CELEBRATE SASKATCHEWAN ARCHIVES WEEK FEBRUARY 6TH – 12TH

The province is celebrating Saskatchewan Archives Week February 6th to 12th.

"As we learned from celebrating our centennial year, memories of Saskatchewan's many achievements are well documented," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Glenn Hagel said. "In honour of our province's heritage and the ongoing work to preserve it, the provincial government is pleased to proclaim this first-ever Archives Week in Saskatchewan."

The week is dedicated to activities that profile the vital role that the documentary records of individuals, families, organizations, businesses and governments play in developing an understanding of ourselves through academic and popular research. The week also honours the work done within Saskatchewan's archival repositories, where valuable archival resources are preserved and made available for use in all of their forms.

The Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists is planning a number of activities during the week.

On February 6th, CBC Radio's "Noon Edition" featured an Archives Phone-In discussing archival treasures and the practical concern for their care. An exhibit, "Shades of Grey," in the University of Saskatchewan's main library focuses on the seven university archives and the dynamic interaction between user and stored information. An exhibit is also being prepared by the St. Paul's Nurses' Alumni Association Archives at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon, and the Athol Murray Archives of Notre Dame is having a "Perusal of Correspondence Day" on Thursday, February 9th.

At 7 p.m., Friday, February 10th, an Archives Film Night, featuring heritage short films from the City of Regina Archives and the Saskatchewan Archives Board, will be held at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina.

In addition, many archives members of the Council have contributed photographs, documents and information on their collections for a "Collage of Preservation" to appear in print form.

Other events are planned in various local communities that have archives. A special button, "Celebrate Archives," has been designed for the week, featuring the Council logo in provincial colours. It can be viewed at http://scaa.usask.ca/archivesweek.

The Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists, representing 75 institutional and individual members, is responsible for building a co-operative archival network in Saskatchewan. It offers advice on the formation of new archives, promotes the preservation and use of our archival resources, and has spearheaded the development of 20 virtual historical exhibits, including "Medicare" and "Saskatchewan in the Two World Wars," all of which can be viewed on its website, http://scaa.usask.ca/sain/gallery.php.

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For More Information, Contact:

Carey Isaak Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists Regina Phone: (306) 777-7189	Kathlyn Szalasznyj Outreach Archivist Phone: (306) 374-7143
Janet Peters Culture, Youth and Recreation Regina Phone: (306) 787-4967