The ARMA-NCR (Ottawa) Chapter has a lengthy, established history in the local Information and Records Management community. The Chapter first received its charter from the American Records Management Association (ARMA) on June 22, 1971. Amongst those in attendance at this auspicious event, were:

• Dr. Wilfred I. Smith, the Dominion Archivist
• William Grey & Denis Deslongchamps from the Montreal Chapter
• William Benedon from ARMA International
• Palle Kiar, Vice-President of Communications from Bell Canada
• Don Barber, Director of Canadian Region, ARMA International
• William A. Laurie

The Chapter became a reality because of the vision shared by its founding members which included Bob Morin from the National Library / Public Archives of Canada. He became the first Chapter President in 1971 as well as the first recipient of the Chapter Member of the Year Award in 1972. Other founding members included:

• Simon Arcand
• Arthur Chitouras
• Hector DesRosiers
• Paul Dumas
• Ted Ferrier
• Marcel Florent
• John Juneau
• Gilles Lalonde
• William Laurie
• Lloyd Loynes John McCormick
• Robert P. Morin
• William Pearce
• Jim Riley
• George Simboli
• Joseph St-Armaud
• Harold W. Switzer
• Milton Thwaites
• Jim Wade

Upon celebrating our 25th anniversary in 1996, ARMA-NCR was proud to have three of these members join us to commemorate the occasion, including: 

• Ted Ferrier
• Gilles Lalonde
• Milton Thwaites

As well, two of these members were able to join us in 2001 for our 30th Anniversary Celebration:

• Ted Ferrier
• Gilles Lalonde

With a committed and dedicated group of founding members, the Ottawa Chapter was off to a fine start. On a personal note, Bob Morin bears the distinction of being involved in the founding of three separate ARMA Chapters. Ottawa was the first, followed by the Edmonton and Regina Chapters.

The following is a transcript of the introductury speech given by Bob Morin on the evening that our Chapter was founded: 

Charter Night, 22 June 1971

Address by Robert P. Morin, President, Ottawa Chapter, American Records Management Association

"With such distinguished guest speakers as Palle Kiar, Vice President, Communications - Bell Canada; Dr. W. Smith - Dominion Archives; Bill Benedon - Executive Secretary, ARMA; at the head table, I intend to be brief.

A special welcome to our ARMA friends from Montreal Chapter, Bill Gray and Denis Deslongchamps who assisted in establishing the Ottawa Chapter.

When I became a member at large of ARMA in 1968, it seemed strange that Ottawa did not have an ARMA Chapter. It was an urge to learn records management techniques from the private sector and lots of encouragement from Bill Gray that inspired me. Other ARMA members at large from the Ottawa area joined the cause. The Records Management Institute is well established but it is restricted to federal employees. ARMA is not to be viewed as a competitor but a joint ally of other records management professional organizations.

ARMA offers you a professional journal, publications, conferences, local seminar and more. I thank the chapter members from Industry, Civic and Federal Government for joining the cause on this memorable occasion.

In closing, don't judge rebels by the length of their hair but rather by their work."

This page was last updated on November 6, 2011.