Continued growth in digital archives, community partnerships, and volunteer engagement were key themes at the Altona & District Heritage Research Centre’s 25th annual general meeting last week.
Chair Dave Harms reflected on the organization’s steady evolution since its early days. Established in 1999 and incorporated in 2001, the archive has grown to hold more than 47,000 digitized photos, with additional materials added weekly.
“We’ve had our ups and downs,” Harms noted in his annual report, pointing to both the challenges and progress over the past year.
Among the highlights was the hiring of Brent Giesbrecht following the retirement of longtime bookkeeper Mary Dyck, who served the organization for 25 years. The centre also welcomed a student intern from W.C. Miller Collegiate, Alyssa Ewankevich, who has been assisting with digitizing records and updating files as part of her 80-hour school placement.
Volunteer contributions continue to play a central role. Harms credited Liz Rempel Wieler, Tina Rempel Siemens, and Mark Villeneuve with bringing fresh perspectives to the board, while also acknowledging Elmer Heinrichs for helping keep the archives open to the public on Mondays when possible.
The organization also received financial support through grants from the Altona Community Foundation, the Town of Altona, and the RM of Rhineland. Those funds have helped offset the cost of new equipment and ongoing operations.
Secretary Art Wiebe reported that 20 new items were cataloged over the year, with additional materials waiting to be processed. He noted that all the holdings on the “North Wall” are now searchable digitally, marking a significant step forward in accessibility.
Wiebe emphasized that community involvement remains essential.
“The two key qualifications for all of us remain time and interest,” he said, encouraging more residents to get involved.
Efforts to raise awareness have expanded in recent years through media interviews, mall displays, and social media updates. The archive has also strengthened partnerships with local organizations, including a second year working with W.C. Miller’s internship program and ongoing collaboration with Mennonite Collegiate Institute.
Looking ahead, the group continues to focus on digitization, long-term planning, and space management. Approximately 30 per cent of archive storage space remains available, though discussions are underway about future needs.
Harms closed the meeting by encouraging residents to take an interest in local history and make use of the archives.
“Invite the people you meet who are interested in history to check out the archives,” he said.
For information on the archives, and to get involved, email altonaarchive@gmail.com
