• Memorandum of Understanding Signed
• Upcoming Roundtable in Saskatoon
• Archives and You! Conference

Signing Ceremony:

On April 23^rd, just before the 2005 AABC Annual General Meeting, the AABC and the Canadian Council of Archives signed a Memorandum of Understanding. It was signed by AABC President Anthea Seles, and me, as representative for the CCA Board of Directors.

The CCA Board hopes that all provincial and territorial archives councils will have signed their own MOUs with CCA by the end of the year. The AABC was the first council to do so, then the Council of Nova Scotia Archives (CNSA) in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, and the Council of Archives New Brunswick (CANB), in Fredericton, New Brunswick followed on April 29. The CCA Board decided that the signing of such agreements at provincial and territorial council AGMs was an appropriate way to mark the 20^th Anniversary of the CCA. The CCA was founded in 1985 as a result of federal-provincial efforts to encourage and facilitate the evolution of an archival system in Canada. The Canadian Council of Archives provides coordination within the system, and its tasks are to:

• identify national priorities;
• make recommendations as to the system's operation and financing;
• develop and facilitate the implementation and management of Programmes to assist the archival community;
• advise the Librarian and Archivist of Canada;
• promote better communications between the various components of the Canadian system; and
• communicate archival needs and concerns to decision-makers, researchers and the general public.

2005 is an important year for the Canadian archival community: the federal grants and contributions provided to CCA and Canadian archives from the Department of Canadian Heritage via Library and Archives of Canada are under review by Treasury Board; many provincial and territorial councils are under considerable financial constraints; and yet all the while there is increased pressure on archives – both large and small – to acquire, preserve and make accessible their rich and varied holdings.

Some key statements from the AABC/CCA MOU:

"CCA and AABC are integral components of the Canadian Archival System and both parties seek to renew its commitment to work together towards the vision of a Canada in which our documentary heritage is preserved and open to all and engages citizens in their communities and country.

The AABC recognizes the CCA as the national institutional voice and official representative of the Canadian Archival Network; CCA recognizes the AABC as a Provincial Council for the Province of British Columbia; … A prime objective of the AABC shall be to strengthen the Canadian archival community through information and support to archival organizations and institutions within their territorial region. The AABC will work in cooperation with CCA and other Councils to achieve this and similar goals."

For the complete text of the MOU, please go to: http://www.cdncouncilarchives.ca/CCA-AABCMOU.pdf

CCA Roundatable - Saskatoon:

On June 6 & 7 in Saskatoon, before the 2005 ACA Conference, the CCA will be holding the second of two Roundtable meetings with representatives from the provincial and territorial Councils, the ACA, AAQ, Bureau of Canadian Archivists, Library and Archives of Canada, and the National Provincial Territorial Archivists Conference. I will be attending this Roundtable, as well as Jennifer Mohan, who will represent the AABC Executive. The first roundtable was held September 24 & 25, 2004 in Ottawa (Chris Hives attended on behalf of the Executive).

At that meeting, the following strategic outcomes were identified for the CCA:

• Coordinate a sustained communications strategy that will engage our archival community, the general public and our partners for the benefit of Canadians. This strategy will communicate the relevance and values of archives to enhance their visibility in preserving memory and evidence thereby enabling Canadians to better know themselves and their nation.
• Develop and sustain the excellent human and technological archival infrastructure required to provide access to Canada’s documentary heritage
• Renew CCA to ensure sustainable leadership coordination and resources for the archival network to provide access to archival material
• Champion improved and expanded access to Canada’s documentary heritage through the development and delivery of programs and services that engage and benefit all Canadians

The focus of the second meeting will be the renewal of the CCA financial assistance programmes. The funding for these programmes will be provided to CCA by the Department of Canadian Heritage via Library and Archives of Canada (LAC) as a part of LAC’s new National Archival Development Programme (NADP). The following 5 objectives have been identified:

• Increase the capacity of archival institutions to preserve Canada’s documentary heritage
• Increase access to Canada’s archival holdings through the national catalogue
• Increase in Canada’s documentary heritage the representation of Aborginal peoples and under-represented ethno-cultural groups
• Increase capacity of archival networks to undertake strategic and development activities
• Increase awareness and broaden use of Canada’s documentary heritage

CCA and AABC will keep you updated on developments from the Roundtable . . .

Archives and You! Conference:

To assist in CCA’s goal to raise awareness of archives to the Canadian public, the CCA will be hosting the Archives and You! Conference, June 27 & 28 in Ottawa. The conference is designed to provide genealogists, researchers, writers, librarians, teachers and students with the opportunity to learn firsthand from archival professionals. Through presentations, individual consultations and workshops, participants will learn how to effectively use archives. The conference will also include site visits to archives in the National Capital Region, presentations by the Honourable Minister of Canadian Heritage Liza Frulla (invited), Librarian and Archivist of Canada Ian Wilson, and guest speaker author Charlotte Gray.

For more information, please go to http://www.archivesconference.ca

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© 2005 Archives Association of British Columbia