October 2023
Announcing The New Director of the Shambhala Archives
We are delighted to welcome Matilda Perks into her new role as the Shambhala Archives Director. Matilda will be taking over the reins from Jeanne Riordan who retired at the end of September.
Matilda is a PhD candidate in Religious Studies at McGill University with a focus on the life of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the history of his community. She has spent many hours at the Shambhala Archives and has expressed an expansive vision for the future of the Archives. As the new Director of the Archives, she plans to:
- Uphold the mission of the Shambhala Archives as an institution dedicated to education and research, faithfully preserving the history of Shambhala without suppression or bias. This includes preserving the objects, art, records, and teachings of the many teachers and community members who have played an integral part in the community’s history.
- Increase the visibility of the Archives and its holdings both inside and outside the Shambhala sangha. This includes offering classes, events, exhibits, and tours of the collection, increasing social media presence, producing videos and content for both the public and patrons, and fostering relationships with the many groups affiliated with Shambhala.
- Maintain, foster, and grow the Archives’ relationship with both private donors and the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA), including applying for governmental grants, and exploring the long-term possibility of receiving accreditation as a public archive, library, and museum.
- Continue the work of pursuing relevant acquisitions.
- Maintain and enhance archival practices including updating software, improving archival practices as needed, keeping abreast of developments in archival expertise, and standardizing in-house practices vis-a-vis access to the collection.
Please join the Shambhala Board and Executive Leadership Team in welcoming Matilda to the Shambhala Global Team!
We also wish to express our appreciation to Jeanne Riordan for her dedicated years of service!
Jeanne was offered a retirement party, but in her humble way, decided to celebrate at a small gathering in Halifax with the Archives Team and volunteers. She will be receiving a retirement gift as an expression of the Board and Shambhala Global Team’s gratitude for all she has done over so many years to benefit the Shambhala Archives and community.