Advocacy Alert - City of Regina

Letter from Frank Korvemaker, Heritage Consultant

Dear Mayor Fiacco and Members of Council:

It has come to my attention that the upcoming civic budget includes changes to the administration of the City of Regina Archives, including the dismissal or reassignment of its trained archival staff. This proposal, if correct, is of concern to anyone dealing with the historical development of Regina, and does not bode well for the long-term conservation and management of, and public access to the records entrusted to that institution.

The City was widely lauded in 1985 when it initiated the creation of a formal City Archives. Since then the City of Regina Archives has been a leader in the operation and development of civic archives in this province. It seems ironic, as we move well into the second century of the city's existence, that the very agency entrusted with the professional management of our documentary heritage should be targeted for reduction. This option does not reflect well on the image of Regina as a city that is proud of its heritage and is a leader in the evolution of municipal government responsibilities.

Any archives serves a necessary and useful function. Archives are necessary as they serve as a repository for the legal documents that are no longer required for the day-to-day operation within the civic administration. Not all records created by the City need to be preserved, and professional archivists are trained to properly appraise and select those records that have long-term historical significance to the City and to its residents. While others in the civic administration may have some appreciation for records management, they are not necessarily trained archivists, and their decisions on historical significance will not necessarily stand the test of time.

Archives are also useful. The Regina City Archives is one of the first places that people go to when researching any aspect of Regina's history, be that political, commercial, social or otherwise. When the City celebrates various anniversaries, or wishes to recognize the accomplishments of past residents and organizations, or of people associated with the civic administration, the City Archives is the key repository to which these people go. If there is any decrease in the degree of public access, or in the professional archival service that has been provided in the past, the residents of Regina are not well served. No other institution has the mandate to preserve, properly document, and make available Regina's documentary heritage. While others in the administration might focus on the retention of some of the city's internal records, these people are not likely to continue the outreach programs of the present staff, programs that include soliciting relevant material from private donors in order to improve the quality of the historical data available to the administration and to the people of Regina.

The City of Regina Archives is also useful to the young people in our community. Students in elementary and secondary schools can obtain historical information here for their social studies projects, as well as for the increasingly popular Heritage Fair projects. Likewise, students at the university level require ready access to archival resources in order to complete their term papers and thesis assignments. If we are truly serious about encouraging young people to be proud of our city, and to incorporate the history of this city into their lives, the City Archives should be expanding its service to the community, not reducing it. Reducing the status and effective operation of the City Archives sends entirely the wrong message to all residents of Regina.

Finally, as a member of your Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee, I rely on information in the City Archives in order to perform my function as a committee member and to enable me to make the best possible assessment of any heritage matter that comes before this Committee. Likewise, your administration needs ready access to these important historical records so that they can prepare comprehensive reports for our and your review. While the information presently in the City Archives may continue to be available to the administration, I am concerned that the collection of new materials will be put in abatement. In my opinion that, in the long term, will lesson the effective ability of the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee to carry out its mandate.

I trust that you will review the proposed changes to the City of Regina Archives carefully and seek some other recourse to deal with an apparent budgetary shortfall in the City Clerk's Office.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Frank Korvemaker, SAA (Hon.)
Heritage Consultant / Construction Historian