The Archive of the Jesuits in Canada (AJC) is seeking a candidate for the position of Project Archivist, under the Young Canada Works Program. This is a 24-week position projected to begin on September 21, 2026, and run through March 19, 2027. The AJC is located in Montreal, Quebec. The internship will be on-site, at Maison Bellarmin, in Montreal. The hourly wage for the internship is $23.00 (35 hours per week; 24-week project; unpaid statutory holidays and 10–12-day seasonal break in December/early January).
The AJC provides an access point to its collections, as well as resources about the history of the Jesuits in Canada. It supports the research of members of the Jesuit community, genealogists, academic researchers, Indigenous researchers, artists, and students from a variety of disciplines. The archival collection holds more than 1.5 km of textual records, more than 500,000 photographs, more than a thousand maps and cartographic material, hundreds of audio-visual records, as well as born-digital records.
The main objective of the project is to do research in the AJC collection and select records to be digitized. This will involve navigating through different fonds and collections, and identify pertinent records for digitization, related to Onkwehón:we materials. Several fonds and collections related to Haudenosaunee communities have been partially reprocessed over the last few years. A next phase would be the selection of records to be digitized, and their digitization, in order to facilitate access to a diversity of archival materials about Onkwehón:we communities. The digitization process will concern mostly textual records, but some photographs and other materials will also be targeted. The scanning of these records will be important for Onkwehón:we research partners who are already doing research in our archival collection.
The materials to be digitized will mostly come from the Fonds Mission Saint-François-Xavier, which includes 1.23 metres of textual records, and 92 photographs. The textual records were mostly created between 1800 and 1900, but other records, such as photographs, were created in the last part of the 20th century. It contains information about the relations between Jesuit priests and the Kahnawà:ke community, as well as administrative records related to the activities of the mission. The intern will contribute to the description of the records included in the fonds by identifying key areas that require enhanced context. The fonds has been described on the fonds and series level, but some areas need to be described more thoroughly on the file level. If applicable, some records will even be described at the item level. The project will then consist of doing research to evaluate which areas need to be described in more detail to render them more accessible to researchers. The project thus requires an assessment of the records and the selection of materials for digitization.
The second phase of the project will require more extensive research to identify pertinent Onkwehón:we records, across a diversity of fonds and collections. These will include personal fonds of Jesuit priests who had been active in Kahnawà:ke and Ahkwesáhsne. In addition, research will be undertaken in a special collection about New France that also holds Onkwehón:we records, related to Kanien’kehá:ka and Wendat communities. The project will then involve the digitization of these selected records.
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
The AJC are engaged in a process of truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The AJC supports Indigenous resurgence. The selected candidate will need to demonstrate an understanding of the main challenges regarding archival concepts and practices. The candidate must be familiar with the principles stated in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action, the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce of the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives as well as demonstrating a knowledge of national and international strategic orientations and principles concerning Indigenous peoples and associated archival records.
QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
- Recently graduated. University-level education in Archival/Information studies or a related field with a demonstrated interest in archival theory and practice; with preference for candidates with a master’s degree in Information studies with a specialization in Archival studies;
- Demonstrated ability in the use of collections management tools and the Rules of Archival Description (RAD);
- Interest in digital archives, including digitization practices and processes;
- Ability to communicate information to small and large groups;
- Oral and written fluency in English, with a working knowledge of French, is required;
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team on collaborative initiatives;
- Ability to develop objectives and to implement procedures.
The material to be processed is in English, French, Kanien’kéha, and some records are in Wendat. The selected candidate will need to be able to write in both French and English, as the documentation and the finding aids that concern the project is in French and English. The working environment of the AJC is in French. Operational activities are delivered in French, English, or both, depending upon the researcher, the initiative, and the intended audience. The selected candidate will need to be comfortable working in a bilingual environment.
The position is in Montreal, Quebec, a city with a diverse population. It is an urban environment with a significant number of universities and cultural institutions.
Preference will be given to Indigenous candidates.
Candidates from the Government of Canada’s job equity groups are encouraged to apply / Les candidat.e.s visé.e.s par l’équité en matière d’emploi du Gouvernement du Canada sont invité.e.s à postuler.
The deadline for applications is May 15, 2026.
To find more information about the AJC, please visit our website: https://archivesjesuites.ca/
The candidates must be eligible to the Young Canada Works Program.
Applications, which must include a letter of interest and a curriculum vitae in one Word of PDF file, should be sent to François Dansereau, Director of The Archive of the Jesuits in Canada: CANAJCdirection@jesuites.org.
We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only those selected for the short list will be contacted for an interview. Personal information received from prospective candidates will be used only for this recruitment process.