Founding Members

The Ottawa Chapter received its charter from the American Records Management Association on June 22, 1971.  Amongst those in attendance at this auspicious event, were:

Dr. Wilfred I. Smith, the Dominion Archivist
William Grey & Denis Deslongchamps from the Montreal Chapter
William Benedon from ARMA International
Palle Kiar, Vice-President of Communications from Bell Canada
Don Barber, Director of Canadian Region, ARMA International
William A. Laurie 
  

The Chapter became a reality because of the vision shared by the founding members including Bob Morin from the National Library / Public Archives of Canada.  He became the first Chapter President in 1971 and first recipient of the Chapter Member of the Year Award in 1972.  These members were:

Three of these members were able to join us in 1996 for our 25th Anniversary Celebration.  
Ted Ferrier
Gilles Lalonde
Milton Thwaites
Two of these members were able to join us in 2001 for our 30th Anniversary Celebration.  
Ted Ferrier
Gilles Lalonde

With a committed and dedicated group of founding members, the Ottawa Chapter was off to a fine start.  On a personal note, Bob Morin bears the distinction of being involved in the founding of three separate ARMA Chapters.  Ottawa was the first, the other two were Edmonton and Regina.

Charter Night, 22 June 1971

Address by   
Robert P. Morin, President
Ottawa Chapter, American Records Management Associatio n

With such distinguished guest speakers as Palle Kiar, Vice President, Communications - Bell Canada; Dr. W. Smith - Dominion Archives; Bill Benedon - Executive Secretary, ARMA; at the head table, I intend to be brief.

A special welcome to our ARMA friends from Montreal Chapter, Bill Gray and Denis Deslongchamps who assisted in establishing the Ottawa Chapter.

When I became a member at large of ARMA in 1968, it seemed strange that Ottawa did not have an ARMA Chapter.  It was an urge to learn records management techniques from the private sector and lots of encouragement from Bill Gray that inspired me.  Other ARMA members at large from the Ottawa area joined the cause.  The Records Management Institute is well established but it is restricted to federal employees.  ARMA is not to be viewed as a competitor but a joint ally of other records management professional organizations.

ARMA offers you a professional journal, publications, conferences, local seminar and more.  I thank the chapter members from Industry, Civic and Federal Government for joining the cause on this memorable occasion.

In closing, don't judge rebels by the length of their hair but rather by their work.