The Archive project has wrapped!
Join us at The EDGE Gallery, 611 Main Street on June 23 from 7-9pm for submission displays and storytelling!
More on the archive project below:
The WRENCH is very proud and excited to be partnering with the Winnipeg Foundation Centennial Institute and the City of Winnipeg Archives to create an archive of activities that have served to normalise and support cycling as a method of transportation in Winnipeg.
To do so, we are reaching out to you to help compile any and all documents that show the history of developing and supporting cycling as a means of transportation in Winnipeg. This includes culture, infrastructure, utility, sport, industry, business, fashion and style, competitions and social gatherings/clubs, bike building and repair, education, advocacy and organising, writing, art, volunteering and practical responses such as community bike shops. This archive also seeks to include activities of groups based in Winnipeg who may travel outside the city as a part of their purpose such as racing and competitive groups.
We hope to honour the significant efforts- and happenstance contributions- that have been made in this vein and serve current and future activities by providing context, perspective and opportunities for evaluation and growth.
Anyone interested in submitting can check out our criteria or email [email protected].
The WRENCH will be sharing relevant documents and storytelling on our social media platforms as material is submitted. We hope to wrap this project by the end of March, 2022 (deadline extended!).
Frequently Asked Questions
Thanks for participating in creating the WRENCH Archives
What are we hoping to include?
Any and all documents, files, objects that show the history of developing and supporting cycling as a means of transportation in Winnipeg. This includes culture, sport, infrastructure, utility, industry, business, fashion and style, competitions and social gatherings/clubs, bike building and repair, education, advocacy and organising, writing, art, volunteering and practical responses such as community bike shops. This archive seeks to include activities of groups based in Winnipeg who may travel outside the city as a part of their purpose such as racing and competitive groups; learning networks, and policy projects.
What would we like to include?
Physical items such as founding documents for groups and organisations, meeting minutes, posters and other forms of meeting and event notices and invitations, locally produced or relevant educational documents such as zines, handbooks, maps and guides, organising and communication tools such as leaflets and handbills, newspaper clippings, legal records, photographs, and letters and proposals to governments, politicians, bureaucrats and otherwise.
Digital documents of the same. Preferred file formats are PDF and JPG. Will also accept Word and Excel.
Digital archives could include screenshots events promoted on social media- pending copyright matters. We will also accept audio files of relevant interviews.
What we do not want:
Personal reflections including social media commentary- unless when presented in ways that provide important otherwise unavailable historical context.
Why is this important?
Our purpose is gathering an archive of activities that have served to normalise and support cycling as a method of transportation in Winnipeg. We hope to honour the significant efforts- and happenstance contributions- that have been made in this vein and serve current and future activities by providing context, perspective and opportunities for evaluation.
How to submit
Any submission requires an accompanying ‘Accession’ form to help us and future archivists understand the importance of the submission. You will also be asked to sign a deed of gift handing over ownership of the documents to the WRENCH for public use. Contact Jon Benson, project coordinator at [email protected].
What happens to your document donation after you submit?
We will share relevant materials publicly on our social media platforms as they arrive, with appropriate context to both educate the public and continue to promote the archival project. We may follow up with you to ensure the appropriate context is shared in these instances, and may even invite you to an interview about the material.
The WRENCH will compile and organise everything that is submitted, and donate the materials to the City of Winnipeg Archives so that they can be made publicly available for perpetuity.