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COVID-19

Effective August 1, 2020, wearing a mask or face covering will be mandatory in all indoor public places and public vehicles. Learn more at edmonton.ca/COVID-19.

City of Edmonton Archives

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Located in the historic Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre, the City of Edmonton Archives is a public research facility housing civic government and private records of enduring significance that document Edmonton's history.

Browse our online catalogue to discover our holdings!

Everyone is welcome to use the Archives and enjoy the changing exhibits in the public areas of the building. The Archives reference room is wheelchair accessible.

Limited Service Tuesday Mornings

There is limited reference service available on Tuesdays between 9am and noon.

During this period archivists are unavailable and there will be no retrieval of archival material, photocopying or research assistance.

The Reference Room and self serve options continue to be available. 

Facility Reopening

We are excited to reopen the Prince of Wales Armouries and the City of Edmonton Archives but things may look different from your previous visits. We have put some adjustments in place for the health and safety of our staff and visitors. These adjustments are designed to comply with public health orders and guidelines. Please call in advance to make an appointment for your visit to the Archives. The appointment will have a specific time for you to enter the building to help with physical distancing and allow us time to pull the materials you want to view. Plan your visit accordingly.

Before You Visit

  • Please do not visit the Archives:
    • if you have travelled within the last 14 days
    • if you have been in contact with anyone sick with COVID-19 within the last 14 days
    • if you are exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms. These include: fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, and/or others listed on Alberta Health Services website.
  • Appointments are available by phone only and will be for a three-hour window (morning or afternoon). All visitors must book an appointment which will have a specific time for your entry into the Archives. To book an appointment, please call 780-496-5989. 
  • Once the appointment is made an archivist will contact you to arrange which material you wish to view. 
  • We will be capping daily attendance at six per three-hour session to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
     

At the Archives

  • Reception sign-in has been reduced and there are no forms to fill out. You can contact the Archives by phone or email in advance to arrange retrieval of the materials required
  • There will be one-way access on separate paths for entry and exit
  • There will be no tours or programs offered for the rest of 2020
  • Water fountains will not be available
  • All restrooms will be open and cleaned regularly
  • Increased hand sanitizer stations will be available, including at the entrance, exit, and in the reference room
  • Please follow all Alberta Health Services guidelines for physical distancing

Health and Safety Measures

  • Some walkways inside the Archives will only be open for one-way traffic to allow for mandatory physical distancing
  • Please respect all directional signage
  • All staff and visitors are expected to follow provincial public health guidelines

Facility Hours 

  • The facility will be open 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday.
  • The last timed entry will be 1:30pm. 

Please note that appointments must be booked in advance. Appointments will be available at 10 minute intervals and you will enter the Prince of Wales Armouries / Archives at the specific time of your appointment. We will be capping Archives capacity at six per session (12 visitors per day).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drop in at the door?

No. At this time, appointments must be made in advance. Appointments will be available at 10 minute intervals and you will enter the Prince of Wales Armouries / Archives during the specific time window on your ticket. To purchase tickets, please visit MoveLearnPlay.

I made my appointment. Do I have to come right at the start time? Do I have to exit at a certain time?

We ask that you please arrive during the window of time you selected for your appointment slot. We will be closely monitoring capacity to ensure everyone has a safe and comfortable visit. We only have limited space available.

In order to accommodate many people who have been waiting weeks to get access to documents in the Archives we will be initially limiting visits to three hours. If you need longer, or another visit, speak with an archivist to see if there is another appointment available.

Do I have to wear a face mask?

Effective August 1, 2020, wearing a mask or face covering is mandatory in all indoor public places and public vehicles. For more information, please visit edmonton.ca/COVID19.

How frequently are you cleaning the washrooms?

All bathrooms will be cleaned and sanitized regularly at least once during each session visit in the day. Please practice good hand hygiene.

Will you be providing face masks?

No.

Will there be any food service available?

No. The vending machines and water fountains will not be available.

How will I navigate the facility?

Directional signage is in place, and staff will be onsite to help maintain the flow of traffic.

Will there be hand sanitizer stations around the facility?

Yes, we will ensure hand sanitizer is available at several locations and within the reference room, including at the entrance and exit. We also encourage you to bring your own sanitizer and to wash your hands often with soap and water.

What happens if there is a COVID19 exposure while I am visiting?

In the unlikely event that this does happen, the City of Edmonton will work with Alberta Health Services to ensure all proper processes and protocols are followed.

Tips and Hints

How to get the most out of your archives experience.

What Are Archives?

Learn a little bit about archives and archivists.

Online Catalogue

Online archival photographs and finding aids to our collections.

Our Collections

Learn about the collections at the City of Edmonton Archives.

Hours

Mon - Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
Weekends & Holidays Closed
Note: There are certain periods of limited service.

Location

Map of 10440 108 Avenue
10440 108 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta

Notifications

News and Upcoming Events
Find out what’s happening at the City of Edmonton Archives.
View our Online Exhibits
We use the records at the City of Edmonton Archives to tell stories about Edmonton’s past.
Order Copies
High quality reproductions of most of our records are available for purchase.
Donate Records
You can help keep Edmonton’s history alive. Find out how!

Related Links

Transforming Edmonton Blog

Posts featuring images and documents from the Archives collections.

Edmonton Historical Board

Edmonton Municipal Cemeteries

Archives Society of Alberta databases

Databases of finding aids, digitized documents and images from archives across Alberta

Related Documents

City of Edmonton Archives Annual Report

For More Information

City of Edmonton Archives

10440 108 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T5H 3Z9

Telephone

780-496-8711
Email cms.archives@edmonton.ca
Website http://cityarchives.edmonton.ca/

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