fields of marketing, aviation, and low-vision rehabilitation.

Proposal deadline: January 26, 2024. For more details about the event and how to submit a proposal, visit: http://library.concordia.ca/about/staff/forum

Questions? Please contact the Forum Committee at lib-forum@concordia.ca

Library Research Forum Committee 2023-2024: Krista Alexander, Larry Deck (chair), Kate Ripley, Pat Riva, Ellen Wright

******************************************************************

Sujet : Appel à propositions pour le Forum de recherche de la Bibliothèque de l’Université Concordia 2024 (Date limite : le 26 janvier 2024)

Vous êtes invités à soumettre une proposition pour le 22^e Forum annuel de recherche de la Bibliothèque de l'Université Concordia. Le Forum de recherche de cette année aura lieu de façon hybride avec des présentations virtuelles sur Zoom mardi le 16 avril 2024, et des présentations et affiches sur place au Campus Loyola de l’Université Concordia mercredi le 17 avril 2024.

Cette année, notre conférencier invité est Aaron Johnson, chercheur principal au laboratoire de vision de Concordia et vice-doyen, recherche et infrastructures de la faculté des arts et des sciences de Concordia, ainsi que chercheur résident au Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR), dont les recherches sur la vision humaine incluent des modèles informatiques de bas niveau de la vision ainsi que la recherche appliquée dans les domaines du marketing, de l'aviation et de la réadaptation des personnes malvoyantes.

Date limite pour les propositions : le 26 janvier 2024. Pour plus de détails sur l'événement et sur la façon de soumettre une proposition, visitez : http://library.concordia.ca/about/staff/forum

Questions? Veuillez contacter le comité du forum au lib-forum@concordia.ca

Le comité organisateur du Forum sur la recherche en bibliothéconomie : Krista Alexander, Larry Deck (président du comité), Kate Ripley, Pat Riva, Ellen Wright

ACA Statement on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 20:20:47 GMT

Dec. 4, 2023

Dear ACA Members,

RE: ACA Statement on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Like you, the Board of the Association of Canadian Archivists has watched events unfold in Israel and Gaza over the past couple of months with very heavy hearts. We continue to witness, in disbelief and horror, the continued escalation of violence in the region, and we join our voices with all who condemn attacks on innocent men, women and children in both Israel and Palestine. The scale of destruction, the incalculable suffering, and loss of life has been horrendous. We extend our deepest sympathies to all who have been affected by these ongoing acts of violence and terror.

While it pales in comparison with the human costs of this conflict, we are also deeply concerned by the damage to, and destruction of cultural heritage institutions such as historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives. Recent media reports suggest over 100 cultural heritage sites have been damaged or destroyed in air assaults, resulting in the destruction of invaluable tangible and intangible heritage including archival records documenting the histories of Palestine and the Palestinian people. In fact, at the time of writing, it was our understanding that memory-building institutions such as the Central Archives of Gaza City along with culture centres, theatres, and libraries had been heavily damaged if not outright destroyed. Equally distressing is the loss of essential utility infrastructure such as communication and internet, which Gaza residents and humanitarian aid organizations rely on to ensure their safety and the safety of others. 

Since the catalytic events of October 7, we have also borne witness to the appalling rise in antisemitic- and Islamophobic-fuelled violence against members of Jewish and Muslim populations around the world, Canada included. Make no mistake: the Association of Canadian Archivists unequivocally condemns any hate-motivated actions. Targeting individuals and communities with violence and intimidation due to the actions of government is reprehensible and must stop.

The Association recognizes that geography limits our capacity to help those directly affected by this violence at this time. We also understand that our members may, and likely do, hold vastly different perspectives and beliefs on this situation. However, we are united not only by our common humanity but also through our professional commitment to preservation and access and together we stand opposed to violence and ongoing destruction of documentary heritage.  

We know that the suffering caused through this conflict transcends borders, and many in our communities have been affected. To this end, the Association encourages our members to consider engaging in any, or all, of the personal and professional actions listed below to help those at home and abroad during these troubling times.

Personal Action

Consider contributing financially to one of the following aid organizations:

Professional Action

Consider implementing an archival assessment project to reveal the gaps in your holdings which may omit the voices of often marginalized communities, such as Palestinian/Islamic-Canadians and Jewish-Canadians. Consider working with these communities to correct this omission.

If you have archival materials documenting the experiences of Palestinian/Islamic-Canadians and/or Jewish-Canadians, consider making such materials more visible to enable and encourage ongoing education, and cross-cultural dialogue about cultures, beliefs, and histories.

Consider ways through which your institution, or yourself could support the ongoing work of community-centric archives including, but not limited to:

We encourage our members to consider doing what they can, both in accordance with their capacity and their means, to support international aid organizations convey necessities for life to those in greatest need, and to protect and support the cultural heritage of those diasporic communities within Canada currently so affected by the ongoing conflict.

No matter your religious or atheistic proclivity, please join us in united invocation calling for the swift and permanent cessation of hostilities, and for the health and safety of those currently in danger. 

With deepest respect, 

The Board of Directors for the Association of Canadian Archivists

Young Canada Works 2024-2025 has launched!

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 14:27:49 GMT

The Young Canada Works 2024-2025 campaign has launched!

The Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) is pleased to announce that the 2024-2025 campaign for the Young Canada Works (YCW) program for heritage organizations has launched. This program is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH), supporting the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

All archival institutions, as well as libraries operating in English, can now apply online for short-term jobs for students (YCW in Heritage Organizations), and internships for graduates (YCW at Building Careers in Heritage) via the official YCW website (https://young-canada-works.canada.ca/Account/Login ).

Deadline

The application deadline for short-term student jobs (HO) and internships (BCH) is January 19, 2024.

Government Priorities

The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening diversity and inclusion in youth employment.

It is important to note the government priorities for 2024-2025.

Please note that the application assessment process will take into account the following priorities:

* Indigenous employers (eligible projects);

* projects aimed at Indigenous participants (Indigenous or non-Indigenous employer - youth who self-identifies as First Nations, Inuit, Métis and/or urban or non-affiliated Indigenous youth.);

* projects focusing on Indigenous cultural heritage (Indigenous or a non-Indigenous employer); and

* hiring youth that are part of equity-deserving groups (https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/young-canada-works/glossary.html#a7 ).

If you have already submitted your application and would like to make changes based on these government priorities, please contact us so that we can unlock your application promptly.

Please visit CCA’s website (https://archivescanada.ca/young-canada-works/ ) for more information.

If you have any questions concerning your application in the archival field, do not hesitate to contact Louise Charlebois at ycw_jct@archivescanada.ca.

If you have any questions concerning your application as a library operating in English, do not hesitate to contact Kathleen Pond at ycw-cla@archivescanada.ca

*-*-*

La campagne Jeunesse Canada au travail 2024-2025 est lancée!

Le Conseil canadien des archives (CCA) est heureux d'annoncer que la campagne 2024-2025 du programme Jeunesse Canada au travail (JCT) pour les organismes du patrimoine est maintenant lancée. Ce programme est financé par le ministère du Patrimoine canadien (PCH) et appuie la Stratégie emploi et compétences jeunesse du Canada.

Tous les services d'archives, ainsi que les bibliothèques œuvrant en anglais, peuvent compléter leurs demandes en ligne pour des projets d’emplois étudiants à court terme (JCT dans les établissements du patrimoine) ainsi que pour des stages pour les diplômés (JCT pour une carrière vouée au patrimoine) sur le site officiel JCT (https://jeunesse-canada-travail.canada.ca/Account/Login ).

Date limite

La date limite pour la soumission de vos demandes pour les emplois étudiants à court terme et pour les stages est le 19 janvier 2024.

Les priorités du gouvernement

Le gouvernement du Canada s’engage à renforcer la diversité et l’inclusion au sein de l’emploi jeunesse.

Il est important de prendre note des priorités du gouvernement pour le cycle 2023-2024.

Veuillez noter que le processus d'évaluation prendra en compte les priorités suivantes :

* les employeurs autochtones (projets admissibles);

* les projets qui visent des participants autochtones (employeur autochtone ou non-autochtone - Les jeunes qui s’identifient comme membres des Premières Nations, Inuit, Métis et/ou autochtones vivant en milieu urbain ou non affiliés.);

* les projets axés sur le patrimoine culturel autochtone (employeur autochtone ou non-autochtone); et

* l’embauche de jeunes appartenant à des groupes méritant l’équité (https://www.canada.ca/fr/patrimoine-canadien/services/financement/jeunesse-canada-travail/glossaire.html#a14 ).

Si vous avez déjà soumis votre demande et vous souhaitez apporter des modifications en fonction de ces priorités gouvernementales, veuillez nous contacter afin que nous puissions déverrouiller votre demande rapidement.

Nous vous invitons à visiter notre site (https://archivescanada.ca/fr/jeunesse-canada-au-travail/ ) pour plus d'information.

Si vous avez des questions concernant votre demande dans le domaine archivistique, n'hésitez pas à communiquer avec Louise Charlebois à l’adresse ycw_jct@archivescanada.ca.

Giving Tuesday - November 28th

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 17:27:19 GMT

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the biggest shopping days of the year. Giving Tuesday was created to get away from the rampant consumerism and provide a moment to give back through acts of generosity. This Giving Tuesday we are asking for your support.

The Association for Canadian Archivists Foundation is the charitable arm of the Association of Canadian Archivists. It raises and grants funds supporting the educational and research needs of the Canadian archival profession.

We are looking for donations (small and large) to the Foundation to advance education by providing publicly available scholarships, bursaries, and other forms of financial assistance to post-secondary students, graduates and professionals to be used for education

All money raised will go towards the ACAF Scholarship Endowment Fund was established in 2010 to produce a long-term income stream for the provision of scholarships to archival studies students, and thus support the Canadian archival profession.

Donations are tax deductible.

Thank you for your support!

MASIS - meet-up planning

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 17:26:04 GMT

While the MASIS group has been quiet we have still been holding meetings and events and we would like to take this opportunity to invite you to let the co-Chairs know what types of or topics for meetings would encourage you to participate in future MASIS virtual meet-ups.

Topics and ideas for future meeting that were discussed at our Fall get together included:

Where does your archive live in your organization (i.e. as a part of corporate services, Information Services, Clerk’s division, etc.) and how that helps and / or provides challenges for you,
Origin stories of how your municipal archives program came to exist,
What are you equipment needs and how easy / what are the challenges to getting what you need,
Archive Access vs Privacy,
Digital archiving,
Larger municipality issues and concerns vs small municipal archive issues and concerns,
Government accessions vs. private,
What supports do you get and where are they lacking, and
Friends of societies

If folks have other ideas or some topic ideas listed resonate more than others we encourage you to email either Jamie Sanford (MASIS.Chair1@archivists.ca) or Angela Fornelli (MASIS.Chair2@archivists.ca) to let us know.

We are hoping to schedule our next meeting for late January or early February and hold meetings every four months (for a total of 3 a year). Meetings will include a one minute update for all attendees, doodle polls to past participants on meeting dates, and hopefully lots of laughs and support.

Have a say in the MASIS group by reaching out to one or both of the MASIS co-Chairs.

Thank you,

Jamie & Angela

ACA 2024 Conference Host Team – Volunteers Needed

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 13:46:35 GMT

The ACA 2024 Virtual Conference will be “hosted” by Alberta, and we need volunteers for the Host Team! What does the Host Team do? Well, we’re the team responsible for planning and coordinating those fun social activities that conference participants love to do.

We are looking for ACA members at any stage in their career and from all backgrounds to help us plan some engaging, virtual activities. Please sign up using the ACA Volunteer Form.

Interested, but not sure if you want to commit or just looking for more information? Just email Anna Gibson Hollow at Host.Team@archivists.ca.

Open Letter in Support of the Region of Peel Archives & the Archives Association of Ontario

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 17:51:05 GMT

12 October 2023

In May 2023 the Province of Ontario announced plans to break up the Region of Peel (Peel Region) into its three constitutive municipalities: Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon by January 1, 2025. Times of change and transition can endanger archives; however, in the wake of the Province’s decision to dissolve the Peel Region, we have observed rhetoric regarding the Peel Archives that has concerned the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) and members of our professional community. Accordingly, we are writing today to update our members about some of the issues we and the Archives Association of Ontario (AAO) are keeping an eye on.

The ACA extends its support of the letter released by our colleagues at AAO and call for the protection of the Peel Archives throughout the process of dissolving the Peel Region. Following on the announcement to dissolve the Peel Region, a five-member board was appointed by the Province to provide recommendations for a dissolution process that "respects taxpayers and protects existing services.” We support the AAO’s call for this board to consider the crucial role that the Region of Peel Archives plays in not only safeguarding the Peel Region’s municipal records, but also in preserving the historical and cultural memory of the Peel Region. We affirm that plans for the dissolution of the Peel Region be made with concern and care for the archival records of its communities and citizens. Furthermore, we stress that any decision about the Peel Archives be made in close consultation with professional archives staff with knowledge of the unique records of the Peel Archives.

Although the plans to dissolve the Peel Region are largely unclear at this time, any plans that impact the Peel Archives must be made in consultation with archivists who can advise on the best course of action for the archival records of the region. Archivists are highly trained professionals, with a unique understanding of the importance of records and the challenges inherent in their preservation. It is essential to the successful dissolution of the Peel Region that its archival staff be consulted on decisions regarding the Peel Archives. Finally, the ACA recognizes the unique importance of the Peel Archives to the archival heritage of the Peel Region and urges the consideration of these recommendations as the plans to dissolve the Region are made in the coming year.

As the calendar moves towards the Province’s deadline, the ACA will collaborate on matters with the AAO where we believe we can provide assistance and support. The ACA recognizes and values the AAO’s expertise and for matters related to Ontario archives, and will lend support where requested, particularly where an impact can be made nationally.

Yours in archival solidarity,

Erica Hernández-Read, President

On behalf of the Association of Canadian Archivists Board of Directors

2023 Dodds Prize - Al Cunningham Rogers

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 13:42:17 GMT

I am pleased to announce that Al Cunningham Rogers has been awarded the 2023 Dodds Prize for their paper "Theoretical Approaches to the Appraisal of Graffiti Ephemera: A Toronto Case Study.”

Al will graduate from the University of Toronto this spring, and their paper was submitted by Fiorella Foscarini. During their time at UofT, Al has been working with Dr. Shana Almeida at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) as a research assistant on a SSHRC funded project considering race, racism, and governance strategies in Toronto. They have recently accepted a position at Scholar’s Portal to assist with digital preservation.

Instituted in 2011, the Dodds Prize recognizes superior research and writing on an archival topic by a student enrolled in a Master's level archival studies program at a Canadian university. The award honours Gordon Dodds (1941–2010), first President of the ACA, and Archivaria's longest-serving general editor. Submissions received for the 2022-23 academic year were reviewed by adjudication committee members Amy Marshall Furness, Brett Lougheed, Alexandra Mills, and Heather Home. I thank the committee for their service.

Al’s paper will be published in the Spring 2024 issue of Archivaria. The citation reads:

Written in a concise, energetic, and persuasive tone, Al Cunningham Rogers’ paper Theoretical Approaches to the Appraisal of Graffiti Ephemera: A Toronto Case Study does an excellent job of establishing a conceptual model for understanding the function(s) of graffiti—an inherently ephemeral, evolving, and transitory record. Borrowing from scholarship on the affective impacts of archives in the creation of an archives of feelings, particularly feminist theory and Althusser’s subject interpolation theory of call and response, Rogers skilfully makes use of close reading for a number of examples of anonymous, marginal graffiti to provide a framework for the appraisal and selection of exemplars of graffiti for an archive of everyday life.

Congratulations, Al, on your excellent work.

Rebecka Taves Sheffield

Managing Editor

Archivaria

Invitation to in-person showcase and curator's talk, McMaster Mills Memorial Library

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 12:57:24 GMT

You are cordially invited to a free in-person showcase and curators’ talk at McMaster’s Mills Memorial Library (5 October 2023, 4:30 p.m. EST): “Wherein She Plainly Shews”: Women of the Printing Trades in the Hand-Press Era.

The centuries following the advent of the printing press in Europe were characterised by an overwhelmingly male print industry. Guild rules, social norms, and financial pressures conspired to keep women out of the printing workforce. In spite of these obstacles, many thousands of women were involved in the printing business, with some rising to own and operate their own presses.

Please join Ruth-Ellen St. Onge, Distinctive Collections Cataloguing Librarian, and Myron Groover, Archives and Rare Books Librarian, for an exploration of women working in the printing trades and the output of woman-owned presses – including those of Mary Clark, Elinor James, Anne Dodd, Sarah Harding, Sarah Cotter, la veuve Mazières, and the completely woman-operated École Typographique des Femmes established under French Revolutionary auspices in 1791.

This showcase event is part of McMaster University Library’s theme year, “Transformative Stories: Year of Gender and Justice.” McMaster Library’s biannual “Year of” celebrations highlight the Library’s unique collections, resource, and expertise.

Register for this event using this link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/women-of-the-printing-trades-in-the-hand-press-era-tickets-695509596927?aff=oddtdtcreator. Please feel free to share this invitation with other interested parties.

Nominations and Awards Committee (NAAC) Volunteers Needed

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 18:29:24 GMT

Nominations and Awards Committee (NAAC) Volunteers Needed!

The ACA is looking for volunteers for the Nominations and Awards Committee to be a part of the process to recognize and celebrate ACA members.

The mandate of NAAC is to manage the ACA Honours and Awards program as well as to support the succession of qualified members to serve on the ACA Board of Directors and it's committees by facilitating the transparent search, nomination, and election process.

If this sounds like something that would be of interest and if you are an ACA member in good standing please contact Angela Fornelli, Vice President of the ACA (vicepresident@archivists.ca) or fill out the ACA Volunteer form here!

PUBLIC RELEASE OF THE 2021 REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA SURVEY OF HERITAGE INSTITUTIONS

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 20:03:48 GMT

(le message en français suit)

The Department of Canadian Heritage is pleased to announce the release of the 2021 report on the Government of Canada Survey of Heritage Institutions (GCSHI), which collected financial and operating information for the 2020 data year on not-for-profit heritage institutions, including museums, art galleries, archives, historic sites, zoos and botanical gardens. The 2021 survey recorded the initial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health measures which forced the temporary closure of heritage organizations across the country.

The Department would like to thank all heritage institutions who responded to the 2021 survey. Your input contributed to making the survey a success.

Please take a moment to discover some of the latest results from the 2021 GCSHI report: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/corporate/publications/general-publications/about-survey-heritage-institutions.html

Highlights from the survey include…

○ 87% of all museums and other heritage institutions in Canada were temporarily forced to close their doors due to COVID-19 public health measures in 2020. On average, heritage institutions reported having to remain closed for approximately 5 months.

○ Temporary closures and social distancing restrictions during 2020 meant that heritage institutions saw fewer visitors come through their doors. There were only 16.9 million visits in 2020, a substantial decrease of nearly 79% from the 79 million visits in 2017.

○ Temporary closures due to public health measures in 2020 meant that heritage institutions were not able to generate as much income from earned revenue sources as in previous years. Earned revenue accounted for approximately $593 million (24%) of total revenue for all heritage institutions in 2020; a decrease of nearly $276 million or 32% from 2017.

○ All three levels of government increased spending toward the heritage sector in 2020 to $1.5 billion collectively: an increase of nearly $170 million (13%) from 2017. The federal government provided the bulk of this increase, contributing over $131 million or 77% of this new temporary spending through pandemic support measures (approximately 70% of all heritage institutions indicated that they had received financial support).

○ Overall, approximately 28% of organizations indicated that they had laid off paid staff at some point in 2020.

- Employment in the heritage sector was negatively affected throughout the height of the pandemic, employing just 32,150 people during 2020, a decrease of nearly 14% (down approximately 5,070 jobs) from 2017 when employment figures reached over 37,200.

○ The heritage sector is heavily dependant on volunteers. In fact, approximately 20% of organizations are solely run by volunteers. 2020 saw a substantial decrease in volunteers (down 51% to 56,000 volunteers), and volunteer hours (down 61% to 3.6 million hours) from 2017. This the equivalent loss of 1,823 full-time positions.

○ Online virtual visits to heritage institutions experienced a less severe decrease than overall physical visits during the pandemic. There were over 161 million online visits overall throughout 2020, a decrease of approximately 36% from pre-pandemic levels (254 million online visits).

○ During the pandemic heritage institutions concentrated their efforts towards enhancing their digital activities, thus increasing online access to their archival records, artefacts, programing, retail, etc. Approximately two thirds of heritage institutions (68%) had indicated they enhanced their overall digital activities in 2020.

- 56% of institutions said they increased/introduced social media.

- 40% said they increased/introduced online public programing.

- 36% worked towards digitizing their collections (i.e., artefacts or archives).

- 35% improved/cleaned existing collections records (i.e., data quality/accuracy on collections)

- 33% of all institutions increased/introduced online public access to digitized holdings or exhibitions.

- 24% enhanced digital preservation activities (i.e., maintain hard drives, etc.).

Thank you

Erica Hernandez-Read

President

Association of Canadian Archivists

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

** DIFFUSION PUBLIQUE DU RAPPORT 2021 DE L’ENQUÊTE DU GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADA SUR LES ESTABLISSEMENTS DUE PATRIMOINE **

Le ministère du Patrimoine canadien est heureux d'annoncer la publication du rapport de 2021 de l’Enquête du gouvernement du Canada sur les établissements du patrimoine (EGCÉP), qui a recueilli des renseignements financièrs et opérationnels pour l'année de données 2020 sur les établissements du patrimoine à but non lucratif, y compris les musées, les musées d'art, les archives, les sites historiques, les zoos et les jardins botaniques. L'enquête de 2021 a enregistré les premiers effets de la pandémie de COVID-19 et les mesures de santé publique associées qui ont contraint à la fermeture temporaire des organisations du patrimoine dans tout le pays.

Le Ministère aimerait remercier tous les établissements du patrimoine qui ont répondu à l'enquête de 2021. Votre contribution a contribué au succès du sondage.

Prenez un moment pour découvrir quelques-uns des résultats du rapport 2021 de l'EGCEP : https://www.canada.ca/fr/patrimoine-canadien/organisation/publications/publications-generales/enquete-etablissements-patrimoine.html .

Quelques faits saillants de l'enquête :

○ 87 % de tous les musées et autres établissements du patrimoine au Canada ont été temporairement contraints à fermer leurs portes en raison des mesures de santé publiques liées au COVID-19 en 2020. En moyenne, les institutions du patrimoine ont déclaré avoir dû demeurer fermées pendant environ 5 mois.

○ Les fermetures temporaires et les restrictions de distanciation sociale au cours de l'année 2020 ont fait que les institutions du patrimoine ont vu moins de visiteurs franchir leurs portes. Il n'y a eu que 16,9 millions de visites en 2020, soit une baisse substantielle de près de 79 % par rapport aux 79 millions de visites en 2017.

○ Les fermetures temporaires dues aux mesures de santé publique en 2020 ont fait que les institutions du patrimoine n'ont pas été en mesure de générer autant de recettes à partir des sources de revenus gagnés que les années précédentes. Les revenus gagnés ont représenté environ 593 millions de dollars (24 %) des revenus totaux de toutes les institutions du patrimoine en 2020 ; une diminution de près de 276 millions de dollars ou 32 % par rapport à 2017.

○ Les trois ordres de gouvernement ont augmenté leurs dépenses envers le secteur du patrimoine en 2020 pour atteindre 1,5 milliard de dollars collectivement : une augmentation de près de 170 millions de dollars (13 %) par rapport à 2017. Le gouvernement fédéral a fourni la majeure partie de cette augmentation, contribuant plus de 131 millions de dollars, soit 77 % de ces nouvelles dépenses temporaires, par le biais de mesures de soutien en cas de pandémie (environ 70 % de tous les établissements du patrimoine ont indiqué qu'ils avaient reçu un soutien financier).

○ Dans l'ensemble, environ 28 % des organisations ont indiqué qu'elles avaient licencié du personnel rémunéré à un moment donné en 2020.

- L'emploi dans le secteur du patrimoine a été affecté négativement pendant toute la durée de la pandémie, employant seulement 32 150 personnes au cours de l'année 2020, soit une diminution de près de 14 % (environ 5 070 emplois en moins) par rapport à 2017, année où les chiffres de l'emploi atteignaient plus de 37 200.

○ Le secteur du patrimoine dépend fortement des bénévoles. En fait, environ 20 % des organisations sont uniquement gérées par des bénévoles. L'année 2020 a connu une baisse substantielle du nombre de bénévoles (de 51 % à 56 000 bénévoles) et des heures de bénévolat (de 61 % à 3,6 millions d'heures) par rapport à 2017. Cela équivaut à la perte de 1 823 postes à temps plein.

○ Les visites virtuelles en ligne des institutions du patrimoine ont connu une baisse moins significative que l'ensemble des visites physiques pendant la pandémie. Il y a eu plus de 161 millions de visites en ligne dans l'ensemble tout au long de 2020, soit une baisse d'environ 36 % par rapport aux niveaux d'avant la pandémie (254 millions de visites en ligne).

○ Pendant la pandémie, les institutions du patrimoine ont concentré leurs efforts sur l'amélioration de leurs activités numériques, augmentant ainsi l'accès en ligne à leurs documents d'archives, artefacts, programmation, vente au détail, etc. Environ deux tiers des institutions patrimoniales (68 %) avaient indiqué avoir renforcé l'ensemble de leurs activités numériques en 2020.

- 56% des institutions ont déclaré avoir augmenté/introduit les médias sociaux.

- 40 % ont déclaré avoir augmenté/introduit la programmation publique en ligne.

- 36 % ont travaillé à la numérisation de leurs collections (c'est-à-dire des artefacts ou des archives).

- 35 % ont amélioré/nettoyé les dossiers des collections existantes (qualité/exactitude des données sur les collections).

- 33% de toutes les institutions ont augmenté/introduit l'accès public en ligne aux fonds numérisés ou aux expositions.

- 24 % ont amélioré les activités de conservation numérique (entretien des disques durs, etc.).

Merci

Erica Hernandez-Read, Présidente

Association of Canadian Archivists

Notification of the Ancestry Grant Program 2023 (Canada) Deadline to apply: end of August 2023

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 16:01:54 GMT

Notification of the Ancestry Grant Program 2023
(Canada)

During 2023, Ancestry is offering a series of grants to support the family history & archival community within Canada.

2 x Gold Grants up to the value of $100,000 CAD for digitization services to be awarded within Canada to assist with digitization within the archival & family history community. Also included is five years of free Ancestry access. The individual grants have a maximum value of $100,000 CAD but can also cover works of any lesser amount up to that total figure. The grant will be for imaging of records only, meaning that the services provided are for scanning of paper or microform collections.
2 x Silver Grants up to the value of $25,000 CAD for digitization services to be awarded within Canada to assist with digitization within the archival & family history community. Also included is five years of free Ancestry access. The individual grants have a maximum value of $25,000 CAD but can also cover works of any lesser amount up to that total figure. The grant will be for imaging of records only, meaning that the services provided are for scanning of paper or microform collections.
1 x Bronze Grant up to the value of $15,000 CAD for digitization services to be awarded within Canada to assist with digitization within the archival & family history community. Also included is five years of free Ancestry access. The individual grant has a maximum value of $15,000 CAD but can also cover works of any lesser amount up to that total figure. The grant will be for imaging of records only, meaning that the services provided are for scanning of paper or microform collections. The Bronze Grant can also be used for philanthropic causes that may not align to typical family history digitization.

The grant submission period will begin on 3 July 2023, and your submissions are encouraged. The submission period will remain open until the end of August 2023.

Application Ancestry Digitization Grant Program 2023 (Canada) 12062023.docx

Contract Ancestry Digitization Grant Program 2023 (Canada) AC 12062023.docx

Please find some initial Q&A below:

Q: How do I apply?
A: For now, simply review the documentation and ensure you agree to the terms contained within. If so, please send an email to Jared Akenhead - jakenhead@ancestry.com - containing information on the collection / content you wish to see digitised – the more information the better but as a minimum:

Collection Name(s)
Date Range
Record Count / Image Count
Existing Format (i.e., paper, volumes, microfiche)

Q: If my submission is successful, does Ancestry take ownership of the records I’ve put forward?
A: No. Ownership of the original records and the intellectual property rights in them will remain with the organisation or entity providing the records. However, it’s important that you do have the necessary rights to share the records being submitted.

Q: Will I get a copy of the digital images created by Ancestry?
A: You will be provided with a digital preservation copy of all images taken from the original records.

Q: Who will own the digital images?
A: Within this program, we seek to create an easy, rewarding opportunity for the archival community to achieve their digistation goals and therefore recognise that obtaining ownership of the digital assets forms an important part of those goals. The provider will receive ownership of the digital images.

Q: What’s in it for Ancestry?
A: You will retain the ownership of the originals and the digital images. Ancestry simply asks that you agree to allow us to publish the images in perpetuity & that you will not share those digital images outside the organisation for a period of 5 years.

Q: What records will help me be successful in securing a grant?
A: Ancestry’s focus is Family History. Therefore, records that are relevant to that endeavour are the most appropriate for this program. Ideally rich on details at an individual level – the records would cover a collection of individuals in some aspect and will therefore include information such as, but not limited to;

Name
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Location
Occupation
Relations
And so on...

Q: How do you select the successful applications?
A: Grant winners will be selected completely at the discretion of Ancestry – however, making sure the records fit the guide above will ensure you have the best possible chance for success.

Q: I’m from a small historical society – can I still apply?
A: Yes, you can apply for any of the grants.

ACA Foundation - Items Available for Sale Online

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 19:28:17 GMT

The ACA Foundation is so excited to announce that we have begun selling merchandise!

If you would like to purchase any of these items, you can order online and pick-up at the conference registration desk!

The link to items is here: ACA Foundation - Fundraiser

All proceeds go to support the ACA Foundation. Thank you!

Joint Announcement - ACA - CCA Jo McCutcheon

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 21:14:10 GMT

ACA ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear archival colleagues,

Please join me in congratulating our lovely Jo McCutcheon on her successful appointment to the position of Executive Director for the Canadian Council of Archives!

Jo, who has been with the ACA since 2017, has been a tour de force. Her wise and measured council, her calmness in the face of "occasional" chaos, and her staunch professional manner will indeed be missed. Though her absence in our association will be felt, her continued involvement with our amazing community through the CCA will serve to solidify and amplify her contributions to our profession.

Jo's official last day will be July 31, 2023 however, both she and the CCA Executive are committed to supporting the successful transition of a new hire into the position of ACA Executive Director. As such Jo will be on hand as needed to train and guide the incumbent during their first few weeks in office. That being said, we do ask for your patience and understanding during this transition period as activities and communications between our Secretariat and our members may be somewhat slower than you have come to expect in the past. Should you have any questions or concerns about this move, or any temporary disruptions in service that may arise, please don't hesitate to email Erica Hernandez-Read (ACA President) at acapresident@archivists.ca .

Erica Hernandez-Read, President

Association of Canadian Archivists

**********************************

CCA ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear colleagues,

On behalf of the CCA Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jo McCutcheon as Executive Director for the Canadian Council of Archives.

For more than five years, in her current role as Executive Director of the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) Jo has had the opportunity to work with the CCA and board members.

Jo will bring to the CCA a combination of enthusiasm, energy, and expertise that will serve to solidify and amplify our profession and our amazing archival community. In her new mandate, Jo will ensure strong communication and maintain relationships among community members, partners, and stakeholders as we work collaboratively and efficiently to advance common goals and interests.

Jo's official first day at CCA will be August 1, 2023. The CCA and the ACA are both committed to ensuring a smooth and successful transition. To that end, as the new Executive Director of CCA, Jo will support and guide the new ACA incumbent during their first few weeks in office.

The CCA is excited to welcome Jo at this transformational moment in our history. Please join us in congratulating her on her new role as CCA's Executive Director.

Should you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to email Yves Lapointe (CCA Chair) at

(president-chair@archivescanada.ca)

Yves Lapointe, Chair

Canadian Council of Archives

**********************************

MESSAGE FROM JO McCUTCHEON

As has been noted by both Yves and Erica, I will be leaving the ACA this summer, but I will continue to work with community members in the new role as Executive Director of the CCA. The decision to leave the ACA was very difficult as I truly love the work that I have been doing for almost six years and I love working with the most amazing volunteers from across the land. I am very thankful to the past board members that I was able to work with since 2017, the many committee members and committee chairs, and the many volunteers who have made the annual conferences possible, and all of the new ways we reach out to members and the larger community of archivists and record keepers. I am also very thankful to Maureen Tracey, Membership Services Coordinator who shared her knowledge and expertise with me and the ACA Board.

I am committed to supporting the ACA Board of Directors as we transition and to supporting the incoming Executive Director as they embark on their work with the Association.

I look forward to continuing to work with many of you in my new role and thank all who have supported the work of the Association. I feel very thankful to be part of such a generous and kind professional association.

Jo McCutcheon

Request to complete a survey - stress and its impacts on digital preservationists in Canada

Tue, 30 May 2023 12:14:38 GMT

If you work in a Canadian memory institution and view your role as being at least partially responsible for the digital preservation of born-digital materials in the holdings of your institution, then you are invited to participate in this research study about stress and its impacts on digital preservationists in Canada. All digital preservationists in Canadian memory institutions are invited to participate.

If you consent to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete an online survey that is expected to take approximately 30 minutes. The survey closes on June 30, 2023.

The survey questionnaire includes questions about stressors related to the components of your digital preservation program; stress related to your use of technology; the impacts of your role as a digital preservationist on your stress and anxiety levels; your satisfaction with your job; your susceptibility to burnout; and your perceptions of your levels of generalized stress and anxiety. You will also be asked to identify your mood and any symptoms related to anxiety and/or depression that may have recently resulted from the stress of your work. There will also be questions pertaining to your age, gender, employment, and working conditions. The questionnaire includes both close-ended and open-ended questions. All questions are optional, and you can leave the survey at any time.

The letter of information about the research study is attached.

Letter of Information and Consent.pdf

If you choose to participate in this study, please click on the link below to access the online survey:https://uwinnipeg.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6R01m6pG78JHTG6.

Your participation would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Brett Lougheed

University Archivist/Digital Curator

Director, Oral History Centre

P 204.786.9914; C 204.396.6257

Treaty 1 Territory and the Home of the Metis Nation

515 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
R3B 2E9

archives.uwinnipeg.ca

oralhistorycentre.ca

ACA Foundation - Online and In Person Auction and Fundraiser - Call for Donations

Tue, 23 May 2023 19:05:47 GMT

Are you, or someone you know, a Crafter, a Maker, Artist or an Author? Do you have a favourite local item that you wish to contribute to a self-care basket - maybe a favourite local honey, jam, or other preserve? Do you have a favourite local artist or photographer or print from your collection that you wish to donate?

If so - the Association of Canadian Archivists Foundation (ACAF) needs your inspired creations and/or your creative connections!

We are looking for donations of creative works towards our silent online auction which will take place during the ACA's 48th Annual Conference -Belonging- Considering archival bonds and disconnects.

You don't need to be an ACA member to contribute, or to bid - all are welcome and encouraged to get involved!

The Directors of the Association of Canadian Archivists Foundation (ACAF) are looking forward to the first auction since 2019. This year's auction will take place in person and online using FollowMyBid.

You can complete this form:

https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/aca_foundation_annual_auction_call_for_items

Images and descriptions will become available to community members June 28, 2023.

Sincerely,

Kyle Pugh, ACAF Director and Chair

Shannon Hodge

Daniel German

John Richan

ACAF Secretariat

Congratulations: Meredith J. Batt, Dusty Green, and Jeff O'Brien - Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal!

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:36:05 GMT

Dear Colleagues,

Please join myself, and the Board of Directors for the Association of Canadian Archivists, in offering a hearty congratulations to Meredith J. Batt & Dusty Green, and Jeff O'Brien for their recent receipt of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal!

The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (QPJM) recognizes outstanding individuals of all ages and from all walks of life, who have built and continue to build a strong, vibrant society and province through their service, contributions, and achievements.

Meredith J. Batt (Archivist with the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick) and Dusty Green (who was an intern with the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick and is the founder and researcher for New Brunswick Queer Heritage Initiative) were both honoured for their book "Len & Cub, A Queer History," which recalls the love story of two men in rural New Brunswick in the early 20th century. For more information on their work and this publication please see: https://theaquinian.net/authors-win-platinum-jubilee-medal-for-their-work-on-n-b-queer-history/

Jeff O'Brien, City Archivist for the City of Saskatoon, was honoured for his long-standing work in both promoting and preserving the history of the City of Saskatoon and bringing that history out into the community.

Warmest Regards,

Erica Hernández-Read

President

Association of Canadian Archivists

Letter of Solidarity - American Library Association

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 14:42:39 GMT

As you may already know, there have recently been a number of attempts to ban or censor books written by members of the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities, and to defund public libraries who do not comply with these heinous efforts. In response, the Board of the ACA has issued a letter of solidarity with the American Library Association, in support of their work fighting book bans.

The letter can be found here: ACA_LetterofSolidarity_ALA-2023-04-20signed.pdf

For more information on the ALA's work, please look here:

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/book-ban-data

https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/

Kyle Pugh (he/him),
ACA Treasurer

MUSEUM POLICY RENEWAL - PUBLIC SURVEY

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 14:33:32 GMT

***MUSEUM POLICY RENEWAL - PUBLIC SURVEY ***

The Department of Canadian Heritage has recently released the following email inviting input into the Museum Policy renewal process via public survey:

The Department of Canadian Heritage wants to know what Canadians think. While we continue to consult with heritage stakeholders, we also want to capture Canadians’ views and expectations on current and emerging priorities in the heritage sector through an online survey.

We are happy to announce that the Canadian Museum Policy: Public Consultation Survey is now accessible via the museum policy website at https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/renewal-museum-policy.html

This survey is directed at the Canadian public. We invite you to help us promote and communicate the importance of this survey by sharing the link to all your contacts.

Please consider taking some time to submit your feedback via this survey, and forward this invitation on to your friends and colleagues.

Your input matters!

Regards,

Erica

Erica Hernández-Read, M.A.S.
President
Association of Canadian Archivists
Email: acapresident@archivists.ca
Web: www.archivists.ca

Congratulations: Shelley Sweeney, Donald Johnson and Jeremy Mohr on their Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 17:36:42 GMT

Congratulations!

Please join myself, and the ACA Board of Directors in offering a hearty congratulations to archivists Donald Johnson, Jeremy Mohr and Shelley Sweeney for their recent receipt of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal!

Both Donald and Jeremy have made tremendous contributions, over many years, not only to the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan but to many other archival communities - Donald at the provincial and national levels (including the SCCA's Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce), and Jeremy to the Saskatchewan Council of Archives and Archivists. While, most of us know of Shelley’s incredible work both at the University of Manitoba Archives and in championing the preservation of Manitoba’s history and her indefatigable promotion of her provinces cultural fabric and diversity.

Donald, Jeremy and Shelley - we always knew you were fabulous, and we're so glad others finally recognized it too!

For more information on Donald and Jeremy’s award please visit the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan News and Events page linked here. For more information on Shelley’s award presentation please visit the AMA Newsletter, March 2023 edition here.

Erica Hernández-Read

ACA President

Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez announced the reappointment of Leslie Weir as Librarian and Archivist of Canada for a four-year term, effective August 30, 2023

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 19:48:33 GMT

"This reappointment will ensure continuity for the many important projects that Library and Archives Canada has begun in the last several years under Leslie Weir's stewardship. Library and Archives Canada plays a vital role in ensuring that Canadians can access and contribute to our shared heritage. Thanks to Leslie's leadership team and staff, Canadians benefit from our rich archives and resources, which help us learn about our past."

Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage

GATINEAU, QC, March 15, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, the Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez announced the reappointment of Leslie Weir as Librarian and Archivist of Canada for a four-year term, effective August 30, 2023.

Since her first appointment in August 2019, Leslie Weir has led Library and Archives Canada through a series of exceptional challenges and major initiatives. In addition to guiding the institution through the COVID-19 pandemic, she oversaw the development of the library's Vision 2030 strategic plan and the launch of digital and service transformations to better serve Canadians. Weir has also helped guide major building projects, such as the Gatineau 2 Preservation Storage Facility and Ādisōke, the joint facility with the Ottawa Public Library.

Before joining the library, Ms. Weir was university librarian at the University of Ottawa, where she founded the bilingual School of Information Studies in the Faculty of Arts. She previously worked at the National Library of Canada, Statistics Canada Library and Côte St. Luc Public Library in Montréal.

In her career, Weir has played a key role in launching many significant library and archives research projects. She was a founding architect of the Scholars Portal, a research infrastructure initiative for Ontario universities, hosted at the University of Toronto. As President of Canadiana.org, she oversaw the launch of the Heritage Project, which digitized 60 million heritage archival images in partnership with LAC, which are publicly accessible. She also played a leading role in the development of the Canadian Research Knowledge Network and the Canadian Digital Content for the Social and Human Sciences Project.

Weir has served as President of both the Canadian Association of Research Libraries and the Ontario Library Association, as well as Chair of the Ontario Council of University Libraries. She is a Professional Division Chair and member of the Professional Council at the International Federation of Library Associations. She has received numerous awards, including the CLA/Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship (2015), the Ron MacDonald Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (2016), the Ontario Council of University Libraries Lifetime Achievement Award (2018) and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries Award for Distinguished Service to Research Librarianship (2018).

Weir holds a Master's degree in Library Science from McGill University and a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University.

Museum Policy Review * YOUR INPUT MATTERS * Museum Policy Review

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:56:06 GMT

On February 23, the first of several planned roundtables was hosted by the Department of Canadian Heritage in support of the renewal of Canada's Museum Policy. Attendees included archival colleagues representing the territorial and provincial archival associations and councils, as well as representatives from the ACA, AAQ and CCA.

During this 2-1/2 hour meeting, all participants were invited to speak to the following five themes identified by the Department in their "Discussion Guide" (please see - https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/renewal-museum-policy/guidelines.html

1) The role of museums in society;

2) Resilience and sustainability in the museum sector;

3) Advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples;

4) Embracing equity, diversity, and inclusion; and

5) Preservation and access as core museum functions.

Unsurprisingly, the first point of discussion raised by archival colleagues was the need to remove the word "museum" from the conversation and instead replace it with the terms "heritage" and "heritage institutions" in the interests of both inclusivity and appropriate representation.

Overall, this meeting went very well. The tone was respectful, and all were given time to express their concerns and provide their input into the identified themes. And while it appeared that the six Department representatives in attendance "heard" our concerns, we as a community have not done all we can do to ensure our input is actually incorporated into the new "Museum" policy. Far from it, in fact, our work has just begun.

*** YOUR INPUT MATTERS ***

As mentioned, the Department has outlined five distinct themes in its "Discussion Guide" (see: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/renewal-museum-policy/guidelines.html ). Under each of these themes is a series of questions (see: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/renewal-museum-policy/guidelines.html#a8 ) and according to their website, the Department is "interested in your views and welcome(s) detailed responses regarding the questions set out in this discussion guide."

Therefore, it is IMPERATIVE that each of us takes time to read this "Discussion Guide" and formulate and send our responses, ideas, and suggestions to the Department as soon as possible. Their email is politiquemuseale-museumpolicy@pch.gc.ca .

As archivists, archival practitioners, and record keepers, we need to state and restate en masse our shared concerns to this Department, to actively demonstrate our community's requirement for change to a policy and federal funding framework that has never fully supported our professional obligations. So, no matter what stage you are at in your career, please share your input now so together we can lobby for the policy changes we so desperately need!

Erica Hernández-Read, President

Association of Canadian Archivists

Julien Bréard, President

Association des archivistes du Québec

Yves A. Lapointe, Chair

Canadian Council of Archives

Nominations Now Open for ACA Awards - Closing Date April 14, 2023

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 20:09:35 GMT

The ACA Nominations and Awards Committee (NAAC) is currently inviting nominations from the Canadian archival community for the following honors:

ACA Fellows
Membership Recognition
Larry Dohey Award
New Professional Award
Honorary Archivist Award

Information on each award as well as the nomination process can be found on the Honours and Awards page: https://archivists.ca/Honours-and-Awards

Closing date for nominations is April 14th, 2023.

For more information, contact: Alice Albarda (NAAC.Co-Chair2@archivists.ca) or Shannon Hodge (NAAC.Co-Chair1@archivists.ca), co-chairs, NAAC.

Date and Place of Presentation

Awards shall be bestowed at the Awards Celebration during the ACA Annual Conference in Charlottetown, PEI June 28 to July 1, 2023.

Nominations Open for the ACA Board of Director Elections: Nominations Close April 5, 2023 11:59 pm (PT)

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 16:05:35 GMT

Nominations Open for the ACA Board of Director Elections

Online Form

Nominations Open January 30 - April 5, 2023, 11:59 pm (PT)

The Nominations and Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the following ACA Director (Board) positions that are up for election:

· Vice President (2 year term)

· Secretary (2 year term)

· Director at Large (2 year term)

The term of office for these positions is two years and will begin the first week of July following the AGM, which takes place on June 14th, 2023 on Zoom. You may RSVP here: ACA Annual General Meeting - 2023

The slate of candidates will be presented to the Board once nominations have close, April 5, 2023. Online voting will open June 1, 2023 following the Members Input Session. You may RSVP here: Members Input Session

Nominations close, April 5, 2023 (11:59 pm PT).

All members in good standing will receive an online ballot via email. Institutional members should ensure that their designated delegate is clearly identified and up to date in their membership profile. If you need support entering your delegate name or updating your form, please reach out to the ACA Office.

See here for a full description of the Board positions and the commitment required for each elected position.

You may download the nomination form for signature here and submit your nomination form, online using the link below:

20230130_nomination form ACA directors.pdf

See also the ACA Nominations and Elections Policy here.

Directors must be individual members in good standing. Institutional members may have their designated delegate nominated for the Director-at-Large position. Nominations must be supported by five (5) ACA members. Those nominated must also provide a brief biography that will be made available to ACA members in advance of the online voting period, will be posted on the ACA website and available on the electronic ballot.

The ACA welcomes more diverse and inclusive representation in the composition of its Board and Committees and encourages the nomination of all qualified individuals including women, members of racialized communities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

Questions should be directed to Alice Albarda (NAAC.Co-Chair2@archivists.ca) or Shannon Hodge (NAAC.Co-Chair1@archivists.ca), co-chairs, Nominations and Awards Committee.

The deadline for nominations April 5, 2023, 11:59 pm (PT).

Update from the Department of Canadian Heritage - Canadian Museum Policy

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 16:04:24 GMT

Dear Colleagues,

As promised, here is the latest update on the work being done by the Department of Canadian Heritage towards the renewal of the Canadian museum policy:

The Department of Canadian Heritage is reaching out to provide you with an update on the renewal of the Canadian museum policy. We are pleased to announce that the museum policy website is now live and provides information on the renewal process. The website will be updated regularly as the Department navigates through the different phases of this important renewal. The website will soon contain links to a discussion guide, to an online survey which will be open to all, as well as updates on public consultations and engagement with Indigenous partners. The website will also allow the heritage sector and the general public to provide input on how they would like to see the museum policy evolve for the future. You will find the link to the museum policy website here: 2022-23 Consultations on renewal of the Museum Policy - Canada.ca

The Department would also like to take this opportunity to share with you the preliminary results from the Museum Policy Stakeholder Survey which was conducted in November 2022. As you may remember the survey was directed at heritage institutions and stakeholders, asking them to provide their views on current and emerging priorities in the museum and heritage sector. The purpose of the survey was to validate the needs and gaps of Canada’s heritage institutions. You will find national level preliminary results in the PDF document attached to this email. A more in-depth analysis is currently underway and will break down the data by province and territory; that survey report will be made available later this spring.

Finally, we would like to thank all the associations and stakeholders who have provided their assistance throughout this process. Your support has been key in helping to move forward this important initiative.

Please be sure to visit the website for the latest developments on the renewal of the Canadian museum policy. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.

Thank you

Ken Amaral (il/he)

Policy and Research Analyst, Heritage Policy and Legislation Directorate

Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada

ken.amaral@pch.gc.ca / Cell: 343-548-9144

We will keep you posted as we know more, in the meantime please take a moment to review the results of their Nov. 2022 Stakeholder Survey.

Museum Policy Stakeholder Survey Preliminary Results - January 2023_EN.pdf

Regards,

Erica Hernandez-Read

President

Email: acapresident@archivists.ca

Association of Canadian Archivists

Deadline Extended to January 13, 2023: ACA 2023 - Call for Submissions - Belongings - Considering archival bonds and disconnects -

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 13:09:35 GMT

ACA 2023 – Call for Submissions

Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island; Photo by Robyn Biggar

ACA 2023: Belonging - Considering archival bonds and disconnects

City: Charlottetown

Dates: June 28 to July 1, 2023 at the Delta Hotels by Marriott, Prince Edward Island

A sense of belonging is a fundamental human need – as the story of Anne of Green Gables, PEI’s most famous (fictional) daughter, so vividly demonstrates. As peoples of many regions, ages, faiths, genders, abilities, sexualities, racialized or ethnic backgrounds, we want to see ourselves, our stories, and our experiences reflected in the historical memory of the many environments to which we feel we belong. Archivists and archival practitioners now realize how many aspects of archival work contribute to peoples’ experiences of inclusion and exclusion in a community. Through our actions towards historical memory, people may or may not see their stories and experiences reflected, leaving them with feelings of belonging or disconnection, or at worst exclusion.

The 2023 ACA Program Team invites proposals that reflect on the theme of “Belonging” from the perspectives of archival theory and practice, related disciplines and professions, and/or diverse lived experiences of archives, records, and memory work. What does ‘belonging' or conversely, ‘not belonging’ mean to you within your archival context or experience?

Topics could include (but are not limited to):

Where does this profession belong? What disconnects exist between archivists, records managers, and/or IT professionals, and how can these be overcome? How are archival associations, councils, members, and associated organizations and communities working together in new ways?
To whom do records belong? To the archives? To creators? To documented people/communities? To everyone? Who has stakes in the records and how are those understood/articulated/acted on?
Whose experiences belong in archival records and collections?
What groups of people or organizations are not well represented in archival collections? What impact do archival collections and/or exhibits connected with marginalized populations have on these groups’ sense of belonging in an institution, community, region, or nation?
How are existing and emerging technologies changing arrangement, description, access, and use in ways that encourage or discourage a sense of belonging for patrons or staff? What are some innovative practices or projects that can cultivate a sense of belonging?
What steps are being taken to develop a more diverse workforce? What kind of work has been effective in creating spaces of belonging? What barriers still must be overcome?
How are archival services being made more inclusive for staff and users? How can archival spaces, services, practices, etc., be transformed so that more people feel like they belong in physical and virtual spaces? How do we relate to individuals or groups who do not want to ‘belong’ to the spaces archivists construct?
How are new archivists transitioning into the profession? In what ways are archival workplaces and/or the archival community welcoming or otherwise? How does one figure out where they belong in the profession at any stage of their career?
How can the desire to belong lead to practices shared between individuals and communities?

SUBMITTING PROPOSALS:

The 2023 Conference Program Team invites contributions, of either a practical and/or
theoretical nature, in a variety of formats including:

Traditional session: formal presentation of papers; approximately 20 minutes per speaker, with questions to follow as time allows.
Panel discussion: abbreviated presentation of papers; approximately 10-15 minutes per speaker, with discussion to follow.
Roundtable: brief 5-7-minute presentations with open discussion.
Focused Debate on a specific topic: brief presentations with open discussion & debate to follow.
Archival Book Club: Moderators select readings for discussion at the session; could also include creative elements like debate or voting for preferred works, as in the CBC’s “Canada Reads” broadcast.
Sprint Session: Is there a challenge that could be solved by a group of people in a short-term, time-bound exercise? What could you accomplish with a set amount of time, a hive mind, and no distractions?
Fishbowl session: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishbowl_(conversation)
Storytelling session
Other: Please share your ideas – be creative!

Use the “Call for Submissions” button on the ACA website at https://archivists.ca/ACA-2023-Belonging-Call-for-Submissions.

Submitting your session proposal in electronic form using this link is strongly encouraged.

2023 ACA Belonging Call for Submissions_FINAL.pdf

The deadline for these proposals is: Friday, January 13, 2023.

WORKSHOP PROPOSALS

For 2023, ACA will use the “Call for Submissions” button for any workshop proposals that will be associated with the Annual Conference. These submissions will go to the Professional Development Committee, which will make its decisions in Winter 2023.
https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/workshopsubmissions

Note: Please be advised there will be a Call for Student Papers as well as a Call for Posters later this year, with submission deadlines early in 2023. Scholarships are available to students and are administered by the ACA Foundation

Please feel free to direct questions to:

Lara Wilson
Chair, ACA 2023 Conference Program Committee

Program.Team@archivists.ca

Program Team Members
Robyn Biggar
Jonathan Bowie
François Dansereau
Sarah Glassford
Sara Janes
Karen Suurtamm
Kelly Turner

ACA Foundation - Charitable Status

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 17:25:24 GMT

We have been notified by the CRA that the Association of Canadian Archivists Foundation (ACAF) charitable status has been reinstated, and that the ACAF is once again a registered charity. This letter ends a months-long process, and means that the ACAF can once again receive donations and issue tax receipts. The effective date of registration is November 6, 2021. This date means that all previous tax receipts issued from November and December 2021 are valid.

For our generous donors who have held back receipts for 2021, you can submit them for your 2022 taxes or have 2021 reconsidered with this receipt.

The ACAF Business # is: 804138477RR0001

Thank you to the ACA Secretariat, the boards of the ACA and the ACAF for their support and input. Most importantly, a hearty thank you to our membership for your patience and understanding as this work was underway.

We are in the process of completing the new Foundation website and creating new content, but we are excited to have it up and running: https://acafoundation.ca.

Donations can be made to support the advancement of education and training in the fields of archival sciences, record keeping and information management. You will be redirected to the new website.

https://acafoundation.ca/Donate

Kind regards,

Kyle Pugh (he/him),
ACA Treasurer / ACA Foundation Chair

ACA 2023 - Conference Format

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 16:49:20 GMT

ACA 2023: Belonging - Considering archival bonds and disconnects

As you may, or may not know, the ACA Secretariat has been facing some unique challenges in mapping out the technological infrastructure plan for next year’s ACA Conference in Charlottetown, PEI. These challenges have included:

Hurricane Impact: In September 2022 our conference host city, along with the entirety of Atlantic Canada, was hit by Hurricane Fiona. Understandably, resultant power loss, internet outages and destruction to property and lands have contributed to substantial communication and service disruptions across the province. For the ACA, these disruptions have detrimentally affected our communications with Global Encore – the 3rd party tech support company with exclusive rights to support conferences and events at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Prince Edward Island.

Corporate Merger: Further contributing to this current state of ineffective communication is the recent corporate merger by Global Encore of Freeman’s – the company previously servicing Delta Hotels by Marriott (PEI) and two other AV companies in Canada. Whatever restructuring is going on, the result has been a decrease in current capacity to meet client planning needs.

Financial Unknown: Due to the impact COVID-19 has had on the global tourism industry we are now seeing an extremely high rise in conference planning costs. Because of lack of communication, we haven’t yet received service quotes from Global Encore even though they are aware that our conference budget planning work is being undertaken now. Our fear is that by committing to a hybrid conference format under these conditions, we commit to paying tech support costs which will: a) require us to significantly increase conference rates for 2023 in order to cover yet unknown tech and labour costs; and b) potentially still leave us in a financial deficit.

Due to these challenges, we’ve had to make the decision to facilitate our 2023 Conference as an in-person conference only with no hybrid component. While folks may not have expected next year’s conference to be hybrid, due to the positive feedback received from members regarding their hybrid conference experience at last year’s Vancouver conference we had hoped to provide a hybrid experience in 2023.

As per our Equity Commitments (see Commitment #4, p. 11) the ACA’s 2024 conference will be a fully virtual event.

Thank you for your understanding. If you have any additional questions please don’t hesitate to email me directly.

Warmest regards,

Erica Hernández-Read, M.A.S.

President

Email: acapresident@archivists.ca

Web: http://archivists.ca

Ballot Measure Results - Motions to Change the ACA's Membership Fee Structure - Individual and Institutional Members

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 16:41:43 GMT

Thank you to all members who have cast their vote on the ballot measure related to proposed changes to Individual and Institutional membership fees.Voting closed end of day, November 30, 2022.

For this measure, 222 (29 %) of 765 electors voted in this ballot.

Member Motion # 1: Individual Membership Fees:

85 % in favour and 15 % opposed, the motion carries.

Member Motion # 2: Institutional Membership Fees:

93 % in favour and 7 % opposed, the motion carries.

The new fee structure will be established for the 2024 membership year and the website will be updated accordingly. Please reach out with any questions you have.

The certified results can be viewed here: 2022-11-30 Membership Ballot Measure Results Certified.pdf

Members will have an opportunity to provide feedback at the Members Input Session is scheduled for May 31, 2023, online via Zoom. The AGM is scheduled for June 14, 2022 also online. You are of course always encouraged to reach out to Board Members or the Secretariat with any questions you may have.

This work represents several years of consultations, meetings, report writing and research. Thank you to the following folks who contributed to these motions and the supporting documentation:

Jane Morrison, past Board Secretary; Kaitlin Normandin, current Board Secretary
Former Treasurers, Jonathan Dorey & Andrea McCutcheon and current Treasurer Kyle Pugh
Institutional Membership Working Group members: Anna Gibson Hollow, Elis Ing, David Mawhinney, Jennifer Mohan, John Roberts, Sean Hayes
Former Membership Committee Chair Shamin Malmas and current Membership Committee Chair Kira Baker
Membership Committee members: Nicole Aminian, Melanie Davey, Elis Ing, Kyle Pugh, and Jamie Sanford
Financial Review Committee members: Daniel German, Tom Belton and Jennifer Mohan
ACA Secretariat: Jo McCutcheon and Maureen Tracey
Past members of the Board of Directors

Please reach out with any questions you have.

Erica Hernández-Read, President

Anna Gibson-Hollow, Vice President

The Young Canada Works 2023-2024 campaign has launched!

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 14:45:43 GMT

The Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) is pleased to announce that the 2023-2024 campaign for the Young Canada Works (YCW) program for heritage organizations has launched. This program is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH), supporting the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

All archival institutions, as well as libraries operating in English, can now apply online for short-term jobs for students (YCW in Heritage Organizations), and internships for graduates (YCW at Building Careers in Heritage) via the official YCW website ( https://young-canada-works.canada.ca/Account/Login ).

Deadline

The application deadline for short-term student jobs (HO) and internships (BCH) is January 20, 2023.

Government Priorities

The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening diversity and inclusion in youth employment.

It is important to note the government priorities for 2023-2024.

Indigenous organizations, youth, and cultural heritage, including applications:

* from Indigenous employers (eligible projects);

* for a project aimed at Indigenous participants (Indigenous or a non-Indigenous employers);

* for a project focusing on Indigenous cultural heritage (Indigenous or a non-Indigenous employers); and

* underserved communities and populations (i.e. Indigenous communities, ethno-cultural communities, youth that are facing barriers to employment, etc.).

*If you have already submitted your application and would like to make changes based on these government priorities, please contact us so that we can unlock your application promptly.

Please visit CCA’s website for more information: https://archivescanada.ca/young-canada-works/ .

If you have any questions concerning your application in the archival field, do not hesitate to contact Louise Charlebois at ycw_jct@archivescanada.ca.

If you have any questions concerning your application as a library operating in English, do not hesitate to contact Kathleen Pond at ycw-cla@archivescanada.ca

*-*-*

La campagne Jeunesse Canada au travail 2023-2024 est lancée!

Le Conseil canadien des archives (CCA) est heureux d'annoncer que la campagne 2023-2024 du programme Jeunesse Canada au travail (JCT) pour les organismes du patrimoine est maintenant lancée. Ce programme est financé par le ministère du Patrimoine canadien (PCH) et appuie la Stratégie emploi et compétences jeunesse du Canada.

Date limite

La date limite pour la soumission de vos demandes pour les emplois étudiants à court terme et pour les stages est le 20 janvier 2023.

Les priorités du gouvernement

Le gouvernement du Canada s’engage à renforcer la diversité et l’inclusion au sein de l’emploi jeunesse.

Il est important de prendre note des priorités du gouvernement pour le cycle 2023-2024.

Les organismes, les jeunes et le patrimoine culturel autochtone, y compris les demandes :

* des employeurs autochtones (projets admissibles);

* pour un projet qui vise des participants autochtones (employeur autochtone ou non-autochtone);

* pour un projet axé sur le patrimoine culturel autochtone (employeur autochtone ou non-autochtone); et

* les collectivités et les populations mal desservies (p.ex. communautés autochtones, communautés ethnoculturelles, jeunes faisant face à des obstacles à l’emploi, etc.).

*Si vous avez déjà soumis votre demande et vous souhaitez apporter des modifications en fonction de ces priorités gouvernementales, veuillez nous contacter afin que nous puissions déverrouiller votre demande rapidement.

Nous vous invitons à visiter notre site pour plus d'information : https://archivescanada.ca/fr/jeunesse-canada-au-travail/ .

Si vous avez des questions concernant votre demande dans le domaine archivistique, n'hésitez pas à communiquer avec Louise Charlebois à l’adresse ycw_jct@archivescanada.ca.

Louise Charlebois

(she / her / elle)

Program Manager, YCW & Volunteer Coordinator/ Gestionnaire de programmes, JCT et Coordonnatrice des bénévoles Canadian Council of Archives/Conseil canadien des archives

------------------------------------------------------

CCA staff members are presently working remotely and we appreciate your understanding for any delays in replying to your messages.

Le personnel du CCA travaille présentement à distance et nous apprécions votre compréhension pour tout retard de réponse à vos messages.

------------------------------------------------------

130 Albert, Suite 1912

Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4

Tel/tél:613.565.1222 # 110

Toll free/Sans frais: 1.866.254.1403

Fax/télécopieur: 1-855-855-0774

ACA Announcement to Members: Change to the ACA Board of Directors

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:59:32 GMT

ACA Announcement

Announcement #1:

This past September, the Board received the sad news that our amazing Director-at-Large, James Roussain, was resigning from his ACA Board position effective Oct. 1, 2022 due to a significant increase to his work portfolio.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and membership, I want to say Thank You James – your time, energy and brilliant contributions served to enhance our Association during your term and you will be missed.

Guiding Protocol:

With a vacant position in Office, the Board was guided by Article 5.10 of the ACA’s By-Law No. 1 which states:

5.10 Vacancies.Subject to Section 5.9, a vacancy on the Board may be filled for the remainder of the term by a qualified individual by Ordinary Resolution of the Directors. Notwithstanding the above, if there is not a quorum of Directors or if a vacancy results from either (a) an increase in the number or change to the minimum or maximum number of Directors provided in the Articles or (b) a failure to elect the number or minimum number of Directors provided in the Articles, the Directors then in office shall call a special meeting of Members to fill the vacancy and, if they fail to call a meeting or if there are no Directors then in office, the meeting may be called by any Member.

The Board reached out to the Nominations and Awards Committee (NAAC) for assistance in identifying an ACA member in good standing who would be willing to serve out the remainder of James Roussain’s 7.5 month term on the Board up until the next ACA Annual General Meeting on June 14, 2023. This leads me to my second announcement.

Announcement #2:

In accordance with section 5.10 of By-Law No. 1, the Board has approved the appointment of Amanda Oliver to the position of Director-at-Large 3 effective Oct. 31, 2022. Amanda’s term will extend until June 14, 2023 at which time a member vote will determine an official incumbent to this position.

Please join me in welcoming Amanda to the ACA Board! With her previous experience both on the ACA Board and on various committees, we are confident she will be able to pick up where James’ left off without any trouble.

If members have any questions with this process of appointment, please do not hesitate to email myself, or any member of the Board, as we’d be happy to speak to your concerns.

Warmest regards,

Erica Hernández-Read, M.A.S.

President, Association of Canadian Archivists

Suite 1912-130 Albert Street, Ottawa K1P 6G4

Email: acapresident@archivists.ca

Web: www.archivists.ca

Call for Support – Attn: ACA Members

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 20:26:45 GMT

BACKGROUND

UNESCO Archivist and fellow Canadian, Eng Sengsavang, has been tirelessly advocating for this family since first receiving his email asking for help last August. She could not publish any information about the archivist or his family on the Go Fund Me page because it goes against Canadian sponsorship rules, however, she invited me to share the following information with you:

"Eshaq Yaqubi is an archivist with 7 years of experience in archival restoration and conservation in various departments of the former Afghan government, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Culture and Information, the National Archives, and the Presidential Palace Archives. He has been featured in the Kabul Times and Tolo News for his work on major digitization projects digitizing historical manuscripts, documents, and films at both the Afghanistan National Archives and the Presidential Palace Archives. He and his family are members of the historically persecuted Hazara ethnic and Shiite religious minority groups."

On behalf of the ACA Board of Directors, I want to ask you to please consider contributing to a GO FUND ME campaign for a fellow archivist who, along with his family, had to flee from Kabul out of fear for their lives after the Taliban takeover of August 2021. For the past year, this family has been living in a “humanitarian village” desperately trying to obtain refugee status and entry into a country of asylum so they could finally rebuild their lives and find peace again. Unfortunately, the Kafkaesque bureaucratic environment of their current ‘host’ country has so far prevented them from obtaining refugee status which has dramatically hindered their emigration efforts. Thankfully the Canadian Government’s new, year long immigration program allows Afghan refugees to apply for Canadian residency through the Canadian Group of 5 Sponsorship Program even if they do not have UNHCR refugee status. This is a rare opportunity that provides hope for this desperate family. However, there are still program conditions and only the first 3,000 applicants will be accepted AND there is still the $50,000 fund required to be in place to support this family upon entry.

This is where we need your help.

I know times are financially tough, but anything you can contribute will truly help this young family find peace and healing within a country with freedoms we so often take for granted. Let’s welcome our colleague into the Canadian archival fold and support the healing and flourishing of him and his family.

GO FUND ME CAMPAIGN link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-campaign-for-an-afghan-refugee-family

Thank you so much for your consideration!

Yours in archival solidarity,

Erica Hernandez-Read

President
Association of Canadian Archivists
Suite 1912 – 130 Albert St.
Ottawa, ON, K1P 5G4
Email: acapresident at archivists dot ca
Web: http://archivists.ca

The ACA acknowledges that our offices, located in Ottawa, are on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.

ACA 2023 – Call for Submissions - Belonging - Considering archival bonds and disconnects

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 21:31:45 GMT

ACA 2023 – Call for Submissions

Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island; Photo by Robyn Biggar

ACA 2023: Belonging - Considering archival bonds and disconnects

City: Charlottetown

Where does this profession belong? What disconnects exist between archivists, records managers, and/or IT professionals, and how can these be overcome? How are archival associations, councils, members, and associated organizations and communities working together in new ways?
To whom do records belong? To the archives? To creators? To documented people/communities? To everyone? Who has stakes in the records and how are those understood/articulated/acted on?
Whose experiences belong in archival records and collections?
What groups of people or organizations are not well represented in archival collections? What impact do archival collections and/or exhibits connected with marginalized populations have on these groups’ sense of belonging in an institution, community, region, or nation?
How are existing and emerging technologies changing arrangement, description, access, and use in ways that encourage or discourage a sense of belonging for patrons or staff? What are some innovative practices or projects that can cultivate a sense of belonging?
What steps are being taken to develop a more diverse workforce? What kind of work has been effective in creating spaces of belonging? What barriers still must be overcome?
How are archival services being made more inclusive for staff and users? How can archival spaces, services, practices, etc., be transformed so that more people feel like they belong in physical and virtual spaces? How do we relate to individuals or groups who do not want to ‘belong’ to the spaces archivists construct?
How are new archivists transitioning into the profession? In what ways are archival workplaces and/or the archival community welcoming or otherwise? How does one figure out where they belong in the profession at any stage of their career?
How can the desire to belong lead to practices shared between individuals and communities?

SUBMITTING PROPOSALS:

The 2023 Conference Program Team invites contributions, of either a practical and/or
theoretical nature, in a variety of formats including:

Traditional session: formal presentation of papers; approximately 20 minutes per speaker, with questions to follow as time allows.
Panel discussion: abbreviated presentation of papers; approximately 10-15 minutes per speaker, with discussion to follow.
Roundtable: brief 5-7-minute presentations with open discussion.
Focused Debate on a specific topic: brief presentations with open discussion & debate to follow.
Archival Book Club: Moderators select readings for discussion at the session; could also include creative elements like debate or voting for preferred works, as in the CBC’s “Canada Reads” broadcast.
Sprint Session: Is there a challenge that could be solved by a group of people in a short-term, time-bound exercise? What could you accomplish with a set amount of time, a hive mind, and no distractions?
Fishbowl session: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishbowl_(conversation)
Storytelling session
Other: Please share your ideas – be creative!

Use the “Call for Submissions” button on the ACA website at https://archivists.ca/ACA-2023-Belonging-Call-for-Submissions.

Submitting your session proposal in electronic form using this link is strongly encouraged.

2023 ACA Belonging Call for Submissions_FINAL.pdf

The deadline for these proposals is: Friday, January 6, 2023.

WORKSHOP PROPOSALS

Program.Team@archivists.ca

Program Team Members
Robyn Biggar
Jonathan Bowie
François Dansereau
Sarah Glassford
Sara Janes
Karen Suurtamm
Kelly Turner

Online Event, 18th Century Chapbooks, October 6, 2022 12:00 pm (ET)

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 14:12:23 GMT

You are cordially invited to a free upcoming virtual lecture (6 October, 12 p.m. EST): Devils, Angels, Scoundrels, Fortunes, and Fables: British Eighteenth-Century Chapbooks at McMaster University Library.

Join Gillian Dunks (McMaster's Archives Arrangement & Description Librarian) in appreciation and exploration of the chapbook, an oft-profane and beauteous genre of British print. From the sixteenth to early nineteenth centuries, inexpensive chapbooks proliferated in Europe, particularly England. Popular amongst children, the working poor, and people who left few other records of their lives behind, chapbooks featured a wide range of subjects: tales of scoundrels, tips on fortune telling, and shortened versions of medieval romances. McMaster is fortunate to hold many English chapbooks from the eighteenth century, when the format reached its height.

This lecture is part of our ongoing Archives Alive series. This series of public-facing talks about our collections is jointly hosted by the William Ready Division of Archives & Research Collections and McMaster University Alumni.

Register using this link<https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SZn2SmvfReub6ma1rS2YzQ>. Please feel free to share this invitation with other interested parties.

Community Announcement: Neurodivergent GLAM Discord Server

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 17:06:41 GMT

From: Albe Gilmore, MISt (ael | they/them)

Chèr-e-s collègues, dear colleagues,

We would like to invite neurodivergent gallery, library, archives, and museum workers to the Neuro-GLAM-orous Canada Discord server<https://discord.gg/ba75yKY6>. The server is a place for neurodivergent GLAM workers in Canada (and our non-Canadian friends!) to share their interests, experiences, and support.

Some tentative projects in the works are a Neuro-GLAM-orous Canada annual virtual meeting and a subgroup dedicated to making sure that neurodivergent GLAM workers' labour and accessibility needs are met and our human rights are respected.

Bien que pour l'instant la plupart des message soient en anglais, les francophones sont présents et nous espérons que vous vous joindrez à nous pour enrichir la conversation.

Link to the Discord server:

https://discord.gg/ba75yKY6

Albe Gilmore, MISt (ael | they/them)

[A button with "Hear my name" text for name playback in email signature]<https://www.name-coach.com/albe-gilmore>

Bibliothécaire de l'Érudition Numérique | Digital Scholarship Librarian Bibliothèque de l'Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa Library Albe.Gilmore@uottawa.ca<mailto:Albe.Gilmore@uottawa.ca>

The National Archival Appraisal Board (NAAB) - Launch of the Database of Archives’ Values (DAV)

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 16:51:06 GMT

Dear ARCAN-L community members,

We have exciting news! The National Archival Appraisal Board (NAAB) is very pleased to announce the launch of the Database of Archives’ Values (DAV) to archival institutions. Subscriptions for Canadian archival institutions are available for the yearly fee of $300 (+GST), and $400 CAD for international archival institutions.

DAV is an online research tool created by the National Archival Appraisal Board (NAAB) in partnership with the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA). Development was funded in part by the Council of Provincial and Territorial Archivists (CPTA). The purpose of DAV is to provide access to sales (market) information and purchases of archival materials by archives across Canada. Reputable dealer listings (values) may also be included, as well as relevant international market information.

Currently, DAV contains over 1250 records of archival values. We would like to sincerely thank our participating archives, who contributed 422 of those sales precedents from their own archival purchase records. At this time, 75% of the entries on DAV document archival values at the item level, while the remaining 25% of DAV records describe purchases of archival files, collections and fonds.

To subscribe to DAV, please fill out the subscription form at the following link: https://form.jotform.com/221575029968063. Within two business days of receiving your completed form, we will send you your unique login and password. Please contact NAAB@archivescanada.ca if you have questions or issues.

** Please note that only approved archival institutions will have access to DAV, and use will be closely monitored and audited by the Canadian Council of Archives. ** We invite subscribers to increase the usefulness of DAV for the Canadian Archival System by contributing any sales precedents known to you or your institution. By adding more values to this knowledge-sharing tool, you will be helping your archival colleagues during work on NAAB panels, for in-house appraisals at their own institution, or to assist your fellow archival institutions in their acquisition activities.

In order to access and contribute to DAV, all subscribers are required to adhere to the access and information policies of DAV and attest that any information that they contribute to the database must be true to the best of their knowledge and no conflict of interest exists. Any false, misleading or unsubstantiated entries whether intentionally or unintentionally designed to affect or manipulate market conditions will disqualify the contributor and result in their access privileges being forfeited, temporarily or permanently, as determined by the NAAB Board of Directors.

We hope you will find this tool helpful and we are looking forward to hearing your feedback!

Sincerely,

Christina Nichols

*********

Chers membres de la communauté ARCAN-L,

Nous avons de bonnes nouvelles ! Le Conseil national d'évaluation des archives (CNÉA) est très heureux d'annoncer le lancement de la Base de données de valeurs d’archives (BVA) aux institutions d'archives. Les abonnements pour les institutions d'archives canadiennes sont disponibles au coût annuel de 300 $ (+TPS), et de 400 $ CAD pour les institutions d'archives internationales.

La BVA est un outil de recherche en ligne mis au point par le Conseil national d’évaluation des archives (CNÉA) en collaboration avec le Conseil canadien des archives (CCA). Son développement a été financé en partie par le Conseil des archivistes provinciaux et territoriaux (CAPT). Cette base de données contient des détails sur les ventes (valeur marchande) et les achats de documents d’archives par des centres d’archives canadiens. Des inscriptions (valeurs) de commerçants de renom peuvent également y figurer ainsi que de l’information pertinente de marchés internationaux.

Actuellement, la BVA contient plus de 1250 entrées de valeurs d'archives. Nous tenons à remercier sincèrement les archives participantes qui ont fourni 422 de ces précédents de vente provenant de leurs propres dossiers d'acquisitions d'archives. À l'heure actuelle, 75 % des entrées dans la BVA documentent des valeurs archivistiques au niveau de la pièce, tandis que les 25 % restants décrivent des achats de dossiers, de collections et de fonds d'archives.

Pour vous inscrire à la BVA, veuillez remplir le formulaire suivant https://form.jotform.com/221575029968063. Dans les deux jours ouvrables suivant la réception de votre formulaire rempli, nous vous enverrons votre identifiant et votre mot de passe uniques. Veuillez contacter NAAB@archivescanada.ca si vous avez des questions ou des problèmes.

** Veuillez noter que seules les institutions d'archives approuvées auront accès à la BVA, et que l'utilisation sera étroitement surveillée et vérifiée par le Conseil canadien des archives. ** Nous invitons les abonnés à contribuer tout précédent de vente connu par vous ou votre institution afin d’enrichir l'utilité de la BVA pour le système archivistique canadien. En ajoutant plus de valeurs à cet outil de partage des connaissances, vous aiderez vos collègues archivistes lors de leur travail au sein des panels du CNÉA, lors des évaluations internes de leur propre institution, ou pour soutenir vos collègues dans leurs activités d'acquisition d’archives.

Afin d’accéder et de contribuer à la BVA, les abonnés doivent s’engager à respecter les politiques en matière d’accès et d’information de BVA, et confirmer que l’information saisie dans la base de données est, à leur connaissance, exacte et qu’il n’existe pas de conflit d’intérêts. Tous les renseignements faux, trompeurs ou non corroborés, fournis intentionnellement ou non dans le but d’affecter ou de manipuler les conditions du marché́, feront en sorte que le contributeur en question soit disqualifié et que ses privilèges d’accès soient révoqués, temporairement ou en permanence, tel que le déterminera le conseil d’administration du CNÉA.

Nous espérons que vous trouverez cet outil utile et nous sommes impatients d'entendre vos commentaires !

Sincèrement,

Christina Nichols

NAAB Secretariat / Secrétariat du CNÉA

130 Albert, Suite 1912

Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4

Tel. : 613-565-1222 x. 108

Toll-free/Sans frais: 1-866-254-1403

Canada's Reconciliation Framework: Reflections and Advocacy Across Borders

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 16:40:07 GMT

Canada’s Reconciliation Framework: Reflections and Advocacy Across Borders

July 13, 2022 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm UTC

Hosted by the Native American Archives Section of the Society of American Archivists & Archival Education and Research Institute

Abstract

In late February 2022, the Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Taskforce (TRC-TF) of the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives (SCCA) released its Reconciliation Framework. This report was the result of over five years of SSHRC-funded research, relationship building, and collaboration across Canada between representatives of the Canadian archival community and Indigenous heritage professionals and practitioners. The Framework provides direction, through recommendations for action, to be taken by Canadian archivists who are ready to embark upon their own personal and professional journey towards reconciliation through respectful relationship building with Indigenous communities represented in their repositories. The Framework also serves to reinforce and support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities’ intellectual sovereignty over records by, or about them, and encourages the reconceptualization of mainstream archival theory, practice and education. This webinar will feature five members of the Taskforce, who will describe the process of developing the Reconciliation Framework, an introduction to the Framework itself and the next steps in their work. In our discussion and Q&A, members of the SAA hope to generate a discussion about how American archival and community colleagues might work together with Canadian colleagues on advancing Indigenous archival policies across these professional and national borders.

https://www2.archivists.org/groups/native-american-archives-section/free-online-webinar-july-13-canada%E2%80%99s-reconciliation-framewor

Presenter bios

Erica Hernández-Read is Head of the Northern BC Archives & Special Collections at the University of Northern British Columbia, where she lives, works, and learns on the traditional, unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation (Prince George, BC). She earned her BA in anthropology and her MAS in archival studies from UBC and has spent the last 20 years working in the field of archives and collections management. Erica is Co-Chair of the Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce of the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives, a member of the Indigitization Program Steering Committee, and current President of the Association of Canadian Archivists (2021–24).

Raegan Swanson serves as the Executive Director of The ArQuives: Canada’s LGBTQ2+ Archives. She holds a BA from Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface and a Master of Information from the University of Toronto iSchool. She has worked as an archivist at Library and Archives Canada, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute and as the Archival Advisor for the Council of Archives New Brunswick. She is currently working on her PhD, focusing on the role of community archives in Inuit communities in Québec.

Krista McCracken is a public historian and archivist. They work as a researcher/curator at Algoma University’s Arthur A. Wishart Library and Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, in Baawating (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario), on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe and Métis people. Krista’s research interests include community archives, residential schools, access, and outreach.

Jennifer Jansen has been working since 2010 with the Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN), where her many roles include Information Management Coordinator, FOI Officer, and Clerk for the TFN Judicial Council. Jennifer also manages TFN’s Registry of Laws and acts as the back-up Indian Registry Administrator. Prior to these roles, Jennifer worked as an assistant archivist for the District of West Vancouver, a records analyst for the City of Vancouver, and a claims researcher for Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada in the Federal Ministry of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Jennifer graduated from UBC’s School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies in 2003 with a Master of Archival Studies, First Nations Curriculum Concentration.

Donald Johnson (Lytton Nation) is the Information Management Analyst and Special Media Archivist, Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan. Donald’s archival practice bridges communities of practice and transforms operational cultures. Through guidance, collaboration, and education, Donald strives to build confidence and capacity in those he serves. Donald is a member of the Lytton First Nation, located at the confluence of the Fraser and Thompson rivers in British Columbia. Donald has degrees in archival studies (MAS), fine arts (BFA), linguistics (BA), and computer science (BSC). Donald is Co-Chair of the Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce of the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives.

Details

To confirm the date/time of this session in your timezone please use the following link: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Canada%E2%80%99s+Reconciliation+Framework%3A+Reflections+and+Advocacy+Across+Borders&iso=20220713T16&p1=179&ah=1&am=30

Zoom details

Join Zoom Meeting: https://umd.zoom.us/j/91586543571

Meeting ID: 915 8654 3571
Find your local number: https://umd.zoom.us/u/aevN0ciX16

Canadian Fundraising Initiative to Help Re-Build Ukraine's Damaged Archives

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 20:45:28 GMT

Are you, or someone you know, a Crafter, a Maker, or an Artist?

Would you like to help the archival community in Canada raise funds to help restore Ukraine's damaged archives once the war has ended?

If so - the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) needs your inspired creations and/or your creative connections!

We are looking for donations of creative works towards our silent online auction which will take place during International Archives Week: June 6-10, 2022.

You don't need to be an ACA member to contribute, or to bid - all are welcome and encouraged to get involved! So don't be shy, step forward and lend a hand!

If you have something you can contribute please contact Erica Hernandez-Read at acapresident@archivists.ca or Jo McCutcheon at executive.director@archivists.ca.

2021-2022 Call for nominations: Inscriptions to the Canada Memory of the World Register

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 21:19:28 GMT

In collaboration with its Canadian Advisory Committee for Memory of the World <https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.ccunesco.ca%2Four-themes%2Fprotecting-heritage-and-biosphere%2Fmemory-of-the-world%2Fmemory-of-the-world-register%23canadianadvisorycommittee&data=04%7C01%7Czoe.compton%40ccunesco.ca%7C7e5f85f2befb40d94d9f08da1271564f%7Cdc22f593f4374ec79e1c33b95d924361%7C0%7C0%7C637842575228418381%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=dgIehgeZ613CZjcYyQ%2Blv6nw%2FxruXpwggqQUeyY4%2B14%3D&reserved=0>, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) is pleased to launch the fifth Call for Nominations for inscriptions on the Canada Memory of the World Register <https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.ccunesco.ca%2Four-themes%2Fprotecting-heritage-and-biosphere%2Fmemory-of-the-world&data=04%7C01%7Czoe.compton%40ccunesco.ca%7C7e5f85f2befb40d94d9f08da1271564f%7Cdc22f593f4374ec79e1c33b95d924361%7C0%7C0%7C637842575228418381%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=JtB6bxxiX%2BEl3VvvmUbWQzevDjM2Ny%2BHNL6bAiht6Zc%3D&reserved=0>.

This Register recognizes significant documentary heritage related to Canada and its peoples and is one of the vehicles of the UNESCO Memory of the World Program which aims at preserving and providing access to documentary heritage as the embodiment of the memory of humanity.

In recognition of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024 and the upcoming Decade of Indigenous Languages CCUNESCO extends a special call for documentary heritage related to Black Canadians with the goal of increasing awareness of this community’s diverse cultures, history, and contributions to Canadian society. Documentary heritage submissions include photography, art, audiovisual, artifacts and even unique objects.

CCUNESCO continues to extend a special call for proposals for documentary heritage related to Indigenous languages and cultures. Many are considered to be endangered, and their preservation, strengthening and revitalization are of crucial importance to Indigenous peoples and to Canadian society.

We invite all individuals, private or public institutions, organizations and communities to consult CCUNESCO’s website for more information on this process <https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.ccunesco.ca%2Four-themes%2Fprotecting-heritage-and-biosphere%2Fmemory-of-the-world&data=04%7C01%7Czoe.compton%40ccunesco.ca%7C7e5f85f2befb40d94d9f08da1271564f%7Cdc22f593f4374ec79e1c33b95d924361%7C0%7C0%7C637842575228418381%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=3uZwcmc7u2rrU8hmYMSW%2FHjAw8daZrrirryyOKo9thQ%3D&reserved=0>

*.* The deadline for declarations of interest is *June 6, 2022*

Reconciliation Framework: The Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconcilation Commission Taskforce

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:16:06 GMT

Dear Colleagues,

Recently the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives (SCCA) announced that the Reconciliation Framework: The Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce is complete and available. Several years in the making, this framework provides archives and archivists with a blueprint to guide reconciliation with the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments, communities and community members represented in their archival collections.

The ACA Board of Directors held a special meeting on March 10 to discuss the framework. In a unanimous decision, the Board agreed to formally endorse this framework.

We recognize that this is a challenging document. As archivists we are being asked to review and question fundamental archival concepts and change ways of doing things. That said, we know that systemic change is necessary in order for true reconciliation to happen. Meaningful change will take time and this framework acknowledges that fact.

On behalf of the ACA Board of Directors, I would like to thank all members of the taskforce for the many years of hard work that went into preparing this framework. I encourage all members to read this profound document, which is available on the SCCA website<https://archives2026.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/reconciliationframeworkreport_en.pdf>.

Sincerely,

Anna Gibson Hollow, Vice-President ACA Board

Big Data at the Margins A series hosted by the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western University January 27, 2022

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 16:45:40 GMT

Big Data at the Margins A series hosted by the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western

Featuring: Jonathan Dewar, Sofia Locklear, and Jason Lewis
Hosted by: Joanna Redden

27 January 2022, 7:00PM

Free Registration: https://westernuniversity.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IfDrjNyVQ0Sxei06AYA2Ow

How do Indigenous peoples claim sovereignty over their data and information, and work to transform the very means, methods and values through which “data” is defined and disseminated? How can the exercise of Indigenous data sovereignty and broader computational empowerment enhance and inspire Indigenous identities, representations and futures? How can “data” be Indigenized? Why should settler scholars, organizations, and individuals learn about, support, and respect Indigenous data sovereignty?

The fifth and final event in our Big Data at the Margins series examines the growing movement of Indigenous scholars and activists working to challenge the ethical, legal, and cultural impacts of the colonial imposed and externally mandated forms of data collection about Indigenous peoples and to center the generation of autonomous Indigenous data values and computational visions. Indigenous peoples know all too well the potential harms to well-being, politics and culture that can come from the imposition of settler-colonial data-informed policies. But even while nation-states around the world, including Canada, “commit” to enact the provisions in The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), implementation of these provisions continues to rely on data collection by statistical agencies of nation states, NGOs and commercial interests. Uninformed by Indigenous priorities and values, these ‘scientific’ data practices inevitably reinforce the treatment of Indigenous groups as “populations” not as sovereign “peoples” with legitimate claims to their lands, cultures, and resources, including information. In addition to demanding custody and control over externally generated Indigenous data, advocates for Indigenous data sovereignty call for the re-design, collection, dissemination and use of “data” itself, and for the empowerment of Indigenous peoples to define and imagine their own narratives and futures. Autonomous data practices and broader computational skills are vital to Indigenous political and cultural autonomy.

Our internationally recognized group of panelists will guide us through a discussion of the centrality of Indigenous data sovereignty and computational empowerment to Indigenous health, identity, politics and futures. Jonathan Dewar (Métis), the Executive Director of the First Nations Information Governance Centre, is a recognized leader in healing and reconciliation and Indigenous health and well-being education, policy, and research. Sofia Locklear (Lumbee), assistant professor at Western University, has worked with the Urban Indian Health Institute, a Tribal Epidemiology Center serving urban Native communities across the US and specializes in Indigenous evaluation methodologies. Jason Lewis (Hawaiian, Samoan) is the University Research Chair in Computational Media and the Indigenous Future Imaginary at Concordia University and co-directs the Indigenous Futures Research Centre and the Aboriginal Territories in Cyberspace Research Network.

Reopening Fund for Heritage Organizations: DEADLINE EXTENDED to November 29, 2021

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 12:58:25 GMT

This funding will help heritage organizations that have felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as they reopen and safely welcome back visitors.

Not-for-profit organizations with a heritage collection, such as museums, archives, galleries and historic sites, may be eligible to receive funding. Indigenous organizations with a heritage collection are also encouraged to apply. Organizations can receive between $1,000 and $100,000 in reopening support.

For full details on program eligibility and information on how to apply, please visit Reopening Fund for Heritage Organizations: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/museums-assistance/reopening-fund-heritage-organizations.html.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted through the new Canadian Heritage Funding Portal: https://pch-financement-funding.canada.ca/en-CA/ (CHFP). In order to apply through the portal, you will need to complete a three-step online application process.

1 – Create a User Profile

The individual that sets up the Applicant Profile and registers the organization should be the Authorized Representative, someone with signing authority for your organization. The Authorized Representative will be considered the signatory on the application form.

2 – Register your Organization

To register your Organization, you will need the following documents:

Proof of your organization’s legal status (letters patent/incorporation documents, partnership agreements, constitution, bylaws or other recognized documentation); if your organization is an unincorporated association without any by-laws or a constitution, you can attach a copy of meeting minutes or a list of your controlling members.
Direct Deposit Enrollment Form, stamped by a financial institution or accompanied by one supporting document (a void cheque, banking letter, or management letter). Direct Deposit Enrollment Forms can be downloaded from the portal.

3 – Submit an Online Application Form

To complete your MAP Reopening Funding Application, you will need the following documents:

•Proof of signing authority (bylaws, constitution, Board resolution or other document)

•Financial Statements from 2019 or last completed pre-pandemic fiscal year (audited if available)

Apply as soon as possible as funds are limited.

Our team is available to assist you with the new process from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

Telephone: 1-866-811-0055

TTY (Teletype for the hearing impaired): 1-888-997-3123

Email: PCH.info-info.PCH@canada.ca

Mike Steinhauer: mike.steinhauer@pch.gc.ca

(il | he/him)

Manager, Heritage Programs

Heritage Group

Department of Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada

Cell: 873-354-5715

PA2021_MAP_Infographics-NewClosingDate_EN.pdf

MAP - Tips and Tricks - EN FINAL.docx

“Consultation on how to implement an extended general term of copyright protection in Canada”.

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 14:56:38 GMT

February 23, 2021

Dear Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Minister Steven Guilbeault :

I write to you on behalf of the Association des archivistes du Québec, the Association of Canadian Archivists, and the Canadian Council of Archives, to protest the extremely short deadline for stakeholders to present comments to the “Consultation on how to implement an extended general term of copyright protection in Canada”. These three organizations represent the Canadian archival community through its institutions and the members of its English and French-language professional associations.

The issues involved in this consultation are complex and are of extremely high importance to the entire Canadian archival community. A deadline of less than four weeks for submission of comments is completely inadequate, given the complexity of the issues involved – including the implementation of term of protection extension, Orphan Works, and Crown Copyright. We must have enough time to seriously consider the options presented in the consultation document, to consider other possibilities, and to consult appropriately with our community. There is also the added complication that we are presently in the midst of global pandemic when communication is more difficult. We question the urgency, given that final decisions are not required until 2022.

We urge you to immediately extend the deadline to something more realistic, that will also allow all stakeholders to proceed in a reasonable and transparent way towards the deadline for implementation of the CUSMA term extension.

Nancy Marrelli

Special Advisor-Copyright/Conseillère spéciale, Droit d’auteur Board of Directors/Comité de direction Canadian Council of Archives/Conseil canadien des archives

130 Albert Street, Suite 1912 Ottawa ON K1P 5G4

Tel: (613) 565-5445 Fax: (613) 565-5445 Cell: (514) 804-8118 http://www.archivescanada.ca/

Cc Erica Hernández-Read, President, Association of Canadian Archivists

Frédéric Giuliano, Président, Association des archivistes du Québec

Joanna Aiton-Kerr, Chairperson/Présidente, Canadian Council of Archives/Conseil canadien.des archives

Call for submissions to the ACA 2021 Student Voices session now open!

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 16:00:34 GMT

Submissions are now open for the Student Voices session at ACA 2021!

Are you an archives or information studies student with an idea that you want to share with the community? Have you written a paper or conducted research you would like to take to the next level? Do you want to build your skills in public speaking and improve your resume? The ACA 2021 Program Team wants to hear from you!

Three submissions from this call will be selected by the Program Team. Successful applicants will receive a monetary award and complimentary conference registration. Submissions not selected for the awarded session may be considered for the general program.

The deadline for submissions is February 8, 2021

Find the submission details and application form at the 2021 conference page, or take a look at this call as an infographic!

Sincerely,

Grant Hurley on behalf of the ACA 2021 Program Team

Reminder: 2020-2021 Call for nominations: Inscriptions to the Canada Memory of the World Register

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 15:20:24 GMT

In collaboration with its Canadian Advisory Committee for Memory of the World, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) is pleased to launch the fourth Call for Nominations for inscriptions on the Canada Memory of the World Register. This Register recognizes significant documentary heritage related to Canada and its peoples, and is one of the vehicles of the UNESCO Memory of the World Program which aims at preserving and providing access to documentary heritage as the embodiment of the memory of humanity.

In recognition of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024, CCUNESCO extends a special call for documentary heritage related to Black Canadians with the goal of increasing awareness of this community’s diverse cultures, history, and contributions to Canadian society.

We invite all individuals, private or public institutions, organizations and communities to consult CCUNESCO’s website for more information on this process. The deadlines for declarations of interest are December 04, 2020 and March 1, 2021.

ACA 2021 Call for Submissions - Deadline Extended!

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 18:14:32 GMT

For those of you thinking about submitting to the ACA's 2021 virtual conference, there is good news: the gift of time! The call for submissions is now extended to November 30, 2020.

We hope this extension provides some space to bring your ideas (or busy colleagues) together, and we can’t wait to see your submission! Of course, we are happy to continue to receive proposals before the deadline – and many thanks to those of you who have sent one in already!

You can find all the details and the submission form here: https://archivists.ca/2021/

And as always, please reach out to program.team@archivists.ca if you have any questions.

Best,

Grant

Grant Hurley
Conference Program Team Chair, 2021

COVID-19: The duty to document does not cease in a crisis, it becomes more essential.

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 14:55:00 GMT

Earlier this year, the International Council of Archives adopted a position statement calling government, institutions, and industry to properly document their decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The statement is built on three principles: decisions must be documented, records and data should be secured and preserved in all sectors, and the security, preservation, and access to digital content should be facilitated during the shutdown.

The Covid-19 pandemic serves as a reminder that the duty to document is a central tenet of democracy: it was important before the pandemic, remains crucially important during the pandemic, and will continue when the situation resolves. As we enter the second wave of the pandemic here in Canada, decision-makers should be able to refer back to their decisions and policy documents from a few months back to inform decisions for today and tomorrow. Just like the records from the 1918 influenza pandemic are helping us deal with Covid-19 today, the records from the current pandemic will help society deal with future pandemics.

We, the board members of the Association of Canadian Archivists and the Association des archivistes du Québec, call on government, institutions, and industry in Canada to use their positions of leadership to properly document decisions, to secure and preserve those decisions and the data on which they are based, and to ensure their long-term preservation and access for the future members of our society.

COVID-19 : Bien documenter : un devoir plus que jamais essentiel en période de crise

Plus tôt cette année, le Conseil international des archives a adopté une déclaration appelant les États, les institutions et les entreprises à bien documenter leurs décisions pendant la pandémie de Covid-19. La déclaration repose sur trois principes : les décisions doivent être documentées, les dossiers et les données doivent être sécurisés et préservés dans tous les secteurs et la sécurité, la conservation et l’accès au contenu numérique doivent être facilités pendant le confinement.

La pandémie de Covid-19 permet de rappeler que le devoir de documenter est un pilier de la démocratie : ce pilier était important avant la pandémie, il demeure extrêmement important pendant la pandémie et continuera de l’être lorsque la situation se résorbera. Alors que nous entrons dans la deuxième vague de la pandémie ici au Canada, les personnes en position de décision devraient pouvoir se référer à leurs décisions et aux documents de politiques d’il y a quelques mois pour éclairer leurs décisions d’aujourd’hui et de demain. Tous comme les dossiers de la pandémie d’influenza de 1918 permettent maintenant de gérer la pandémie de Covid-19, les dossiers liés à la situation actuelle aideront la société à gérer les pandémies à venir.

Nous, les membres des conseils d’administration de l’Association canadienne des archivistes et de l’Association des archivistes du Québec, appelons les gouvernements, les institutions et les entreprises au Canada à exercer leur rôle de leader en documentant leurs décisions, en sécurisant et en préservant ces décisions et les données qui les sous-tendent et en assurant leur préservation et leur accès à long terme pour les membres de la société de demain.

Royal Society of Canada - The Working Group on Archiving Research

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 13:54:57 GMT

Royal Society of Canada - The Working Group on Archiving Research

In late September 2020, the Royal Society of Canada formed a working group that is focused on archiving research related to COVID-19. This group will release a policy brief in late 2020. On October 6, 2020, the Globe and Mail published an initial OpEd that outlines the concerns of historians and archivists with regard to collecting, managing, preserving and accessing records related to COVID-19. Their work will consider federal funding programs and identified limitations to preserving records created and collected to provide insight into this pandemic building on expertise from the 1918-1919 flu pandemic, SARS and H1N1 among many other health crises Canadians have faced.

To that end, the Steering Committee on Canada's Archives is seeking your input with regard to COVID-19 records and projects. Information collected will be used to inform the policy brief which will be disseminated widely to decision makers in Canada.

For more information about the Working Group, see here<https://rsc-src.ca/en/working-group-archiving-research>.

For a link to the first OpEd published by members of the Working Group, see here<https://rsc-src.ca/en/voices/will-covid-19-become-21st-century%E2%80%99s-forgotten-pandemic>.

To complete the short survey, see here<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RSC-SRC>.

The survey will be open until November 2, 2020.

Thank you,

Joanna Aiton Kerr

Chair, SCCA

**********

Société royale du Canada - Le groupe de travail sur la recherche en matière d'archivage

Vers la fin septembre 2020, la Société royale du Canada a formé un groupe de travail qui se concentre sur la recherche en matière d'archivage liée à la COVID-19. Ce groupe publiera une note de breffage à la fin de l'année 2020. Le 6 octobre 2020, le Globe and Mail a publié un premier article d'opinion qui présente les préoccupations des historiens et des archivistes en ce qui concerne la collecte, la gestion, la préservation et l'accès aux documents liés à la COVID-19. Leurs travaux porteront sur les programmes de financement fédéraux et sur les limites de la préservation des documents créés et recueillis afin de donner un aperçu de cette pandémie en s'appuyant sur l'expertise acquise lors de la pandémie de grippe de 1918-1919, du SRAS et du H1N1, parmi les nombreuses autres crises sanitaires auxquelles les Canadiens ont été confrontés.

À cette fin, le Comité directeur sur les archives canadiennes sollicite votre contribution en ce qui concerne les dossiers et les projets relatifs à la COVID-19. Les informations recueillies seront utilisées pour alimenter la note de breffage qui sera largement diffusée auprès des décideurs au Canada.

Pour plus d'informations sur le groupe de travail, voir ici<https://rsc-src.ca/fr/le-groupe-de-travail-sur-la-recherche-en-matiere-darchivage>.

Pour un lien vers le premier article d'opinion publié par les membres du groupe de travail, voir ici<https://rsc-src.ca/fr/node/4848> (disponible en anglais seulement).

Pour remplir le court sondage, voir ici<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RSC-SRC>.

Le sondage sera disponible jusqu'au 2 novembre 2020.

Merci,

Joanna Aiton Kerr

Présidente du CDAC

Latest In the Field Blog Post

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 14:45:00 GMT

The ACA Communications Committee is pleased to announce the latest blog has been published and is available online here: https://www.archivists.ca/Blog/9305323, written by Claire Williams and Jasmine Charette. Their post discusses the contribution of social media in academic and professional conferences, and on the particular activities of the different social media platforms during the ACA 2020 conference.

François Dansereau

ACA In the Field Editor

Archiviste principal / Senior Archivist

Archives des jésuites au Canada / The Archive of the Jesuits in Canada 25, rue Jarry ouest Montréal (Québec) Canada H2P 1S6 http://archivesjesuites.ca<http://archivesjesuites.ca/>

Je reconnais que cet endroit où je vis et je travaille est situé en territoire autochtone, lequel n'a jamais été cédé. Je reconnais la nation Kanien'kehá: ka comme gardienne de ces terres et de ces eaux. Tiohtiá: ke / Montréal est historiquement connu comme un lieu de rassemblement pour de nombreuses Premières Nations, et aujourd'hui, une population autochtone diversifiée, ainsi que d'autres peuples, y résident. Je suis reconnaissant de pouvoir travailler dans cette communauté, sur ce territoire.

I acknowledge with respect that the place where I live and work is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien'kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of these lands and waters. Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. I am grateful to work in this community, on this territory.

ACA Equity Task Force: Equity Statement and Commitments

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 18:00:00 GMT

Following the ACA annual conference, the Equity Task Force continued their work planned for 2020-2021. The Task Force submitted their work early and the ACA Board of Directors held a special meeting in September and approved these Equity Commitments.

The ACA will continue to report on the status of these Commitments and regularly review and reassess equity work as a critical component of current and future strategic planning.

We thank members of the ACA’s Equity Task Force for their contributions and expertise in helping the association incorporate equity into its current and future work

ACA Board of Directors

ACA Call for Volunteers

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 18:49:07 GMT

A dynamic and responsive professional association changes everything.

Join our community of volunteers to help the ACA deliver on its commitments to build a professional community through creative, comprehensive, and engaging programs and services.

The ACA is looking for a Virtual Host who will build a team of 4-6 volunteers to support the delivery of the 2021 annual conference. This is a key position that requires a volunteer who is comfortable with videoconferencing and other digital platforms. The 2020 team created capacity and best practices; the new chair will work closely with ACA staff and board to build on this good work to deliver a successful conference experience for our 2021 participants.

We are also looking for volunteers to serve on the following ACA standing committees:

Communications is looking for volunteers to assist with the ACA’s social media, blog, website, and newsletter. This is a great opportunity for new and seasoned professionals with strong written communications skills to work with the ACA on a variety of services and initiatives.

Education is looking for volunteers with a keen interest in continuing education for the archives and recordkeeping profession. The committee is in the process of developing a professional development strategy that will include the roll out of online programming to serve professionals at all stages of their careers. This is a great opportunity for mid-career professionals who have a good understanding of the changing profession and/or an interest in online course development and delivery.

Governance is embarking on a major project to review and refresh all ACA policies to align with the new association bylaw (passed in 2020). This is a good opportunity for volunteers with non-profit management experience and/or an interest in equity, governance, and ethics.

Membership is looking for volunteers to help with three main projects: (1) a review and refresh of member benefits; (2) the planned expansion of the mentorship program; and (3) strengthening the student chapter program. This is a perfect committee for those who are interested in working with new members and/or student members.

The ACA believes that a professional and intellectual community is enriched and enhanced by diversity along a number of dimensions, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity and national origins, gender and gender identity, sexuality, class and religion. We are especially committed to increasing committee participation by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) professionals. We encourage applications from ACA members at any stage of their careers and from all backgrounds.

ACA volunteers must be members in good standing and typically commit to a 2-year term. All volunteers agree to abide by the ACA Volunteer Code of Conduct. Volunteers are supported from start to finish by the ACA Board of Directors and Staff.

To apply for any of these positions, please submit your expression of interest by filling out our online form here: https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/aca_volunteer_form

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask either myself or Jo McCutcheon by email to executive.director at archivists.ca.

Rebecka Sheffield

Vice-President, ACA 2018-2021

ACA 2021 Call for Submissions - Virtual Conference - June 8-11, 2021

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 12:16:39 GMT

ACA 2021 Call for Submissions

Virtual Conference - June 8-11, 2021

Home improvement: Building archives through change

The keepers of memory have many homes. Whether your role is as an archivist, community organizer, records manager, researcher, storykeeper, or data curator, we live in many layered places at once. There are the institutional homes where we work as stewards and preservers, where we teach and learn, and where we provide services and consult and collaborate with our communities. We have professional homes embodied by associations, academic programs, collaborative networks, and informal meetups. And this year, much of our work is taking place in our physical homes at kitchen tables, in home offices, and backyards.

Homes require maintenance if they are to last and continue to meet the needs of those who live in them. They need more than a welcome mat if they are to be truly open to new members. And the idea of home itself needs flexibility when home is not a safe or stable place for everyone. Since this year’s ACA conference will take place virtually from wherever your home may be in June 2021, we ask you to reflect on the improvements we must make to our many homes.

Please review our Call for Submissions infographic for more details.

Deadline: November 16, 2020

Full call, submission details and form: https://archivists.ca/2021

Questions or concerns? Contact Program.Team@archivists.ca

CCPERB - Survey Deadline September 18, 2020

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 12:34:55 GMT

The ACA thinks this message from the Canadian Council of Archives and the National Archival Appraisal Board may be of interest to our members. The ACA will be submitting feedback to the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board on the updated monetary appraisal guidelines.

Deadline for input: September 18, 2020

Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CCPERB-CCEEBC

Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board (CCPERB) has issued new guidelines (dated July 31, 2020) that provide instructions for appraisers and applicants about the information required and recommended format for a monetary appraisal prepared in support of an application for certification submitted to CCPERB.

The National Archival Appraisal Board (NAAB) and the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) are seeking the input of monetary appraisers and archival institutions across Canada, regarding this updated guide.

Within an economic climate of budget restrictions and cutbacks, the purchase of valuable Canadian archival materials is prohibitive to most archives and limited to a small number of large Canadian archival institutions. As a result, we want to encourage the ongoing deposit of cultural property in Canada's archives, and ensure that Canadians continue to be eligible for tax incentives for the donation of archival materials.

We feel that this revised guide is an excellent opportunity for the archival community to identify and consolidate areas of serious concern regarding the archival monetary appraisal framework in Canada.

You may complete the survey in either English or French and it will take between 10 to 20 minutes to complete, depending upon the extent of input you are able to provide. A PDF of the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board Guide for Monetary Appraisal is attached to this message. The survey will also display each section of the guide (in purple) and ask if you agree or disagree with the content (in black), and if you have any feedback to provide. Please be as specific as possible.

We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

To review the document, see here.

Sincerely,

Karen L. Teeple

Chair, NAAB Board of Directors

Email: karenlteeple@gmail.com

Joanna Aiton Kerr

Chair, CCA Board of Directors

Email: Joanna.AitonKerr@gnb.ca

The Results are In!

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 12:20:01 GMT

The Results are In!

On behalf of the Governance Committee of the Association of Canadian Archivists, I am pleased to announce the results of our 2020 online vote.

Voter Turn-Out

33.2% of voting members participated in this historic vote, roughly three times the number of members who typically participate at our in-person AGM.

Bylaw #1 Passed

Individual Members voted overwhelming in favour of adopting new bylaw (99.2%) and endorsing a change to the ACA’s membership category. Institutional Members also voted unanimously to endorse the change to membership category. The new Bylaw #1 will now be the governing document for the association. For more information about this bylaw, please visit the ACA’s website: https://archivists.ca/ACA-2020-AGM-Bylaw-Review-and-Nominations-and-Elections-Policy

New Directors Elected

Members voted overwhelmingly to accept the slate of candidates as presented. The ACA is thrilled to announce our incoming board of directors:

Incoming President: Erica Hernández-Read

Erica Hernández-Read has been an archivist with the Northern BC Archives and Special Collections at the University of Northern British Columbia since 2006. She earned both her B.A. in Anthropology and her Master’s degree in Archival Studies from UBC and has spent the last 20 years working in the fields of archives and artifact collections management and advocating for a participatory and community-archiving approach to knowledge building. Ms. Hernández-Read is co-Chair of the Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce of the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives, and a member of the Indigitization Program Steering Committee.

Incoming Treasurer: Andrea McCutcheon

Andrea McCutcheon works as an Archivist at the University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services where she oversees the institution's records management program, acquires the school’s archival administrative records, and facilitates research access to the University of Toronto Archives. She has over ten years of experience working with corporate records in public and private institutions, and hold a Master of Information from the University of Toronto Faculty of Information (2011).

Incoming Director at Large: Andrew Chernevych

Andrew Chernevych is an Archivist at the Galt Museum & Archives in Lethbridge, Alberta. Prior to the Galt, he had worked as a contract archivist at the Provincial Archives of Alberta and was employed by the City of Wetaskiwin Archives. His holds an MA in History from the Central European University (CEU) and an MA in Folklore from the University of Alberta. Andrew has served on the Governance Committee since 2019. Over the last fifteen years, Andrew Chernevych has been involved with the Archives Society of Alberta (ASA), serving on various committees and currently finishing his term as ASA President.

Incoming Director at Large: Gillian Dunks

Gillian Dunks is Archives Arrangement and Description Librarian at McMaster University Library’s William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections, where she has worked since 2018. She holds a Master of Arts in English Literature and a Master of Archival Studies, both from the University of British Columbia. She currently serves on the ACA’s Education Committee and was previously on the executive team of the ACA student chapter at UBC. She looks forward to contributing to the governance of the Association.

Please note that start dates have been staggered to better plan for the transition to the ACA’s new bylaw, which amends term periods from calendar year to AGM dates. Starting with the 2021 elections, incoming directors will now begin their terms immediately following the AGM and serve for two years ending at their second AGM.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the vote. Thanks also to Michael Gourlie and Deirdre Bryden, who served as the 2020 Nominations Committee.

Sincerely,

Rebecka Sheffield

Chair, Governance Committee

Vice-President, 2018-2021

Indigenizing Archives and Recordkeeping: SAAKIPAKAAWI-PIISIM

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 23:07:01 GMT

It’s time for another email full of links to news articles, blog posts, videos, and podcasts to pertaining to Indigenous people, cultures, and issues.

For the year ahead, we’ll be connecting these emails with the Moose Cree lunar-based calendar; the month of June aligns with Saakipakaawi-piisim (Budding Moon), a time of year when the flowers are budding or blooming.

These links have been collected and are graciously provided by Alison Little, Senior Coordinator of Educational Programming and Exhibitions at the Archives of Ontario.

The list is provided for reference only and the ACA does not guarantee the accuracy or comprehensiveness of each resource, nor endorse a particular perspective. Our aim is only to provide opportunities for our members to learn more about Indigenous peoples and colonial issues.

Archiving and Language Documentation panel discussion (upcoming on July 11)

Victoria museum releases more than 16,000 historical images of Indigenous life (June 17)

Review of monuments sparks discussion of colonial narratives in N.L. history (June 16)

#BLACKLIVESMATTER and Archives in Australia (June 17)

Fishing with Elders builds these children’s Oji-Cree language, cultural knowledge and writing (June 15)

We Can Decide Where to Stand: Advocating for Aboriginal Priorities as Archivists and Information Workers(June 15)

Former Fort Smith Métis president says day school settlement forms 'misleading' (June 15)

Provincial police watchdog to start collecting race-based data (June 11)

Former employees of Canadian Museum for Human Rights say they faced racism, mistreatment (June 10)

Museum makes historic Indian Reserve Commission document accessible to public (June 10)

Indigenous Recordkeeping and Archives (June 8)

Black Lives Matter translation prompts calls for changes to Ojibway language (June 5)

Red Sky Performance offers wisdom, insight, and humour to inaugural session of the Wisdom Keeper Series (June 4)

Treaty session explores realities of the histories of Canada and Nation-to-Nation (June 3)

To Breathe Together: Co-Conspirators For Decolonial Futures (June 2)

Knowledge positions in Aotearoa and Turtle Island art museums (June 1)

Covid-19, the Numbered Treaties & the Politics of Life (June)

Ottawa’s move to block statistical reports on residential schools ‘modern day colonialism,’ says survivor.” (May 27)

Challenging Colonial Spaces: Reconciliation and Decolonizing Work in Canadian Archives (May 24)

The Records of Native American Boarding Schools from Archival Outlook (May/June 2020)

Dodds Prize Reminder

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 12:57:01 GMT

Dear Colleagues,

This message is a reminder to archival educators to submit student papers to the Dodds Prize before the end of the month.

The Dodds Prize recognizes superior research and writing on an archival topic by a student enrolled in a Master's level archival studies program at a Canadian university.

To be considered, a faculty member or instructor associated with the program must submit the student paper to verify that it was written within the context of an archival studies program between May 1, 2019 and April 30, 2020. Submissions must be received by June 30, 2020.

The submission form and procedures are available on the Archivaria website.

Submissions will be judged by the Dodds Prize Adjudication Committee on the quality of their scholarship, creativity and clarity of writing. The Adjudication Committee comprises the General Editor of Archivaria (or delegate), the ACA Board Liaison to Archivaria (or delegate) and two additional ACA members chosen annually by the General Editor. Delegates will be used in cases where a conflict of interest exists.

Winners will receive a certificate, a cash prize, publication of the winning entry in Archivaria and a listing on the ACA website.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact me.

All the best,

Shyla Seller

Managing Editor, Archivaria

The June 2020 Bulletin is Available - Reminder ACA AGM June 23, 2020 12:00 PM EDT Via Zoom

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 18:00:10 GMT

This year's Annual General Meeting will take place online at 12:00 EDT, Tuesday, June 23. We will use Zoom as the platform to support this year's presentation of reports, updates and motions.

The ACA Governance Committee has been focused on review and renewal of the ACA’s bylaw. The new bylaw will accomplish several tasks:

Clarify and codify existing practices
Remove outdated language and policy provisions
Better align with model bylaw recommended by the Canadian Not-For-Profit Act
Allow for full participation of members through virtual meetings and online voting
Provide greater benefits to institutional members

All active members will receive Zoom details. For more information on downloading Zoom, see here.

To register for the AGM, please click here. A reminder that your ACA membership should be active.

These reports and the guidelines will be discussed at the AGM via Zoom at 12:00 pm EDT.

Online voting will open for motions arising from this meeting and for Board positions following the meeting, June 23, 2020 and remain open until end of day June 30, 2020. Voting members should check that their email address is up to date and watch for an email from Simply Voting. You may need to adjust your spam filters to permit this message.

This year, Institutional members will also have a special resolution to consider their membership class and will also receive a notice to vote based on their identified contact in the ACA membership profile.

Please do not hesitate to contact the ACA office with any questions you may have. To review the Bulletin which contains the proposed By-Law #1 and all annual reports, see here. The agenda is also available for review.

The ACA Board of Directors

Loryl MacDonald, President

Rebecka Sheffield, Vice President

Jonathan Dorey, Treasurer

Jane Morrison, Secretary

Luciana Durant, Director-at-Large

Jeremy Heil, Director-at-Large

ACA Secretariat

Indigenizing Archives and Recordkeeping: ANIIKI-PIISIM

Fri, 29 May 2020 16:16:29 GMT

It’s time for another email full of links to news articles, blog posts, videos, and podcasts to pertaining to Indigenous people, cultures, and issues.

For the year ahead, we’ll be connecting these emails with the Moose Cree lunar-based calendar; the month of May aligns with Aniiki-piisim (Frog Moon), signalling the time of year when the frogs come out.

These links have been collected and are graciously provided by Alison Little, Senior Coordinator of Educational Programming and Exhibitions at the Archives of Ontario.

Indigenous Subject Headings Modification Project presentation by Marilyn Cameron from Red River College during a microlearning session hosted by Maskwacis Cultural College
Canada must improve COVID-19 data collection for Indigenous communities, minister says
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada adds audio recordings of some First Nations’ names to online community profiles to aid in pronunciation (note: these recordings appear to only be accessible through the database of First Nation communities, not the interactive map).
Epidemics and resilience: How the Algonquin have faced nearly 200 years of disease outbreaks and survived
‘It’s teaching time’: Children of survivors of past pandemics say there are things to be learned
Revitalizing a language, one video call at a time
Indigenous communities return to land to ensure adequate food supply during COVID-19 pandemic
Award-winning ‘Uncover/Recover’ project from the ROM and OCAD University goes live online
Heritage Toronto launches “Indigenous Roots: A Living History” as part of Heritage at Home initiative
Cole Pauls wrote an action-packed comic to help preserve Indigenous language
COVID-19 numbers from provincial, First Nations data sharing agreement won't be made public without consent
Elder digs into Spanish Flu history for lessons to fighting COVID-19
Wet'suwet'en agreement outlines steps for transferring control of territory to traditional leadership
'Literary Auntie' Janet Rogers to launch Indigenous publishing house with new poetry collection
Aamjiwnaang First Nation helps at-home learners take in Anishinaabe teachings
Lieux de rencontres / Hanging Out, an online exhibit featuring Indigenous youth in Quebec
Online Indigenous art workshop bringing community and creativity together
Nokiiwin Tribal Council release authentic cultural lessons for children to learn at home during COVID-19 pandemic

Reopening the Archives

Thu, 14 May 2020 22:05:34 GMT

As the COVID-19 crisis evolves, archives across Canada are now considering how to prepare for reopening after an extended period of closure. Archives and records professional are just beginning to understand how this closure has changed the nature of their work, temporarily and permanently, and what effect this pandemic will have on the profession as a whole.

The Impact of Closures on Archives and Archivists

We understand that many of our members have been personally affected by the emergency order to close archives. Some institutions have decided to delay contract renewals, resulting in temporary or permanent job losses for the most vulnerable and precariously employed. There have also been salary adjustments, reduced hours, and in some cases, layoffs of staff in a variety of positions.

There is now a real desire to reopen and begin serving our communities again. This cannot be done, though, until the safety and health of staff, volunteers, researchers, and visitors are considered. Resuming services, however limited or modified, will be risky and difficult. Any decision should be based on government and public health advice and must take into account the needs of staff first and foremost.

Knowing When It Is Safe to Reopen

Recovery planning will differ across the country, depending on local needs and regional risk factors. Any decision to reopen will also take into account the particular needs of the institution. The ACA urges directors, funders, and policymakers to consider a range of public health, safety, financial, and operational considerations before making a decision to reopen. These considerations might include:

1. Clear and Unambiguous Public Health and Safety Guidelines

Governments and public health authorities should provide clear and unambiguous guidelines for managing social interactions for service organizations. This would include, for example, guidance on how staff should interact with each other, including any modifications to facilities that will reduce the likelihood of virus transmission. This might include:

adding plexiglass dividers between workstations
staggering staffing to limit the number of staff in the office at one time
opening later and/or closing early to allow staff time to perform routine sanitization measures
providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to staff who interact with the public
allowing staff to work from home where possible and appropriate

Recovery plans should also provide clear measures to implement when serving members of the public to reduce risk of infection. This might include:

limiting the number of researchers allowed into reading rooms
ensuring 2-metre distance between research stations
offering special hours for vulnerable populations, e.g., seniors and other high-risk groups
providing limited in-person services
providing enhanced chat or email research services
reducing opportunities to handle physical materials
eliminating the use of cash money to pay for services
providing personal hygiene products such as hand sanitizer and/or disposable gloves and masks to visitors
allowing adequate time between records retrieval, records use, and re-shelving to reduce likelihood of virus transference (i.e., implement a records quarantine period)
permitting self-serve photography or scanning (e.g., the use of cell phones or hand-held scanners) to allow researchers to ‘take home’ images of records for further off-site study and minimize staff time spent in the reading room

There continues to be conflicting reports of the risk of virus transmission on surfaces or by cross-contamination through handling objects. For up to date information on caring for physical collections during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the Canadian Conservation Institute at: https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/caring-heritage-collections-covid19.html

Any archives unable to reopen because of an inability to comply with safety guidelines should be eligible for emergency support during an extended period following the end of the emergency order to close to ensure future operations.

2. Reassuring the Public

The ACA anticipates a long period of adjustment during which time archives will need strong public support and a focus on alternative service delivery methods to ensure continued operations. There has never been a more critical need for increased digital access to collections and virtual outreach programs. Staff may decide to refocus efforts on digitization and digital innovation.

3. People-First Approach

The ACA encourages a people-first approach to planning for a reopening. Just because the archives can be reconfigured to safely reopen does not mean that its people are prepared. Planning should consider:

The availability of staff. Some staff may be unavailable due to ill health or isolation. Some may be at home caring for children or other dependents and will not be able to fully return to work until plans can be made to re-open schools and other care facilities. Staff in large institutions may have been redeployed to other areas of the organization. If staff have been lost due to layoff or contracts ending, they will need to be brought back into the institution. Depending on the services provided, archives may need fewer or, in some cases, more staff to meet health and safety guidelines.

The availability of volunteers. Some archives rely on volunteers, many of whom are retirees, to contribute to the management of the organization and delivery of services. Planning for reopening should take into account the needs of volunteers who may or may not wish to return to service immediately or in the medium-term.

Even if staff and volunteers are available, planning should also consider the broader impact COVID-19 has had and will continue to have on the mental health of staff and volunteers. Many people have been personally impacted by the virus, either falling ill themselves or caring for a loved one. Some will have lost family members, friends, or loved ones to the virus. Planning should account for those who are not able to return to full-time work or are struggling to manage workload. The mental health of staff and volunteers needs to the greatest priority for everyone as archives reopen to a ‘new normal.’

Involving Archives and Records Professionals in Planning

The ACA urges government, directors, funders, and policymakers to recognize the value of archives in Canada. Archives do not function without records professionals. Therefore, archivists and recordkeepers should be included in any planning activities to reopen the archives. ACA members and the broader profession are strong advocates for documentary heritage, access to information, accountability, and community histories. Archivists want to serve their communities and the public. Let’s make sure that this is done safely and with health of staff, volunteers, researchers, and visitors top of mind.

Finally, the ACA encourages all archives and archivists to share openly their plans for reopening with the larger community of practice. We are all in this together and can learn from one another during this unprecedented time.

Sincerely,

The ACA Board of Directors

* Thanks to the Museum Association for paving the way with its statement on reopening UK Museums. See: https://www.museumsassociation.org/news/04052020-reopening-the-museum-sector-ma-statement

Archivaria 89 is now online

Mon, 11 May 2020 19:15:59 GMT

Dear Archival Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Archivaria 89 (Spring 2020) is now available online at https://archivaria.ca/. It will also be available on Project Muse within the coming days. The print issue is in production and will be mailed to members and subscribers in the next few weeks. Canada Post is reporting delays to their service and this may affect when members receive their printed copies.

All Archivaria content is currently available to everyone without any restrictions. After June 30, 2020, we will be implementing a new embargo policy, by which access to articles included in the most recent two issues (instead of the last eight issues) is going to be restricted to members and subscribers.

With this issue, you'll also notice things have changed a bit on our website. In recent weeks, we upgraded the journal to a more responsive, mobile-friendly version of Open Journal Systems (OJS).

A huge thank you to the authors who have contributed to the new issue, to the Archivaria Editorial Team, and to the ACA office staff for all the hard work it takes to put an issue together.

Happy reading!

Fiorella Foscarini, General Editor

Deadline Extended to 8 May 2020 - Nominations for the ACA Board Niominations

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 14:00:37 GMT

Nominations for the ACA Board of Director Elections

Deadline Extended to 8 May 2020

Online Form

The Nominations Committee, a sub-committee of the Governance Committee is seeking nominations for (4) ACA Director (Board) positions that are up for election at the ACA Annual General Meeting that will take place online Tuesday 23 June 2020, 12:00 EDT via Zoom.

Nominations are requested for the following positions:

·         President (2 year term)
·        Treasurer (2 year term)
·        Director at Large 1 (2 year term)
·     Director at Large 3 ( 2 year term)

The term of office for these positions is two years and may begin following the AGM and election in July 2020.

See here for a full description of the board positions and the time required for each elected position.

You may download the nomination form for signature here and submit your nomination form, online using the link below:

https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/aca_elections__bod__nominations

See also the ACA Nominations and Elections Policy here.

Directors must be individual members in good standing. Their nomination must be supported by five (5) ACA members. Those nominated must also provide a brief biography that will be made available to ACA members in advance of the AGM, will be posted on the ACA website and available on the electronic ballot.

Questions should be directed to Deirdre Bryden and Michael Gourlie from the Governance's nominating committee at nominati ons@archivists.ca.

The deadline for nominations is 8 May 2020.

nominations@archivists.ca

J.M. McCutcheon

executive.director@archivists.ca

Indigenizing Archives and Recordkeeping: NISKI-PIISIM

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 14:25:54 GMT

It’s time for another email full of links to news articles, blog posts, videos, and podcasts to pertaining to Indigenous people, cultures, and issues.

For the year ahead, we’ll be connecting these emails with the Moose Cree lunar-based calendar; the month of April aligns with Niski-piisim (Canada Goose Moon), signalling the return of migratory birds to Northern Ontario and the start of the annual spring goose hunt.

These links have been collected and are graciously provided by Alison Little, Senior Coordinator of Educational Programming and Exhibitions at the Archives of Ontario.

Call for Nominations: ACA Board of Directors Deadline: April 24, 2020

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 13:24:49 GMT

The Nominations Committee, a sub-committee of the Governance Committee is seeking nominations for 4 (four) ACA Director (Board) positions that are up for election at the ACA Annual General Meeting. This year's AGM will take place online Tuesday 23 June 2020, 12:00 EDT via Zoom. ACA members in good standing can RSVP here and you will be emailed information and meeting details.

Nominations are requested for the following positions:

President
Treasurer
Director at Large 1
Director at Large 3

The term of office for these positions is two years and may begin

following the AGM and online election in July 2020.

See here for a full description of board positions and the time required for each elected position. You may download the nomination for for signature here and submit your nomination form online using the link below:

https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/aca_elections__bod__nominations

See also the ACA Nominations and Election Policy here.

Directors must be individual members in good standing. Their nomination must be supported by 5 (five) ACA members in good standing. Those nominated must also provide a brief biography that will be made available to ACA members in advance of the AGM, will be posted on the ACA website and available on the electronic ballot.

The ACA welcomes more diverse and inclusive representation in the composition of its Board and encourages the nomination of all qualified individuals including women, members of racialized communities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

Questions should be directed to Deirdre Bryden and Michael Gourlie from Governance's nominating committee at nominations@archivists.ca.

The deadline for nominations is 24 April 2020.

Nominations and submission link here:

ACA 2020: Decision to Move In-person Conference Online

Sat, 21 Mar 2020 00:07:54 GMT

In light of the current situation with regards to COVID-19, we wish to provide an update concerning the status of the Association of Canadian Archivists’ annual conference scheduled for June 10-13, 2020 in Vancouver.

The Board, in consultation with the Program and Host teams, has decided to cancel the in-person conference. We are currently working with all of our speakers to provide instead a virtual conference. This decision to provide an online conference was made to recognize the work already done by the Program Committee and the speakers who committed to delivering quality content. We also acknowledge our members’ desire for excellent professional development opportunities.

The conference workshops will go ahead at a later date outside of the virtual conference. We believe this will provide more opportunities for everyone to attend more workshops, while minimizing screen time!

Further conference program and workshop details will be announced in the coming weeks.

In agreement with the Archivaria Board, we are also pleased to announce that we have opened Archivaria to everyone until June 30, 2020.

We are all disappointed with not going to Vancouver this year. Rest assured that we are working on plans to return in 2022, after ACA 2021 in Charlottetown.

We thank you for your understanding and look forward to seeing you virtually. Best wishes to you during these difficult times.

Sincerely,

ACA Board of Directors

ACA 2020 Program and Host Team Chairs

Indigenizing Archives and Recordkeeping: MIKISIWI-PIISIM

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 20:05:37 GMT

After a brief hiatus, we are happy to share another post full of links to news articles, blog posts, videos, and podcasts pertaining to Indigenous people, cultures, and issues. These links have been collected and are graciously provided by Alison Little, Senior Coordinator of Educational Programming and Exhibitions at the Archives of Ontario.

For the year ahead, we’ll be connecting these emails with the Moose Cree lunar-based calendar, where new year begins in March with Mikisiwi-piisim (Eagle Moon). The moon of March signals the return of the first migratory birds (those with talons), and with them the start of a new annual cycle.

Media Indigena: When Coronavirus and Colonialism Collide (ep. 201)

https://mediaindigena.libsyn.com/when-coronavirus-and-colonialism-collide-ep-201

First Nations artists, business owners promote their work online amid COVID-19 social distancing

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/artists-business-covid19-online-1.5500768

COVID-19 concerns, closures have families and communities heading out on the land

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/covid-19-tradition-land-medicine-1.5500973

Tribunal orders Canada to compensate parents who lost children in care

https://aptnnews.ca/2020/03/16/tribunal-orders-canada-to-compensate-parents-who-lost-children-in-care/

SmartICE: Supporting Inuit knowledge of the landscape with technology

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/indigenous-remains-repatriation-efforts-1.5489390

‘A nightmare scenario’ — Indigenous communities are bracing for COVID-19

https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2020/03/13/a-nightmare-scenario-indigenous-communities-are-bracing-for-covid-19.html

The Government of Canada Consults with Indigenous Peoples on the Implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/the-government-of-canada-consults-with-indigenous-peoples-on-the-implementation-of-the-indigenous-languages-act-895483757.html

Sewing, seal stew and stories: Inuit women in Ottawa gather to share traditions

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/isaruit-inuit-sewing-centre-1.5489197

A Métis Royal Rumble: Identity, Politics & The Failure Of Our Leadership

https://yellowheadinstitute.org/2020/03/10/a-metis-royal-rumble-identity-politics-the-failure-of-our-leadership/

When multiple First Nations lay claim to ancient Indigenous remains, how does repatriation get sorted?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-remains-repatriation-consensus-1.5488750

Indigenous youth co-develop a new way to measure their health

http://cmajnews.com/2020/03/06/indigenous-app/

Government of Canada partners with Tłı̨chǫ First Nation to protect culturally important land in the Northwest Territories

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-partners-with-tlicho-first-nation-to-protect-culturally-important-land-in-the-northwest-territories-851971347.html

965 Indigenous artifacts found in Kitchener during road construction

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/kitchener-indigenous-artifacts-1.5485132

The blockades no one talks about devastate Indigenous economies

https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/the-blockades-no-one-talks-about-devastate-indigenous-economies/

Wet’suwet’en: a wake-up call for Canada

https://nowtoronto.com/news/wetsuweten-canada/

'Reconciliation is dead and it was never really alive': Jesse Wente

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jesse-wente-metro-morning-blockades-indigenous-1.5475492

Indigenous MPPs: Why we won’t sing ‘God Save the Queen’ at Queen’s Park today

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/02/24/indigenous-mpps-why-we-wont-sing-god-save-the-queen-at-queens-park-today.html

'Reconciliation Is Dead,' Says MPP Sol Mamakwa After Tyendinaga Arrests

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/reconciliation-is-dead-sol-mamakwa-tyendinaga_ca_5e542d50c5b66729cf60728c

‘Historic’ meeting between Mohawk and Wet’suwet’en Nations occurs in Kahnawake

https://aptnnews.ca/2020/02/22/historic-meeting-between-mohawk-and-wetsueweten-nations-occurs-in-kahnawake/

Elected Mohawk Chiefs call for Canada to respect traditional leadership and “see beyond the Indian Act”

https://realpeoples.media/elected-mohawk-chiefs-call-for-canada-to-respect-traditional-leadership-and-see-beyond-the-indian-act/

A pipeline offers a stark reminder of Canada’s ongoing colonialism

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/13/pipeline-offers-stark-reminder-canadas-ongoing-colonialism/

Yolanda Bonnell's bug is an enthralling journey into Indigenous women's lives

https://nowtoronto.com/stage/theatre/yolanda-bonnell-s-bug-manidoons/

Putting the RCMP raid on the Wet’suwet’en in historical perspective

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/02/11/putting-the-rcmp-raid-on-the-wetsuweten-in-historical-perspective.html

Indigenous languages are seeing a dramatic revival through the arts

https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/indigenous-languages-are-seeing-a-dramatic-revival-through-the-arts

Partnerships form to repatriate cultural items

https://anishinabeknews.ca/2020/02/05/partnerships-form-to-repatriate-cultural-items/

New wave of voices on #Indigenous TikTok

https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2020/02/01/new-wave-of-voices-on-indigenous-tiktok/#.XjdBSV5vrBI.twitter

The breathtaking hypocrisy of the howls for "rule of law"

https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/february-2020/the-breathtaking-hypocrisy-of-the-howls-for-rule-of-law/

‘Institutionalized racism’ behind over-representation of Indigenous people in prisons

https://aptnnews.ca/2020/01/29/institutionalized-racism-behind-over-representation-of-indigenous-people-in-prisons/

Indigenous water activist Autumn Peltier challenges politicians during World Economic Forum

https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/indigenous-water-activist-autumn-peltier-challenges-politicians-during-world-economic-forum-1.4777341

Suspended: Metis Nation of Ontario out of national council, but is the decision valid?

https://windspeaker.com/index.php/news/windspeaker-news/suspended-metis-nation-ontario-out-national-council-decision-valid

ACA 2020 Conference Contingencies and COVID-19 - Update

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 13:45:36 GMT

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the current situation with regards to COVID-19, we wish to provide an update concerning our annual conference scheduled for June 10-13, 2020 in Vancouver.

We are currently exploring all options for the conference, including moving the conference to a virtual delivery format, postponing the conference to a later date or, if need be, cancelling it. The Board is meeting weekly to reassess the situation and takes into account first and foremost the health and safety of all our members and delegates, but also the feasibility of people to travel out of province or internationally and the financial obligations of the ACA thus far.

The Board, in consultation with our Host and Program Committees Teams as well as U.B.C., will communicate its decision to members and conference participants on April 2nd.

Until then, we ask that you refrain from registering or making travel arrangements. Full refunds will be made at your request if you have already paid.

We thank you for your understanding and wish you well during these difficult times.

Sincerely,

ACA Board of Directors
2020 Program and Host Committees

It’s Time to Close the Archives

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 15:50:13 GMT

With growing global spread of COVID-19, the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) is concerned about the health, safety and well-being of archivists and recordkeeping professionals. It’s time to close the archives to the public and allow staff to make decisions about where to safely continue their work.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Canada’s Chief Medical Officer of Health have urged all Canadians to practice social distancing to limit the spread of the virus. In response, many schools have now closed, and universities and colleges have moved classes online. These precautionary efforts are proactive and prioritize the safety of students, staff and faculty. At this time, there is little benefit to allowing researchers to physically access archives and special collections. It’s time to suspend in-person visits and encourage staff to work from home where appropriate.

In many locations across Canada, public services have been suspended or curtailed, including public library services. The ACA strongly encourages the closure of all public archives, museums, local history rooms, and historical sites as an additional proactive measure.

The ACA acknowledges that any closure or reduction of services will disproportionately affect student workers, contract staff and hourly workers who may lose wages or access to benefits during this time. The ACA encourages employers to consider any and all opportunities to allow for remote work. Possible projects include: [1]

Administrative work, such as:

developing or revising policies, workflows, or manuals
continuing committee work via phone or teleconference
updating emergency planning protocols and continuity planning
cleaning up shared work drives by standardizing file names, organizing files, and deleting duplicates, etc.
researching new and emerging technologies applicable to collections management

Collections work, such as:

auditing collections for EAD- and/or RAD-compliant descriptions and outdated/oppressive language, importing/encoding legacy finding aids
cleaning descriptive data, such as finding aids, catalog records, and database descriptions (e.g., running spell check, populating fields, building templates)
exploring ways to share your collections in aggregators or linked data repositories, such as your provincial and territorial network, WorldCat, ArchiveGrid, SNAC
adding information from your collections to Wikipedia and Wikidata, or uploading images to Wikimedia Commons, or transcribing documents in Wikisource
identifying collections for digitization and planning out each project
transcribing/translating digitized handwritten documents (e.g, diaries, correspondence, etc.)
creating libguides or research guides
reviewing digitized content for quality control
archiving web content using either the Wayback Machine or Webrecorder
maintaining and cleaning up website, checking for alt-text in images and doing accessibility audits

Reference and outreach work, such as:

answering reference requests as appropriate and possible
creating FAQs or “ready reference” answers
engaging with users online through social media platforms
drafting, scheduling and writing blog posts
researching writing and recording podcasts or video tutorials

Staff development work, such as:

reaching out to hourly and student workers to ensure that they are able to submit timesheets electronically
arranging for regular phone calls/email check-ins with staff and volunteers
inviting fellow workers to collaborate on a project
researching and writing grants to support projects or scholarly research
learning a new skill, such as API, python, etc.
attending to annual performance evaluations or reviewing professional goals
completing applications for professional support and funding

If staff continue to work from office buildings, they should continue to follow good health and safety practices. Where possible, remain at least two arms lengths from other people, wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your face. Do not work in an unsafe environment.

For up-to-date information about COVID-19, visit Infection Prevention and Control Canada at: https://ipac-canada.org/coronavirus-resources.php or call the Coronavirus Hotline at: 1-833-784-4397.

We appreciate that the global COVID-19 pandemic is increasingly worrisome and that mitigation efforts will require significant adjustments. In these challenging times, we remain ready to advocate for archives and recordkeeping professionals. We also acknowledge the strength of our professional community and the good will that characterizes ACA membership. Let’s keep this community safe and healthy so that they can care for our important documentary heritage now and in the future.

Sincerely,

ACA Board of Directors

[1] Thanks to the SAA Accessibility and Disability Section for compiling this list of work tasks and projects that archivists can do remotely. For more ideas, visit the Section’s growing google resource page here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16ubmmTtJ7oCjbUFI_75fqG9J62pul9dg_RCd4au4tMw/mobilebasic

ACA 2020 Conference and COVID-19

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 17:11:19 GMT

Dear Archival Colleagues:

Because of concerns about COVID-19, the Association of Canadian Archivists has received questions about the status of our June conference. We share your concern and have been monitoring developments on COVID-19. We want you to know that the ACA’s 45^th Annual Conference will continue as planned at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, 10 to 13 of June.

We will continue to monitor the situation and re-evaluate as may be needed. We recognize that some universities have issued statements on academic travel and we will work to determine how to manage these statements and advisories.

Our top priority is the health and safety of our members, speakers, exhibitors and other conference attendees. Health Canada authorities continue to provide strong assurances that Vancouver is a safe city to visit and that the risk to Canadian travelers coming to Vancouver remains extremely low.

The ACA assures you that your safety is our priority. We are committed to offering you the best in professional development and the invaluable opportunity to spend time with your archival colleagues. We hope you’ll join us in Vancouver this June.

Best Regards,

Loryl MacDonald, ACA President

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COVID-19 Resources

The following list provides you with links to the most accurate and updated information on COVID-19.

BC Centre for Disease Control

Health Canada – Travel Advisories

Government of Canada: COVID-19

World Health Organization

Archivaria's Dodds Prize open for nominations: Deadline June 30, 2020

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 19:46:22 GMT

The Dodds Prize recognizes superior research and writing on an archival topic by a student enrolled in a Master's level archival studies program at a Canadian university.

The submission form and procedures are available at https://archivaria.ca/index.php/archivaria/archivaria-awards#Dodds-submission

Winners will receive a certificate, a cash prize, publication of the winning entry in Archivaria and a listing on the ACA website.

I encourage archival educators to make your students aware of this award, and to keep the award in mind while you're grading papers. Papers must be between 5,000 and 8,000 words and written on an archival topic.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact me.

All the best,

Shyla Seller

Managing Editor, Archivaria

2019-2020 Call for nominations: Inscriptions to the Canada Memory of the World Register

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 14:59:22 GMT

In collaboration with its Canadian Advisory Committee for Memory of the World, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) is pleased to launch the third Call for Nominations for inscriptions on the Canada Memory of the World Register. This Register recognizes significant documentary heritage related to Canada and its peoples, and is one of the vehicles of the UNESCO Memory of the World Program which aims at preserving and providing access to documentary heritage as the embodiment of the memory of humanity.

We invite all individuals, private or public institutions, organizations and communities to consult CCUNESCO’s website for more information on this process. The deadline for declaration of interest is March 16, 2020.

The Secretariat

Young Canada Works Program - March 1, 2020 Deadline

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 14:44:14 GMT

The Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) would like to remind colleagues in the archival community and the library community (libraries operating in English) that the 2020 campaign for the Young Canada Works (YCW) internships is underway, and that there are only a few days left before the deadline. The YCW program is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage in support of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

Archival institutions as well as libraries operating in English are able to apply online for internships via the YCW official web site (http://young-canada-works.canada.ca).

The deadline to submit your internship applications to CCA is March 1st, 2020.

The Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage program permits an employer to hire a college or university graduate. The job must provide full-time hours (minimum 30 hours per week) for a minimum of 16 weeks and end at the latest on March 31st, 2021.

Please visit our web site (http://www.archivescanada.ca/YCW) for information and for access to the Employer Guide and online application.

If you have any questions concerning your internship application in the archival field, do not hesitate to contact Louise Charlebois at ycw_jct@archivescanada.ca.

If you have any questions concerning your internship application as a library operating in English, do not hesitate to contact Jameyn Arboleda at ycw-cla@archivescanada.ca.

2019-2020 Call for nominations: Inscriptions to the Canada Memory of the World Register

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 21:40:38 GMT

Shared on behalf of The Secretariat (CCUNESCO)

Young Canada Works Applications Deadline for Summer Projects is January 15, 2020

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:13 GMT

Canadian Council of Archives would like to remind colleagues in the archival community and the library community (libraries operating in English) that the 2020-2021 campaign for the program Young Canada Works (YCW) is underway.

There is now less than one week left to submit your applications for summer jobs.

Archival institutions as well as libraries operating in English are able to apply online for both summer projects and internships via the YCW official web site.

Please visit their web site (http://www.archivescanada.ca/YCW) for more information. You will find the links for the program's Guidelines and application forms on the YCW website (young-canada-works.canada.ca).

IMPORTANT: The application deadline for the summer projects is January 15, 2020.

The application deadline for the internships is March 1, 2020.

Please advise us if you are experiencing any technical difficulties while completing your application.

If you have any questions concerning your application in the archival field, do not hesitate to contact Louise Charlebois at ycw_jct@archivescanada.ca

If you have any questions concerning your application as a library operating in English, do not hesitate to contact Jameyn Arboleda at ycw-cla@archivescanada.ca

Indigenizing Archives and Recordkeeping: MNIDOONS GIIZIS

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 15:28:24 GMT

Season's greetings in the month of Mnidoons Giizis. Please find below another collection of links to news articles, blog posts, videos, and podcasts pertaining to Indigenous people and colonization issues of relevance to archives and cultural heritage. As you can see, there is a lot going on! These links have been collected and are graciously provided by ACA member Richard McKibbon. If you have resources to add, please let us know!

In the Ojibwe calendar, this is the month of Mnidoons Giizis -- Big Spirit Moon. The thirteenth moon of Creation is a time of healing. Its purpose is to purify us, and to heal all of Creation, a process which may take a three month long spiritual journey. During this time, we receive instructions on the healing powers of the universe and transform into our own vision of the truth.

If you’d like to learn more about Indigenous languages and the moon cycle, you can check out this resource from the Ontario Native Literacy Coalition: https://onlc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/13-Moon-curriculum2.pdf

Is reconciliation a peaceful process?

https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/is-reconciliation-a-peaceful-process

Listening to Anishinaabemowin: the Voice of Mnidoo Mnising

http://activehistory.ca/2019/11/listening-to-anishinaabemowin-the-voice-of-mnidoo-mnising/

Ontario Will Honour Privacy of Name Changes

https://www.indiantime.net/story/2019/11/14/news/ontario-will-honour-privacy-of-name-changes/33024.html

Thousands of historical seeds preserved by the Onondaga Nation Farm

https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/lifestyle/thousands-of-historical-seeds-preserved-by-the-onondaga-nation-farm-GCPODwK3bE-JEXAY6cTYrg/

'So darn cute:' Indigenous artists and memers embrace Star Wars series' Baby Yoda

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/baby-yoda-indigenous-art-memes-1.5382902

Ottawa accused of 'stalling tactics' over mercury treatment facility

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/12/03/news/ottawa-accused-stalling-tactics-over-mercury-treatment-facility

Ottawa must resolve First Nations child welfare case: Jody Wilson-Raybould

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-ottawa-must-resolve-first-nations-child-welfare-case-jody-wilson/

Federal Court denies Ottawa's attempt to pause First Nations child welfare compensation order

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/federal-court-tribunal-child-welfare-1.5378933

'Things are shifting': Tanya Talaga sees change in Thunder Bay

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/culture-curriculum-community-thunder-bay-schools-pushing-back-against-racism-1.5374287/things-are-shifting-tanya-talaga-sees-change-in-thunder-bay-1.5376230

'A chance to see who we really are': Six Nations builds own stock image library

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/six-nations-indigenous-stock-images-1.5377995

New York Times article on Inuit draws backlash for reliance on stereotypes

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/challenging-media-stereotypes-of-indigenous-people-1.5358798/new-york-times-article-on-inuit-draws-backlash-for-reliance-on-stereotypes-1.5358801

Colonialism as Genocide in Slow Motion – Canadian Partnership for International Justice 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qAQW_KLHZQ

Resolution Reached In Gravehouse Dispute

https://www.ckdr.net/2019/11/20/resolution-reached-in-gravehouse-dispute

First Nations water forum sends clear message to new Liberal government

https://aptnnews.ca/2019/11/21/first-nations-water-forum-sends-clear-message-to-new-liberal-government/

Jane Philpott takes on a new role with Nishnawbe Aski Nation

https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2019/11/21/jane-philpott-takes-on-a-new-role-with-nishnawbe-aski-nation.html

Hollywood gets Indigenous consultation right in Frozen 2, Sami experts say

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/frozen-2-consultation-sami-1.5370801

Red Man Laughing podcast (Ryan McMahon) – 10 Lost Moments in Indigenous Cinema History

https://www.redmanlaughing.com/listen/2019/11/red-man-laughing-10-lost-moments-in-indigenous-cinema-history

Lynn Beyak is back on the Senate payroll after suspension over letters condemned as 'racist'

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tasker-lynn-beyak-back-on-senate-payroll-1.5374559

Archaeology unearths proof of huge 1285 meeting

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/archaeology-unearths-proof-of-huge-1285-meeting-565452942.html

Toronto is getting a new Indigenous health centre

https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2019/11/30/toronto-is-getting-a-new-indigenous-health-centre.html

Moose Cree First Nation gets $100,000 for food co-op feasibility study

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/moose-cree-first-nation-food-co-op-feasibility-study-stan-kapashesit-1.5387228

Warm wishes for the holiday season and office news

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 21:30:00 GMT

Thank you for your past and continued support of the ACA. We are looking forward to an exciting year in 2020 and to continue our work to highlight activities and initiatives in our communities.

We will be meeting at the University of British Columbia for our Annual Conference and the Program Team has a Draft of the At-a-Glance program ready.You can also book your accommodation for UBC.

The Communications Committee has also launched our online newsletter, Scope and Content and the next issue will appear on January 7th, 2020. Our new Blog, In the Field was also launched this week and the next blog will appear on the 21st of January.

We are continuing our membership campaign and hope that if you have not had a chance to renew, you will do so for the New Year.

As announced earlier this month, members will no longer have to pay for a print copy of Archivaria, effective the Spring 2020 edition.

Members are asked to update their profile so that we can ensure that you will receive a print copy of the Spring 2020 edition of Archivaria. Members who do not wish to receive a print copy can choose to opt-out.

Students, who currently benefit from a modestly priced three-year membership will continue to exclusively access Archivaria online.

The office will be closed from December 23rd and reopen the 6th of January.

On behalf of the ACA Secretariat, the ACA Board of Directors and the Archivaria Editorial Board - Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

Dear {Contact_First_Name

Draft At-a-Glance is ready for your holiday reading and conference planning

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 18:05:24 GMT

What do humpback whales and archivists have in common? They will both be migrating to Canada’s West Coast in June 2020! The humpbacks will join us for the cool waters and tasty fish, while the archivists will venture to the coast for thought-provoking plenaries, inspiring conversations, and perhaps a few cool beverages with colleagues and friends.

The Program Team is pleased to announce the Conference At-a-Glance for ACA 2020. We hope you will be as excited as we are about the program. We encourage you to join us next year where the mountains meet the sea, to envision the future of the archival profession.

Emily Lonie,

Program Team Chair, ACA 2020 @UBC

Program.Team@archivists.ca

ACA 2020 Call for Student Proposals: Deadline January 31, 2020

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 03:08:08 GMT

Are you an archival or information studies student with an idea that you want to share with the community? Are you researching a paper and would like to take it to the next stage? Are you honing your public speaking skills or looking for ways to enhance your CV?

The ACA 2020 Program Team invites *STUDENT* proposals that offer perspectives from the lenses of archival theory and practice, as well as related disciplines.

Three student proposals will be selected for a dedicated Student Session that will take place on Saturday June 13th.

Please review the Call for Student Submissions *INFOGRAPHIC* for more details.

See attached or visit
https://create.piktochart.com/output/40594267-aca-2020-call-for-student-submissions

To apply, visit:
https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/studentpapersubmissions
Deadline: *JANUARY 31st, 2020*

Looking forward to seeing everyone next year at the University of British Columbia!

Emily Lonie
Chair, ACA 2020 Conference Program Team
Program.Team@archivists.ca

https://archivists.ca/Annual-Conferences

Announcement to ACA Individual and Institutional Members about Print Archivaria

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 21:51:24 GMT

Dear ACA Members,

We are very pleased to announce that members will no longer have to pay for a print copy of Archivaria, effective the Spring 2020 edition.

During the Strategic Planning Process, members made clear that a print copy of Archivaria is an important benefit of membership that online access does not provide.

Students, who currently benefit from a modestly priced three-year membership will continue to exclusively access Archivaria online.

The ACA Board of Directors is grateful for the outstanding work that the Archivaria Editorial Board has done under the leadership of former General Editor, Jennifer Douglas and current General Editor, Fiorella Foscarini.

On behalf of the ACA Board of Directors.

ACA 2020 Mentorship Program - Deadline December 6, 2019

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 16:31:23 GMT

On behalf of the ACA Membership Committee:

Dear Archivists and Students,

The Association of Canadian Archivists is happy to announce that registration is open for members to participate in the ACA Mentorship Program.

The Mentorship program has become one of the ACA’s most popular programs since its inception in 2003. The goal of the ACA mentoring program is to facilitate the integration of new archivists into the Canadian archival community by matching them with mentors who may advise and guide them on work and career management issues.

Any ACA member who is a student of archival studies, recent graduate of archival studies, or has recently entered the archival profession, is invited to sign up for a mentor from the Canadian archival community.

Archivists, who are members of the ACA, and who have been active in the profession for at least five years, are encouraged to apply to mentor a student or new archivist.

Please consider becoming a mentor or a mentee in 2019-2020. The online forms and more information about the program are available at https://archivists.ca/Mentorship.

Please note that the deadline for applications is December 6, 2019.

Leslie Thomas-Smith

Mentorship Coordinator,

ACA Membership Committee

mentorship.program@archivists.ca

ACA 2020 Call for Posters - Deadline: February 15, 2020

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 18:17:14 GMT

To have vision is to have the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. What does the future have in store for the archival profession?

Join us next year in Vancouver, where the mountains meet the sea, to
envision the future of the archival profession.

The ACA 2020 Program Team invites *POSTER* proposals that offer
perspectives from the lenses of archival theory and practice, as well as
related disciplines.

Please review the Call for Posters *INFOGRAPHIC* for more details. See
attached or visit
https://create.piktochart.com/output/42465681-call-for-posters

To apply, visit: https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/call_for_posters

Deadline: *FEBRUARY 15, 2020*

Looking forward to seeing everyone next year at the University of British
Columbia!

Emily Lonie

Chair, ACA 2020 Conference Program Team

Program.Team@archivists.ca

Call for Volunteers to Serve on New Diversity and Inclusion (D+I) Task Force

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 15:03:40 GMT

On behalf of the ACA Board and Committee Chairs, I am pleased to report that the ACA has struck a Diversity and Inclusion (D+I) Task Force with a mandate to develop and recommend a D+I Action Plan.

What is a D+I Action Plan?

We know that the future of the archives and recordkeeping profession requires a diversity of experiences, skills, and perspectives. To build this capacity, we need to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive profession now. The ACA is committed to this capacity building and cultural change. We want to integrate equity, diversity and inclusion considerations into all of our programming and to support our members from all backgrounds. We seek to build a professional association that can provide national leadership on equity, diversity and inclusion as it relates to archives and recordkeeping, and we desire a community of members who feel confident in allowing us to take that leadership role. A D+I Action Plan will provide us a strategic roadmap for moving the ACA forward.

At its November meeting, the ACA Board has struck a D+I Task Force with a mandate to develop and recommend a D+I Action Plan that aligns with the ACA’s strategic priorities and is:

Staged over four years with the intention of regular review and revision (rolling 4-year);
Established benchmarks that take into account available resources;
Implementable across all ACA committees and governance structures; and
Provides working definition for D+I concepts and strategies relevant to the archives and recordkeeping profession.

How Can You Participate?

The ACA Board has appointed Rebecka Sheffield as the interim chair of the D+I Task Force. Rebecka is looking for volunteers to serve on this Task Force and invites expressions of interest until December 20, 2019. The intention is to build a Task Force that will begin its work in the new year.

The ACA Board is fully supportive of D+I initiatives and principles. We also recognize that this is important and critical work that will require thoughtful strategic considerations and tremendous persistence. While we encourage all ACA members to consider joining this Task Force, the Board is particularly interested in members who have experience working in equity, diversity and inclusion programming or initiatives. We are also seeking members with experience working in conflict resolution and non-profit management. We will consider expressions of interest from non-members who have demonstrated a desire to work with the ACA to improve its programming and to better serve archives and recordkeeping professionals at any stage of their careers and from all backgrounds.

Please submit expressions of interest here: https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/aca_task_force_volunteer

For more information about the ACA and its programs and services, please visit: https://archivists.ca

Questions and comments can be sent directly to Rebecka at: vicepresident@archivists.ca

- Rebecka, VP (2018-2021)

Young Canada Works, 2020-2021 Campaign Has Launched

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 14:31:27 GMT

All archival institutions, as well as libraries operating in English, are now able to apply online through the Canadian Council of Archives for both summer projects and internships via the YCW official web site. Please note, the YCW website has not yet been updated by Canadian Heritage but it will be soon.

Please visit CCA’s web site (http://www.archivescanada.ca/YCW) for more information as well as the link to the program's application forms found on the YCW website (https://young-canada-works.canada.ca/).

The Canadian Council of Archives is pleased to announce that the 2020-2021 campaign for the program Young Canada Works (YCW) for heritage organizations has launched. This program is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH), supporting the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

All archival institutions, as well as libraries operating in English, are now able to apply online through the Canadian Council of Archives for both summer projects and internships via the YCW official web site. Please note, the YCW website has not yet been updated by Canadian Heritage but it will be soon.

Please visit CCA’s web site (http://www.archivescanada.ca/YCW) for more information as well as the link to the program's application forms found on the YCW website (https://young-canada-works.canada.ca/).

IMPORTANT:

· The application deadline for the summer projects is January 15th, 2020.

· The application deadline to submit applications for internships to CCA is March 1st, 2020.

If you have any questions concerning your application in the archival field, do not hesitate to contact Louise Charlebois at ycw_jct@archivescanada.ca

If you have any questions concerning your application as a library operating in English, do not hesitate to contact Jameyn Arboleda at ycw-cla@archivescanada.ca

Indigenizing Archives and Recordkeeping: Mnidoons Giizisoonhg

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 15:30:00 GMT

Beginning this month, ACA will now host regular Indigenizing Archives and Recordkeeping posts (previously posted to Arcan-L). These posts are full of links to news articles, blog posts, videos, and podcasts pertaining to Indigenous people and colonization issues of relevance to archives and cultural heritage. As you can see, there is a lot going on! These links have been collected and are graciously provided by ACA member Richard McKibbon. If you have resources to add, please let us know!

In the Ojibwe calendar, this is the month of Mnidoons Giizisoonhg – Little Spirit Moon. The twelfth moon of Creation is the Little Spirit Moon, a time of healing. By receiving both vision of the spirits and good health, we may walk the Red Road with purest intentions, and we can share this most positive energy with our families and friends for the good of all.

Archive photo exhibit captures Indigenous strength, connections in difficult times [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/turning-the-lens-indigenous-archive-project-1.5319055

Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation seeks to repatriate more than 100 cultural objects from Smithsonian Institute [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/alexis-nakota-repatriation-smithsonian-1.5344488

Yukon First Nations aim to preserve, revitalize their languages through video [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-first-nations-language-revitalization-preservation-videos-1.5316423

Nuxalk delegation travels to Royal B.C. Museum to talk about bringing history home [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/nuxalk-royal-b-c-museum-meeting-1.5318376

Land Back: A Yellowhead Institute Red Paper [Click Here]

https://redpaper.yellowheadinstitute.org/

First Nations paranormal hunters scour Six Nations for spirits [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5342341

MEDIA INDIGENA: Ep. 180: Is the Green Movement Still Too White? [Click Here]

https://mediaindigena.libsyn.com/ep-180-is-the-green-movement-still-too-white

A Year of Inaction: Ontario Education and the TRC [Click Here]

http://activehistory.ca/2019/11/ontario-education-and-the-trc/

First Nation, environmental groups seek leave to appeal pipeline ruling [Click Here]

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/11/06/news/first-nation-environmental-groups-seek-leave-appeal-pipeline-ruling

Turtle Island News publisher says newsroom intentionally set on fire [Click Here]

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/11/02/news/publisher-says-newsroom-intentionally-set-fire

Time for Justin Trudeau to embrace a radical agenda [Click Here]

https://nowtoronto.com/news/justin-trudeau-election-climate-change-/

Robinson-Huron Treaty annuities case enters phase two [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/robinson-huron-treaty-annuities-phase-two-1.5323002

MEDIA INDIGENA: Ep. 182: An Indigenous Post-Election Post-Mortem (Pt. 1) [Click Here]

https://radiopublic.com/media-indigena-indigenous-curren-G7o97a/s1!31957

Reconciliation Book Club: Unsettling Canada [Click Here]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3tv9AOdXWE

New generation of Indigenous elders 'coming out of the dream of colonization' [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/new-generation-of-indigenous-elders-1.5339853

BC's Declaration Act explained [Click Here]

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/11/08/opinion/bcs-declaration-act-explained

Indigenous people pin hopes on Jagmeet Singh in minority government [Click Here]

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/10/21/news/indigenous-people-pin-hopes-jagmeet-singh-minority-government

Why one N.W.T. teen is suing the Canadian government over climate change inaction [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-teen-suing-canadian-government-climate-change-1.5336582

Meet Activist Autumn Peltier: The Young “Water Warrior” Making A Splash [Click Here]

https://therising.co/2019/10/04/meet-activist-autumn-peltier-the-young-water-warrior-making-a-splash/

'How do you not see your people in these Indigenous youth?': Couple working to decolonize classrooms [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/indigenous-couple-decolonize-classrooms-regina-1.5100973

Concern and confusion as police approach people who testified at MMIWG inquiry [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/mmiwg-inquiry-police-followup-1.5335784

The literal – and literary – futures we build [Click Here]

https://briarpatchmagazine.com/articles/view/the-literal-and-literary-futures-we-build

They Hid Him from Residential School, He Grew to Be Chief [Click Here]

https://thetyee.ca/News/2019/10/30/Residential-School-To-Chief

Western separatism would have to face treaty nations, say First Nations leaders [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/wexit-treaty-first-nations-1.5340070

Windsor Indigenous artist's hand-made jewelry to be featured in Vanity Fair UK [Click Here]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/indigenous-artist-jewelry-vanity-fair-1.5341646

ACA 2020 Mentorship Program - On Behalf of the Membership Committee

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 16:18:16 GMT

The Association of Canadian Archivists is happy to announce that registration is open for members to participate in the ACA Mentorship Program.

Archivists, who are members of the ACA, and who have been active in the profession for at least five years, are encouraged to apply to mentor a student or new archivist.

Please consider becoming a mentor or a mentee in 2019-2020. The online forms and more information about the program are available at https://archivists.ca/Mentorship.

Please note that the deadline for applications is December 6, 2019.

Leslie Thomas-Smith

Mentorship Coordinator,

ACA Membership Committee

mentorship.program@archivists.ca

October 31, 2019 Deadline - Support the ACA - Call for Standing Committee Members

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 15:16:28 GMT

The ACA is continues to seek members to volunteer to serve as committee members as part of the leadership team that creates the strategic direction of the Association. There are leadership opportunities on standing committees, including Awards, Advocacy, Communication, Governance, and Membership.

For more information or to submit an expression of interest, visit Volunteer with Us.

Awards

Do you have good knowledge of archives and records professionals across Canada?
Can you recognize good work and talented professionals?
We are looking for 4 members to help us identify and recognize ACA fellow members as part of the ACA Awards Program.

Communication

Do you enjoy meeting new people and working to build a strong community?
We are looking to build a Membership team that will help build the ACA's new membership management system and work together to ensure members take advantage of all association benefits.

Governance

Do you want to contribute to ACA's good governance?
Do you have non-profit and/or management experience?
Governance is looking for 2 members to join the 2020 team
Previous ACA volunteer experience is an asset to this role.

Membership

Do you enjoy meeting new people and working to build a strong community?
We are looking to build a Membership team that will help build the ACA's new membership management system and work together to ensure members take advantage of all association benefits.

How to Apply

The ACA is a member-driven association for archives and records professionals across Canada and abroad. All Individual Members are encouraged to participate in ACA activities. Positions will remain open until filled.

For more information about the ACA and its leadership opportunities, or to send us an expression of interest, please contact: vicepresident@archivists.ca or call (613) 234-6977.

The ACA believes that a professional and intellectual community is enriched and enhanced by diversity along a number of dimensions, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity and national origins, gender and gender identity, sexuality, class and religion. We are especially committed to increasing committee participation by members from groups that have been historically underrepresented in the records and archives profession. We encourage participation from ACA members at any stage of their careers and from all backgrounds.

Together we can build a strong ACA and enrich the archives and recordkeeping profession for the benefit of all.

Positions will remain open until filled.

Deadline Extended to November 4, 2019 - ACA Program Team and Education Commiitte - Workshop Proposals

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 15:07:57 GMT

The deadline to submit proposals has been extended to Monday, November 4, 2019.

The 2020 ACA Program Committee and the ACA Education Committee invite proposals for workshops relating to all areas of archival practice for the professional development workshop stream. Topics may include decolonizing archives, working with digital records, policy development, project management or any other skills you think might support your colleagues in their work. Proposals for half- or full-day workshops are encouraged.

Please submit your proposal at: https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/workshopsubmissions by end of day on November 4, 2019.

Contest: ACA Newletter Name and Communications Committee News

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 13:18:51 GMT

The ACA Communications Committee is preparing to re-launch a newsletter for the Association, as well as a new blog. The ACA Bulletin began as a paper newsletter in the early years of the Association’s existence, and in more recent years, was produced in electronic form as a PDF. In 2014 the Bulletin became a monthly blog on the ACA website. Changes in the ACA website took the blog functionality away for a period of time.

In order to meet the communication needs of the ACA and its members, the Communications Committee will be creating a monthly e-newsletter that will bring together news and association updates from the month, as well as articles that have been featured on the blog.

To mark the change in format, we are going to change the name of the newsletter…and this is where you come in! We are holding a contest to choose a new name. The Communications Committee will review the submitted suggestions and will choose their favourite three names; these top suggestions will then be sent to the ACA Board who will choose the winner.

Please send your suggestions to communications@archivists.ca by Friday, November 1, 2019.

The winning name will be revealed with the launch of the new e-newsletter at the end of November.

Get your creative juices flowing!

Call for Volunteers

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 15:39:00 GMT

The ACA is seeking members to volunteer to serve as committee members as part of the leadership team that creates the strategic direction of the Association. There are leadership opportunities on standing committees, including Awards, Advocacy, Communication, Education, Governance, and Membership.

For more information or to submit an expression of interest, visit Volunteer with Us.

Or download and share our flyer!

Positions will remain open until filled.

Larry Dohey

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 13:13:31 GMT

It is with profound sadness that the ACA has learned of the passing of Larry Dohey, archivist at The Rooms.

Larry was a remarkable ambassador for the archival community and for the history of Newfoundland and Labrador. Larry was not only a witty story teller and archivist but also a dear, wonderful friend to archival colleagues across the country. We will miss him very much.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - Association of Canadian Archivists' Annual Conference, 2020

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 13:39:24 GMT

20/20 VISION: SEEING ARCHIVES DIFFERENTLY

Vancouver, BC at the University of British Columbia

Dates: June 11 – 13, 2020

To have vision is to have the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. What does the future have in store for the archival profession? How will we as practitioners, academics, records creators, researchers, students, other users, and supporters define the role of archives in the years to come? Join us next year in Vancouver, where the mountains meet the sea, to envision the future of the archival profession.

The ACA 2020 Programme Committee warmly invites proposals for individual papers, full sessions, alternative formats, and professional development workshops.

Please review our Call for Submissions INFOGRAPHIC for more details and follow the links to apply.

Deadline: October 1, 2019

Looking forward to seeing everyone next year on Canada's West Coast!

Emily Lonie

Chair, ACA 2020 Conference Program Committee

Program.Team@archivists.ca

https://archivists.ca/Annual-Conferences

Congratulations to Dr. Ian Wilson

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 17:54:57 GMT

The Association of Canadian Archivists wishes to congratulate Librarian and Archivist of Canada Emeritus Ian E. Wilson on his promotion to Officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest honours.

Ian was recognized for his significant contributions to Canadian archives and for his published works on history, heritage, and information management.

He served as National Archivist of Canada, 1999 to 2004, and then as head of the newly amalgamated Library and Archives Canada until his retirement in 2009. His career spans many areas, including archival and information management, university teaching, and government service.

Ian holds three honorary doctorates, was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2003, and was appointed Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France. He is also a fellow of the Association of Canadian Archivists, the International Council on Archives, and the Society of American Archivists.

We are proud and delighted that Ian has received this most recent honour. Please join us in congratulating him on his promotion!

June 2019 Bulletin Available for Review

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 23:02:57 GMT

The Bulletin, June 2019 edition is online and available for members attending ACA in Toronto to review in advance of the Annual General Meeting on Saturday June 8th in the Churchill Ballroom, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, following the Closing Plenary. Members are encouraged to read all reports as they will be part of the AGM Agenda as will the document entitled, Guidelines for a Graduate Education in Archival Studies.

ACA Board of Directors and the ACA Education Committee

Congratulations to Leslie Weir on her Appointment as Librarian and Archivist of Canada

Thu, 30 May 2019 19:08:34 GMT

The Association of Canadian Archivists wishes to congratulate Leslie Weir on her appointment as Librarian and Archivist of Canada for a four year term effective August 30, 2019.

We are very excited that Ms. Weir will bring the expertise and knowledge gained as Chief Librarian of the University of Ottawa, president of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries, and president of the Ontario Library Association to her new role. We look forward to the impact that her outstanding record of innovation, leadership, and success will have on Library and Archives Canada and to working with her on issues of concern to the Canadian archival community.

Best Regards,

Loryl MacDonald, ACA President

2019 Slate of Nominees

Wed, 08 May 2019 20:00:00 GMT

On behalf of the ACA Governance Committee, I am pleased to announce the slate of candidates for the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) Board of Directors.

The ACA Board is comprised of seven (7) directors, as follows:

President (elected even years)
Vice-President (elected odd years)
Secretary (elected odd years)
Treasurer (elected even years)
Director-at-Large (internal relations) (elected odd years)
Director-at-Large (external relations) (elected even years)
Director-at-Large (Archivaria General Editor) (appointed annually)

With the exception of the Director-at-Large (Archivaria General Editor), each elected director serves for a period of 2 years, with the option to run for a second 2-year term.

Regular nominations have now closed; however, the ACA will accept nominations from the floor during the AGM on June 8, 4:30 p.m. at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto. A voting member in good standing may be nominated from the floor by any two (2) members in good standing, provided that the nominee indicate that they accept the nomination (in writing or in person at the time of nomination).

The will be no proxy ballots for the 2019 AGM. In accordance with the election and voting policy, elections will take place through an online vote immediately following the AGM. This will be open for 7 calendar days and will give members who are not able to attend the AGM an opportunity to vote in the annual elections.

Elections will open on June 9, 2019. Stay tuned for more details.

The Governance Committee has received 3 candidates for the available positions. Please find their bios below for your review.

Vice-President: Rebecka Sheffield

Rebecka Sheffield is a Senior Policy Advisor for the Information, Privacy & Archives Division (MGCS), where she part of a four-year transformation team tasked with modernizing recordkeeping, access and privacy management within the Ontario Public Service. Previously, she was appointed as Senior Lecturer at Simmons University, Boston, where she taught in the archives management concentration at the School of Library and Information Science. She was the first archivist to serve as the Executive Director of the ArQuives: Canada’s LGBTQ2+ Archives. Rebecka has been a member of the ACA since 2007, and has served on two program committees and as chair of the Strategic Planning Task Force. She is currently serving her first term as ACA Vice President, 2019-2019 and would like to be considered for a second.

Secretary: Jane Morrison

Jane Morrison is pleased to run for a second term as ACA Secretary. She has been a member of the ACA since 2005 and served as a member of the conference host team and program team twice. She is currently Associate University Archivist at the University of Victoria, where she has worked since 2005. Jane brings considerable leadership experience as a strategic planner and committee lead with both the national and provincial associations. She has held positions with AABC, including President, Vice-President, Secretary and Member-at-Large. Jane has been a principle leader in the ACA’s own strategic planning process and worked closely with the Membership and Outreach Committees.

Director-at-Large (Internal Relations)

Jeremy Heil has been the Digital and Private Records Archivist at Queen’s University Archives since 2001. He holds a Master of Archival Studies degree from the University of British Columbia and a B.A. (Honours) in History and Visual Arts from Brock University. Prior to working at Queen’s, he was employed as an archivist with the Chung Collection in Vancouver, and in the Private Records Section of the Provincial Archives of Alberta. He is former president of the Archives Association of Ontario, and has served on numerous committees locally, provincially and nationally over the years. He has taught workshops on electronic records, photographs and artworks in archives, and presented papers on various topics. Within the ACA, he has served as Chair of the Communications Committee, as a mentor, and most recently as Managing Editor of Archivaria. He is interested in shifting gears from his past work to take on a greater role in the governance of the Association, and looks forward to this opportunity to serve the ACA membership.

Notice of the ACA Annual General Meeting

Wed, 08 May 2019 19:00:00 GMT

The 44th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Canadian Archivists will take place June 8th, 16:30, at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, Ontario. The agenda will follow this notice closer to the meeting date.

Who Can Attend? Anyone is welcome to attend the AGM, but only eligible Individual Members are able to participate in votes.

What to Expect? The AGM is an opportunity for the Board, Committee Chairs, and Task Force Chairs to report on their activities over the past year. In addition, members may put forward motions to the Board that require member votes. This year, the ACA will also accept nominations from the floor for any of the three open board positions (Vice-President, Secretary, Director-at-Large).

Members will be asked to approve the minutes from the 2018 AGM. The 2020 budget will also be presented along with 2018 financial statements for ACA and the ACA Foundation. Materials will be provided as soon as they are available and prior to the AGM to provide time for review.

Elections. In accordance with ACA By-Law #2, nominations for directors has now closed and a slate of candidates will be made available for review under separate cover.

A voting member in good standing may be nominated from the floor by any two (2) members in good standing, provided that the nominee indicate that they accept the nomination (in writing or in person at the time of nomination).

There will be no proxy ballots for the 2019 AGM. In accordance with revised election and voting policies and procedures, elections will take place through an online vote immediately following the AGM. This will be open for 7 calendar days and will give members who are not able to attend the AGM an opportunity to vote in the annual elections.

The Governance Committee has committed to conducting a review of the 2019 AGM and elections to determine if the ACA by-law can and should be amended to support more efficient, effective and fair governance for the association.

Sent on behalf of the ACA Board of Directors

Nomination - Board of Directors - Deadline end of day today April 30th, 2019

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 14:39:10 GMT

The Nominations Committee, a sub-committee of the Governance Committee is seeking nominations for (3) ACA Director (Board) positions that are up for election at the ACA Annual General Meeting in Toronto on Saturday June 8th, 2019.

Nominations are requested for the following positions:

Vice President (2 year term)

Secretary (2 year term)

Director at Large (2 year term)

The term of office for these positions is the 2020 and 2021 calendar years.

Nomination forms should be completed and submitted by April 30th, 2019.

Nominations and questions should be directed to Andrew Chernevych or Deirdre Bryden from the Governance's nominating committee at nominations@archivists.ca

The deadline for nominations has been extended to April 30th, 2019.

The ACA Bylaws provides for nominations from the floor at the Annual General Meeting on the 8th of June at the Chelsea Hotel. An online vote will take place following the AGM.

Please contact Nominations Committee Members with any questions you may have or the ACA Executive Director.

Andrew Chernevych and Deirdre Bryden

nominations@archivists.ca

J.M. McCutcheon

executive.director@archivists.ca

Call for Nominations: ACA Awards

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 17:11:43 GMT

Do you know an archivist - or an ally to archives - whose work deserves recognition? Consider nominating them for an ACA Award!

The Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) is pleased to invite submissions for 2019 awards. In addition to existing awards, the ACA is excited to announce the creation of two new awards*: Advocacy and Outreach and New Professionals Award.

Details about the awards and their criteria can be found on the ACA Awards Committee website:

Please note that the criteria for the Fellows Award is currently under review and will not be awarded this year.

To nominate an ACA member for an award please fill out a nomination form. 2019 nominations close Tuesday, April 30th at midnight PST.

All awards will be announced at the ACA 2019 Conference in Toronto. The awards lunch will be on Friday June 7th, 2019 at the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto, Ontario.

Heather Dean, Awards Committee Chair

Nomination Deadline Extended to April 30, 2019 - Board of Directors

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 15:31:34 GMT

Nominations are requested for the following positions:

Vice President (2 year term)

Secretary (2 year term)

Director at Large (2 year term)

The term of office for these positions is the 2020 and 2021 calendar years.

Nomination forms should be completed and submitted by April 30th, 2019.

Nominations and questions should be directed to Andrew Chernevych or Deirdre Bryden from the Governance's nominating committee at nominations@archivists.ca

The deadline for nominations has been extended to April 30th, 2019.

The ACA Bylaws provides for nominations from the floor at the Annual General Meeting on the 8th of June at the Chelsea Hotel. An online vote will take place following the AGM.

Please contact Nominations Committee Members with any questions you may have or the ACA Executive Director.

Andrew Chernevych and Deirdre Bryden

nominations@archivists.ca

J.M. McCutcheon

executive.director@archivists.ca