ACA CONFERENCE WELL-ORGANIZED

The Association of Canadian Archivists Conference in Whitehorse was exceptionally well-organized by the staff of the Yukon Archives. The Archives staff showed us warm northern hospitality and planned many interesting events to give us a good taste of the North on what, for many of us, was our first trip "North of 60". The opening reception and Dawson Film Find Celebration was very enjoyable -- the screening of newsreels and Hollywood films from 1903-1929 recovered and restored after 49 years in Dawson City permafrost made for a very entertaining evening.

A trip to Carcross (originally called Caribou Crossing) was a highlight for many of those attending the Conference -- the North-South baseball game (which the North won 3-2) was played on the shores of Lake Bennett and was fairly overshadowed by the magnificient scenery and evening sun.

An interesting walking tour of the town with its local shops housed in turn-of- the-century cabins was also arranged by the Yukon Archives and local merchants. Another impressive highlight was the Na Kwa Ta Ka Potlach House evening consisting of a traditional meal of caribou, arctic char and salmon, and entertainment provided by the Kwanlin Dun First Nation community including traditional music and dancing, fiddling and storytelling.

The Conference sessions covered a wide variety of topics. Presentations relating to automation and electronic technology were particularly revealing. An important session was given on the results of the University of British Columbia research project regarding the preservation of the integrity of electronic records. The presentation was quite technical, however, and presumed a certain familiarity with the project. Complete published results are likely to be useful to archivists responsible for electronic records.

It was also interesting to hear how other institutions and provincial organizations are approaching some of the same problems faced by the ASA and its members. Perhaps closer cooperation in the West regarding workshops and resources is something to be examined.