COQUITLAM, B.C., February 13, 2024 – As the City of Coquitlam Archives collection continues to grow, so does its use of technology to preserve and share the history of the community and local government.
The City Archives, which marked its 10th anniversary in 2023, digitized thousands of documents and photos last year while continuing to add new and interesting records to its permanent holdings. These and other activities are described in the 2023 Archives Annual Report at coquitlam.ca/CityArchives.
Of note is the Archives’ growing use of technology to both preserve fragile originals and expand access to the increasing collection of historical records to residents and researchers in Coquitlam, Canada and abroad.
2023 by the Numbers
Pulled from the Archives Annual Report, noted accomplishments in 2023 included:
- 10 per cent increase in traffic on the Quest online search portal from 2022
- 59,500 Quest page views by visitors from Canada, United States, South Africa, Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia (since its inception, Quest has had more than 352,500 page views by over 56,000 unique visitors)
- 3,000 archival descriptions added to the Quest online database
- More than 150 reference requests from the public and City staff
- 41 researchers reviewed archival materials on-site
- 11 accessions (acquisitions of archival materials) received
- Three new online exhibits produced
Digitization
Access to City and community records through the Quest online search portal continued to grow in 2023, thanks to an ongoing focus on digitizing photos and documents.
The Archives welcomed its first student intern in 2023 to help with the first phase of a multi-year project to digitize 35mm negatives from the Tri-City News, which ceased printing and moved to an online-only format in 2023. A student from the UBC Ischool’s Master of Archival Studies Program helped to digitize 1,000 negatives in 2023.
The Archives also began working with the South Asian Canadian Digital Archive to expand access to records relating to Coquitlam’s South Asian community.
Records digitized in 2023 and uploaded to Quest included those from the Tri-City News as well as those from the Dansey Family, Enterprise Newspaper, and City of Coquitlam departments and Council.
New Additions to the Archives
One of the core activities of the Archives is arranging and describing newly acquired collections (purposely collected) or fonds (documents with a shared origin that accumulated naturally). Materials may arrive neatly organized or in disarray. The work includes identifying and describing items, preserving fragile items, and making them accessible to the public through digitizing or other means.
Acquisitions in 2023 included documents from the Northeast Ratepayers Association, additional bound print editions of the Tri-City News, records from the Hoy Scott Watershed Society, photos of the local Dansey family in 1911, records from the City cemetery, research materials related to Burke Mountain and the Widgeon Valley, and various City reports, financial statements and plans.
The Archives encourages donations of photographs, letters, maps and other records from community groups, businesses and individuals to help provide a fuller picture of Coquitlam’s history. For information or to make a donation, contact archives@coquitlam.ca or 604-924-3900.
Outreach and Impact
The Archives shared its work, expertise and Coquitlam history in a variety of ways in 2023.
Social media posts informed, educated and entertained. Staff set up booths at Coquitlam events, took part in speaking engagements, mentored archival students, participated in professional organizations, and assisted students, researchers, historians and community groups in using the Archives.
Three new online exhibits were added in 2023, exploring photos and documents from Riverview Horticultural Centre Society, the significance of the Archives and practical user tips, and Coquitlam’s presence in archives outside the community.
The Archives also curated a physical exhibit about the history of Coquitlam’s municipal halls when the current City Hall turned 25, and hosted a screening of the National Film Board’s Unarchived.
Looking Ahead
The Archives has another busy year planned for 2024, centred on its core work of identifying, preserving and sharing City and community records of archival value. This will include digitizing photos and documents, seeking out and processing new archival materials, and ensuring existing holdings are preserved. Community outreach will continue to include online exhibits, social media posts and collaboration with community partners.
Explore Online Exhibits
Twenty-three online exhibits on a variety of topics can be found at coquitlam.ca/OnlineExhibit. New exhibits are continually added, featuring insightful and sometimes quirky stories about Coquitlam’s past, information about new acquisitions, and details about upcoming events.
Each online exhibit marries engaging text with scans of documents, maps and photos to bring the subjects to life. Examples include exhibits on Coquitlam’s First World War soldiers, the local business that was Canada’s first plywood producer, early scrapbooking efforts, Colony Farm’s Holstein herd, the Westwood racing circuit, psychiatric nursing at Essondale, the 1981 B.C. Summer Games and more.
About the City of Coquitlam Archives
The City of Coquitlam Archives serves a dual purpose: to preserve and to make accessible. Since its inception in 2013, the Archives has been raising its profile to encourage people to use its services and discover the trove of records in the collection. For more information about the City of Coquitlam Archives and to access online exhibits and the Quest search portal, visit coquitlam.ca/CityArchives.
Media contact
Jamie Sanford
City Archivist
604-927-3900
archives@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.