Library And Archives Canada Announces $1.5 Million in Funding to Help Local Communities Preserve Canada's Documentary Heritage

QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - June 14, 2016) - Library and Archives Canada (LAC)

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) program will provide $1.5 million in funding to 40 projects led by archives, libraries and heritage institutions across Canada. The announcement of the recipients of this second cycle of the Documentary Heritage Communities Program (DHCP) was made today at the annual meeting of the Association des archivistes du Québec held in Quebec City from June 13 to 15.

The DHCP was created in 2015 to provide financial assistance for activities that augment the visibility of and access to materials held by Canada's local documentary heritage institutions. It also aims to increase the capacity of local institutions to sustainably preserve, promote and showcase the country's documentary heritage. The DHCP provides contributions to eligible applicants across Canada for a variety of projects that will also allow citizens to access and engage with their nation's history like never before.

Funded projects from the Atlantic provinces are:

• A Strategic Plan for St Peter's Cathedral Archives (The Rector, Wardens and Vestry of St. Peter's Cathedral), Charlottetown, P.E.I.;
• Council of Nova Scotia Archives and Council of Archives New Brunswick Copyright Workshop (Council of Archives New Brunswick and Council of Nova Scotia Archives), Fredericton, NB;
• Shipbuilding and Community History Project (Mahone Bay Founders' Society / Mahone Bay Museum), Halifax, NS.

Consult the list of the 2016-2017 recipients from Atlantic Canada and other provinces and territories: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/documentary-heritage-communities-program/Pages/funding-history-2016-2017.aspx.

Quick facts

• Organizations such as archives, privately funded libraries, historical societies, genealogical organizations and societies, museums with an archival component and relevant professional associations, are eligible to apply for funding under the DHCP.
• Applications received by LAC are reviewed by an external advisory committee.
• The deadline to apply for the next funding cycle (2017-18) is January 27, 2017.

Quotes

"Congratulations to all the beneficiaries of the Documentary Heritage Communities Program for 2016-17. This program allows archives and libraries from coast to coast to coast to offer new ways of presenting and distributing pan-Canadian heritage content."

- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

"We are pleased to receive this support which will provide a mechanism to preserve digital information - in French and English - and enhance access and preservation capacity for our documentary history. LAC is an integral partner within the Canadian Archival System and we are pleased, on behalf of all Canadians, to be able to realize these important projects."

- Lara Wilson, Chairperson, Canadian Council of Archives

"We are delighted to be able to make available the transactions of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. These rich historical documents cover a broad range of subjects including science, history, literature and more. People from across Canada and the world will gain access to them thanks to the funding from Library and Archives Canada."

- Barry McCullough, Literary and Historical Society of Quebec

Associated Link

www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng

N.B. Contact information for the 2016-2017 recipients is also available from LAC.

About Library and Archives Canada

The mandate of Library and Archives Canada is to preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations, and to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, thereby contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada. Library and Archives Canada also facilitates co-operation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge, and serves as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions. Stay connected with Library and Archives Canada on Twitter (@LibraryArchives), Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.