Previous Announcements

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, November 11 for Remembrance Day.
The PAA will re-open on Tuesday, November 12 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, October 14 for Thanksgiving Day.  
The PAA will re-open on Tuesday, October 15 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Join us for Film Night on Friday, October 4, 2024

The Provincial Archives of Alberta (PAA) is proud to present the 36th edition of its annual Film Night, featuring the film The War Between Us.

The War Between Us tells the story of a Japanese-Canadian family that is forcibly removed from their home and interned as enemy aliens in a remote British Columbia location during the Second World War.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, September 2 for Labour Day.
The PAA will re-open on Tuesday, September 3 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Due to planned maintenance, this site/application may experience short, periodic outages or slow response times on Monday, August 19 from 10 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. Thank you for your understanding.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, August 5 for Heritage Day.
A reminder that the PAA will re-open on Tuesday, August 6 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, July 1 for Canada Day.
The PAA will re-open on Tuesday, July 2 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, May 20 for Victoria Day.
A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will reopen on Tuesday, May 21 at 9 a.m.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Friday, March 29 and Monday, April 1 for Good Friday and the Easter holiday.
A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will reopen on Tuesday, April 2 at 9 a.m.

Join us on Zoom for an introduction to genealogical resources at the Provincial Archives of Alberta. This introductory session will explore various types of records accessible at the Provincial Archives of Alberta such as vital statistics, probate files and court records which contain a wealth of information that may aid you in your genealogical research. The session will also discuss some federal records and additional resources such as local histories that are also incredibly valuable – Genealogical Gold!

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, February 19 for Family Day.
A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will reopen on Tuesday, February 20 at 9 a.m.

See our newest gallery exhibit Dried Out: Prohibition in Alberta.

The Provincial Archives of Alberta’s Sandra Thomson Reading Room will be closed for the holiday season from Monday, December 18, 2023 to Monday, January 1, 2024 inclusive.  The Provincial Archives Reading Room will re-open on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, November 13 for Remembrance Day.
The PAA will re-open on Tuesday, November 14 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Three dates!  Three topics!
Join us October 16, 23 and 30th

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, October 9 for Thanksgiving Day.
The PAA will re-open on Tuesday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Archives + A Light Show??!?!  Yes!  We’re doing it!
Join us for Film Night on Friday, September 29, 2023.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, September 4 for Labour Day.
The PAA will re-open on Tuesday, September 5 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, August 7 for Heritage Day.
A reminder that the PAA will re-open on Tuesday, August 8 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m

The Provincial Archives of Alberta is proud to participate in the 27th Annual Historic Festival and Doors Open event produced by the Edmonton and District Historical Society.  The festival theme this year is prohibition.  For a full listing of participating sites and programs please see the 2023 Festival Guidebook.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, July 3 for Canada Day.  A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will reopen on Tuesday, July 4 at 9 a.m.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Friday, April 7 and Monday, April 10 for Good Friday and the Easter holiday.
A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will reopen on Tuesday, April 11 at 9 a.m.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, February 20 for Family Day. The PAA will re-open on Tuesday, February 21 at 9 a.m.

Join Kathleen Rae, PLCGS and Professional Genealogist, to learn more about how to get started with your own family history search.  Instructions on how to create pedigree charts and family group sheets will be shared and participants will receive copies of tools and resources to get organized and track genealogical research.

Participants will visit the Reading Room at the Provincial Archives of Alberta to see examples of commonly used records as well as an overview of how to request and handle the archival collections. Kathleen will discuss the importance of vital statistic records as proof for your tree, how homestead records and local history books can aid your search, and introduce you to probate records which can contain a wealth of genealogical information.

PAA Photo #: G402

The Provincial Archives of Alberta’s Sandra Thomson Reading Room will be closed for the holiday season from Monday, December 19, 2022 to Monday, January 2, 2023 inclusive. The Provincial Archives Reading Room will re-open on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Happy holidays.

The Provincial Archives of Alberta is proud to present its newest gallery exhibit, A Living Space by Gillian Willans.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Friday, November 11 for Remembrance Day.

A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta is open on Thursday, November 10 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, October 10 for Thanksgiving.  The PAA will re-open on Tuesday, October 11 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, September 5 for Labour Day.  The PAA will re-open on Tuesday, September 6 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, August 1 for Heritage Day.  A reminder that the PAA will re-open on Tuesday, August 2 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Friday, July 1 for Canada Day.

Please note that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, May 23 for Victoria Day.

A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta will reopen on Tuesday, May 24 at 9 a.m.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Friday, April 15 for Good Friday and on Monday, April 18 for the Easter holiday.

Venez célébrer les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie avec les Archives provinciales de l'Alberta!

Nous vous invitons à participer à une présentation virtuelle le 16 mars 2022, de 13h00 à 15h00, sur la recherche archivistique, les ressources et les dons ainsi que des informations généalogiques tout en mettant en valeur quelques collections familiales francophones et indigènes.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, February 21 for Family Day.

Happy Holidays.  Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta’s Sandra Thomson Reading Room will be closed for the holiday season from Monday, December 20, 2021 to Monday, January 3, 2022 inclusive. The Provincial Archives will be closed from December 24, 2021 to January 3, 2022.  All services will resume on Tuesday, January 4, 2022.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Thursday, November 11 for the Remembrance Day holiday.
A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta is open on Wednesday, November 10 and Friday, November 12 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, October 11 for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, September 6 for the Labour Day holiday.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, August 2 for the Civic Holiday.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Thursday, July 1 for the Canada Day holiday.
A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta is open on Wednesday, June 30 and Friday, July 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Access to the Reading Room is by appointment only. Detailed information is available on the PAA website.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Wednesday, November 11 for Remembrance Day.  A reminder that the PAA is open on Tuesday, November 10 and Thursday, November 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, October 12 for Thanksgiving Day.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, September 7th for Labour Day.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, August 3 for Heritage Day.

A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta is open on Tuesday, August 4th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Please book your appointment before you visit the PAA. Call 780-427-1750 or contact us at PAA@gov.ab.ca

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Wednesday, July 1st for Canada Day.
A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta is open on Tuesday, June 30 and Thursday, July 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Please book your appointment before you visit the PAA. Call 780-427-1750 or contact us at PAA@gov.ab.ca.

See our newest gallery exhibit BRReathtaking Images of a Winter City on display until March 31, 2020.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, February 17th for Family Day.

A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta is open on Friday, February 14 and Saturday, February 15 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Join us for Family History Day on Saturday, February 15, 2020.

Genealogical Gold in Government Records

This introductory session will explore various types of government records accessible at the Provincial Archives of Alberta (PAA) such as vital statistics, probate files, and court records, which contain a wealth of information that may aid you in your quest for genealogical information. A graduate conservator will also be available to answer one-on-one questions about preserving your own family history documents and photographs. The session will also outline some federal records and additional resources such as local histories that are also incredibly valuable – Genealogical Gold!

The Sandra Thomson Reading Room will be closed for the holiday season from Monday, December 16, 2019 to Wednesday, January 1, 2020 (inclusive).  Reference service at the Provincial Archives of Alberta will not be available during this time.  All services will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2020.

The Provincial Archives will be closed on Saturday, December 21, 2019 and from December 24, 2019 to January 1, 2020.

See our newest gallery exhibit Food and Community on display until November 30, 2019.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, November 11 for Remembrance Day.

A reminder that the Provincial Archives of Alberta is open on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Join us for Home Movie Day on
Saturday, October 19 noon-4 p.m.

The Provincial Archives of Alberta invites individuals and families to share their own home movies and to see other films in turn. It's a chance to rediscover your films, learn how to care for them so that they can be enjoyed for years to come, and discuss their place in the archival record. Meet with conservators and archivists and have your films inspected. Bring your treasured 8mm, Super 8mm, and 16mm formats to share!

Free Event

PAA Photo: A15651B

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, October 14 for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Join us on Wednesday, October 9 at 7 p.m.
For Meat’s Sake – Food and Community at Gainers

For nearly a century, Gainers of Edmonton provided Western Canadian kitchens with ham, sausage, lard, and other food products. The company disappeared in the 1990s after a period of restructuring, labour unrest, and changing economic conditions in the province’s meat packing industry.  Although few physical traces of the company remain, archival research using newspapers, photographs, and government records can help us rediscover the company and the community it created.  While on site for this presentation, take in our latest gallery photo exhibit Food and Community. A donation to Edmonton's Food Bank is welcome. FREE EVENT!  General Seating.

PAA Photo: BL764.8

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, September 2nd for the Labour Day holiday.

Join us for Harvesting and Preserving Your Garden’s Bounty at 7pm on Wednesday, August 28th, 2019

Harvesting during the autumn months provides you with more time to efficiently and deliciously preserve your garden’s abundance. As passed down from the generations before us, knowing how to preserve and store your harvest can give your family nourishment throughout the year.  Join landscape gardener Dora Berry of Nature’s Elements to learn tried-and-true methods of reaping and savouring your garden’s bounty, including heritage recipes from the Provincial Archives that are still enjoyed today!   While on site, take in our latest gallery photo exhibit Food and Community.

FREE EVENT!  General Seating.

Image credit - PAA Photo: B9021

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, August 5 for the Civic Holiday.

The Provincial Archives of Alberta is proud to be a participating site in the 23rd annual Edmonton & District Historical Society Historic Festival and Doors Open event July 1-7th, 2019.

Visit the Provincial Archives of Alberta’s state-of-the-art facility and see the amazing treasure trove of historic documents and media collected for future generations to enjoy and learn from! The tour will take visitors through the Reading Room and areas not normally accessible to the public, such as, the vaults and conservation lab. *Please note that this is an indoor walking tour that does include stairs. Free parking available.

Visit the Provincial Archives of Alberta’s state-of-the-art facility and see the amazing treasure trove of historic documents and media collected for future generations to enjoy and learn from! The tour will take visitors through the Reading Room and areas not normally accessible to the public, such as, the vaults and conservation lab. *Please note that this is an indoor walking tour that does include stairs. Free parking available.

Pre-registration is required. To register, choose your preferred session time and click the Eventbrite link below or call 780-427-1750 (dial 310-0000 for toll free access within Alberta)

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, July 1st for the Canada Day holiday.

The opening half of this free event showcases the first Canadian feature film ever made, Back to God’s Country, which was filmed 100 years ago in Alberta. The film is also notable for the writing contribution of its star, Nell Shipman, and for the inclusion of one of the first nude scenes in film history. The film is being shown courtesy of Library and Archives Canada, which has provided a digital copy of its restored print, and will feature live piano accompaniment by Edmonton jazz pianist Stephanie Urquhart.

The second half of this free event features a film from the Provincial Archives of Alberta’s own vaults, The Lone Eagle. This First World War aviation film is officially classified as a lost film by the Library of Congress so this version might be the only copy in existence, though the PAA only has the first four of five total reels. As a special treat, the PAA has enlisted the help of three local filmmakers (Frederick Kroetsch, Matt King, and Danny Luong) to provide their own interpretation of the “lost reel,” with Edmonton musician Nick Samoil providing a unique score for this silent epic of derring-do over the skies of the Western Front.

Provincial Archives of Alberta 34th Annual Film Night
Saturday, June 22
Metro Cinema at the Garneau
8712 109 Street, Edmonton

7pm: Back to God’s Country with live piano accompaniment by Stephanie Urquhart

9pm: The Lone Eagle featuring “the lost reel” by local filmmakers and score by Nick Samoil

FREE EVENT!

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, May 20th for the Victoria Day holiday.

See our newest gallery exhibit Take a Longer Look: Panoramic Photographs from the Provincial Archives of Alberta September 15, 2018 to April 20, 2019.

Venez célébrer les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie aux Archives provinciales de l'Alberta!

Les Archives provinciales de l’Alberta rassemblent, conservent et mettent à la disposition des chercheurs des documents privés et gouvernementaux ayant une importance provinciale. Le fonds documentaire francophone, démarré en 1965 contient des centaines de mètres de documents textuels, des milliers d’images et de nombreux autres types de documents archivistiques qui retracent l’histoire, le développement et la vie des individus, familles, entreprises et associations francophones.

Nous vous invitons à venir aux Archives provinciales de l'Alberta le 16 mars 2019, de 12h00 à 14h00, pour participer à une visite guidée ainsi qu'à une présentation en français. Le sujet sera les Oblats de Marie Immaculée, une nouvelle acquisition qui documente l'histoire de la francophonie albertaine dans l'Ouest.

Nous allons vous mener dans nos voûtes avec températures et humidité contrôlées, habituellement fermées au public, et vous faire visiter notre laboratoire de conservation ultra moderne. Vous aurez aussi l'occasion de voir des anciens documents écrits en français.

Join us for Family History Day on Monday, February 18, 2019!

Interested in family history genealogy research? Genealogical Gold in Government Records, is an introductory learning session presented by government records archivists. This session will explore various types of records accessible at the Provincial Archives of Alberta (PAA) such as vital statistics, probate files, and court records, which contain a wealth of information that may aid you in your quest for genealogical information. The session will also outline some federal records and additional resources such as local histories that are also incredibly valuable – Genealogical Gold!

Free Admission; pre-registration is required. Please note that the Reading Room is closed.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, February 18th for the Family Day holiday. Pre-registration is required for the Family History Day event.

The Sandra Thomson Reading Room will be closed from Monday, December 17, 2018 to Tuesday, January 1, 2019 inclusive. The Provincial Archives will be closed from Saturday, December 22, 2018 to Tuesday, January 1, 2019. The Provincial Archives and the Sandra Thomson Reading Room will re-open on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, November 12th for the Remembrance Day holiday.

Due to planned maintenance, the PAA’s website and some search applications may experience short, periodic outages and/or slow response times between 10 p.m. on November 9th and 5 p.m. on November 11th. Maintenance activities are timed to minimize impacts to Albertans. We thank you for your patience.

Join us for Home Movie Day October 20th noon to 4pm. The Provincial Archives of Alberta invites individuals and families to share their own home movies and to see other films in turn. It's a chance to rediscover your films, learn how to care for them so that they can be enjoyed for years to come, and discuss their place in the archival record. Meet with conservators and archivists and have your films inspected. Bring your treasured 8mm, Super 8mm, and 16mm formats to share!

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, October 8th for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, September 3rd for the Labour Day holiday.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, August 6th for the Heritage Day holiday.

Albertans have been at the forefront of Canadian innovations in arts and literature, science, environmental protection, politics, inclusion and diversity, as well as sports and leisure. For Canada’s 150th anniversary, the Provincial Archives of Alberta is highlighting 150 Canadian firsts that occurred because Albertans were the first to make them happen. And, for better or worse, these 150 firsts changed Canada…Forever.

“150 for 150” is an initiative to raise 150 lbs of food for the Edmonton Food Bank to celebrate our latest exhibit - 150 Firsts: How Alberta Changed Canada…Forever. The exhibit highlights Canadian firsts that were done by Albertans and includes everything from Calgary being the first Canadian city to host a Winter Olympics (in 1988) to the construction of Canada’s first UFO landing pad in St. Paul (in 1967).

One of the “firsts” profiled in this new exhibit is the Edmonton Gleaners Association, who established the first food bank in Canada in 1981. The organization has evolved into The Edmonton Food Bank, which serves approximately 20,000 people per month and works collaboratively with over 230 organizations. The PAA is honouring this “first” by giving back to the community. The food drive will conclude on August 1, 2018, when the exhibit completes its run at the PAA.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, July 2nd for the Canada Day holiday.

Please note the Provincial Archives of Alberta will be closed on Monday, May 21st for the Victoria Day holiday.

Join us for the Provincial Archives of Alberta’s 33rd annual Film Night Relics: CanCon Classics from the Provincial Archives of Alberta on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 7pm.

This year we feature classic 1980s CanCon television including episodes of Airwolf, Danger Bay, and of course, The Beachcombers complete with local commercials from the period. Be back in your seat for 9pm to catch the 1984 made for television feature film Airwolf.

Event takes place at Metro Cinema (Garneau Theatre, 8712 109 St NW, Edmonton).

Free admission.