Caring for our Past, Caring for our Future

On 1 November 2007, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican 
Church of Canada, recognized the 80th Anniversary
of the establishment of the General Synod Archives " with gratitude for 
outstanding service to church and community."

Archbishop Hiltz commented " the church gives thanks for 80 years of 
service provided by the Archives.  I view your work as just that – a 
service, a ministry, a vocation.  You have been called and commissioned 
to be a keeper of our story..."

"The Canon mandates the General Synod Archives to work with archivists 
in the ecclesiastical provinces, the dioceses and related agencies 
including religious orders, theological colleges and ecumenical 
coalitions.  To that end the Archivist works in co-operation with a 
network of archivists across the country – resourcing them with the 
skills necessary to carry out their work with competence, establishing 
and maintaining archival standards and giving attention to matters of 
common concern.... such as the impact of the Residential Schools 
Settlement Agreement and the establishing of a Truth and Reconciliation 
Commission, and the impact of federal and provincial privacy 
legislation....."

"For your care of these precious assets – in our General Synod, 
Provincial and Diocesan Archives, I thank you on behalf of the Anglican 
Church of Canada.  My prayer is that you will always find your work to 
be challenging and rewarding and my hope is that your work will always 
be acknowledged with respect and gratitude by the Church and by society 
at large..."

"The Canon speaks of records pertaining to the history and activities of 
the Anglican Church of Canada.  To that end the Archives serves the 
church in times of celebration, crisis and transition.  ..."

The certificate was presented on the occasion of a national gathering of 
provincial and diocesan archivists meeting in Toronto, Ontario. General 
Synod Archivist Nancy Hurn, Assistant Archivist Laurel Parson, Diocesan 
Archivists across the Church, and many others volunteer their time and 
expertise in this very important work.