May 8, 2014 – Today, during the 6th Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury (Sudbury’s French Book Fair), historian Gaétan Gervais announced the donation of his personal collection chronicling more than 50 years of Franco-Ontarian history to the Archives at Laurentian University. Encompassing 1950-2000, this important component of Franco-Ontarian heritage will add to the archival holdings of organizations and individuals in Northern Ontario as well as the seven searchable special collections held on the first floor of the J.N.-Desmarais Library at Laurentian University.
“By donating my archives to Laurentian University, I hope to convey to future generations some sense of the setbacks and successes that marked an important period for Ontario’s Francophones in modern times,” said Gaétan Gervais who holds an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Laurentian (2011). “Our culture was built on the collective efforts of a community that is very proud of its roots. Today, I give to this community a portion of the invaluable treasure that is our Franco-Ontarian heritage.”
“We are especially honoured that Gaétan Gervais, emeritus professor in our Department of History at Laurentian University, has entrusted his alma mater with the task of maintaining the archives he has accumulated over his life, which he has devoted to education and enhancing the Francophone presence in Ontario,” added Dominic Giroux, Laurentian University president and vice-chancellor. “To archive more than 400 boxes of this valuable collection donated by Gaétan Gervais adds tremendous wealth that is unique to French Ontario to our holdings.”