Library and Archives Canada welcomes creation of LAC Foundation and celebrates first LAC Scholars Awards

OTTAWA, April 2, 2019 /CNW/ - At a ceremony held this evening in Ottawa, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) welcomed the launch of the LAC Foundation and presented five distinguished individuals with the first LAC Scholars Awards.

The LAC Foundation was established by a group of passionate individuals to support LAC in making its vast, invaluable and treasured collection more accessible to Canadians from coast to coast to coast, and in sharing it with those around the world wishing to gain a greater appreciation of our country's heritage.

The LAC Foundation, chaired by Jacques J.M. Shore, a partner at Gowling WLG in Ottawa, will also focus on raising funds to support initiatives and partnerships to grow and preserve the LAC collection.

The LAC Scholars Awards were created to recognize the outstanding contribution of individuals who have dedicated their lives to the creation and promotion of the country's literary and historical heritage.

The recipients of the 2019 LAC Scholars Awards are:

• Marie-Louise Arsenault
• Ronald I. Cohen
• Lawrence Hill
• Frances Itani
• Shelagh Rogers

Quotes
"We are very pleased to honour the five LAC Scholars who have contributed so much to Canada's heritage and cultural development. Additionally, I look forward to working with Jacques Shore and the members of the LAC Foundation, whose love of literature and history is matched only by their generosity and benevolence."
Dr. Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada

"Library and Archives Canada is the home of Canada's historical and cultural treasures, and this vast collection is a magnificent tribute to our past, and a foundation of knowledge on which to build our future. The Foundation's goal is to enhance the visibility of LAC and to position it as a creative force in our cultural environment."
Jacques J.M. Shore, Chair of the LAC Foundation

About Library and Archives Canada

The mandate of Library and Archives Canada is to preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations, and to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, thereby contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada. Library and Archives Canada also facilitates co-operation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge, and serves as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions. Stay connected with Library and Archives Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.

SOURCE Library and Archives Canada