REGINA - The City of Regina is showcasing its archives during the 18th annual Archives Week in Saskatchewan from Feb. 5 to 11.
The city’s archives were established in 1985 and includes over 6 million documents. The collection includes documents of legal, historical, administrative, or financial significance including building permits, old City Council minutes, and historical photographs.
Upgrades were needed as the previous archiving system used an operating system that was no longer supported. This year, the city is touting its upgraded archives system to include virtual archives.
As a result, the virtual archives hosts over 43,000 images and nearly 46,000 text-based records, according to the city. The upgraded system provides a more efficient and newer mobile-friendly experience for the public and allows our staff to respond to requests more quickly.
Users can also see records updated in real time, meaning once an item is uploaded it can be viewed immediately.
Users can also search timelines of Regina including the history of Taylor Field, and the 150 Stories Oral History Project, or they can see some of the new archive collections. Those include Buffy Sainte-Marie’s appearance at the statue unveiling at Piapot First Nation, a cricket match between Team Midway and the Stallions on Sept. 2, 2014, and Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Regina in 2005.
There is also an archival reading room located on the 15th floor of City Hall, where residents can make an appointment to examine documents and photos.
“We are passionate about telling the story of our city and keeping our history alive,” says Dana Turgeon, Historical Information & Preservation Supervisor, in a news release. “This upgrade is the culmination of dedicated hard work by our Archives team, and we are pleased it will improve the overall experience for residents exploring our archives.”
