AAO News

Save the Date!

The 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Municipal Archives Interest Group will be held virtually on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 1 p.m. All are welcome to attend! Please RSVP to Gina Elias by email at gelias@elgin.ca. We are currently accepting nominations for Secretary-Treasurer for the 2025-2027 term.

Please direct inquiries and nominations to Amber Mandich at amandich@elgin.ca.

Save the Date!

All Chapter and AAO members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Southwestern Ontario Chapter of the AAO on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 10 a.m, at the Huron County Museum in Goderich. After the meeting, we will have the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum and archives, as well as a guided tour of the Huron County Historic Gaol, a National Historic Site of Canada. Lunch will be provided, and the day will end around 2 p.m.

Please RSVP to Joshua Klar at joshua.klar@norfolkcounty.ca by April 16.

For directions to Huron County Museum, please visit their website: https://www.huroncountymuseum.ca/huron-county-museum

We hope to see you there and look forward to connecting!

- SWOC Executive

Hello AAO,

The Winter 2025 issue of Off the Record is now available. It's a perfect way to ignore those piles of snow in the driveway and can be accessed by members here!

This issue features an update from president Shelley Respondek, an Archeion update from coordinator Kelli Babcock, and an announcement for the AAO 2025 Virtual Conference. Following, we have a wonderful new Memory Workers at Work interview with Vasuki Shanmuganathan of the Tamil Archive Project.

Our student spotlight is with Valencia Sipes, a former horologist and current student in the Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management program at Toronto Metropolitan University. The issue also includes an article outlining Oxford County Archives' efforts to celebrate a number of overlapping local anniversaries. Finally, Olivia White from the Simcoe County Archives describes a collaborative video project with Rogers TV highlighting her institutions rich collections.

Happy reading!

Isobel and Simon

Do you want to get involved with the Archives Association of Ontario (AAO)? Are you a new or experienced professional looking to meet fellow archivists and contribute to the field? If so, you’re in luck! The AAO is looking for individuals to help support our mandate of furthering the education of Ontario’s records and information professionals and advocating for the interests of the province’s community of archives, heritage organizations, and records institutions.

The AAO is currently looking for volunteers for the following committees:

• Chair/Co-chair of the Communications and Advocacy Committee (CAC)
• Chair/Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEI)
• Committee members for the CAC committee
• Committee members for the DEI committee

Detailed committee descriptions and a listing of current membership can be found on the AAO website. 

If you are interested in volunteering or wish to learn more about these opportunities, please reach out to AAO President, Shelley Respondek at president@aao-archivists.ca by December 13, 2024.

Hello AAO,

The Fall 2024 issue of Off the Record is now available. It's a perfect accompaniment to a cozy fall evening and can be accessed by members here!

This issue features an update from president Shelley Respondek, an Archeion update from coordinator Kelli Babcock, and a short hello from the editors. We want you to know us, where we come from, and what we hope to pursue in our time running OTR! Following, we have a wonderful new Memory Workers at Work interview with the Sikh National Archives of Canada.

Our membership spotlight is with recent Western grad Kaitlin Sonneveld. The issue also includes an article reflecting on 50 years of the ArQuives and a review of their most recent exhibit "Coming Up Aces." Finally, Danielle Manning from the Archives of Ontario provides some reflections on a collective effort to preserve lantern slides created by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

Happy reading!

Isobel and Simon

Do you want to get involved with the Archives Association of Ontario (AAO)? Are you a new or experienced professional looking to meet fellow archivists and contribute to the field? If so, you’re in luck! The AAO is looking for individuals to help support our mandate of furthering the education of Ontario’s records and information professionals and advocating for the interests of the province’s community of archives, heritage organizations, and records institutions.

The AAO is currently looking for volunteers for the following committees:

• Advancement Committee

• Digital Access and Preservation Committee (DAPC)

• Professional Development Committee (PDC)

Detailed committee descriptions and a listing of current membership can be found on the AAO website. 

If you are interested in volunteering or wish to learn more about these opportunities, please reach out to Gina Dewaele, Chapter and Special Interest Group Stakeholder, at chapters@aao-archivists.ca by November 8, 2024.

The Archives Association of Ontario (AAO) Annual Conference will be held virtually between May 6-8, 2025.

Unlike recent years’ virtual conferences that have been organized by a particular AAO Regional Chapter, this year's Conference Committee has the flexibility to be formed by archivists across Ontario. If you've wanted to work on the AAO Conference in the past but were unable due to travel requirements, this could be an excellent opportunity for you!

Duties of the Conference Committee:

• Select the theme of the 2025 AAO Virtual Conference. As the conference isn’t bound to a particular area or predetermined theme, Conference Committee members will play an active role in shaping the message and direction of the conference. 

• Oversee planning for the programming of the conference: call for papers, building the agenda, selecting virtual tour hosts and social activities, etc. 

• Select moderators and keynote speakers.

• Provide support for participants alongside AAO office staff and Whova contacts during the conference.

• Write the Post-Conference final report.

Who we are looking for:

• Archivists from across Ontario are welcome to volunteer - perfect for people who might live/work in remote areas and would otherwise be unlikely to be able to coordinate an in-person conference.

• Experience with planning events and conferences is not required. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to gain experience in conference planning.  

If you are interested in joining the 2025 Conference Committee or have any questions about the work involved in organizing the AAO Virtual Conference, please contact Shelley Respondek, AAO President, at president@aao-archivists.ca by Thursday, October 31, 2024.

The AAO Board of Directors is looking for two dedicated members in good standing who are motivated to contribute to the governance and leadership of the Archives Association of Ontario to join the Board in the following positions immediately:

• Director Without Portfolio 2 - including acting Communications/Advocacy Committee Chair 

• Institutional Development Committee Chair

Additionally, the Board is also seeking someone who would be willing to stand for:

• Vice President/President-Elect

The Board of Directors seeks individuals who reflect the rich diversity of perspectives and experiences of the Ontario archives community and who represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds, cultures, identities, and regions to ensure an inclusive governing board.

Board of Directors are expected to serve a two-year term, attending monthly Board meetings in addition to completing the duties of their roles as outlined below:

Institutional Development Committee Chair

• The Institutional Development Committee Chair shall advise the Board on all matters pertaining to the interests of institutions in Ontario and the development of a provincial archives system.  The Chair of the IDC will also be responsible for planning the annual Institutional Members Forum.  

• Estimated time commitment: 5-10 hours a month

Director Without Portfolio

• Serving as a Board liaison to one or more of the Standing and Special Committees of the AAO Board and/or Sub-committees thereof. Liaison positions involve attending Committee meetings as required, relaying relevant information between the Committee Chair and members and the Board, providing decisions, information and advice as the Board representative to Committees as required, and informing the Board of Committee questions and concerns and relaying information back to the Committee. Directors without Portfolio do not vote on Committee matters.

• Participating fully in Board decision-­making; and

• Contributing to the development of Association policies, procedures and guidelines.

• Estimated time commitment: 5-10 hours a month

Vice President/President-Elect

• Serves to provide assistance in planning and policy decisions as well as communications and advocacy

• Represents the AAO at meetings with the organization's stakeholders and within the broader Canadian archival community

• Liaising with various AAO Committees and Chapters (is an ex-officio member of all committees save the IDC);

• Performing the duties of the President in cases of absence or inability;

• With the President, providing general supervision of the operations of the AAO, the staff, and the secretariat.

• Estimated time commitment: 5 - 10 hours a month

If you are interested in joining the AAO Board or wish to learn more about these opportunities, please contact our Secretary-Treasurer, Al Stanton-Hagan, at secretary.treasurer@aao-archivists.ca.

Best,

The Archives Association of Ontario

Join SWOC on Thursday, October 17, 2024, for a tour of the Norfolk County Archives, some light refreshments, and a historic walk of downtown Simcoe. Learn about the plans to expand the Archives’ storage space, their current newspaper digitization project, and all about how the Archives was established in 2018. 

Event will begin at 10 a.m. and end around 12:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Josh at joshua.klar@norfolkcounty.ca by Friday, October 11^th. All are welcome to attend, no previous involvement with SWOC or AAO necessary. 

For more information about the Norfolk County Archives or directions on how to get there please see their website: www.norfolkheritage.ca/ If there are any questions about the event, please reach out. 

We hope to see you there! 

SWOC Executive

Save the Date: Registration is now open for the 2024 MAIG Open House

On behalf of the MAIG Executive, I am excited to announce that the 2024 Open House will be held on Friday, October 25th, at Elgin County Archives in St. Thomas. Please join us for a facility tour, meeting, and an offsite tour of the Old St. Thomas Church and Cemetery. As always, light refreshments and lunch from a local caterer will be provided.

Established in 1824, this year marks the 200th Anniversary of the Old St. Thomas Church, which is one of the earliest churches in the Talbot Settlement, and one of the oldest structures in St. Thomas and Elgin County. The church is surrounded by a cemetery that dates to 1819 and serves as the burial ground for some of the earliest settlers and residents of the area. We look forward to sharing this piece of local history with you as Reverand Canon Nick Wells guides us on a tour of the church and its grounds!

RSVP by October 2nd to Gina Dewaele, MAIG Secretary-Treasurer, via email: gdewaele@elgin.ca, or by phone: 519-631-1460 ext. 154.

If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please let us know with your RSVP.

When: Friday, October 25th, 2024 - 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Where: Elgin County Archives (Please meet at the Elgin County Heritage Centre, 460 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas)

Agenda:

10:00am-10:15am: Arrival

10:15am-12:00pm: MAIG Meeting

12:00pm-1:00pm: Lunch

1:00pm-2:15pm: Tour of Elgin County Archives and Heritage Centre

2:15pm-2:30pm: Travel to the Old St. Thomas Church and Cemetery

2:30pm-4:00pm: Tour of the Old St. Thomas Church and Cemetery

Note: Please be prepared for a walking tour with appropriate footwear, clothing, and the possibility of rain.

Kind Regards,

Amber Mandich, MAIG Chair