Conference Events and Tours

Wednesday, October 22, 20205 

Tour cost included in conference registration fee 

8:00-9:00 carpool meet up
Research Centre, CMH

9:30-11:30 Canadian Conservation Institute

Tour the labs to hear about current work, and chat with staff over coffee.

9:30-11:30 National Gallery of Canada

Tour the Conservation labs and select collection storage spaces.

11:30-13:30 Lunch Meet Up
National Gallery of Canada

13:30-16:45 National Arts Centre
Tour the rarely seen archives, props and costume collections kept behind the scenes of the NAC.

13:30-15:30 Centre Block Restoration
Tour this large scale built heritage restoration site to get a peek at the restoration projects currently underway.

14:00-16:00 Royal Canadian Mint
Tour the coin production and quality control facility of the Mint, with information about how the Assay lab functions

(Re)conciliation Working Group (RWG) Panel Discussion
The Rights to Tell the Story: Indigenous intellectual property rights and conservation practice
Research Centre, CMH
Wednesday, October 22; 16:30-18:30

Article 31 of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) states that “Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage… they also have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions.”

Conservators routinely examine, analyse, identify, record and present information about Indigenous belongings.  How can we ensure that these standard conservation activities respect Indigenous intellectual property rights?  This panel of Indigenous experts will discuss ways in which the conventional, often unquestioned, aspects of conservation practice can meet Indigenous standards and protocols.

Emerging Conservators Committee Event (ECC)
Conservation Living Library
Location TBC
Wednesday, October 22; 19:00-21:00

This event, hosted by the ECC, will feature conversation stations where senior and retired colleagues will be available as ‘books’ to chat with small groups of conservators on a range of professional subjects. While this event is focused on providing invaluable lived experience to emerging professionals, Conservators at all stages of their career are encouraged to participate.

Banquet & Per Guldbeck Memorial Lecture
Grand Hall, CMH
Thursday, October 23; 19:00-21:00

Elder welcome, Silent Auction, Awards
Per Guldbeck Memorial Lecture: Gayle McIntyre

CAC Annual Conference Silent Auction
Call for Donations!

We are on the hunt for your generous donation of items to be included in our annual Silent Auction! The auction will be held at the conference banquet on October 23, 2025.

You will find the Silent Auction Donation Form here. Please email the completed form, with jpeg image if possible, to auction-encan@cac-accr.ca. Please Use ONE form for EACH item donated. Forms must be received by October 1, 2025 at the latest. See form for delivery instructions of donated item(s).

Writers Evening
Conservation in Fiction Panel Discussion
Research Centre, CMH
Friday, October 24; 19:00-20:30

Join us for a moderated discussion of the portrayal of conservation in works of fiction and whether public perception of our work matters.

Brown Bag Lunch: CAC Journal
Writing papers for a peer-reviewed journal
Research Centre, CMH
Thursday, October 23; 12:15-13:15

Do you want to publish your work in a conservation journal but find the idea of peer review intimidating? This session will bring together a panel of editors, peer reviewers and published writers to demystify the peer-review publications process. With suggestions for preparing a manuscript, tips for dealing with criticism, and examples of how peer review improves papers, the session will prepare you to take on the challenge of submitting a paper to a peer-reviewed journal.

Brown Bag Lunch: Demystifying Pesticide Results XRF
Demystifying Pesticides – Developing Screening Values to Inform Pesticide Surveys of Belongings XRF and Pesticides
Research Centre, CMH
Friday, October 24; 12:00-13:00

Pesticides are being found on a large percentage of belongings returning to Indigenous communities, raising questions about how this may affect their use. In Canada, the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) carries out pesticide analysis on cultural materials, including those being repatriated to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. Although communities receive a pesticide analysis report, there are limits to how much it can help them make informed decisions about the use of belongings. To help remedy this, CCI hired Stantec to develop pesticide screening levels which provide information as to the implication for human health for three common uses. The session will cover how screening values for pesticide analysis are developed, what the advantages/limitations are and how they can be used in conjunction with an analysis report to support informed decision making. The session will include a scientist, conservator and risk assessor.

Brown Bag Lunch: CAPC Accreditation Process and Portfolio Development
Research Centre, CMH
Saturday, October 25; 12:00-13:00

Have you been considering CAPC accreditation as the next step in your conservation career, but are unsure how to move through the process? Join this session for more information about having your unique professional skills formally and fairly recognized.

Canadian Museum of History (CMH) Collection Tour
Thursday, October 23; 12:30-13:30
Friday, October 24; 12:15-13:00
Saturday, October 25; 12:00-13:00

Join CMH collections staff for tours of a variety of storage vaults, with focus on the processes, programs, and approaches that support the use and preservation of this active collection.

CAC Conference Tote Upcycling Station
Thursday, October 23; 12:00-13:30
Friday, October 24; 12:00-13:15
Saturday, October 25; 11:45-13:15

A twist on the CAC Conference tote tradition! Bring one (or many) of your favourite totes from previous conferences and revitalize them at this self guided crafting station. Feel free to bring your lunch along with your creativity. A variety of materials, and some 50th anniversary flash, will be provided at this calm drop-in activity.