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:  

• Humanitarian Coalition 

• Blue Shield International 

• UNICEF Humanitarian Response to Gaza 

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: 

• Muslims in Canada Archives 

• Jewish Heritage Centre Florence and Norman Vickar Archival Endowment Fund 

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

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

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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.

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!

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

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.

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

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

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!

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! 

 (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

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** 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