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 23, 2024, and run through March 21, 2025. 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 $21.00 per hour (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 concerning 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 the processing of different fonds that testify to the presence and activities of Jesuits in Northern Ontario, from 1844 onward. This includes the appraisal, the processing, and the creation of finding aids for the selected fonds. The project also includes the digitization of selected records – textual records and photographs – pertinent to larger research undertaken. In total, the selected fonds to be processed include approximately three meters of textual records and about 2,000 photographs. The selected candidate will create file level inventories of the fonds as well finding aids on the fonds level to ameliorate the discoverability of the material. These will be ingested into our online databases. As such, the selected candidate will work with standardized description templates and other standardized processes associated with the processing of the fonds. The Project Archivist will also need to write reports on the project processes and scope.
This initiative of processing and improving the discoverability of material that highlights encounters between Jesuit and different Indigenous nations and communities is being conducted in the context of the AJC commitment to promote access to records for Indigenous researchers about material that concerns them.
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
- Recent graduate. 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 primary language of the archival records that will be handled by the intern is English, with some material in French. The selected candidate will need to be able to write in 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.
To find more information about the AJC, please visit our website: https://archivesjesuites.ca/
The deadline for applications is June 17, 2024.
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.
The candidates must be eligible to the Young Canada Works program and submit their application through the portal. For more information: https://jeunesse-canada-travail.canada.ca/
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.