Library and Archives Canada and Pier 21 Sign Co-Location Agreement

April 15, 2016

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 announced an agreement to co-locate their facilities with LAC moving its Atlantic offices from Dartmouth to Pier 21 in downtown Halifax.

Library and Archives Canada and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 collaborate to make it easier for Atlantic Canadians to access their heritage

April 15, 2016—Halifax, Nova Scotia—Library and Archives Canada (LAC)

Marie Chapman, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and Dr. Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, today signed a new co-location agreement. This collaborative arrangement will benefit not only the Museum and Library and Archives Canada (LAC), but most importantly the clients that each institution serves.

Through this memorandum of understanding, LAC will enhance its national presence by moving its Atlantic offices from Dartmouth to Pier 21 in downtown Halifax. This will allow Canadians to benefit from the services of both organizations in one central location. Visitors will be able to conduct research using LAC’s collection, meet with a LAC archivist, and research their family history while visiting the museum.

Pier 21 and LAC have complementary goals in the preservation and promotion of Canada’s heritage. The two institutions will collaborate on a range of joint initiatives in future years such as exhibitions and public programming.

Quick Facts

• Visitors will benefit from a new and improved service offering in Halifax.
• LAC will move its services from Dartmouth to Pier 21 in downtown Halifax in early 2017.
• LAC currently has regional offices in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; Burnaby, British Columbia; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
• Over 65,000 people visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 each year.

Quotes

“The collaboration between these two Canadian cultural institutions is a great way to celebrate Canadian stories. By connecting culture and innovation, this initiative will enrich our lives and broaden our horizons.”

–The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“Through our association with the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21—an exceptional venue that enjoys remarkable attendance—we will be able to enhance access to our services and our collections, for the greater benefit of all history and heritage enthusiasts.”

– Dr. Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada

“We are delighted that Library and Archives Canada is joining forces with us at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. This collaboration will help us to share our national treasures with all Canadians and to make LAC’s services and collections more accessible.”

–Marie Chapman, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

Associated links

Pier 21 www.pier21.ca

Library and Archives Canada: www.bac-lac.gc.ca

About Library and Archives Canada

The mandate of Library and Archives Canada 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, thereby contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada. Library and Archives Canada also facilitates co-operation among communities involved in the acquisition, processing, preservation and diffusion of knowledge, and serves as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions. Stay connected with Library and Archives Canada on Twitter (@LibraryArchives), Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.

About Pier 21

The purpose of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is to explore the theme of immigration to Canada in order to enhance public understanding of the experiences of immigrants as they arrived in Canada, of the vital role immigration has played in the building of Canada and of the contributions of immigrants to Canada’s culture, economy and way of life.

Dr. Guy Berthiaume and Marie Chapman formalizing their new agreement.