Open House at the Gatineau Preservation Campus: public access to the new building for the first time
News release
GATINEAU, QUEBEC, May 23, 2024
Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to invite the public to visit its Preservation Campus in Gatineau, Quebec, for its Open House event on Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, and no registration is required.
The new building will be open to the public for the first time since its inauguration in 2022. People of all ages are invited to visit the Preservation Storage Facility; the largest automated archival centre in the world and the first net-zero carbon archival facility in the Americas.
Cameras placed in two of the six vaults will allow visitors to observe on-screen the cranes being controlled by staff members who will provide demonstrations of document retrieval.
The public will also be able to discover the Preservation Centre, an architectural gem that has been part of the Gatineau landscape for over 25 years.
Additionally, visitors will have the rare opportunity to tour laboratories and vaults, uncover archival treasures, and to meet LAC specialists to learn about their work preserving history.
The last open house at the Preservation Centre was held in 2018. This year’s event coincides with the 20th anniversary of the creation of LAC, the result of the merger between the National Archives of Canada and the National Library of Canada. It also marks the completion of the move of our collections to the new Preservation Storage Facility.
About Library and Archives Canada
The mandate of LAC is to acquire and preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations, and to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada. LAC also facilitates cooperation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge, and serves as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions.
Quotes
“It’s an honour for us to once again open the doors of our campus to the public. Our employees are thrilled to share their passion for the history and preservation of our country’s archives. More than 100 employees will be on site each day to ensure that the Open House runs smoothly.”
– Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada
“One of our top priorities is to invite Canadians to discover LAC’s collections and gain a better understanding of Canada’s history. 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.”
– Jasmine Bouchard, Assistant Deputy Minister, User Experience and Engagement Sector
“We are proud to invite the public to visit our new Preservation Storage Facility. Its architecture and ingenuity have earned it renown on the international stage. It has already won several prestigious awards."
– Nathalie Ethier, Director, Real Property
Quick facts
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Open House at LAC’s Preservation Campus on Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Admission is free, and no reservation is required.
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The campus is located at 625 du Carrefour Boulevard, Gatineau, Quebec.
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The campus consists of the Preservation Centre and the Preservation Storage Facility.
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Children accompanied by an adult are welcome. Colouring activities are planned.
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Contacts
For further information (media only), please contact:
Media Relations
Library and Archives Canada
819-994-4589
media@bac-lac.gc.ca
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