2026 Archivaria Awards
At the Association of Canadian Archivists 2026 Awards Ceremony, the following prizes were announced:
W. Kaye Lamb Prize
Named for Dr. William Kaye Lamb, Dominion Archivist of Canada (1948-1969) and founding National Librarian of Canada (1953-1967), this prize, established in 1983, is awarded annually to honour the author of the Archivaria article that, by its exceptional combination of research, reflection, and writing, most advances archival thinking in Canada. It is the senior award of the journal for the best article overall.
This year’s winner of the Lamb Prize is Raymond O. Frogner for his article in Archivaria 100, "Red Jenkinson: Tracing Indigenous Influences on Canadian Archival Theory." Raymond is the Senior Director of Research and the Head of Archives for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. He graduated with a Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Victoria and a Master of Archival Studies degree from the University of British Columbia. His mother was Métis with Cree relatives from Duncan’s Reserve in Northern Alberta. He is also the co-chair of the International Council for Archives (ICA) Committee on Indigenous Matters. In 2019, he was the principal author of the ICA’s Tandanya Declaration concerning public archives and Indigenous self-determination. He has twice won the W. Kaye Lamb Award for articles on the topic of archives and Indigenous rights. In 2020, he was nominated a Fellow of the Association of Canadian Archivists. In 2022, he was appointed to the National Administration Committee to support the investigation of unmarked burial sites of residential school children. He continues to publish and present on issues of Indigenous identity, rights, and social memory.
The citation reads:
Recognized for its exceptional combination of research, reflection, and writing, the article makes a landmark contribution to archival theory by centring Indigenous epistemologies and advancing a compelling vision for decolonial archival practice. Through rigorous historical, legal, and theoretical analysis, Frogner challenges enduring colonial assumptions while offering a pragmatic and forward-looking framework for archives grounded in multiple provenances, socially engaged practice, and Indigenous memory traditions. The selection committee praised the article as a significant epistemological intervention that is both intellectually ambitious and deeply relevant to the future of the archival profession.
Hugh A. Taylor Prize
The Hugh A. Taylor Prize was established in 2006 to honour the doyen of Canadian archival thinkers whose wide range of scholarly publications sparked the Canadian archival imagination. The prize is awarded annually to the author of the Archivaria article that presents new ideas or refreshing syntheses in the most imaginative way. The winner of the Taylor prize is chosen by the General Editor and a professor of Archival Studies (selected by the General Editor), who decide the winner by consensus.
This year's winner of the Taylor prize is Jennifer Douglas for her article in Archivaria 100, "Love in the Archives: Towards a Theory and Praxis of Archival Care." Jennifer is an associate professor at the School of Information, University of British Columbia, on the unceded territory of the Musqueam people. She teaches courses on personal and community archives and on archival arrangement and description in the Master of Archival Studies program. Her research focuses on the creation of and care for personal and community archives, with a particular focus on arrangement and description; on grief and recordkeeping; and on the emotional dimensions of archival work. She is a past general editor and book reviews editor for Archivaria.
The citation reads:
Recognized for its originality and imaginative synthesis of theory and practice, the article makes a significant contribution to archival scholarship by drawing together affect theory, trauma-informed practice, archival care work, and lived experience to reimagine love as an ethical and institutional force within archives. Through the concept of “institutional love,” Douglas offers a transformative framework for understanding archival responsibility, challenging archivists to build more accountable, responsive, and person-centred relationships with those they serve. The selection committee praised the article for its intellectual sophistication, compassionate vision, and enduring contribution to contemporary archival theory and practice.
