Happy Spring Everyone!
As we prepare to undertake a busy summer ahead, I want to share a few thoughts and some news. I have to begin with the terrific success of the Annual Meeting in St. John’s. Simply put, we had a great time! A tremendous range of papers, productive discussions and planning, and great opportunities for gathering and socializing. We were so well taken care of in full Newfoundland fashion. Congratulations once again to Lisa Rankin and her team.
The conference gathering in Canmore for 2026 is well underway. Watch for updates in the coming months. Please note, we are actively seeking a team to lead the CAA Annual Meeting in 2027. I welcome you to connect with the Board if you are interested. If you participated in the AGM in St. John’s, you heard several recommendations to make conference planning better. We are here to help and we continue to work on tools to assist.
May also brought an end to the Board term of Helen Kristmanson (President-Elect, President, Past-President). We will miss you, Helen. Thank you for your commitment to archaeology at the national level, your leadership and your friendship. At the same time, we welcomed new President-Elect TJ Hammer and Treasurer-Elect, Dawn Wambold. It is always exciting to welcome new Board members and all the expertise and ideas they are sure to bring to the table.
Regarding the CAA Committees and Working Group, I want to thank everyone for their yearly reports and for the work on behalf of the Association. There has been a focus on building up committee members (a specific call from the Awards Committee currently; contact secretary@canadianarchaeology.com for more details), climate change issues, and changes to government heritage frameworks. It has been fruitful work. All committees have plans for the months ahead that address their focus areas. For example, please take a moment to review the infographic below. Developed by the Membership Committee, the graphic is intended to be a presentation of recent membership data and to attract interest in participating in the Membership Committee.
Where are we with the Journal? Editor, Helen Dunlop and her team recognize the CJA publication schedule is behind. Events over the past several years resulted in delays including: the unexpected resignation of an editorial team member after months of manuscripts sitting in the publishing queue, the unusually lengthy revision process of a few papers, and the extended personal leave required by an editorial team member. The editorial team would like to assure the CAA membership that they are working hard to get the publication schedule back on track. In addition, they are updating the CJA Author Guidelines and exploring Open Access options for published articles. Helen would also like to thank Gabriel Hrynick for his work as Assistant Editor. Gabriel stepped down earlier this year after being elected President of the Eastern States Archaeological Federation. The Assistant Editor position is currently vacant. Contact Helen at cjaeditor@canadianarchaeology.com if you are interested in filling this position.
In other news, the CAA Online Store will be discontinued. It has been unused for quite some time. We are working on a list of Canadian and non-American providers of archaeology equipment and supplies. Please connect with CAA Vice-President Becki Dunham if you have suggestions. vice-president@canadianarchaeology.com
Finally, a request from our Webmaster Cheryl Takahashi and Social Media Coordinator Robyn Lacy. This team is working to refresh the CAA website. Please send images of fieldwork and laboratory projects and keep an eye out for an email and social media posts requesting your participation in a short questionnaire to help shape the design of the new site. They are anxious to share your news and to promote the discipline and its diversity. webmaster@canadianarchaeology.com
That is the news in brief. On behalf of the CAA Board, I wish you a wonderful spring and summer.
Yours in archaeology,
Katie Cottreau-Robins, PhD
President