Archives and Education Assistant
- Program stream:
- Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage
- Job title:
- Archives and Education Assistant
- Organization name:
- Vancouver Chinatown Foundation
- Job location:
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Length of assignment:
- 2024-09-16 to 2025-03-28 (27.57 weeks)
- Hourly wage:
- $20.00
Location: Chinatown Storytelling Centre, 168 East Pender Street, Vancouver BC
Duration: Sept 2024 – March 2025
Hourly: $20.00 per hour, full time with benefits
Job description
The Chinatown Storytelling Centre is seeking an enthusiastic Archives and Education
Assistant. Our growing collection consist of personal and business records, documents
from commercial and non-commercial organizations, photographs in various formats,
and cultural artefacts related to the history of people and heritage of Vancouver
Chinatown.
Reporting to the Archivist and the Manager of Public Programs and Education, the
Archives and Education Assistant will assist with the research, verification, organization,
and categorization of archival records and artefacts. The intern will also support our
many efforts to connect visitors with the collection, including our school programs,
thematic exhibitions, and outreach activities.
The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and organized, with an interest in Chinese
Canadian history and heritage. Familiarity with archival practices, artefact handling,
digital scanners, and Chinese language (reading, writing, and typing especially) would
be a strong asset.
About the Chinatown Storytelling Centre
The Chinatown Storytelling Centre documents and shares the cultural stories of the
Chinese Canadian community as experienced and witnessed through its historic
epicenter, Vancouver’s Chinatown. Our Centre celebrates Chinatown’s contributions to
the development of Vancouver and highlights the roles of Chinese Canadians in the
building of Canada as a nation. We believe when we look back on stories of adversity,
resilience, and triumph, we reveal our shared history. We believe this common ground
is where we can build a more inclusive society moving forward.
Responsibilities in Archives and Collections:
● Research primary and secondary sources
● Verify names, locations, dates and facts
● Sort and file records of people, organization or business
● Categorize records by fonds / themes / formats
● Prepare archival descriptions and/or finding aids
● Digitize documents and photos
● Re-house artefacts and records
Responsibilities in Education:
●Develop and research our “touchable teaching collection” for educational and
outreach purposes.
●Develop educational resources for teachers and students in grades 5 and up.
●Support regular school visits to the CSC.
● Lead activities, tours, and educational activities for students in grades 5 and up
● Collaborate with staff on community outreach and building positive relationships
with stakeholders and visitors.
Qualifications
●Candidates must be eligible under the Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage program:
An individual may be eligible for an internship if they:
are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent resident status are not eligible);
are legally entitled to work in Canada (have a valid social insurance number);
are between 16 and 30 years of age inclusively at the start of employment; and
are a college or university graduate (certificate, bachelor's, master's or doctorate).
Note: Priority will be given to graduates that have not previously participated in YCW internship programs and that are unemployed or underemployed.
● Applications from members of equity groups are welcome
● Excellent skills in research and writing
●Successfully completed coursework in Library and Information Sciences, Archive
Studies, Museum Studies, English, Communications, Cultural Studies, Arts
Administration, Asian (or Asian Diaspora) Studies, or related field.
●Strong organizational and time management skills, with attention to detail
●Self-motivated, with a positive attitude and willingness to learn
●Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
●Familiar with Microsoft Office applications, especially MS Excel, Google Suite,
and video conferencing platforms such as Zoom
●Experience with operating a scanner
●Related work experience, training or internship in a museum, archives or cultural
organization would be a strong asset
● Comfortable working with youth and diverse community members
●Knowledge of Chinese Canadian history and Chinese language (especially in
reading, writing, and typing) are assets
Working conditions
● Availability to work some evenings and weekends as necessary
● Must be willing to undergo a criminal record check
● Must abide by the organization’s safety protocols
● Must be able to lead tours outside in all types of weather and walk on uneven
surfaces
● Must be able to lift chairs and folding tables (approx. 35 lbs at a time)
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION : August 30, 2024
If you would like to be considered, please submit your cover letter and resume to
careers@chinatownfoundation.org
We thank all applicants; however, only those shortlisted will be contacted.