ĀDISŌKE AT ONTARIO LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SUPERCONFERENCE
Every year, the Ontario Library Association Superconference brings together 6,000 attendees from across the country and the continent. On February 2, we were honoured to deliver a presentation about what will make Ādisōke a truly unique offering in Canada.
We’re pleased to share the first part of “Come Together: The Story of Ādisōke, the Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada Joint Facility.” This discussion was facilitated by Ottawa Public Library Board Trustee and City Councillor Rawlson King, and features panellists Danielle McDonald, CEO of Ottawa Public Library, Della Meness, Education Manager of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Anita Tenasco, Director of Education of Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg, and Leslie Weir, Chief Librarian and Archivist of Canada. Topics discussed include perspectives on Indigenous consultation, governance and collaboration, and the importance of public engagement.
After watching, if you have a question for panellists, we’d be happy happy to hear from you at adisoke@ottawa.ca
INDIGENOUS PUBLIC ART PROGRAM CALL TO ARTISTS
The Indigenous Public Art Program for Ādisōke will honour, support and showcase Indigenous art created by Indigenous artists from Canada. There are currently two public art calls for Algonquin artists for the Indigenous Multi-Purpose Room (Children’s Story Room option), and exterior frit / interior glass designs. These calls close on May 27, 2022. The deadline for the Direct Purchase – Inuit Art opportunity has also been extended to May 27, 2022. For more information, please visit the Public Art Program’s web page.
INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT REPORT
As a complement to the Anishinābe Algonquin Host Nation engagement started in 2019, the Ādisōke Project Team implemented additional activities in 2020 to learn how the facility can best welcome and serve Indigenous populations. Two Indigenous consultants advised on engagement with local, regional and national Indigenous organizations, urban Indigenous populations in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, and Indigenous community members across Canada. We’re pleased to share the report about this engagement.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
Regular construction updates are now available on the project website. You can also receive these short updates directly to your email inbox. To register, please email adisoke@ottawa.ca with the subject line: “Construction update subscription.”
YOU ASKED?
What role will the City of Ottawa Municipal Archives have in Ādisōke?
The City of Ottawa’s Central Archives are at the James K. Bartleman Centre on Tallwood Drive, which is also the location of OPL’s content services department and distribution. There are no current plans to relocate the Central Archives to the Ādisōke facility. However, Ādisōke will have Living Ottawa, which enhances the current OPL Main Branch’s Ottawa Room. Living Ottawa’s theme is “Ottawa tells its Story”, which will be echoed in programs, displays, and features throughout the building. It will be a destination for community and private events, a workshop and laboratory for the capturing of community stories, and a repository of resources dealing with community history, cultural heritage, family, and urban history. Collections will focus on published materials that deal with all aspects of past present and future life in Ottawa.