TORONTO – Groundbreaking has taken place at the new site of the Archives of Ontario at York University, Minister of Government Services Gerry Phillips announced today.

A new and modern facility for the Archives is being built on the main York University campus, at 4700 Keele Street in Toronto.  Over the next two years the Ontario government, in partnership with York University, will oversee the construction of the new archival facility that will provide better public services and enhance access to the province’s history. 

Minister Phillips was on-site this morning with York University president and vice-chancellor Lorna R. Marsden.

“By partnering with a leading North American university, this new, world class facility is a major step forward to protect our province's heritage,” Phillips said. “With the expansion of the subway line, the new building will make the Archives even more accessible to the public.”

The new building, about 96,000 square feet in size and located in the heart of the York University main campus, will increase the current public reference area by 75 per cent.  The new, self-contained facility will meet international archival standards and make it easier to showcase some of the Archives’ most valuable collections.

“The new Archives facility is just one example of the McGuinty government’s broader commitment to upgrade infrastructure to meet current and future needs,” said Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal David Caplan.  “Together, we are building a stronger Ontario by providing a foundation for long-term economic prosperity while respecting the environment.”

As part of the government’s commitment to creating and promoting a culture of conservation in Ontario, the new archives building will meet the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design silver certification, a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

“This new facility will protect Ontario’s documentary history for generations to come,” said Archivist of Ontario Miriam McTiernan.

The Archives of Ontario is the largest provincial archives in Canada, with a collection valued at more than $400 million.  It is responsible for preserving the documentary history of the province and is an important source of research for the police, courts, historians and genealogists.

“We are absolutely delighted by the partnership, which will provide a first-class home for the Archives at the heart of an expanding GTA,” Marsden said.

The project has been proceeding under ReNew Ontario, the government’s five-year, $30-billion infrastructure renewal plan to build strong and prosperous communities.  It was implemented according to the principles of the Building a Better Tomorrow Framework for public infrastructure procurement, which protects the public interest and ensures that processes are fair, transparent and efficient.

The new Archives facility is expected to open in 2009.

Backgrounder: The Archives of Ontario’s new building at York University

Contacts:
Paul de Zara
Minister’s Office
416-327-3072 - office
647-388-9671 - cell  

Ciaran Ganley
Ministry of Government Services
416-325-8659