About Us

The Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property is a federally-registered charitable not-for-profit organization that promotes responsible preservation of the cultural property that gives Canadians a sense of place, of history and of artistic expression. The CAC serves individual and institutional members by providing opportunities for networking, professional development, advocacy, and information dissemination.

Our Objectives

The objectives of the Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property are to:

Objective 1: Further the dissemination of knowledge concerning the conservation of cultural heritage and natural history collections in Canada by developing a community of professionals dedicated to practice, research, education and advocacy.

Objective 2: Provide opportunities for knowledge-sharing through conferences, other learning activities, and financial support for continuing professional development.

Objective 3: Advocate for conservation, both independently and by developing partnerships and promoting awareness with related heritage professions and the general public.

Objective 4: Encourage cooperation of related disciplines and consultation with source communities in the improvement, coordination and dissemination of conservation knowledge, methods and working standards.

Objective 5: Publish and promote research in the conservation of cultural material, including (but not restricted to) spiritual and cultural objects, works of art, natural history specimens, archival materials and monuments.

Objective 6: Support employment equity among Canadian conservation professionals and reduce social and economic barriers to the conservation profession.

Objective 7: Regularly review, update, and promote the Code of Ethics and Guidance for Practice.

Objective 8: Carry out all other activities incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives of the Corporation and in service of the membership.

Reference

CAC By-laws

Code of Ethics & Guidance for Practice

CAC Financial Policy

The CAC-ACCR needs (and wants!) you!

This year the following positions expire and will be up for nomination and election at the June AGM for a two-year term:

Treasurer
Secretary
Executive Councillor – Professional Development
Executive Councillor – Membership
Strategic Alliance Liaison Councillor

In order to qualify and be nominated, you must be a member in good standing (e.g. fees paid and adhere to the CAC-CAPC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice), be committed to the objectives of the CAC, be available to participate in approximately 10-14 teleconferenced board meetings and other discussions, be able to lead /contribute to several assigned committees or ad-hoc projects, and most importantly, be willing to work collaboratively as part of a dynamic team focused on promoting its membership and the conservation of Canadian cultural property and heritage.

Click here for more information on these positions and the By-Laws with which their work is guided. You will find the nominations forms here. You can also contact any other Standing member of the Executive Board.

Although nominations can and would be accepted from the floor at the AGM, we would greatly appreciate receiving written nominations and candidate statements of interest prior to April 30, 2024 in order to send them out for membership consideration in the pre-conference package.

Please submit nominations electronically to secretary@cac-accr.ca.

Board Members

Gyllian Porteous President
Tiffany Eng Moore Vice-President
Gabriela Rosas Secretary
Naomi Rath Treasurer
Mauray Toutloff Executive Councillor (Communications)

Emilie Demers Executive Councillor (Membership)
Crystal Maitland Executive Councillor (Publications)
Victoria Kablys Executive Councillor (Professional Development)
Chloé Lucas Strategic Alliance Liaison Councillor

Standing Committees

Bulletin – Gabriela Rosas

Communications – Vacant

Conference – Jessica Lafrance-Hwang

Emerging Conservators – Garnet Lewiski-McQuaid

Finance – Rebecca Latourell

Grants and Awards – Monique Benoit

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility – Sally G. Kim

Journal – Irene Karsten

Membership – Vacant

Training – Kaslyne O’Connor

Translation – Marie Ève Gaudreau Lamarre

Regional Representatives

Western Region (BC, AB): Mauray Toutloff

Prairies and Territories (SK, MB, YK, NWT, NU): Alexander Ranger

Greater Toronto Area (ON): Alicia Coutts

Kingston and Peterborough (ON): Natasa Krsmanovic

Greater Ottawa-Gatineau (ON, QC): Catherine Paterson

Province of Quebec (QC): Emily Cloutier

Eastern Region (NB, NS, PEI, NFL): Dee Stubbs-Lee

Land Acknowledgement

The Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property (CAC) represents conservation professionals who work throughout the traditional territories of First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples across Canada. The CAC wishes to express gratitude on behalf of all its members for the opportunity to live and work on these lands.

The CAC supports the ongoing implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and recognizes the rights of Indigenous peoples to maintain, protect and develop the past, present, and future manifestations of their cultures and cultural heritage.

The CAC supports the implementation of the Calls to Action put forward by the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and encourages that the work of Canadian conservation professionals be carried out in compliance with UNDRIP and be respectful of a reconciliation framework for Canadian and Indigenous heritage.

The CAC privileges the voices of Indigenous experts on Indigenous issues as the ultimate authority on matters concerning Indigenous cultures, heritage and languages.

The CAC would like to thank John Moses (Six Nations of the Grand River Territory), Supervisor of Repatriation at the Canadian Museum of History, for his consultation on matters relating to the TRC and UNDRIP.

Awards

Charles Mervyn Ruggles Award

This award commemorates the distinguished achievements of Charles Mervyn Ruggles (1912-2001) in the development of the conservation profession in Canada. As CAC’s first honorary member, it is appropriate that our first award for outstanding contribution to the field carry his name. This award is intended to celebrate conservators making an outstanding contribution to and achievements in the field. This may be in conservation science, treatment, training and/or education, and for their development work in the field of conservation in Canada, and for promoting the ethics and ideals expressed in the CAC/CAPC Code of Ethics and Guidance for Practice.

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Emerging Conservator Award

This award recognizes the dedication and outstanding potential of a future conservator or conservation scientist in Canada. Recipients of this award will be celebrated for their accomplishments and leadership demonstrated during their full time studies leading to a degree or diploma in any area of cultural property conservation or conservation science, or within five years of completing these studies.

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