It’s hard to believe that Summer is speeding by so quickly. In May and June we presented two timely ConneX sessions on Mental Wellness for individuals and teams, respectively. On June 23rd, we held our Annual General Meeting online, including a Heritage ‘In-Sites’ tour of the Ottawa Jewish Archives. It was wonderfully hosted by their Archivist and CHC past Board member Teigan Goldsmith and filmed by one of our favourite social enterprises HotShoe Productions. If you missed it, or would like to view it again, click here.
Note the opportunity below to work at the archives on one of the projects highlighted!
In addition to reporting on our work in 2020-21, as outlined in our Annual Report, our Treasurer’s Report, Auditors for 2022, and current Board of Directors were approved. We thanked our dedicated outgoing President and Haunted Walk Creative Director Jim Dean, and welcomed our new President Britt Braaten, Canadian War Museum Creative Development Specialist.
We praised the work of Program Manager Natalie Hart, but will be bidding her a fond farewell at month’s end, as she commences a new position with the City of Ottawa. Congratulations Natalie!
We welcome applications to serve as a Board Member and on our Committees, including our new Equity, Inclusivity, Diversity and Decolonization (EIDD) Committee and as our new Program Manager.
June was National Indigenous History Month – and sadly, one that we won’t forget, with the traumatic confirmation of hundreds of unmarked graves of Indigenous children at former Residential School sites in Canada. We must first be aware of, accept, and acknowledge these truths, and then support reconciliation -through actions, not words. Our Heritage community is encouraged to read the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in this, and all regards.
June was also Italian month. We applaud the collaborative work of Italian groups in Montreal to present the temporary exhibit Italian Montréal celebrating their heritage through engaging digital events and programming. And we know that as in Ottawa, Italo-Canadians there, and across Canada, are revelling in their recent Euro Cup win – the first since 1968.
On June 29th, Ottawa Board of Trade launched its CAPITAL Magazine City Building edition with guest Ontario Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Cultural Industries Minister Lisa MacLeod. It includes a Culture Counts! piece contributed by CHC and our partners in the Ottawa Cultural Alliance.
As highlighted in the article, re-opening of the cultural sector and its much missed contributions to our economy and quality of life will be pivotal to moving past the pandemic. Please read and share it with your networks and political representatives.
We know that digitization will continue to be important for many of our members moving forward, and are very pleased to have secured the opportunity to host a series of Introduction to Digitization webinars presented by the Canadian Conservation Institute and Canadian Heritage Information Network (CCI-CHIN) on Sept 13, 20 and 27. Spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to register now.
Our office will be operating, though on a reduced capacity, for what remains of the Summer. We look forward to reconnecting with you in the Fall – and in person, as soon as protocols permit.
Wishing you Wellness and Summer Warmth,
Catherine Lindquist
Executive Director