AAO News

a. AAO and the Region of Peel Archives

The AAO’s Board of Directors is working with archival colleagues across Ontario and Canada to advocate for the continued existence of the Region of Peel Archives with the upcoming dissolution of the Peel Region in early 2025. Stay tuned for more information and for ways you can help!  

b. AAO Call for volunteers

The following committees are looking for volunteers:

Awards Committee 

What we do:

• promote, adjudicate, and present the AAO awards and the Shirley Spragge Bursary

• advise the AAO Board on new award categories, modifications to existing awards, and opportunities for special recognition

• prepare the launch of the 2024 awards cycle

Advancement Committee 

What we do:

• support the mission and activities of the AAO by establishing and stewarding donor and sponsor relationships

• organize and manage fundraising programs and events

• develop and promote AAO branded merchandise

Communications and AdvocacyCommittee (CAC)

What we do:

• advise the AAO Board on communication matters

• write advocacy letters on behalf of the AAO and membership

• operate a program of public awareness and outreach for archives

• produce The Original Order of Things : the AAO monthly newsletter

• organize Archives Awareness Week

• liaise with other Archival Associations, institutions, and related bodies

Conference Committee (2024 AAO Virtual Conference)

What we do:

• select the theme of the 2024 AAO Virtual 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

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

What we do:

• advise on issues relating to diversity, equity and inclusion

• make recommendations on programming and services
  

Current projects:

• conducting an accessibility audit

• exploring a DEI mentorship program

Institutional Development Committee (IDC)

What we do:

• advise on matters pertaining to the interests of archival institutions

• assist the AAO in meeting its strategic objectives

• act as a voice for the AAO’s institutional members

• organizes biannual Institutional Members Forum

• conducts membership outreach

Current projects:

• updating the IDC Terms of Reference

Professional Development Committee (PDC)

What we do:

• help decide which workshops and other events the AAO will organize annually

• work with members to understand their educational needs

• support the AAO Chapters in the development of workshops

• develop and deliver educational curricula

What is in it for you:

• inform the AAO curricula

• develop leadership, event planning, and organizational skills

• each PDC member takes the leadership in planning one event for the year which involves working with the facilitator/teacher, handling the logistics, and as a bonus - attending the workshop for free!

Student and New Professionals Outreach Committee (SNPOC)

What we do:

• attract, engage, and support current student and new professionals

• provide opportunities for funding, networking and workshops

Current projects:

• as a newer committee with new membership, we are currently planning new projects to undertake

• major focus on organizing outreach and networking events

If you are interested in volunteering for any of the above committees or have questions, please contact the AAO office at aao@aao-archivists.ca. 

c. Fall Workshops

The AAO’s Professional Development Committee presents Safe Spaces for BIPOC Records Professionals

04 Oct 2023 12:00 PM Zoom (Link will be sent when registered)

The AAO’s Professional Development Committee presents Safe Spaces for Records Professionals with Disabilities, Chronic Illnesses, and the Neurodivergent

05 Oct 2023 12:00 PM Zoom (Link will be sent when registered)

The AAO’s Professional Development Committee presents Safe Spaces for LGBTQ2S+ Records Professionals

06 Oct 2023 12:00 PM Zoom (Link will be sent when registered)

d. Municipal Archives Interest Group Releases Annual MAIGazine

The MAIG executive released the 19th edition of the MAIGazine.

For this edition, the Executive put a call out for articles related to “community connections”. After several pandemic years of unfortunate but unavoidable disconnect with the communities we serve, municipal archives are bouncing back and developing innovative ways to reach new and existing audiences. The submissions this year detail a variety of ways archives are enhancing accessibility to their collections via digitization and online engagement, the ways in which we support each other as colleagues, and an important discussion of the necessity to protect the valuable records in archival holdings when faced with threatening uncertainty. 

For more information about MAIG or to view previous issues of the “MAIGazine” please visit our the MAIG page on the AAO website.

If you have comments or suggestions on how to improve future issues of the “MAIGazine” feel free to contact our Executive. 

e. Toronto Area Archivists Group (TAAG) hosting a tour of the Archives of Ontario

The Toronto Area Archivists Group (TAAG) is excited to be hosting a tour of the Archives of Ontario on Thursday, October 19th at 4pm!

The tour will be an hour long and will include:

• Exhibit Area (currently featuring ANIMALIA: Animals in the Archives)
• Reading Room, where researchers can access items from the Archives' collection
• Onsite storage vault
• Preservation Services Lab

Please register for this event as capacity is limited. 

The tour will be followed by a casual hang out for anyone interested. Please email me at taag.chapter@gmail.com if you have any questions.