Public welcomed to get a glimpse of Canadian historical artifacts at Library and Archives open house
Library and Archives Canada's new Preservation Storage Facility — the world's largest automated archival centre — will be open to the public this weekend.
The public is invited to explore the facility and observe the automated cranes in action via cameras placed in two of the six vaults this Friday and Saturday.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Opened in 2022, the storage facility is the first net-zero carbon archival facility in the Americas, storing documents for up to 500 years in six high-tech vaults with a space equivalent to eight-and-a-half Olympic-size swimming pools.
Staff members will provide demonstrations of document retrieval, offering a glimpse into the intricate processes involved in preserving Canada's documentary heritage.
Visitors can also tour the Preservation Centre, an architectural site in Gatineau that opened in 1997. It has 48 vaults for various historical records, with two kept below freezing for film storage, and access laboratories and vaults to uncover archival treasures.
"What's really unique is that we don't just have one history of Canada. We have many histories of Canada. Each person has had a different experience. They have a different story to tell in these collections reflect those stories," says Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada. "There is something for everyone. We have 425,000 works of art, and let's be honest, we don't go after the best known artists, we go after the artists who capture a moment; they capture a family by a campfire, they capture people in the fur trade that were going in a canoe up a river, they capture the arrival of some people coming to Canada, and they capture some of the First Nations people in their interactions with the colonial government."
Specialists from Library and Archives Canada (LAC) will also be on hand to discuss their work in preserving historical records.
"One of our top priorities is to invite Canadians to discover LAC collections and gain a better understanding of Canada's history," says Jasmine Bouchard, assistant deputy minister, user experience. "An event like the open house represents the pinnacle of our daily efforts to make the country's documentary heritage accessible to present and future generations."
- You'll soon be able to see these hidden gems at Ingenium's new storage space
This event marks the first open house at the Preservation Centre since 2018 and coincides with the 20th anniversary of LAC, formed from the merger of the National Archives of Canada and the National Library of Canada. It also celebrates the completion of the collection's relocation to the new facility.
Library and Archives Canada's mandate is to acquire, preserve, and provide access to Canada's documentary heritage, supporting cultural, social, and economic development and also promote cooperation among knowledge preservation communities and serve as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions.
The Preservation Campus houses two buildings, the Preservation Centre and the Preservation Storage Facility, located at 625 du Carrefour Boulevard, in Gatineau. It will be open to people of all ages on Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, and no reservation is required.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6972157.1721587842!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Joe Biden drops out of 2024 race, endorses Kamala Harris to be Democratic nominee
U.S. President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for re-election after doubts were raised about his fitness for office. Soon after, he endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris to take his place in the November election.
Justin Trudeau reacts to Joe Biden announcing he won't run for re-election
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the news that U.S. President Joe Biden won’t run for re-election Sunday, calling Biden a 'true friend.'
Joe Biden wants to pass the baton to Kamala Harris. Here's how that might work
With U.S. President Joe Biden ending his re-election bid and endorsing Vice-President Kamala Harris, Democrats now must navigate a shift that is unprecedented this late in an election year.
The pilot who died in crash after releasing skydivers near Niagara Falls has been identified
NEW YORK (AP) — Officials on Sunday released the name of a pilot who died in a skydiving flight after her passengers jumped from the aircraft near the Niagara Falls.
Woman found dead in the water near Sunset Beach: Vancouver police
Investigators were at Vancouver’s Sunset Beach after a woman’s body was found in the water Sunday morning, according to authorities.
Ottawa man waiting nearly a year for car to be fixed at Acura dealership
An Ottawa man says he’s been waiting nearly a year for his car to be repaired after it was damaged during a storm in August.
Canadian musicians struggle to get visas to perform in the U.S., some cancel shows
Backlogs and processing delays of temporary U.S. visas required by entertainers, athletes and artists has forced some Canadian bands to cancel U.S. tour dates because paperwork wasn't processed in time.
Joy in Newfoundland after 'Lucky 7' fishers survive harrowing days lost at sea
There was a powerful word being repeated in the joyful Newfoundland community of New-Wes-Valley on Sunday: 'Miracle.'
A Florida woman was killed 24 years ago. DNA evidence just helped police make an arrest in the cold case
A Florida woman’s brutal killing nearly 25 years ago may finally be solved after authorities arrested the suspect this week, according to the Sanford Police Department.