Leeds and Thousand Islands Archives honoured with award

The Leeds and the Thousand Islands (LTI) Archives has been recognized with a prestigious award at the Ontario Library Association’s (OLA) Super Conference, Building Bridges, celebrating its dedication to preserving the region’s rich cultural heritage.

The award acknowledges the thousands of volunteer hours donated annually to maintain the archives as a vital historical resource for researchers across North America.

Most recently, the archives welcomed a visitor from British Columbia tracing their family history.

Receiving the award at a conference with the theme “Building Bridges” was especially meaningful, reflecting the archives’ commitment to connecting the past with the future, officials said.

That resilience was tested in 2020 when structural concerns forced the LTI Archives building to close.

Thanks to swift community action and municipal support, the collection was relocated to a temporary trailer, where it continues to operate efficiently while awaiting the completion of rehabilitation work by the end of 2025.

Expressing gratitude to nominee Dayna Debenedet and the Ontario Library Association, representatives of LTI Archives emphasized how civic engagement and community pride have ensured the continued success of this invaluable institution – securing a bridge to the past for generations to come.