From the Desk of the Director General...

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CCI Newsletter, No. 36, Fall 2005

From the Desk of the Director General...

by Jeanne Inch, Director General and Chief Operating Officer, CCI

Everyone at CCI had hoped that by late 2005 the construction of our building would be behind us. We had expected to be open for business, performing research in safe facilities, and accepting and treating artifacts in environmentally controlled laboratories. Our scientists and conservators were looking forward to being back in their labs, developing and refining treatment techniques, and analysing and studying the structures and materials of heritage objects.

Instead, we face another few months without the ventilation system that is critical to the safety of staff and artifacts in the labs. For many (including myself at times), it has been difficult to stay optimistic while our professional staff remain unable to do the work for which they are trained and to which they bring such passion.

But there has been a silver lining, albeit difficult to see through the dust and the noise and the workers in hard hats and work boots. For me, it is seeing the determination of staff to continue to deliver services to clients — the museum and archives community across Canada, as well as federal government departments, municipalities, and educational institutions.

There has also been the strengthening of partnerships with heritage institutions in the National Capital Region. Thanks to the generosity of Parks Canada, the National Gallery of Canada, and Library and Archives Canada (the Preservation Centre), several of our conservators and scientists have had access to laboratory facilities and equipment.

And our conservators and scientists have not been idle while their labs were under construction. In addition to the actual treatments and research that have been conducted, they have been busy working on a manual on preventive conservation management that CCI will publish in 2007. They have been reviewing all 108 CCI Notes, updating those that need it,identifying gaps in certain subject areas (i.e. archaeology and furniture), and putting plans in place to fill the gaps. And they have been continuing to prepare and deliver workshops and professional development courses.

Much of the construction noise has now abated. The laboratories and office spaces are, for the most part, complete. The lab benches are back in place, and conservators and scientists have begun to reassemble lab equipment and organize supplies so they will be ready to receive artifacts when the ventilation system is finally finished.

We expect to return to full operation in fall 2006, and are preparing for that day. A review of our services and selection criteria is underway to ensure our services complement and support our research and knowledge dissemination mandate. We are analysing our fee structure and developing a more transparent fee policy so that clients will better understand the rationale behind our revenue generation requirement. And we are developing an e-Services function for our Web site to make it easier for clients to request our services.

Over the past year, I have seen CCI staff show patience — and fortitude — in extremely difficult circumstances. Their determination to continue their research and to deliver services to clients is remarkable. They are to be congratulated.

I would also like to thank you, our clients and partners, for your patience over the past couple of years as our main facility has been renovated to create a safe and healthy workplace.