About the SSEA
With chapters in four Canadian cities -- Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary -- and an American subsidiary, The Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities/La Société pour l'Étude de l'Égypte Ancienne is a Toronto-based non-profit organization founded to stimulate interest in Egyptology, to assist those interested, professional and non-professional alike, with research and training in the field, and to sponsor and promote archaeological expeditions to Egypt. The SSEA has also offered travel grants and scholarships to students who wish to do research in Egypt. The SSEA is a Registered Charity in Canada and the U.S.A.
History of the Society
The Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities was founded in Toronto in 1969 and duly incorporated in August of 1970. In 1984 the Calgary Chapter was formed and in 1999 a chapter was opened in Montreal under the name La Société pour l'Étude de l'Égypte Ancienne (SEEA). In 2007, the Toronto Chapter was established as an entity distinct from the head office of the Society. A chapter in Vancouver has been operational since the summer of 2010. Each Chapter organizes local events for its members and is maintained by a Chapter Executive.
Since 1970 the Society has published the Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities (The JSSEA) and, since 1993, a Newsletter has been sent out to members. A website was established in the 1990s by Dr. Troy Sagrillo and maintained from the late 1990s until 2006 by Dr. Lyn Green. At that time, the current website was created by Chris Irie, then a Trustee of the SSEA. Since 2009 the website has been maintained by Peter Robinson, with the assistance of Dr. Lyn Green and the advice of Mr. Irie.
The Society established the Canadian Institute in Egypt in 1980, and on 1 January 1981, the Society and its Institute became an affiliate of the Canadian Mediterranean Institute. In September 1982 an official protocol was signed between Egypt and Canada which established the Institute as an official cultural presence in Egypt at its premises in Cairo. Until the Canadian Institute in Egypt and the SSEA severed connection, logistical and secretarial services were provided to scholars engaged in research associated with Egypt and the Sudan. Throughout its history, the Society has provided support for many research expeditions in Egypt, including the University of Toronto's Wadi Tumilat Project. The SSEA has also carried out an epigraphic and archaelogical survey of Osiris Ruler of Eternity (Osiris Heqa Djet) at Karnak in Upper Egypt, and has been an active sponsor of the Dakhleh Oasis Project. It is currently a sponsor of both the Dakhleh Oasis Project and "In Search of Ancient Egypt in Canada".
The Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities consists of a National body, which oversees a number of events and activities for the Society as a whole, and local chapters in Canada which organize events for members in that area.ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION
Annual General Meeting
Each fall, the SSEA holds in Annual General Meeting in Toronto to allow members to exercise their right to vote and determine the course of the Society's future. This event is usually held in conjunction with the Annual Symposium and Scholars' Colloquium.Annual Symposium
Each fall since 1976, the SSEA has co-sponsored a Public Symposium on Ancient Egypt with another institution during the weekend of its Annual General Meeting. This event highlights a specific aspect of pharaonic culture and topics are repeated only at long intervals. Our current associate in creating this event if The Royal Ontario Museum. There is a charge to attend this event, but SSEA members receive a discount on the Symposium price. A list of past Symposium topics is available.Annual Scholars' Colloquium
Each fall, the SSEA holds a Scholars' Colloquium in Toronto to allow international scholars to present their research results to other professionals. Admission to the Scholar's Colloquium is free. Partipation in the the Colloquium is also free, but those wishing to present must apply to the Colloquium CoordinatorPublications
The Head Office of the SSEA oversees all publications in paper and online which appear under the SSEA banner. These publications include the Journal of the SSEA, and the Newsletter. The SSEA publishes a wide range of scholarly Egyptological articles and reviews in the Journal. The content of the Newsletter consists of less scholarly articles and news items. Both are available for members to to read online.
The SSEA has also been involved in publishing a series of monographys. These monographs, including SSEA Studies have been published in association with Benben Publications of MississaugaScholarships
The SSEA (USA) offers an annual scholarship in the memory of Margaret (Missy) Eldredge There are also occasional travel grants or research grants offered.
ACTIVITIES OF THE LOCAL CHAPTERS
Local Chapters are responsible for organizing their own events and deciding the number and nature of these. These events are intended to fulfill the mandate of the SSEA to encourage the study of ancient Egypt amongst both professionals and enthusiasts by various means.
Public Lectures
To promote public interest in Egyptology, in the 1970s the Society instituted a Public Lecture series consisting of four lecture events per year year. Later a separate series of at least four Mini-Lectures a year for members in the Toronto area. Organization of these lectures is now carried out by the Toronto Chapter. This has now been expanded to include 4 lectures in the summer, for which a small charge is levied from non-members. From time to time, the SSEA has also co-sponsored events with the Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies and the Royal Ontario Museum. Beginning in the fall of 2009, the Toronto Chapter sponsored short popular interest courses on ancient Egyptian culture.Lectures are also held at least 7 months a years in Calgary for the Calgary Chapter and in Montreal for the Montreal Chapter. The Montreal Chapter also sponsors courses in hieroglyphs and art for the public. They occasionally run half-day "mini-symposia" on various topics. In 2009-2010 they initiated a scholarship for students of Egyptology in the province of Quebec.
SSEA (National) Trustees and Staff
The list of Trustees for the 2009-2010 year are:
Dr. Lyn Green, President
Dr. Kei Yamamoto, Vice President
Dr. Brigitte Ouellet, Vice President/Montreal Chapter representative
Arlette Londes, Treasurer
Paul English, Calgary Chapter representative
Deirdre Keleher (Royal Ontario Museum), Toronto Chapter representative
Prof. John Gee (Brigham Young University), Editor, JSSEA
Prof. Jean Revez (Universite de Quebec a Montreal)
Jennette Boehmer (University of Toronto), Editor, SSEA Newsletter
Prof. Katja Goebs (University of Toronto)
Rexine Hummel
Jean McGrady
Dr. Peter Sheldrick, Dakhleh Oasis Project
Peter Robinson, Associate Webmaster
Mark Trumpour
Prof. Mary Ann Wegner (University of Toronto)
Our Administrative and Membership Secretaries are Amber Hutchinson and Lance Bohaker.
Chapter PresidentsCalgary: Dr. Julius Szekenreyes
Montreal: Dr. Brigitte Ouellet
Toronto: Deirdre Keleher
Vancouver: Hope Grau
Honorary Trustees
Gayle Gibson (Royal Ontario Museum)
Prof. Sally Katary (Laurentian University)
Prof. Ronald Leprohon (University of Toronto)
Prof. Emeritus Vincent A. Tobin (St. Mary's University emeritus)
Hospitality Committee
Arlette Londes, Chair
Jean McGrady
Fieldwork and Research
Dr. Peter Sheldrick, Dakhleh Oasis Project
Mark Trumpour, In Search of Ancient Egypt in Canada
Dr. Brigitte Ouellet, In Search of Ancient Egypt in Canada
Fundraising Committee
Kei Yamamoto, Chair
Lyn Green
Deirdre Keleher
Jean McGrady
Rexine Hummel
Publications Committee
JOURNAL OF THE SSEA
John Gee, Editor, JSSEA
Sally Katary, JSSEA Assistant Editor
JSSEA Editorial Board: Vince M. Tobin, Peter Sheldrick, Ronald Leprohon, MaryAnn Wegner, Katja Goebs Journal Production and Distribution: Peter Robinson, Lyn Green, Mark Trumpour
NEWSLETTER Jennette Boehmer, SSEA Newsletter Editor
Rexine Hummel, SSEA Newsletter columnist/contributor
WEB CONTENT Peter Robinson, Webmaster
Lyn Green Associate Webmaster
Gayle Gibson, Dr. Caroline Rocheleau, online columnists
Scholars' Colloquium Committee
Lyn Green and John Gee, Colloquium Coordinators
Ronald J. Leprohon and John Gee, Colloquium Cte. Chairs
MaryAnn Wegner
Peter Robinson
Sally Katary
Vince Tobin
Katja Goebs
Symposium Committee
Gayle Gibson, Symposium Coordinator (for the Royal Ontario Museum)
Lyn Green, Symposium Coordinator (for the SSEA)
John Gee
Mark Trumpour (Media contact)
Peter Robinson
Research and Fieldwork Committee Dakhleh Oasis Project Dr. Peter Sheldrick, representative to the Board of Trustees Mr. Tony Mills, Director "In Search of Ancient Egypt in Canada" Project
Brigitte Ouellet, Head
Denis Goulet, Eastern Canada
Mark Trumpour, Central Canada
Paul English, Western Canada