May 9, 2016 - The City of Thunder Bay today celebrated the dedication of the Harry Kirk Archives & Records Centre on Vickers St in recognition of the long-time civic administrator. 

Harry Kirk, was a long time employee (39 years) of the City of Thunder Bay serving as City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk for a total of 29 years. Mr. Kirk shaped the City of Thunder Bay as a municipality that values its past and is accountable to its citizens for the present and future. One of the highlights of Mr. Kirk's career was the development of a modern archives and records centre to retain and preserve artifacts from the City's history, and fulfil the legislative requirement to maintain the records of the Corporation.

"Mr. Kirk was a consummate professional who served with distinction as Clerk and Deputy through 13 terms of City Council," said Mayor Keith Hobbs. "His career bridged the amalgamation that created the City of Thunder Bay and the many changes and challenges that followed."

Under Mr. Kirk's direction and with the support of City Council, the Archives Records Centre as we know it today on Vickers Street was established. Converting the former Thunder Bay Hydro Works building to a modern records facility, complete with climate controls, fire suppression and segregated archives and records storage was a significant undertaking.

Combined with the creation of the position of Records Manager & Archivist the City of Thunder Bay Archives & Records Centre became only the second such facility in a municipality in Ontario. Since opening in 1991 the Archives Records Centre has met the highest standard in records management and archival preservation, setting the bar for other municipalities in Ontario and beyond, and fulfilling Mr. Kirk's vision.

Mr. Kirk was appointed Deputy City Clerk of his native Fort William in 1965, and served in the same role for the City of Thunder Bay following the amalgamation of Fort William and Port Arthur in 1970. In 1980, he was appointed City Clerk for Thunder Bay, and served until his retirement in 1993.

Mr. Harry Thomas Kirk, age 82 years, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 23, 2015. City Council was pleased to celebrate the rededication of the facility with his surviving family members, friends and former colleagues in attendance.

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Contact: Krista Power, Acting City Clerk, 625-2236 or kpower@thunderbay.ca