Special Edition

Mapping out a vision for Ontario as a global digital media hub

Stratford Institute Director Wilson takes on new challenge

In the world of Canadian archival and heritage preservation, few stand taller than Ian Wilson, recipient of the Order of Canada and indefatigable champion of the preservation of our cultural and historical heritage.

Canada's National Archivist between 1999 and 2004, he led the integration of the national library and archives as the first Librarian and Archivist of Canada, a strategic initiative for the knowledge society. Wilson didn't simply retire when he left the position in April 2009. He took on a new challenge, as Founding Director of the Stratford Institute at the University of Waterloo, the epicentre of an ambitious vision to rapidly drive Ontario as a powerful hub for digital and "web 3.0" research and technology.

Wilson brings his unique insight and context to the ORION Summit, at a session expanding on the notion of Ontario as "a place to grow" a global-scale digital media hub.

In today's world where everything is digital, new investments and visionary initiatives are poised to put Ontario on the map of global digital media creation and innovation. The Stratford Institute, an initiative of the University of Waterloo, Open Text Corporation and other partners, aims to develop graduate studies and advanced research in digital media, with the idea of bringing together the arts disciplines with government, the universities and the private sector to foster innovation and creative use of new media.

His career has included archival and information management, university teaching and government service. He has published widely on history, archives, heritage and information management, as well as lecturing both nationally and abroad.

Ian Wilson was named to the Order of Canada in 2002. On his retirement at the end of April 2009, he was named Librarian and Archivist of Canada Emeritus.

For Wilson, who previously served as Archivist of Queen's University, Provincial Archivist of Saskatchewan and Archivist of Ontario, his new role as founding director of the Institute also provides an ideal platform to rally around an urgent, national priority. One of Wilson's urgent calls is for the digitization of Canada's archive and heritage documentation.

Learn more about the Stratford Institute and Ian Wilson at www.stratfordinstitute.uwaterloo.ca and Canada 3.0.