Scope and Content Monthly ACA Newsletter
October 2025, Volume 6, Issue 10 |
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Click here if you are having trouble reading the newsletter.
The next Scope and Content will be published November 6, 2025. If you have any comments or feedback, please contact the Communications Committee.
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Summer is officially over, and the Board and committees are busy at work planning for the coming year. One of the things that we’re looking forward to next year is our virtual conference in June. We are excited to have a great Program Team in place under the leadership of co-chairs Jesse Carson and Alyssa Hyduk, to develop the conference theme and put out the call for papers. Keep an eye on the various ACA channels for more information! This fall we are also thinking ahead to the next in-person conference in 2027, to be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In preparation, Kyle and I took a quick trip to “The Peg” to visit different venues that could serve as our next conference location.During our whirlwind 32 hour stay in Winnipeg, we visited a total of 10 different potential locations to serve as conference venue, conference pub/restaurant, opening reception space and dinner/dance venue. This trip was made possible by Winnipeg Economic Development and Tourism (WEDAT) who sponsored and coordinated our travel and accommodations. Thank you to Maria Paletta who set up our itinerary and toured us through the various locations. Also, a huge thank you to Heather Bidzinski, ACA member and Chair of the Association for Manitoba Archives, who reached out to WEDAT and got this ball rolling for us. Both Heather and Maria were fantastic ambassadors for Winnipeg and their enthusiasm for the city has me excited to visit again in 2027. I will be sure to stock up on more Honey Dill sauce when I come back! Finally, as many of you may have heard, Dr. Gillian Leitch is no longer with the ACA. We thank Gillian for her contributions to the Association and wish her well in her future endeavours. During this transition, you may notice some delays in our programs and services, but please be assured that the Board and staff remain committed to supporting our members and ensuring continuity. Our priority in the coming weeks will be recruiting a new Executive Director. Thank you for your understanding as we move through this transition. Sincerely, Anna Gibson Hollow, President
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Call for Early Bird Prize Donations
The Membership Committee is seeking potential gift prizes for the Early Bird Prize draw. This annual draw is held in January and awarded from the pool of ACA members who renew early in the fall/winter months. If you or your institution would be willing to donate a prize, please let us know by contacting membership(at)archivists.ca |
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Indigenous Matters Committee Meeting on Oct. 17th
Greetings! The Indigenous Matters Committee is inviting all ACA members to join our next meeting on Friday, October 17th, from 13:00-14:00 EDT.
We would like to talk a bit about our current goals, and we welcome thoughts and ideas from all who attend. We also hope to attract some new members to the committee, to help us achieve our goals. We look forward to you joining us, please register for the event on Zoom. |
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ACA Hashtag Party
You're invited to the ACA Hashtag Party!
What is it? On the last Thursday of every month, the ACA Social Media Team organizes a hashtag party which takes place virtually on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and now Bluesky! There is a different theme for each month that is announced in advance on social media and ARCAN-L. On the day of the party, you can share materials in your collections related to that theme, tag us and use the hashtag, and we’ll re-share your post! The goal of these parties is to engage more with institutions across Canada, see what kinds of materials other institutions have, and promote weird, fun, and interesting items from your own collections.
What’s next? The next ACA Hashtag Party will take place on October 30th, 2025, and the theme will be #ArchivesWomensHistory.Do you have materials in your archives that you think no other archives is likely to have? This month’s ACA Hashtag Party is your chance to show off! We always say that archival materials are one of a kind, and for this month’s theme, we’re looking forward to seeing all the truly strange, unique, and wonderful items that comprise your collections. On the day, share your materials and tell us what they are – they might be so unique that we’ll need an explanation! Don’t forget to tag us and use the hashtag and we’ll be celebrating alongside you on social media to re-share your posts all day. #ACAHashtagParty #ArchivesWomensHistory
We are also looking forward to celebrating with you for the rest of the year. The dates and themes for the remaining ACA Hashtag Parties in 2025 are as follows:
Keep an eye on future issues of Scope and Content and on all our social media accounts to learn more about what each of these themes mean!
For any questions or feedback, or if you have initiatives that you would like the ACA Hashtag Party to support, please email us at communications(at)archivists.ca. |
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Ask an Archivist Day – October 16, 2025
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 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, by asking and answering questions all day. Just follow the hashtag to see what folks want to know about us! |
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Keep your ACA Member Profile up to date! We kindly ask all our members - both new and longstanding - to take a moment to log into the Association of Canadian Archivists website and update their member information. Keeping your profile current helps us stay connected and ensures you receive the latest updates, resources, and opportunities from the ACA community. Your engagement is key to our collective success!
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Carr McLean Discount Available for 2025
The Carr McLean
10% discount is available for both Individual and Institutional ACA
members for the entire membership year. This discount can be applied to
any order over $100 and is non-transferable. Contact the ACA President at acapresident(at)archivists.ca for the new discount code that will remain effective until December 31, 2025. |
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If you are interested in volunteering for one of these important roles, please contact John Richan at DAL1(at)archivists.ca with a brief statement of your interest and experience. ACA Financial Review Committee (FRC)
The ACA’s Financial Review Committee (FRC) is looking for volunteers for a two-year term. The FRC is responsible for reviewing financial policy, budgets, and safeguarding the financial assets of the Association. These positions are open to all members. If you're a financial whiz, or hoping to hone your budgeting chops, we're happy to have you join us!
If you have questions, please contact Kyle Pugh at treasurer(at)archivists.ca. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up using the Volunteer Form. Please note, all volunteers with the ACA are required to abide by the ACA's Volunteer Code of Conduct. ACA Governance Committee
The Governance Committee needs volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up using the Volunteer Form.If you have any questions, please contact Shamin Malmas at shamin_malmas(at)sfu.ca.
Emerging Professionals and Student Special Interest Section
Are you a student in an archives-related program or new to the profession? Do you have an interest in growing your professional network and engaging in a supportive environment? Join our team in re-establishing the Emerging Professionals and Student Special Interest Section. We are currently looking for ACA members to help develop and implement the Special Interest Section in its earliest stages. Students and emerging professionals are integral to the ACA and the broader archival community, and this is a great opportunity for you to assist in creating a supportive space. For more information or to express your interest, contact Carolyn Smith at Carolyn.Smith(at)dal.ca.We look forward to bringing back this Special Interest Section in the 2025/2026 year! Membership Committee
The Membership Committee is seeking a new member! The membership committee promotes membership in the ACA, works on new services and benefits for members, and coordinates the popular Mentorship Program to help those new to the profession. If this sounds like something in which you would like to be involved, please submit an online application here. If you would like to learn more about the Membership Committee before you put your name forward or have questions about Committee activities, please contact Curtis Frederick, Committee Co-Chair, at membership@archivists.ca. Thank you for considering joining!
Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee
The Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee (PAAC) is seeking new members! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Sarah Hanahem PAAC.cochair1(at)archivists.ca
Nominations and Awards Committee
The Nominations and Awards Committee (NAAC) is looking for new members! NAAC is responsible for receiving nominations for ACA awards and Board elections, selecting award winners, and administering elections. The committee's work is very structured as we work around the ACA's calendar for elections, the AGM, and the annual awards ceremony. The workload is highest during the election period and awards selection, but lighter for the rest of the year. Other projects that NAAC has taken on in recent years include updating the Fellows biographies for the ACA website, reviewing the Elections Policy, and reviewing and updating award criteria. If this sounds like something you would like to volunteer for, please submit an ACA Volunteer Form and contact Sarah Glassford (NAAC.co-chair1(at)archivists.ca). |
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In the Field: The ACA Blog
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If you’d like to submit a blog post, please read and complete this form. We look forward to your contribution! |
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The ACAF has recently added these items to its store: |
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Limited edition and numbered ACA Anniversary Print. Designed and printed by the Carleton University Book Arts Lab, this beautiful print is only $75 + tax. Prints come in a plastic sleeve, but a tube can be purchased for an additional $3 for safe transportation.
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ACA vintage Arthur Doughty Mugs. Unearthed recently! There are a limited number of mugs produced by the ACA, which feature an authentic likeness of Arthur Doughty, and the quote ,“Of all national assets, archives are the most precious: they are the gift of one generation to another and the extent of our care of them marks the extent of our civilization.” Mugs are $20 + tax each.
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These items and more can be purchased online and shipped to you directly (note that shipping costs are priced separately). All proceeds go toward funding publicly available scholarships, bursaries, and other financial assistance for post-secondary students, graduates, and professionals who are pursuing education and training in the fields of archival sciences, record keeping and information management! |
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Issue 88.1 of the American Archivist is Out Now
This issue includes former SAA President Helen Wong's Smith Presidential Address from the 2024 Society of American Archivists Annual Meeting; a Special Section on Accessioning; six reviews of recent archives publications; and a variety of articles on reparative description, digital history exhibits, and more. Read the issue here!
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Australian Society of Archivists 2025 Conference Registrations Now Open
Registration is now open for this year’s conference, Telling Our Stories: Community, Connection, Resilience. ACA members are eligible for member rates.
Join us in Sydney (Warrane/Warrang) from November 10-13, 2025, to mark the ASA’s 50th anniversary and bring together diverse perspectives and stories that reflect our profession and practice.
The conference will showcase what archives mean to communities, institutions, and individuals, while also providing space to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we want to grow as a sector. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues, explore new ideas, and be part of a memorable program.
For those unable to attend in person, on-demand packages will be available to purchase. Full details, including pricing and access instructions, will be announced soon. |
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Register to the upcoming Practising NAAB Appraiser (PNA) Masterclass in Winnipeg (17-20 November 2025)!
Registration page: https://naab.ca/event-6307920
Registration deadline: 10 November 2025
The National Archival Appraisal Board (NAAB) & the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) are pleased to offer HYBRID training (meaning attendance can be both in person OR remote) in the monetary appraisal of archives.
The Masterclass will be taught by Simon Rogers, Chair of the NAAB Board of Directors; Brian Hubner, NAAB Regional Director for the Prairies; and Brock Silversides, Practising NAAB Appraiser.
The course puts in place critical pieces of the archival monetary appraisal puzzle and enhances your skills, increasing your understanding and improving your ability to undertake effective archival monetary appraisals using real-life case studies. On the final day of the Masterclass, participants will inspect archival material for their summative assignment – a full archival monetary appraisal and a written monetary appraisal report Upon successful completion, participants will become eligible to be designated as a Practising NAAB Appraiser.
Use this training to increase workplace knowledge, conduct small and medium dollar value in-house monetary appraisals at your archive, earn extra income or share your experience with the broader heritage community. Develop your leadership abilities in archival monetary appraisal and help sustain the future of the field’s landscape in Canada!
The Masterclass is designed for GLAM sector or heritage professionals with some appreciation of archival research and professional standards. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at NAAB@archivescanada.ca
The Winnipeg session will be delivered in English only.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: https://naab.ca/Masterclass |
Launch of the Ruth Pincoe Research Fellowship at the University of Toronto Music Library
The University of Toronto Music Library is grateful to be remembered in the will of Ruth Pincoe (1946-2024). An alumna (BMus 1971) and distinguished independent researcher, Ruth spent many hours in our library researching and writing articles for the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada, Grove Music Online, and elsewhere. Interestingly, her mother Grace Pincoe was a music librarian and one of the first officers of the fledging Canadian Music Library Association (CMLA) in the early 1960s (the CMLA became the Canadian Association of Music Libraries in 1971).
Today, we are excited to announce the launch of the annual Ruth Pincoe Research Fellowship, a new award that supports original research and scholarship using materials from our archival and special collections.
Each Fellow will spend dedicated time in our reading room exploring the Music Library’s rich holdings—archival papers, rare books, and historic sheet music. Applications for the month-long fellowship, to be held at any point between 4 May 2026 and 14 August 2026, are due December 15.
The fellowship is open to graduate students and early-career researchers. Applications that centre Canadian topics, works, and/or people preferred.
For more details, please see the call for applications and news story on the library's website. |
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“Get to Know UM Libraries’ New Knowledge Keeper,"hosted by University of Manitoba. This article introduces Knowledge Keeper Duncan Mecredi and provides important contact information for setting up sessions and writing consultations with Duncan about Indigenous knowledge and knowledge-seeking. |
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“Décès de Mme Ginette Noël, ancienneprésidente et secrétaire de l'AAQ,” posted by the Association Des Archivistes du Quebec. Ginette Noel, former president and secretary of the Assocation (AAQ) has passed away at the age of 76. She was an invaluable member of the AAQ community, founding the Regroupement des archivists du Quebec (RAQ) in 1986 and going on shape the development of archival practices in Quebec through her publications, conference papers, and many public forums addressing challenges in the profession. |
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“SAA Statement on State and Territorial Archives and Records Repositories,” posted by the Society of American Archivists. This important statement outlines rapidly increasing concerns about support for and curation of historical records within the United States of America, and urges representatives to speak up for this important organization and the institutions which comprise its membership. |
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Submit your job opportunity here and it will be posted to the ACA website. We will also share this opportunity on our social media channels.
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There are no job postings this month. |
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Do you have news you’d like the ACA to share via its social media channels? The Communications Committee has created a form you can use to give us the details!
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The next issue of Scope & Content will come out on
Thursday, November 6th, 2025. See you then!
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Contact Us
Suite 1912-130 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4
Email: aca@archivists.ca
www.archivists.ca
The ACA office is located on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial. |
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