The Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA), established in 1975, is a national not-for-profit organization representing over 600 archivists (and those interested in archives and archivists) in Canada. With headquarters in Ottawa, the ACA's mandate is to provide leadership to the archival profession and to increase an understanding and appreciation of Canada's archival heritage.
The ACA evolved from the Archives Section of the Canadian Historical Association. For many years it held its annual conference together with other scholarly groups as part of the Congress of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences (formerly the "Learneds").
Mission The mission of the ACA is to provide strong and diversified professional leadership and support to the Canadian archival community in the following areas: advocacy; communications; governance; public awareness; and education, research, professional standards and best practices. It does so by: Providing leadership for everyone engaged in the preservation of Canada's Documentary Heritage Encouraging awareness of archival activities and developments and the importance of archives to modern society Advocating the interests and needs of professional archivists before government and other regulatory agencies Communicating to further the understanding and cooperation amongst members of the Canadian archival system, and other information and culture based professions. Developing, supporting and delivering initiatives and tools to increase public awareness of archives.
Activities Historically, the ACA produced "Guidelines Toward a Curriculum for a Master's Degree in Archival Science" prepared by Hugh Taylor and Edwin Welch in 1976. These were followed by "Guidelines for the Development of a two-year Curriculum for a Master of Archival Studies" in 1990. In the same year, the ACA collaborated with the Canadian archival community in the development and publication of Canadian archival standards for description, the Rules for Archival Description.
Ongoing ACA activities include: the production of a quarterly newsletter (ACA Bulletin) and a bi-annual scholarly journal (Archivaria); a publications program for monographs and occasional papers; an archival professional development program; a mentorship program; awards for excellence in writing and research and for contributions to the Canadian archival community; and an annual conference, with meetings and workshops. The ACA has a formal constitution and a Code of Ethics. More recently, the ACA posted the entire collection of Archivaria and its predecessor, The Canadian Archivist, to the web, much of which is freely publicly accessible.
Various committees provide support and direction on a variety of archival issues such as Outreach and Professional Learning. In addition, members are appointed to represent the association to address specific issues such as the release of Canadian censuses and the English Commission on the former National Archives of Canada. There also Special Interest Sections (SIS) that allow members interested in particular types of records or who work in a particular kind of archives to get together with others with a similar interest. These SISes include: Indigenous Archives (SISAA); Access and Privacy (APSIS); Climate Records and Information (CRISIS); Government Records (GRSIS); Municipal Archives (MASIS); Personal Archives (SISPA); Religious Archives (RASIS); Social Justice (SJSIS); Technology and Archives (TaASIS); and University and College Archives (UCASIS). TaASIS runs the popular Archives and Technology Unconference (TAATU) in conjunction with the ACA's annual conference. The ACA also has several student chapters located at Canadian universities that offer graduate programs with an archival studies component. Student chapters are located at Dalhousie University, McGill University, the University of British Columbia Student Chapter and the University of Toronto.
A companion organization, the Association of Canadian Archivists Foundation, raises and grants funds to support the educational and research needs of the Canadian archival profession.
Past Boards of Directors
Date President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Director Without Portfolio 1975–1976 Gordon Dodds Linda Johnson Stan Hanson Valerie Cowan Marcel Caya 1976–1977 Linda Johnson David Rudkin Kenneth Johnson Valerie Cowan Douglas Cass 1977–1978 David Rudkin Terry Eastwood Jay Atherton Jean Dryden John Bovey 1978–1979 Terry Eastwood Marion Beyea Brian Corbett Jean Dryden John Bovey 1979–1980 Marion Beyea Kent Haworth Carman Carroll Jean Tener Trevor Powell 1980–1981 Kent Haworth Jane Nokes Carman Carroll Jean Tener Trevor Powell 1981–1982 Jane Nokes Anne MacDermaid William Smith Miriam McTiernan George Brandak1982–1983 Anne MacDermaid Barbara Craig William Smith Miriam McTiernan George Brandak 1983–1984 Barbara Craig Miriam McTiernan Patricia Townsend Flora Unter David Leonard 1984–1985 Miriam McTiernan Robert Morgan Patricia Townsend Terry Thompson David Leonard 1985–1986 Robert Morgan Jean Dryden Brian Owens Terry Thompson Christine Ardern 1986–1987 Jean Dryden Colleen Dempsey Brian Owens Terry Thompson Christine Ardern 1987–1988 Colleen Dempsey Burton Glendenning Brian Owens Catherine Shepard Stan Hanson 1988–1989 Burton Glendenning Jay Atherton Keith Stotyn Catherine Shepard Diane Chisholm
Date President Vicepresident Secretary/Treasurer Director Without Portfolio 1989–1990 Jay Atherton George Brandak Keith Stotyn Diane Chisholm 1990–1991 George Brandak Michael Moosberger Keith Stotyn Diane Chisolm 1991–1992 Michael Moosburger Garron Wells Keith Stotyn Jerry O'Brien 1992–1993 Garron Wells Ian Forsyth Marie-Louise Perron Jerry O'Brien 1993–1994 Ian Forsyth Antonio Lechasseur Marie-Louise Perron Sam Kula 1994–1995 Antonio Lechasseur Bernadine Dodge Duane Mombourquette Sam Kula 1995–1996 Bernadine Dodge Terry Thompson Duane Mombourquette Jane Turner 1996–1997 Terry Thompson Lois Yorke Patrick Burden Jane Turner 1997–1998 Lois Yorke Corrado Santoro Patrick Burden Susan Hart 1998–1999 Shelley Sweeney Corrado Santoro Jo-Ann Munn Gafuik Susan Hart 1999–2000 Shelley Sweeney Ian Moir Jo-Ann Munn Gafuik Lisa Russell 2000–2001 Bryan Corbett Ian Moir Janet McMaster Lisa Russell 2001–2002 Bryan Corbett Matt Szybalski Janet McMaster Johanna Smith 2002–2003 Bryan Corbett Matt Szybalski Judith Roberts-Moore Johanna Smith 2003–2004 Jerry O'Brien Larry Dohey Judith Roberts-Moore Wayne Crockett 2004–2005 Marc Lerman Larry Dohey Scott Goodine Wayne Crockett 2005–2006 Marc Lerman Linda Fraser Scott Goodine Loryl MacDonald 2006–2007 Scott Goodine Linda Fraser Heather Home Loryl MacDonald 2007 Scott Goodine Linda Fraser Heather Home Loryl MacDonald
Date President Vice President Secretary-Treasurer Director-at-Large 2008 Scott Goodine Loryl MacDonald Heather Home Charlotte Woodley 2009 Paul Banfield Rodney Carter Michele Dale Heather Pitcher 2010 Paul Banfield Rodney Carter Michele Dale Heather Pitcher 2011 Loryl MacDonald Rodney Carter Deirdre Bryden Heather Pitcher 2012 Loryl MacDonald Michael Gourlie Deirdre Bryden Heather Beattie 2013 Loryl MacDonald Michael Gourlie Karen Buckley Heather Beattie Scott Goodine 2014 Loryl MacDonald Michael Gourlie Karen Buckley Heather Beattie Scott Goodine
Date President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Director-at-Large Director-at-Large 2015 Kathryn Harvey Michael Gourlie Karen Buckley Jenn Roberts Heather Beattie Ian Burnett 2016 Kathryn Harvey Jordan Bass Patti Harper Jenn Roberts Krisztina Laszlo Ian Burnett 2017 Luciana Duranti Jordan Bass Patti Harper Chris Trainor Krisztina Laszlo Amanda Tomé
Date President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Director-at-Large Director-at-Large Director, General Editor of Archivaria 2018 Luciana Duranti Rebecka Sheffield Jane Morrison Chris Trainor Jennifer Mohan Suher Zaher-Mazawi Jennifer Douglas 2019 Loryl MacDonald Rebecka Sheffield Jane Morrison Jonathan Dorey Jennifer Mohan Luciana Duranti Jennifer Douglas 2020 Loryl MacDonald Rebecka Sheffield Jane Morrison Jonathan Dorey Luciana Duranti Jeremy Heil Fiorella Foscarini
Date President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Directors-at-Large 2021–2022 Erica Hernández-Read Anna Gibson-Hollow Kaitlin Normandin Andrea McCutcheon Kyle PughAndrew Chernevych Gillian Dunks John Richan James Roussain2023-2024Erica Hernández-ReadAngela FornelliAlexandra MillsKyle PughAndrew Chernevych John RichanAmanda Oliver2024-2025Anna Gibson-HollowAngela FornelliAlexandra MillsKyle PughJohn Richan Adam Williamson
Amanda Oliver
See also Archives Association of Ontario Association for Manitoba Archives
References
External links Official site
Other Canadian archival organizations Canadian Council of Archives (CCA)– for representatives of archival institutions Archives Association of British Columbia Archives Association of Ontario Archives Council of Nunavut Archives Council of Prince Edward Island Archives Society of Alberta Association des archivistes du Québec Association for Manitoba Archives Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives Council of Archives New Brunswick Council of Nova Scotia Archives Northwest Territories Archives Council Réseau de diffusion des archives du Québec Saskatchewan Council of Archives Yukon Council of Archives