Emergency Cooperation between Cultural Institutions in the National Capital Region

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CCI Newsletter, No. 25, May 2000

Emergency Cooperation between Cultural Institutions in the National Capital Region

by David Tremain, Conservator, Preventive Conservation Services

Heritage Day (Monday, February 21, 2000) marked an historic event in emergency preparedness and heritage in Canada: the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the heads of cultural institutions in the National Capital Region to formalize the sharing of expertise, facilities, and equipment in the event of an emergency. While there has always been a tacit understanding that individual institutions would assist during emergencies, this document makes the process official. The signing ceremony took place in the Salon Marius Barbeau at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Those signing the document were:

• Ian Wilson, National Archivist, National Archives of Canada
• Roch Carrier, National Librarian, National Library of Canada
• Joe Geurts, Acting President and CEO,
  Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation
• Geneviève Sainte-Marie, Director,
  National Museum of Science & Technology Corporation
• Bill Peters, Director General, Canadian Conservation Institute
• Gerry Cloutier, Director, Parks Canada, Ontario Service Centre
• Colin Bailey, Deputy Director and Chief Curator, National Gallery of Canada
• Gerry Fitzgerald, Director of Collections, Canadian Museum of Nature

Also present at the ceremony were Ann Marie Sahagian, Executive Director of Emergency Preparedness Canada, whose organization was responsible for coordinating the MOA, Ann Maloney-Bianconi of the National Capital Commission (Official Residences), and Daniel Giasson, Director General of Administrative Services at the Department of Canadian Heritage, who played a pivotal role in the Department's (and the portfolio agencies') Y2K preparations.

The MOA is the result of discussions held in recent years between members of the Interdepartmental Committee on Risk Preparedness (for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and Assets), known as the ICRP, an ad hoc committee composed of representatives from the National Gallery of Canada, National Archives of Canada, National Library of Canada, National Museum of Science & Technology Corporation, Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, Canadian Museum of Nature, Department of Canadian Heritage, Canadian Conservation Institute, and Parks Canada, Ontario Service Centre, who are responsible for emergency preparedness within their respective institutions. David Tremain and Deborah Stewart represented CCI on the Committee.

The Committee was formed in the National Capital Region following the First National Summit on Heritage and Risk Preparedness held in Quebec City in September 1996. Recognizing that the scale of many emergencies may be too large to be managed by one institution, it was decided that it would be in the best interest of the concerned institutions to form a network. As stated in the MOA: "One foundation for the success of any response to an emergency is the ability to call on others should one's own resources be exhausted or inadequate."

This need for cooperation was emphasized by Joe Geurts in his opening remarks, "Government emergency arrangements are most effective when the plans, responsi-bilities and resources of the federal government are coordinated through joint cooperative planning." This falls nicely in line with one of the objectives of the ICOMOS Blue Shield Programme: for individual member countries to form national and local networks.

The Committee's terms of reference are to:

• develop, implement, and test contingencies for protecting cultural property, both movable and immovable;
• foster cooperation and assistance during emergency situations;
• provide a forum for disseminating information on emergency preparedness and response to

(a)    the Interdepartmental Committee on Risk Preparedness for the

        Protection of Cultural Heritage and Assets (short-term);

(b)    the Canadian cultural heritage community (long-term);

• establish a liaison with other institutions/organizations having an interest in protecting cultural property, as well as local, provincial, and federal authorities;
• establish and maintain a liaison with emergency preparedness organizations (federal, provincial, municipal) as well as the emergency services (fire, police, Canutec, etc.).

This MOA could be used as a template for other institutions and organizations, thereby allowing a more coordinated approach to be taken should an emergency event occur, thus minimizing damage and ensuring a smooth salvage operation.

Postscript:  Marcel Beaudry, Chairman of the National Capital Commission (NCC), signed an addendum to the Agreement on January 4, 2001, that makes the NCC a party to it. The committee is now pursuing the possibility of other cultural agencies within the Canadian Heritage portfolio becoming signatories.

Read the full text of the MOA