South Peace Regional Archives Society

THE PURPOSE OF THE SOUTH PEACE REGIONAL ARCHIVES ('THE ARCHIVES') IS TO GATHER PRESERVE AND SHARE THE DOCUMENTARY RECORDS OF THE SOUTH PEACE RIVER REGION OF ALBERTA. THESE RECORDS COME IN VARIOUS FORMS SUCH AS TEXTUAL RECORDS PAPER ARTIFACTS PHOTOGRAPHS MAPS SOUND RECORDINGS AND FILM. THEY ARE DONATED BY MUNICIPALITIES ORGANIZATIONS BUSINESSES FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE REGION. OUR GOAL IS TO BE A PARTICIPATORY ARCHIVE TO WHICH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY CAN CONTRIBUTE AND WHERE ALL CAN SHARE AN INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR OWN HISTORY. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL THROUGH OUR CORE SERVICES... GATHERING HISTORY: THE ARCHIVES ACQUIRES HISTORICAL MATERIAL FROM PRIVATE AND PUBLIC DONORS WHO WANT TO PRESERVE AND SHARE THEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CURRENT PUBLIC AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. MATERIAL DONORS INCLUDE MUNICIPALITIES ORGANIZATIONS BUSINESSES FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. PRESERVING HISTORY: THE PROCESS AND PRESERVE HISTORICAL RECORDS THAT HAVE BEEN DONATED TO PROLONG THE LIFESPAN OF THESE RECORDS. ARCHIVES STAFF PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO MUNICIPAL FUNDING PARTNERS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON TOPICS OF RECORD MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION. THE ARCHIVES UTILIZE DIGITIZATION AS PART OF AN ACTIVE PRESERVATION PROGRAM. SHARING HISTORY: THE ARCHIVES PROVIDES REFERENCE SERVICES AND ACCESS TO THE RECORDS OF THE ARCHIVES' COLLECTIONS THROUGH PUBLIC READING ROOM AND WEBSITE. ARCHIVES' USERS INCLUDE STAFF OF OUR MUNICIPAL FUNDING PARTNERS INDIVIDUALS RESEARCHING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HISTORY AUTHORS SEEKING PHOTOGRAPHS AND INFORMATION PUBLICATIONS AS WELL AS ORGANIZATIONS SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES CREATING HISTORICAL DISPLAYS. WE ALSO PROVIDE OUTREACH EVENTS FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND SENIOR CENTRES LECTURES AT THE GRANDE PRAIRIE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND NORTHWESTERN POLYTECHNIC GUIDED TOURS IN THE GRANDE PRAIRIE MUSEUM CEMETERY WALKING TOURS A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE AND ARCHIVAL DISPLAYS SHARED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THE AWARENESS COMMITTEE SUPPORTS OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS. THE INDIGENOUS HISTORY COMMITTEE SUPORTS THE RECONCILIATION WORK AND THE CALLS TO ACTION OF THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION.