The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Library and Archives Canada is home to a priceless collection of rare books, papers, photos and other materials that document our countryÕs rich history. Among its holdings are portraits of some 1 million Canadians dating back to 1689, 21 million photographic images taken since the 1850s, newspapers of all sizes and an assortment of medals, seals and coats of arms. But this important legacy is under threat. The main archives building in Ottawa, just a few blocks from Parliament Hill, has suffered numerous floods and leaks over the years that have damaged thousands of books and documents, The Canadian Press reports. Rickety plumbing has caused two more deluges in rapid succession in the past few months alone. Given the historical significance of the collection Ð much of it irreplaceable Ð the federal government ought to act swiftly to safeguard it from further harm. Library and Archives Canada stores some of its material in a modern facility in Gatineau, Que., but that building has already reached capacity. None of the other nine buildings the institution runs is up to current preservation standards. Efforts have been made to prevent water damage at the main headquarters, including installing water-detection sensors and moving rare documents off-site. But judging from the buildingÕs soggy history, these measures may not be enough. As federal Auditor General Sheila Fraser noted in a 2003 report that rang alarm bells over the conditions, Òonce a piece of our history is lost, itÕs lost forever.Ó That may be a hard message to sell to the federal government as the economy slows and revenues shrink. But preserving our past is one priority Ottawa cannot afford to put off to the future.
