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Letter: New West will really miss our retiring archivist

Editor: It is often easy to overlook the work and dedication of city employees and not fully appreciate the contributions made to our civic lives. This week, Barry Dykes, the long-time archivist of the city, retired.
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Barry Dykes recently held an event about New Westminster's extensive archive of old newspapers. Pixabay

Editor:

It is often easy to overlook the work and dedication of city employees and not fully appreciate the contributions made to our civic lives.

This week, Barry Dykes, the long-time archivist of the city, retired. Barry is a professional archivist that transformed our long-dormant city archives collection into a modern community resource.

Working with his team at the Anvil Centre, boxes and boxes of uncatalogued photos and negatives were scanned, described and uploaded to the online database, creating a wonderful legacy for anyone who wishes to explore the city's past.

Unseen in the stacks of shelving were the metres and metres of civic community records that were re-housed and described safely securing our local history for future generations.
Perhaps more importantly, Barry was always available and accessible whenever the Heritage Preservation Society or Heritage Foundation members researching homes and families to present the annual homes tour. Without him, our programs and the history presented would not have been as accurate or as meaningful.

I particularly appreciated his patience and diligence in tracking down the most obscure documentation for projects and citizens.
Best wishes on a well-deserved retirement, Barry - your legacy is history and so much appreciated by our city!

Jim Wolf, New Westminster