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<p style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#343742"><span style="font-size:24px"><strong><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif">INTERVIEW WITH AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGES CHAMPION</span></strong></span></span> </p><p>

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#343742"><span style="font-size:24px"><strong><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif">INTERVIEW WITH AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGES CHAMPION</span></strong></span></span> </p><p>

<span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">From the outset, we decided to avoid a model of general discussions with national organizations whose mandate made little room for documentary heritage. After identifying the most active and representative local players in each province and territory, we invited them to participate in a network. Their initial surprise quickly turned into an outstanding mobilization that gave us wings.</span></span>

<span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">From the outset, we decided to avoid a model of general discussions with national organizations whose mandate made little room for documentary heritage. After identifying the most active and representative local players in each province and territory, we invited them to participate in a network. Their initial surprise quickly turned into an outstanding mobilization that gave us wings.</span></span>

   

   

<br><br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">Aside from establishing two networks (one archival and the other for libraries), we set up an internal advisory committee with representatives from across LAC to implement necessary measures, including the creation of an OL lens. In parallel, we did some research to clearly understand how memory and documentary heritage could foster the development of OLMCs, since the lack of recognition of the impact of documentary heritage did not match our observations nor those of the members of our networks who, on a daily basis, witnessed the importance of its contribution to their community. This '''[https://publications.gc.ca/site/fra/9.896163/publication.html research]''', which was validated by a group of academic experts, created a feeling of community for both LAC and the members of the networks and, in addition, led the latter to design research projects related to the theme. The feeling of being part of a community was also reinforced by the distribution of a monthly [https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.903819/publication.html '''newsletter'''] that provides information on members’ activities and various topics (podcasts, research studies, newspaper articles, etc.) that concern our community and official languages.</span></span>

<br><br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">Aside from establishing two networks (one archival and the other for libraries), we set up an internal advisory committee with representatives from across LAC to implement necessary measures, including the creation of an OL lens. In parallel, we did some research to clearly understand how memory and documentary heritage could foster the development of OLMCs, since the lack of recognition of the impact of documentary heritage did not match our observations nor those of the members of our networks who, on a daily basis, witnessed the importance of its contribution to their community. This '''[https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.896163/publication.html research]''', which was validated by a group of academic experts, created a feeling of community for both LAC and the members of the networks and, in addition, led the latter to design research projects related to the theme. The feeling of being part of a community was also reinforced by the distribution of a monthly [https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.903819/publication.html '''newsletter'''] that provides information on members’ activities and various topics (podcasts, research studies, newspaper articles, etc.) that concern our community and official languages.</span></span>

<br><p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">All these activities inspired our members from the two networks to collaborate with LAC on the organization of a national conference ''Archives and Libraries in Official Language Minority Communities'' in spring 2021. This conference was not only an opportunity to discuss issues and increase collaboration, but it also confirmed the contribution of memory, heritage and history to the vitality of OLMCs. The support for our work expressed by Canadian Heritage, the Commissioner of Official Languages and Minister Fortier particularly moved the members of our networks and inspired other initiatives, such as a partnership for the publication of a post-conference volume at the University of Ottawa Press.</span></span></p>

<br><p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">All these activities inspired our members from the two networks to collaborate with LAC on the organization of a national conference ''Archives and Libraries in Official Language Minority Communities'' in spring 2021. This conference was not only an opportunity to discuss issues and increase collaboration, but it also confirmed the contribution of memory, heritage and history to the vitality of OLMCs. The support for our work expressed by Canadian Heritage, the Commissioner of Official Languages and Minister Fortier particularly moved the members of our networks and inspired other initiatives, such as a partnership for the publication of a post-conference volume at the University of Ottawa Press.</span></span></p>