LTI Archives Receives Provincial Recognition

About 25 people gathered at the Leeds and Thousand Islands Public Library (LTIPL) in Lansdowne for the official presentation of the Archival and Preservation Award by the Ontario Library Association (OLA) to the Leeds and Thousand Islands Archives (LTIA). Although the official gala was held in the InterContinental Hotel Ballroom in Toronto on January 30, the award did not come home to its proper setting until February 21, 2025.

A select by-invitation crowd was in attendance and included Mayor Corinna Smith-Gatcke of Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands (TLTI), TLTI Councillor Angela Kelman, Library Board Chair Cynthia Healy, members of the LTIA, and members of the Leeds and Thousand Islands Historical Society (LTIHS).

“This award recognizes how civic engagement and community pride has created a bridge to secure an important and thriving asset; Leeds and the Thousand Islands Archives, home of the collective memory of our community,” said Cindy Code, CEO of Leeds and the Thousand Islands Public Library when she first picked up the award in Toronto.

“The Leeds and the Thousand Islands archives are a shining example of how collaboration, volunteerism, and a passion for local history can come together to create something truly special. Administered by the Public Library, and run by an active group of volunteers, the Leeds and the Thousand Islands archives is a small but mighty group that works to preserve the history of Leeds and the Thousand Islands and the surrounding area. The LTI archives has an extensive collection of letters, diaries, municipal documents, maps, drawings, postcards, and photographs, all cataloged and preserved by dedicated volunteers.”

“The Leeds and the Thousand Islands archives work closely with many local community groups, such as the Thousand Islands Historical Society, Thousand Islands Municipal Heritage Committee, and others to expand and preserve their collections. The professionalism of this group of dedicated volunteers sets a high bar for what a small local archive can achieve.”

LTIA was nominated for the award by Dayna DeBenedet, former CEO of LTIPL. “During my tenure as the Library CEO at LTIPL, I was consistently impressed with their dedication to local historical preservation and to ensuring that the archives were open to the community,” she said. “I believe that they deserve to be recognized for their resilience in overcoming significant challenges to ensure their archives remain open and for the example they provide of how civic engagement and community pride can be leveraged into a thriving community asset.”

In order to qualify for this recognition, LTIA has digitized more than 5,000 items and made them freely available on their website; actively participated in the restoration of the historic buildings, which will be the long-term home of the archives; and operated their service on very little money through the work of a team of active volunteers who collect, catalogue, and preserve local historic data, materials, and other items while making the said material available to members of the public who come in to perform historical research.

“(They) overcame significant challenges related to the closure of the archives during the COVID-19 pandemic, the closure of their physical space due to structural issues, and a relocation to a temporary space,” said DeBenedet. “Despite these challenges, they were able to reopen to the public and have demonstrated significant resilience and dedication.”

TLTI Mayor Smith-Gatcke made the formal presentation of the award to archivist Pierre Mercier of LTIA and Brenda Lolley, long term chair of the TLTI Library Board.

“Thank you very much for coming out today to honour all of those who are unbelievably dedicated to preserving history for our community,” said Mayor Smith-Gatcke. “The past is important because often the past can give us clues about the things that we want to better but more importantly the things that we don't want to repeat. Preserving history and preserving the collective memory of the community is so important, and we know that volunteers actually make this happen for us. We very much appreciate that.”

The award is made of crystal and reads “Ontario Library Association Archival and Preservation Achievement Award 2025 – Leeds and the Thousand Islands Archives.” It will be placed on public display at the archives at 1367 CR2 in Mallorytown.

“Thank you to the Historical Society, thank you to the archives, thank you to all the groups that work together to make sure that this happens,” said Mayor Smith Gatcke. “With your work, we will always know who we are and where we came from.”

By Lorraine Payette

Lorraine Payette is best known as a popular reporter in the Gananoque and Leeds and the Thousand Islands area. She writes much of her material for the "Gananoque Reporter." Lorraine wrote that "she was more than happy to share this article with TI Life." and in turn we thank her most sincerely.

Article first published in the Gananoque Reporter, March 6, 2025

Editor's Note: This is an important award and those of us who are passionate about the history of the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River are grateful that historical societies, archives, libraries and museums work diligently to preserve important paper ephemera, photographs and manuscripts in perpetuity. Job well done!