Dr. Ian E. Wilson

Dr. Ian Wilson

“To see a world in a grain of sand...Hold infinity in the palm of your hand”

Thursday, October 7 - 9:00 to 10:00am

 

These lines from a poem by William Blake, written over 200 years ago were mystical in their time but today seem prescient.  Digital media from the web to gaming and from digital asset management to data mining are transforming our institutions and our society. The challenge, indeed the demand, to make authoritative Canadian content easily available online touches all the information professions and opens extraordinary opportunities to engage new audiences.  And, in this new land, the virtual world, the broad public seeks access across institutional lines.  Dr. Wilson will reflect on these issues, drawing on his experience in libraries, archives, museums and now with the Stratford Institute for Digital Media.

Dr. Ian E. Wilson is the Founding Director, and current Executive Director of the University of Waterloo’s Stratford Institute for Digital Media.  He has just completed a two year term as President of the International Council on Archives, and served as National Archivist of Canada, 1999 to 2004, and then as head of the newly amalgamated Library and Archives Canada.  Dr. Wilson retired in 2009 from that post and received the unusual honour of being named Librarian and Archivist of Canada Emeritus.  Prior to that he served as Archivist of Ontario from 1986 until 1999.

Dr. Wilson’s career spans many areas, including archival and information management, university teaching and government service. He has worked diligently to make archives accessible and interesting to a wide range of audiences. While helping to safeguard the integrity of archival records and library services, he has encouraged public involvement and outreach. He has published extensively on history, archives, heritage and information management and has lectured nationally and internationally. He holds three honorary doctorates, is a Member of the Order of Canada, and was appointed Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France. He is also a fellow of both the Association of Canadian Archivists and the Society of American Archivists.