Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
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- Textual records
- Photographic materials
- Moving images
- Multi-media
- Sound recordings
- Cartographic materials
- Objects
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- Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of fonds.
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Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
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Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1959-2012, predominantly 1982-2012 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
1.68 m of textual records
1 optic disc : DVD
16 videocassettes : VHS
2 audio cassettes
11 computer disks : 3.5" floppy
1 microcassette
233 photographs : col. print
ca.135 photographs : col. negatives
15 slides ; col. negatives
objects
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Veterans Against Nuclear Arms (VANA) is an organization formed in 1982 as a response to the Canadian government’s decision to permit missile testing. The organization was formed by four veteran of the War World II that met in Halifax to protest the government’s decision. At first, the organization was called the Veterans for Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament. The named was changed to VANA in 1986 and by 1989 there were branches established in seven provinces.
The mandate of the organization was to achieve common security, to seek non-military to conflicts, to utilize international law and The World Court, to collaborate with other anti-war organizations with an ultimate goal to abolish war and nuclear weapons.
In the early 1990s the VANA headquarters were moved from Halifax to Vancouver. VANA evolved from an informal group to a well-functioning organization run by experienced veterans with military knowledge and expertise and memories of war violence. VANA organized conventions, conferences, and peace rallies, lobbied politicians, presented briefs and reports, and created publications. Some of the VANA initiatives included: keeping Nanoose Harbor and Halifax nuclear missiles free, cooperating with Soviet veterans, abandoning of Launch-On-Warning policy, the Project Ploughshares in Saskatchewan, and Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Since exhibit.
In 1985, VANA established the Defence Research and Educational Centre Ltd. (DREC) as a non-profit organization based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was established to conduct independent research into the Canadian military policies and effective self-defense policies, and to inform the public about international relation and security issues. The mandate also included establishing of educational programs to disseminate research findings through seminars, courses and conferences. VANA executives served on DREC’s board of directors. The organization ceased to exist in 2005.
With time VANA membership diminished and only few of the branches remained operational. Vancouver Branch office closed in 2009.
Sources: https://hiroshimadaycoalition.ca/vana/vana-history.php https://gencat4.eloquent-systems.com/webcat/request/Action?SystemName=City+of+Toronto+Archives&UserName=wa+public&Password=&TemplateProcessID=6000_3355&PromptID=&ParamID=&TemplateProcessID=6000_1051_1051&PromptID=&ParamID=&CMD_(DetailRequest)[0]=&ProcessID=6000_3363(0)&KeyValues=KEY_223385
Custodial history
Records were in custody of Edward Livingston prior to their donation to the Simon Fraser University Library Special Collections and Rare Books in 2017.
Scope and content
Fonds consists of textual records, photographs, audio-visual records and other material documenting the creation, organization and activities of the Vancouver Branch of the national organization Veterans Against Nuclear Arms (VANA), dating mainly from the early 1980s to the 2000s. Some records relate to the activities of its parent body at the national and provincial level.
The fonds documents the Canadian peace movement of late 20th century, involvement of veterans in activism, and aspects of veteran community in Canada and worldwide. The fonds illustrate political situation, past and current conflicts as well as weapons development and policies in Canada, United States and globally.
The fonds documents the VANA Vancouver Branch administrative operations, membership strategies, financial operations, planning of activities, initiative and awareness projects. The research records containing publications, reports, fact sheets, summaries and articles illustrate peace activism, weapons development, consequences of the use of nuclear weapons, war crimes, NATO’s role, political situation and treaties in North America and around the world.
The fonds is divided into four series: 1. Administrative records; 2. Research records; 3. Photographs; 4. Audio/visual records.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
The fonds original order was not apparent. Archivist imposed functional arrangement maintaining original division of items within boxes as much as possible. Original names of files were maintained with content clarification added when necessary. Loose papers that were scattered in boxes were arranged by the archivist according to their original function.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Restrictions on some files due to sensitive personal information. These files can be accessed once a research agreement has been completed. Please contact scrb@sfu.ca if you require access.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
No accruals are expected
General note
Some records as deposit books, bank invoices, telephone invoices, expense invoices were removed from files as higher level financial data is available in balance sheets and financial reports.
Alternative identifier(s)
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Rules or conventions
RAD July 2008 edition
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
November 2024: Arrangement and description completed (Ewa Delanowski)
Language of description
Script of description
Sources
Hiroshima Nagasaki Day Coalition: https://hiroshimadaycoalition.ca/vana/vana-history.php