Association of Professional Archaeologists

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  • 20 Apr 2020 7:18 PM | Anonymous

    APA's Covid-19 Archaeology Implementation Task Force:

       First, we want to assure members that we are constantly working on issues even if this is not immediately visible to you – as in the Duty to Consult and Obligation to Engage, Investigation committee proceedings on behalf of members, planning workshops and First Nation sessions, etc.  But we do appreciate your suggestions.  On this particular issue with Covid-19, we believe that legal advice is a second-best choice when what is needed is pro-active “essential” designation of our field work. This petition is in process as we speak with a special APA Task Force in place and connecting.

       Since there are ample financial measures now from the Federal Government to ensure at least short-term business survival, and APA has directed you to these, as well as to informational seminars, there is no current reason for archaeological work to take place other than for the essential services noted by the province.  We urge you to stay home unless you are part of an essential project.

      Some of you may not know that substantial fines are already being levied by inspectors in the construction industry as well as to environmental and other firms who have been operating without clear definition and even with essential definition but without adequate Health and Safety protocols in place. 

       APA is pursuing a more definitive status for our profession and projecting what protocols need to be in place for a return to work in the period after the peak of the epidemic.  We will advise as soon as we have concrete information to share.

        We definitely appreciate helpful suggestions.  Please touch base via members@apaontario.ca

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    The following was made available for APA's members through Jessica Foster at the O'Keefe Accounting Group (JFoster@okeefecpa.ca).

    As you may be aware, the Federal Government has recently made several important announcements regarding COVID-19 programs.

    Members, please check your email inbox which includes an attached summary of changes and further resources for Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).




  • 08 Apr 2020 8:24 PM | Anonymous

    APA circulated an email to its members today with some information and guidance for businesses and individuals during the pandemic. 

    If you didn't receive your copy, send an email to members@apaontario.ca

    Highlights:

    - temporary reduction of APA membership fees

    - postponement of payments for the group insurance plan

    - resources from an accountant to help navigate government relief programs and other financial advice

  • 27 Mar 2020 12:01 PM | Anonymous

    From: Archaeology (MHSTCI)  ~~   Friday, March 27 at 11:49am

    To: All Licencees

    Subject: COVID-19 emergency order and Indigenous community engagement

    On Monday the province issued an emergency order to close at-risk workplaces and encourage non-essential businesses to find ways to help their employees work from home. This order will remain in effect for 14 days with the possibility of extension as the pandemic situation evolves. A list of essential businesses can be found here.    

    What does this mean for the archaeology sector?

    All archeological licensees, archaeology sector organizations and businesses, are expected to comply with the Emergency Order requirements, as appropriate.

    Business owners must take the necessary steps to keep their employees, clients and customers safe, and ensure that they are following the Emergency Order and the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. 

    Business owners should review the list of essential business which are authorized to stay open, determine whether they fit into any of the categories and, if they do, make a business decision as to whether to stay open and/or adapt their operations. Business owners are encouraged to speak with their legal representative to determine whether their business falls within the definition of an essential business.

    Businesses who have questions about closures of at-risk workplaces or how the emergency order impacts their business or employment can call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.  Help is available from Monday to Sunday, from 8:30a.m.―5:00p.m.

    For information on COVID-19, visit the Ministry of Health’s website.

     

    What does this mean for the Archaeology Program Unit?

    Ontario’s Past Portal (PastPort) remains accessible 24 hours a day. The Archaeology Program Unit continues to operate with staff working remotely. We continue to:

    • issue and renew archaeological licences
    • assign PIF numbers to projects
    • review archaeological reports
    • process archaeological report due date extension requests
    • process expedited review requests for archaeological assessment reports
    • respond to requests for technical advice
    • carry out all other business functions

     

    Contacting Archaeology Program Unit staff

    If you need to reach a member of the Archaeology Team, please email them, copying archaeology@ontario.ca. Copying archaeology@ontario.ca will help us ensure you will receive a response, in the event that the person you are trying to reach becomes unavailable.

     

    License reporting deadlines

    At this time, report filing deadlines remain in effect, but please notify the program should meeting deadlines become challenging for you or your company. You may continue to formally request extensions where needed through PastPort.  

     

    Indigenous community engagement

    All Ontarians, including Indigenous communities, are currently facing unique challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It must be recognized that the pandemic situation may affect an Indigenous community’s capacity to be engaged on archaeological projects or have Field Liaison Representatives participate in archaeological fieldwork.

    In response to COVID-19, many band councils have chosen to close their offices temporarily. Meetings and gatherings across the province have been cancelled, including those in First Nation communities. Some First Nations have declared a state of emergency in response to COVID-19 and/or are self-isolating. 

    Despite the current pandemic, consultant archaeologists must continue to meet all applicable standards for Indigenous community engagement under the 2011 Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists. 

    When planning Indigenous community engagement on a project, archaeologists should give consideration to an Indigenous community's capacity to be engaged during this emergency. Band council offices may not be open to receive requests for engagement, community consultation meetings may be cancelled, and human resource capacity, already a challenge for many Indigenous communities, may be stretched further. Lack of responses to engagement notices or meeting requests at this time should not be interpreted as a refusal or lack of interest to participate in the engagement process. 

    Flexibility is key to ensuring meaningful community engagement processes continue. The following are some suggestions, but it is best for archaeologists to speak with Indigenous communities to determine how they would like to be engaged at this time:

    • Extend the time for Indigenous communities to respond to engagement requests 
    • Offer virtual opportunities for communities to participate in engagement
    • Offer regular teleconference updates about the archaeological work
    • Offer "physical distance" monitoring opportunities
    • Discuss other engagement opportunities suggested by Indigenous communities
    • Postpone archaeological projects where engagement is not feasible at this time

    If you have any questions or concerns, please email archaeology@ontario.ca.

    Thank you,

    The Archaeology Program Unit

    Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries


  • 26 Mar 2020 10:54 AM | Anonymous

    Occasional Papers No.1, 2 and 3 are now available to non-members in full-colour .pdf format for a nominal fee of only $10 each ~

    ~ head to the 'APA Publications and Reports' tab to see the abstracts and to access the online store

    Note: APA Ontario members have free access to these excellent publications -- join now to access the myriad of member benefits!

  • 17 Mar 2020 10:20 AM | Anonymous

    ~ the next workshop of Plants and Archaeology set for March 22nd is now planned for May 3rd ~

    There is one spot left in this final session of the archaeobotany workshop series. Email members@apaontario.ca if you would like that spot!

  • 03 Mar 2020 4:19 PM | Anonymous

    Rudy Fecteau's archaeobotany workshop has been getting rave reviews from its participants!  Now, the final few spots are available to both APA members and to APA guests.

    Follow this link to the Events tab to view more details!

  • 13 Feb 2020 9:15 AM | Anonymous

    Dear APA Members

    We are coming upon another opportunity for you to serve on APA's Board of Directors -- for the 2020-22 term.  You can self-nominate or have a fellow APA member nominate you.  The term will be from the 2020 AGM (April 25th) until the AGM in the spring of 2022.

    Nominations can be sent to Dave Norris, Chair of the Nominations Committee via email at members@apaontario.ca  Eligible members are those in good standing in the Professional and First Nations Consultation Staff categories; Field Director members and First Nations Liaison members who are interested in joining the Board as liaisons/representatives for their membership groups should also be nominated, as one member from each of these categories will be appointed.

    We ask for all nominations to be submitted to the Nominations Committee no later than February 21st, 2020 (close of nominations at 11:59pmEST).  We would also ask that all individuals nominated (or self-nominated) to please provide a one paragraph biography/ election statement by that time which will be appended to the slate of candidates on the election ballot.

    Wondering what the volunteer Board of Directors (Executive Members) do and how much of a commitment it is?  Send your questions to members@apaontario.ca

    Board positions will be selected by the directors at their first Executive Meeting following the Election.  Board positions include the four offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, and the directors’ positions have most recently been Membership Director, Newsletter Editor/Communications Director, Northern Ontario Director, Director of First Nations Relations, Research and Investigations Director; and the Field Directors Liaison is also a standing Board appointment.  New for the 2020-2022 term will be a Board appointment from among the First Nations Liaisons. 

    Directors’ portfolios will be determined at the first Executive Meeting following the Election.

    Thank you to all who volunteer in various capacities to assist their fellow APA members!


  • 23 Jan 2020 9:43 AM | Anonymous

    The latest newsletter is in members' email inboxes as of January 22nd.  Enjoy!


    To contribute to an upcoming APA newsletter, contact Newsletter Editor Nadine Kopp through our Members' Directory.

  • 16 Jan 2020 9:01 PM | Anonymous

    Register soon for your choice of 1 of 5 'Plants and Archaeology' workshops by Rudy Fecteau!  Spaces are very limited, to receive a high quality hands-on experience.

    Go to our Events page to see which spaces are left!

  • 21 Oct 2019 9:15 PM | Anonymous

    Letter from the APA to the Hon. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing re: the proposed changes to the PPS

    20191021_APAToMinisterClark rePPS revisions.pdf

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