From September 24-27^th, ACA Staff, Board Members, and Committee Chairs met in Winnipeg to discuss upcoming priorities, issues facing the archival community, and member needs. As a member-driven organization, we are very grateful to the 176 ACA members who took the time to complete our member survey in early September. Your feedback guided our discussions and was integral to all the plans we made. 

We were grateful to be joined by Megan Skyvington, from Stable Ground Fundraising, who led two fundraising workshops to help us examine past, present and future fundraising opportunities for the organization. 

Our discussions focused on the following areas:

Communications

We discussed the need to sharpen ACA’s communications and make it easier for members to understand what the Association offers, how to get involved, and where to find relevant information.

A particular focus was the experience of new members. We are exploring a more intentional welcome process that could include a welcome letter from the Board, information about ACA programs and opportunities, and other materials to help new members feel connected to the Association from the outset.

We also discussed how we communicate membership benefits more clearly and consistently, so that members have a better understanding of the full range of opportunities available to them.

Organizational Identity

We also discussed how the ACA presents itself to members and the broader archival community. A clear theme from our conversations was substance over style. Any future work on the ACA’s visual identity, website, or communications will need to be grounded in improving the member experience: making information easier to find, communicating our value more clearly, and ensuring that the Association feels welcoming, relevant, and reflective of the profession we serve.

Fundraising

Fundraising discussions focused on building a stronger and more consistent culture of philanthropy in support of the ACA Foundation. This includes strengthening year-end fundraising efforts and looking at how fundraising can be better connected to key moments throughout the year. A key theme was the importance of showing donors the tangible impact of their support. Future fundraising communications will aim to provide clearer examples of what donations make possible, supported by testimonials and stories from the archival community.

Professional Development

Professional development emerged as a major priority for the coming year. Members have expressed strong interest in more frequent and accessible opportunities to learn, connect, and build new skills. In response, the ACA will begin developing a broader professional development framework that considers not only individual workshops, but how our educational offerings fit together as a longer-term learning program.

As part of this work, we will explore digital learning tools that could make it easier for members to access recorded sessions, participate in online learning, and engage with professional development and networking opportunities.

What Comes Next

The Winnipeg meetings were an important opportunity to bring together member feedback, committee perspectives, Board priorities, and staff planning.

Work is already beginning in several of these areas, including communications improvements, professional development planning, and fundraising. We will continue to share updates with members as this work develops.

Thank you again to everyone who participated in the member survey and to the volunteers who contributed their time and expertise to the Planning and Priorities meetings. Your input shapes the direction of the ACA.

Dear ACA Community,

Residential School Denialism Statement

The Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) acknowledges the established truth that residential schools were part of a genocidal effort to force approximately 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children to assimilate by dismantling cultures, languages, identities and relationships to family and community. These government-supported institutions were often church-run and operated for more than a century throughout Canada. They caused profound harm and trauma, the effects of which are still felt across generations as part of the government mandate of ‘kill the Indian to save the child.’ 

We condemn all forms of residential school denialism and reaffirm that accepting and sharing the truth are vital steps toward meaningful reconciliation. We are engaged in efforts to support families still searching for their loved ones. We are further committed to actively assisting in education and healing, guided by mutual respect. 

As an organization, and as archival professionals, we are beholden to the TRC’s Calls to Action, which were developed from years of in-depth expert research into the factual history and causes of the residential school system in Canada. The ACA endorses the Reconciliation Framework that was produced by the Taskforce designated to respond to calls addressed specifically to archivists. 

We abide by the Joinet-Orentlicher Principles, which binds us to protect the inalienable right to know the truth of the past as evidenced by thousands of first-hand testimonies plus historical documentation spanning multiple decades of recordkeeping by numerous institutions which, in many cases, were the ones perpetrating the atrocities. 

Based on these facts, the ACA firmly stands against residential school denialism and wholly endorses the recommendations made by the TRC’s Calls to Action, the Taskforce recommendations, and the needs of impacted communities. 

Approved by the Board of the Association of Canadian Archivists 

Alyssa Hyduk, President 
Angela Fornelli, Vice President
Alexandra Mills, Secretary 
Adam Williamson, Treasurer 
Amanda Oliver, Director at Large 
Jen Nangreave, Director at Large 
Matthew Keels, Director at Large

Read the document in letterhead here: ACA's Residential School Denialism Statement

Sincerely,

The ACA’s Board of Directors

The Association of Canadian Archivists continues to raise awareness of the growing impact of Bill C-3 on archives and archival workers across Canada. 

ACA Board President Alyssa Hyduk and Executive Director Mab Coates-Davies recently spoke with CBC about the pressures archival institutions are experiencing as they respond to increased requests for records related to citizenship by descent. The conversation highlighted the significant staff time required to respond to these requests, the challenges facing small and under-resourced archival institutions, and the need for clearer guidance and sustainable federal support. 

The ACA also shared findings gathered directly from archival institutions across Canada. These responses demonstrate that increased citizenship-related research is contributing to growing backlogs, longer response times, delayed projects, and the redirection of limited staff resources from other core archival responsibilities. 

These pressures come at a particularly challenging time for the archival sector following the cancellation of the Documentary Heritage Communities Program (DHCP), which had provided approximately $1.5 million annually to support documentary heritage organizations across Canada. 

The ACA will continue to advocate for clear guidance, meaningful consultation with the archival community, and appropriate resources for institutions supporting Canadians seeking documentary evidence for citizenship applications. 

Article: Demand for Canadian citizenship certificates soaring, fuelled by Americans Elizabeth Thompson · CBC News · Posted: Aug 17, 2026 4:00 AM EDT 

Radio: Listen here. 

For media inquiries 

Journalists interested in speaking with ACA about the archival impacts of Bill C-3 may contact: 

Mab Coates-Davies 
Executive Director, Association of Canadian Archivists 
executive.director@archivists.ca 

1-343-961-6593 

The ACA can help connect media with archivists and archival institutions who are seeing the effects of increased records requests, where appropriate. 

Resources and Living Updates  

The ACA will continue to provide resources, updates and media coverage on our Bill C-3 page.

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The Association of Canadian Archivists is monitoring the impact of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act, on archives and archival workers across Canada.

Bill C-3 came into effect on December 15, 2025, changing citizenship-by-descent rules in Canada. As more people seek records to understand or prove their connection to Canadian citizenship, many archives are experiencing increased research requests related to family history, vital records, sacramental records, immigration records, military records, and other documentary evidence.

This issue has received growing media attention, and the ACA is using this page to share updates, resources, and opportunities for members to contribute information about how these changes are affecting archival work.

ACA interview with CBC about Bill C-3 impacts on archives

The Association of Canadian Archivists continues to raise awareness of the growing impact of Bill C-3 on archives and archival workers across Canada.

ACA Board President Alyssa Hyduk and Executive Director Mab Coates-Davies recently spoke with CBC about the pressures archival institutions are experiencing as they respond to increased requests for records related to citizenship by descent. The conversation highlighted the significant staff time required to respond to these requests, the challenges facing small and under-resourced archival institutions, and the need for clearer guidance and sustainable federal support.

The ACA also shared findings gathered directly from archival institutions across Canada. These responses demonstrate that increased citizenship-related research is contributing to growing backlogs, longer response times, delayed projects, and the redirection of limited staff resources from other core archival responsibilities.

These pressures come at a particularly challenging time for the archival sector following the cancellation of the Documentary Heritage Communities Program (DHCP), which had provided approximately $1.5 million annually to support documentary heritage organizations across Canada.

The ACA will continue to advocate for clear guidance, meaningful consultation with the archival community, and appropriate resources for institutions supporting Canadians seeking documentary evidence for citizenship applications.

Article: Demand for Canadian citizenship certificates soaring, fuelled by Americans Elizabeth Thompson · CBC News · Posted: Aug 17, 2026 4:00 AM EDT

Radio: Listen here.

Why this matters to archives

Archives play a vital role in preserving and providing access to the records that help people understand their families, communities, and legal identities. While Bill C-3 is a citizenship issue, its implementation has direct implications for archival institutions and workers.

Members have shared that increased records requests are adding pressure to institutions that are already managing limited staffing, growing workloads, and reduced funding opportunities, including the 2025 cancellation of the Documentary Heritage Communities Program.

The ACA is gathering information from members to better understand these impacts and to advocate for the resources archives need to respond effectively.

Share your experience

ACA members and archival workers are encouraged to share how Bill C-3, increased research demand, funding cuts, and workload pressures are affecting their institutions.

Your input will help the ACA:

• document current pressures across the archival sector;
• represent member experiences in conversations with partners and decision-makers;
• identify common needs and service pressures;
• support public understanding of the essential role archives play.

Complete the survey

View the results compiled as of May 26 2026 here. 

Recent media coverage

The ACA will continue to update this section as new articles and interviews are published.

• Demand for Canadian citizenship certificates soaring, fuelled by Americans Elizabeth Thompson · CBC News · Aug 17, 2026 4:00 AM EDT
• New citizenship rules leave Canadian archivists overwhelmed, Canadian Affairs, June 1, 2026
• Ottawa reverses order to surrender some 'lost Canadian' citizenship certificates, CTV News, June 22, 2026
• Are Your Ancestors Canadian? Here's What to Know About Becoming a Citizen, New York Times, June 18, 2026. 
• Government abruptly suspends citizenship certificates issued under 'lost Canadians' law, CBC News, June 15, 2026
• More Americans inquiring about Canadian citizenship due to Bill C-3: Immigration lawyers, Global News, May 20, 2026
• N.S. sees surge in ancestral record requests following new bill, CBC.ca, Mar 28, 2026
  
• Why this Toronto man is being flooded with requests from Americans about their Canadian ancestors, Toronto Star, May 8, 2026
• Millions of Americans can now claim Canadian citizenship by descent. But they have to prove it, CBC.ca, Mar 8, 2026
• BAnQ requests for Canadian ancestry documents explodes from Americans looking to get citizenship, CBC Listen, Mar 25, 2026

Resources

• Government of Canada: Changes to citizenship rules under Bill C-3
• Immigration and Citizenship Canada: Applying for proof of Canadian citizenship
• ACA: Survey/member input form
• ACA: Call to Action Package: Restore the Documentary Heritage Communities Program

For media inquiries

Journalists interested in speaking with ACA about the archival impacts of Bill C-3 may contact:

Mab Coates-Davies
Executive Director, Association of Canadian Archivists
executive.director@archivists.ca

The ACA can help connect media with archivists and archival institutions who are seeing the effects of increased records requests, where appropriate.

This page will be updated

As this issue develops, the ACA will continue to update this page with new media coverage and information

The Association of Canadian Archivists has written to the Government of Alberta to express its opposition to Bill 28 and its implications for local library governance, intellectual freedom, privacy, and public trust.

ACA stands in solidarity with the Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries and the Canadian Federation of Library Associations-Federation canadienne des associations de bibliothèques in affirming that public libraries must remain free from partisan interference and continue to serve as spaces where all people can freely access information and ideas.

ACA urges the Government of Alberta to withdraw all provisions of Bill 28 that pertain to the Libraries Act.

Read the full letter here. 

On May 26, 2026, the Association of Canadian Archivists issued a letter to the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) expressing concern about recent reports that the TDSB Museum and Archives may be closed as part of large-scale budget cuts.

The TDSB Museum and Archives holds records, artworks, artifacts, and archival materials of significant cultural, educational, and historical value. These collections document the history of public education in Toronto and include materials of enduring importance to students, educators, researchers, and the wider community.

In its letter, the ACA emphasized that archives, museums, and cultural heritage institutions preserve irreplaceable records of community memory and public accountability. The letter also noted the TDSB’s responsibilities under the Ontario Education Act for the archival retention and effective stewardship of records considered to have enduring or historical value.

While recognizing the difficult financial decisions facing the TDSB, the ACA strongly urged the Board to reconsider the proposed closure. At minimum, the ACA called on the TDSB to ensure that the archival and museum holdings are transferred to a suitable repository where they can be preserved and remain accessible.

The full letter is available here.

ACA is pleased to share that Kyle Pugh, ACA Treasurer and Ontario Regional Councils Archivist at the United Church of Canada, has been featured in the Toronto Star.

The article, “Why this Toronto man is being flooded with requests from Americans about their Canadian ancestors,” highlights the growing number of genealogy and records requests connected to Canadian ancestry research. It also speaks to the wider pressures many archives, archivists, and archival workers are experiencing as public demand for access to records continues to increase.

This coverage comes at an important moment for the archival community. Across Canada, archives are seeing rising workloads, growing public expectations, and increasing pressure to support rising numbers of research requests, often with limited resources.

We are grateful to Kyle for helping bring public attention to this issue and for highlighting the essential role archives play in connecting people with their histories.

The article is available through the Toronto Star here: Why this Toronto man is being flooded with requests from Americans about their Canadian ancestors

Please note that the article may be behind a paywall.

Today, the Board of the Association of Canadian Archivists sent a letter detailing the ACA’s concerns about the program review of the Museum of Dufferin, specifically the County of Dufferin Archives program, and the proposed elimination of Archives staff.

According to the County’s meeting agenda and supporting documents, the program review considers three options:

• Archives Program
• Museum of Dufferin Dissolution
• Programming & Outreach Coordinator Positions

Of particular concern is the Museum of Dufferin Dissolution section, which proposes the elimination of personnel and operating costs and raises significant concerns about the future stewardship of more than 48,000 artifacts and archival records.

The Museum of Dufferin has been in operation since 1994 and serves a county of more than 66,000 residents. The museum includes four galleries, two artifact storage rooms, one archival storage area, and four heritage buildings. In 2025, it delivered more than 80 programs and welcomed over 7,000 onsite visitors. Since 2019, the Museum has seen significant increases in general admission, school program attendance, and event participation. It also administers a volunteer program involving more than 30 local residents.

The Museum of Dufferin provides a wide range of programs and care for important collections, including:

• programs and tours for seniors
• weekly toddler programs
• six weeks of summer camp for children aged 5 to 12
• curriculum-based programming for local school groups
• programs for community organizations and interest groups, including Guides, Embers, Scouts, local heritage groups, quilting guilds, and others
• stewardship of more than 48,000 artifacts and archival records
• care for more than 80 Indigenous artifacts
• stewardship of the largest public collection of Canadian Corn Flower Glass
• care for the County of Dufferin’s municipal records
• preservation of rare documents and photographs relating to the history of the region
• rental space for events, meetings, and programs
• events and markets featuring local artists and makers, supporting more than 100 small businesses annually

The ACA is particularly concerned by the potential loss of archival staff capacity and by the implications of any proposal that could weaken stewardship, access, and long-term care for the records and collections.

Readers who wish to review the County’s agenda can do so here. 

Read the ACA’s letter here.

Board of Directors
Association of Canadian Archivists

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.

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.