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Ottawa, May 15, 2001
The National Archives of Canada has
acquired, for the first time, a Web site that it will maintain for future enjoyment by
Canadians. The formal donation of the Web site, and the opening of an exhibition
showcasing Our Millennium projects, will take place Wednesday, May 16 at the National
Archives, 395 Wellington Street at 5:00 p.m.
The media are invited to meet with Ian
E. Wilson, National Archivist of Canada, and preview the Web site and exhibition earlier in the
day, at 12:30 p.m.
“The Web site is an appropriate first for the
institution because it provides a tremendous snapshot of Canada in the millennium year. The
National Archives keeps the national memory. While archivists are occupied in marking the
past, we are also deeply conscious of our present and our future. This acquisition
represents our commitment to document the 21st century realities of the virtual
environment,” said Ian E. Wilson, National Archivist.
Our Millennium was a grass roots program
that invited Canadians to get together and give a gift to their community to mark the new
millennium. More than 4.6 million volunteers from cities, towns and rural areas all across
Canada participated, and thousands of millennium projects were recorded in the
Our Millennium Web site registry, which forms the basis of the National Archives
exhibition.
The Our Millennium program was coordinated
by Canada’s network of community foundations and supported by the Government of Canada’s
Millennium Partnership Program. The Our Millennium program also underscores the importance
of volunteers’ work, which is being celebrated this year during the International Year of
Volunteers.
“This Web site will ensure that Canadians
have access to a permanent record of the gifts they gave to their communities at the turn of
the century,” said the Honourable Herb Gray, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible
for the Government of Canada’s millennium initiative.
Distinguished guests will include Peter
Aykroyd, whose idea inspired Our Millennium. The exhibition runs until January 2, 2002, and
is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., seven days a week.
For further information, please contact:
Louisa Coates
Media Relations Officer
National Archives of Canada
E-mail: media@lac-bac.gc.ca
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