Online workshops
The Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) and the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) work with heritage professionals and institutions to help build their capacity for conserving and preserving objects and collections. CCI and CHIN offer online workshops which provide detailed training and information on specific topics. Workshops are highly interactive and require the participation of participants.
Each online workshop consists of multiple sessions of one to two hours in length. The workshops incorporate presentations from CCI and CHIN staff, as well as frequent discussion and sharing opportunities. The workshops also provide information and training designed for staff and volunteers working in heritage institutions. Please see each workshop description below for further details.
Register for an online workshop
Online workshops offered
Response Ready? Developing an Emergency Response Plan for Heritage Institutions
In this online workshop, you will learn about the objectives of emergency response and the key components that make up a plan suitable for heritage institutions. The workshop provides an engaged, interactive learning experience in which to learn about and make progress on preparing or updating your emergency response plan. You will receive an emergency response plan template to assist with plan preparation, and you will develop a suitable plan for your institution with support and feedback from experts and peers. You will also learn how to test your plan using simple tabletop exercises.
Modules
Developing an emergency response team for heritage institutions
- Decide on the size and structure of an incident management team for your institution.
- Select individuals with the expertise and skills suitable for incident response management roles, and add their contact information to your emergency response plan.
Developing immediate emergency response procedures for heritage institutions
- Complete a simple risk assessment of the emergency hazards that could impact your institution and collection.
- Prepare suitable immediate response procedures for hazards in your institution that should have them, and add them to your emergency response plan.
Developing all-hazards response procedures for heritage institutions
- Identify all-hazards actions that meet the emergency objectives for emergency response.
- Prepare all-hazards response procedures suitable for your institution, and add them to your emergency response plan.
Collections salvage and recovery strategies for heritage institutions
- Identify salvage priorities for your collection.
- Prepare procedures for your emergency response plan to guide salvage and recovery.
- Conduct a damage assessment, and prepare an emergency response action plan using a scenario exercise.
Providing Resources for Effective Emergency Response
- Determine supplies and equipment that your institution may need for emergency response and list them with sources in your Emergency Response Plan.
- Prepare floor/site plans and add them to your Emergency Response Plan.
- Conduct a simple emergency scenario exercise with your Emergency Response Team.
Duration
The online workshop comprises twelve 60-minute sessions, grouped into five highly interactive modules. The modules will be scheduled over a period of five to six months. Participation in the online workshop will involve
- attendance at all sessions for all five workshop modules,
- reviewing workshop resource materials prior to each module (15–30 minutes) and
- completing exercises between the sessions for each module (1–2 hours).
Language(s)
English
Enrollment limits
Since the emergency planning process benefits from multiple perspectives, we encourage participation by up to three people per heritage institution. Ideally, the participants are responsible for emergency incident management. Due to the interactive nature of this online workshop, attendance in the online sessions is restricted to 10 institutions. The minimum enrollment requirement is five institutions.
Target audience
This workshop is well suited for heritage professionals who are responsible for writing and implementing an Emergency Response Plan, especially those in heritage institutions that have no plan or an outdated plan.
Special requirements
Mandatory equipment and software:
- computer with audio and video capabilities
- desktop version of Zoom
Still Image Digitization for Heritage Institutions
This online workshop provides in-depth training over multiple sessions on still image digitization of reflective objects and small transparencies. While various means of scanning are covered, demonstrations focus on flatbed and slide scanners. Topics include digital imaging concepts, equipment selection criteria, verification of specifications claimed by vendors, software selection and use, general considerations for archiving and publishing, digitization workflow, project planning and project management.
Technical demonstrations include setting colour profiles, image capture, metadata inspection and post processing. Workshop participants are encouraged to follow along with demonstrations using their own equipment or to practise at their own pace between sessions. Exercises, activities and case studies not requiring special equipment will also be included throughout the workshop. This workshop adheres to FADGI (Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative) technical guidelines.
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this online workshop, participants will be able to
- determine what equipment is appropriate for various still image applications, and select and evaluate materials for scanning;
- prepare a digitization workspace, and develop a digitization policy and plan;
- define detailed steps in digitizing and in post-processing images as well as the quality review processes;
- locate the main internal components of flatbed scanners, understand a scanner’s key specifications and independently verify them;
- resolve common scanning issues (such as poor signal-to-noise ratios, skew, image artifacts and moiré); and
- distinguish key activities in cataloguing and documenting metadata including key consideration for managers overseeing digitization projects.
Duration
Four online sessions over the course of one month, two hours per session. Additional activities of up to one hour may be given prior to all sessions.
Target audience
This workshop is well suited for those working in cultural heritage institutions who are seeking basic training on still image scanning practices and standards. While some managerial tasks are covered, focus is given to hands-on digitization.
Language(s)
English and French
Enrollment limits
Minimum 10, maximum 20
Special requirements
Mandatory equipment and software:
- Computer (demonstrations will be run on PC)
- Gimp (free open source image editing software)
Optional equipment and software (for participating in scanning demonstrations):
- CCD slide / film scanner (do not purchase one for this workshop, as we will discuss scanner acquisition)
- Flatbed scanner (do not purchase one for this course, as we will discuss scanner acquisition)
- IT8 Colour Targets (R1 or RF will be used in the demo)
- VueScan Pro (CAN$120) (Please note that the pro features are essential in the demonstrations given.)
Host an online workshop
Institutions must complete the Apply to host a training or learning activity form. Applications are due by December 19, 2022, and selections will be made by January 30, 2023. Preference is given to applicants who can demonstrate a broad benefit to the heritage community in their region rather than to a single institution. CCI and CHIN will be offering these online workshops for free to host institutions.
The following criteria are used to select hosts:
- Your reason/rationale for hosting the workshop
- The scope of the audience reached
- Our need to balance offerings among different types of institutions across different regions in Canada

Region 1: British Columbia and Alberta
Region 2: Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Region 3: Ontario
Region 4: Quebec
Region 5: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island
Region 6: Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon
Indigenous communities and organizations
Eligible institutions
The primary client groups for these online workshops are provincial museum associations, provincial archival associations and Indigenous organizations, as the aim is to provide training in different regions across Canada. However, on occasion, museums or other heritage institutions may also host workshops if their involvement allows CCI and CHIN to more effectively reach the museum professionals of a particular region.
Promoting the workshop online
Hosts must promote their workshops online to appropriate target audiences. CCI and CHIN can assist, as needed.
Managing participant registrations
Hosts are responsible for determining registration fees and for processing all participant registrations. Please see minimum and maximum participant numbers in each online workshop description. We strongly recommend a maximum fee of CAN $30 per participant.
Cancellations
Please note that CCI and CHIN reserve the right to cancel an online workshop if the minimum enrolment requirement is not met.
Providing training materials
CCI and CHIN will provide all related training materials electronically to the host prior to the online workshop. The host can forward these materials electronically to participants.
Register for an online workshop
Consult our Training and learning activity calendar to view online workshops offered from April 1 to March 31 each year.
These online workshops are hosted by partner institutions in collaboration with CCI and CHIN. Institutions are responsible for handling participant registration and enquiries, while CCI and CHIN are responsible for delivering the content.
To register, please contact the host identified on the calendar. Please note that registration fees are determined by the host.
To receive email updates about online workshops, please subscribe to CCI's eNews and CHIN’s eNews. You can also follow us on Facebook.
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