Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the County of Elgin, I am pleased to announce that County Council at its meeting this week approved plans and the required funding for the establishment of a facility for the new Elgin County Archives.  This is to be a full service archival facility, incorporating elements such as environmental controls, fire suppression and security systems, mobile shelving, a comfortable research area, conservation space and staff work areas.  It will be located in the Elgin County Administration Building and will incorporate approximately 3000 square feet of space with an adjacent records centre.  The contract for design and complete project management has been awarded to the Ventin Group Architects of Simcoe.  The project is expected to begin in October and be completed in early Spring 2002, enabling a grand opening to the public by June 2002 to coincide with the County's Sesquicentennial celebrations.  This exciting news is a testimony to all those who have worked so hard to establish a proper archives in Elgin County.  As Warden Duncan McPhail stated in a recent newspaper article:  "Council is firmly committed to archives.  The future is very bright."


Brian Masschaele, Archivist
Elgin County Archives
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas ON  N5R 5V1  Canada
Phone:  519-631-1460. ext. 138  Fax:  519-631-9209
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]