Ian E. Wilson
Encyclopedia
Ian E. Wilson is a former chief Librarian and Archivist of Canada
. Appointed in 2004, he had previously (as of July 1999) been National Archivist of Canada. With Roch Carrier
, the then National Librarian, he developed and led the process to link the National Archive and National Library as a unified institution. His distinguished career has included archival and information management
, university teaching and government service. In addition, he has published extensively on history, archives, heritage, and information management and has lectured both nationally and abroad. Wilson retired as head of LAC in April 2009.
, he attended the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean
and obtained a Master's degree from Queen's University
in 1974. He began his career at Queen's University Archives (1967), later becoming Saskatchewan's Provincial Archivist (1976–86) and Chairman of the Saskatchewan Heritage Advisory Board. He was appointed Archivist of Ontario in 1986, a position he held until 1999. For several years he was also responsible for the Ontario Public Library system.
Wilson chaired the Consultative Group on Canadian Archives on behalf of the Social Sciences
and Humanities Research Council. The Group's report, Canadian Archives - generally known as the "Wilson Report" - was published in 1980 and has been described as "a milestone in the history of archival development in Canada."
As a librarian and archivist, he serves on the Service Transformation Advisory Committee of the Treasury Board of Canada and was appointed their Information Management co-Champion for the Government of Canada in 2002. He is also a member of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. He has taught as an Adjunct Professor in the Faculties of Information Studies and Graduate Studies of the University of Toronto
.
He was responsible for repatriating the Winkworth Collection to Canada in 2008.
In 2001, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate
of Letters (D. Litt.) from York University
in recognition of his contribution to Canadian archives. In 2002, he became member of the Order of Canada
. In 2003, he was elected Fellow of the Society of American Archivists and appointed Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France. In 2009 Wilson became a Fellow of the Association of Canadian Archivists, an honour bestowed upon him at the ACA conference held in Calgary, Alberta.
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...
. Appointed in 2004, he had previously (as of July 1999) been National Archivist of Canada. With Roch Carrier
Roch Carrier
Roch Carrier, OC is a Canadian novelist and author of "contes" . He is among the best known Quebec writers in English Canada....
, the then National Librarian, he developed and led the process to link the National Archive and National Library as a unified institution. His distinguished career has included archival and information management
Information management
Information management is the collection and management of information from one or more sources and the distribution of that information to one or more audiences. This sometimes involves those who have a stake in, or a right to that information...
, university teaching and government service. In addition, he has published extensively on history, archives, heritage, and information management and has lectured both nationally and abroad. Wilson retired as head of LAC in April 2009.
Life and work
Born in Montreal, QuebecMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, he attended the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean
Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean
Royal Military College Saint-Jean is a Canadian military academy located on the site of Fort Saint-Jean , originally built 1666, which is now part of the town of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, 40 km south of Montreal, Quebec...
and obtained a Master's degree from Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
in 1974. He began his career at Queen's University Archives (1967), later becoming Saskatchewan's Provincial Archivist (1976–86) and Chairman of the Saskatchewan Heritage Advisory Board. He was appointed Archivist of Ontario in 1986, a position he held until 1999. For several years he was also responsible for the Ontario Public Library system.
Wilson chaired the Consultative Group on Canadian Archives on behalf of the Social Sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
and Humanities Research Council. The Group's report, Canadian Archives - generally known as the "Wilson Report" - was published in 1980 and has been described as "a milestone in the history of archival development in Canada."
As a librarian and archivist, he serves on the Service Transformation Advisory Committee of the Treasury Board of Canada and was appointed their Information Management co-Champion for the Government of Canada in 2002. He is also a member of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. He has taught as an Adjunct Professor in the Faculties of Information Studies and Graduate Studies of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
He was responsible for repatriating the Winkworth Collection to Canada in 2008.
Awards and recognition
He served as President of the Ontario Historical Society (1975–1976) and more recently was President of the Champlain Society from 1995 to 2003, and Vice-President of the International Council on Archives from 2000 to 2004.In 2001, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of Letters (D. Litt.) from York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in recognition of his contribution to Canadian archives. In 2002, he became member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 2003, he was elected Fellow of the Society of American Archivists and appointed Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France. In 2009 Wilson became a Fellow of the Association of Canadian Archivists, an honour bestowed upon him at the ACA conference held in Calgary, Alberta.