FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE NEW NATIONAL ARCHIVIST HAS ARRIVED!

Ottawa, 26 July 1999- Last week, the National Archives of Canada welcomed its new chief administrator, Mr. Ian E. Wilson. Appointed National Archivist of Canada last July 5, Mr. Wilson began his new duties in Ottawa on July 19. He becomes only the seventh person to hold this office in the 127- year history of National Archives.

Until just recently, Mr. Wilson was the Archivist of Ontario at the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation, where he was also responsible for Ontario’s public library system, which he helped bring online. Mr. Wilson is also Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto. He previously served as the provincial archivist for Saskatchewan, and as the archivist of Queen’s University and the City of Kingston.

Mr. Wilson assumes office two years after the departure of his predecessor, Jean-Pierre Wallot. In those two years, the transition was overseen by Mr. Lee McDonald, Assistant National Archivist. The appointment of Mr. Wilson coincides with the release of the report of John English, historian and professor at the University of Waterloo, following the consultations he began in 1998 on the future role and structure of the National Archives and the National Library. The purpose of these consultations, commissioned by the department of Canadian Heritage, was to determine whether the National Archives was well positioned to preserve, promote and provide access to Canada’s archival heritage while meeting the challenges of the information age in the next century.

Mr. Wilson has therefore been entrusted with this mandate of guiding the National Archives into the 21st century and making its holdings more accessible. He began his term by familiarizing himself with his new work environment. He says he is very proud of and impressed by the colossal job already being done by the National Archives and recognizes the enormous untapped potential. One of his priorities will be to study the recommendations of the English Report with his management team and open the National Archives even more to the Canadian public. Another of his major challenges will be to defend the interests of future generations in the larger issues related to archival heritage preservation which are of concern to a large number of the public: management and destruction of government records, copyright, access to information and privacy.

Mr. Wilson is a known leader within the archival community and is no stranger to the workings of government, partnership or challenges. Among his achievements, he chaired an advisory committee responsible for drafting a bill on heritage in Saskatchewan and he restored the role of the Archives of Ontario in information management as well as its public role by forging partnerships and alliances. He also conceived, promoted and directed the restructuring of the Archives of Ontario.

On the strength of these achievements in Saskatchewan and Ontario, Ian E. Wilson assumes his new duties with enthusiasm and says he is ready to face new challenges. "As with all public institutions, the context in which the Archives operates changes rapidly. The expectations of the public, technology and the changing role of government in our society force us to be flexible and creative, while remaining true to our principles... Today’s challenge is to ensure that the National Archives has a national presence and uses the [World Wide] Web to best advantage." He knows it will be no easy job to convey the role of the National Archives and the National Archivist, and the revelance of archival heritage to Canadians, but feels well prepared to do so.

Mr. Wilson will participate in his first public events as National Archivist on August 17 and September 10; he will host a reception at the convention of the ICA (International Cartographic Association), and the inauguration of the renovated auditorium of the National Archives. In the months that follow, he will take part as guest speaker in conventions, conferences and meetings at which the general public will also have an opportunity to meet him.

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Mr. Wilson will be available for interview, by appointment, from July 26 to 30. A photograph may be obtained upon request.

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