LAC continues Lest We Forget project

The following is extracted from a letter from Marie-Josée Martel, Assistant Deputy Minister - Programs and Services Sector of LAC.

"The Ottawa Sun article last week gave the impression that Library and Archives Canada (LAC) was directed to "permanently shut down" this project. LAC corrected this inaccurate and misleading information in a letter to the editor on Friday, January 22nd (see attached). The status of Lest We Forget continues to be an essential evolving LAC project.

LAC will be taking advantage of digital opportunities and our efforts will be increasingly directed to have the information related to Lest We Forget available on-line. This will allow millions of Canadians and in particular, students and teachers from some 22,000 schools from coast to coast to coast, to consult and learn about our military history and the important role that Canada has always played.

From now until the end of the 2009-2010 school year, LAC's approach to the project and the workshops remains the same.

In the fall, classes will still be able to book rooms if they choose to come in person, have the information they request ready and a toolkit will enable teachers to interpret the material and conduct workshops for themselves as will all teachers across the country. As e-documents progressively enrich the Lest We Forget project, LAC will be able to strengthen its continuing efforts in providing access to this valued information across Canada through the Web.

Over the next two years, LAC will also be working with partners such as libraries and archives to enhance accessibility and support users across Canada for all its programs and material including military files and documents."

Comment: The misleading information appearing may relate to LAC's refusal to book further meetings. It's unfortunate that LAC has adopted the freeze approach in dealing with its financial issues and modernization initiative. It smacks of standing transfixed in the headlights of progress.