COVID-19 Update
As of March 21, 2022, the City of Ottawa Archives remains open to the public by appointment only (in-person or virtual). Walk-in clients may be required to wait for an available appointment.
Tuesday to Friday: 9 am to noon and 1 to 4 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 1 pm and 2 to 5 pm
Sunday and Monday: Closed
Visitors are asked to pre-screen prior to visiting the reference room.
Please contact Reference Services for more information or to book an appointment: archives@ottawa.ca or 613-580-2857.
For more information on learning to live with COVID-19, visit Ottawa Public Health’s new Reducing the risks from COVID-19 webpage.
Mandate
The City of Ottawa Archives are the custodians of permanent and historical civic government records on behalf of the City of Ottawa and its many departments, as well as local, community records with historical value. We preserve, acquire and make these documents accessible for City Staff, the public, and other researchers, for present and future generations. Our goal is to preserve records that enhance our understanding of the history, evolution, and development of the City's social fabric, natural and built environment, and the people that lived, worked, and made significant contributions to the shaping of the City.
Archives, and public access to records, promotes accountability and transparency in government, and documents the interaction between elected officials and citizens. This encourages citizen participation and ownership of their government and their community.
The combined corporate and community mandate of the City of Ottawa Archives is a hallmark of the Canadian archival system, enshrined in a 1980 report (authored bv Ian E. Wilson. former Librarian and Archivist of Canada) that established the present Canadian Council of Archives and the network of provincial and territorial councils.
Corporate Mandate
Under the Ontario Municipal Act, 2001, municipalities have an obligation to retain, preserve in a secure manner, and provide public access to municipal records that provide an accurate record of business functions and transactions to encourage effective governance, transparency, and accountability. The former City of Ottawa created an archives program in 1976, in part to meet this legislated requirement. The current program contributes to the Corporation's administrative efficiency as well as the cultural, social, and economic advancement of the City as a free and democratic society.
The City Archives is responsible for:
Promoting good record keeping by the City to facilitate the identification and preservation of civic government records that have enduring value because they document its business functions and transactions;
Identifying which civic records have archival value and authorizing their transfer to the City Archives for retention and preservation in a secure manner;
Determining which civic records no longer have any value and authorizing their destruction in accordance with the records retention by-law approved by City Council (Record Retention and Disposition By-Law No. 2003-527); and
Providing public access to the records in its care.
When City Council approved the Ottawa 2020 Arts and Heritage Plan in 2003, it made the City of Ottawa Archives accountable for identifying and preserving the City's documentary heritage. The Archives' mandate includes responsibility for the archival records of the 12 former municipalities preceding amalgamation in 2001, Ottawa Transition Board records, Ottawa Public Library, Police Services, and OC Transpo.
Community Mandate
The City Archives program plays a key role in preserving community memory by encouraging individuals, organizations, and businesses in the community to create their own archives. The objective of this role is to preserve records that enhance our understanding of the history, evolution, and development of the City's social fabric, natural and built environment, and the people that lived, worked, and made significant contributions to the shaping of the City. The City Archives program acquires community records that would otherwise be lost to the City for lack of a venue to preserve and make them accessible.
In support of its community mandate, the City of Ottawa Archives proactively engages the broader Archives community in its promotion efforts, and engages friends, partners, learning institutions and groups that represent the ethno-cultural-religious heritage of the City.
The City delivers its community mandate through educational programming, exhibitions, and other community outreach activities in order to connect with the various ethnic, religious, and cultural groups in the municipal area.
Accessibility: James Bartleman Centre
Our Building
The James Bartleman Centre is equipped with accessibility features and tools to make your visit easier. We have accessible parking. Our entrances are wheelchair accessible with ramps and automatic door openers. We also welcome service animals.
Our Services
Our Reference Room includes wheelchair accessible tables, and magnifying glasses upon request. The computer terminals have accessibility tools, and our microfilm/microfiche viewers are equipped with various features to improve the quality and magnification of the images.
Due to the historic nature of records in our collections many items in our collections may not be accessible for people with disabilities. If a person with a disability needs an accessible format, or help to communicate with us, we will work with the person to provide the format or support that will best meet their needs — at no additional cost. If we are not able to meet the person’s particular requirement in a reasonable timeframe, we will inform them and will work with them to determine an alternate method or will provide a summary of the information.
We aim to make our online content accessible for all. If you require assistance visiting us in person or accessing our website, online tools, and resources, please contact us.
Rent a space
There are three meeting rooms at the Central Archives located in the James Bartleman Centre (100 Tallwood Drive) that are available to rent for meetings or events. The building has a public access WIFI network; you will need to obtain a code to access the network. All of our meeting rooms have access to a kitchenette. Contact the Central Archives (mailto: archivesrentals@ottawa.ca) for more information about renting a room or to book a rental. Please note: These meeting rooms are not available to book online.
The James Bartleman Centre is a scent free building.
Room 115
Room 115 is an open concept space and can be set up several ways. Seating options for Room 115 are determined by the chosen room set up. This will dictate the maximum number of attendees. There is a projector, screen and a/v equipment with both HDMI and VGA connectivity available for PCs. (Apple systems excluded. Must bring own adaptor.)
A kitchenette is attached to Room 115 and is available for use. All supplies must be provided by the renter.
Theatre style: 50 people with chairs
Groups: 6 groups of up to 8 people each, maximum of 48 people with chairs and tables
Classroom style: maximum of 30 people with tables and chairs
Horseshoe: maximum of 20 people with tables and chairs
Central board room style: maximum of 28 people with tables and chairs
When the walls to the Atrium are open: maximum of 100-120 people with no chairs
Room 226
Room 226 is permanently mounted in a boardroom configuration and it is fully a/v equipped with a projector, screen, SMART Board and a wireless keyboard. Video conferencing services are also available. Capacity: Maximum of 20 people. View more photos of the facilities.
Room 228
Room 228 is a conference room with a central table. Capacity: Maximum of 10 people. A portable screen is available however, you will need to bring your own projector. View more photos of the facilities.
Parking
As we are a LEED designated building, parking on site is extremely limited for all. Cars not parked in designated visitor parking areas will be asked to move. We ask that those attending meetings or events during the week park off-site, use alternative transportation, take OC Transpo or walk if you are coming from the area around Centrepointe or Constellation.
Who is James K. Bartleman?
In honour of a lifetime of service to Ottawa, Ontario and Canada, the Archives and Library Materials Centre was dedicated to James K. Bartleman by Mayor Jim Watson on April 3, 2012.
James K. Bartleman was born in Orillia, Ontario in 1939 and is a member of the Chippewas of Mnjikaning First Nation. Starting in 1967, he represented Canada as a highly respected diplomat for more than 35 years. He served as the first aboriginal Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 2002 to 2007. As the Vice Regal representative he set three priorities: the first was to eliminate the stigma of mental illness. The second was to fight racism and discrimination. The third was to encourage learning for aboriginal youth. All of these priorities represent the spirit of community-building and public service that are the hallmarks of Bartleman’s life.