Community-Driven Guidance: Help Shape Trustworthy Data Repository Characteristics for Canada

[Neha Milan]

Hello FRDR members,

I'm part of a Digital Research Alliance of Canada working group (under the Data Repositories Expert Group) developing Canadian guidance on trustworthy data repository characteristics — the practical criteria researchers will use to choose where to deposit their data, ahead of the Tri-Agency data-deposit requirement anticipated for late 2026/early 2027.

There are two ways you can help — either or both:

1. Help us reach researchers. We're at the stage where we really need input from researchers themselves, across disciplines, and that's the group we're reaching least well. You're well placed to get this in front of the right people — would you mind forwarding the note below to researchers and graduate students you're connected with? It's written to be sent as-is and asks for only a few minutes of their time.

2. Weigh in yourself. Your own perspective as an RDM/library professional is just as valuable to this work. If you'd like to take part directly:

- Consultation webinar — Wednesday, June 24, 1:00–2:30 PM ET. For more details and to register:   https://explora.alliancecan.ca/events/topic-community-driven-guidance-help-shape-trustworthy-data-repository-characteristics-for-canada

- Prefer asynchronous? A short follow-up survey is coming.

- Interested to know about consultation opportunities or just want to stay informed? Sign up (<2 minutes): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8fA4ZzyKcXsd-hevQJEIIDdZXJQcegW3ypx7QsGFRPOEvPA/viewform?usp=header

— Forward everything below this line to researchers (for option 1 above) —

Subject: Help shape Canadian guidance on trustworthy data repository selection

If you hold Tri-Agency funding, you'll soon be required to deposit the data behind your publications into a trustworthy repository (the requirement will take effect early 2027). The hard part is knowing which repository to trust.

A working group of the Digital Research Alliance of Canada is developing plain, practical Canadian guidance to help researchers make that choice — and we want it to reflect the realities of your field, including sensitive data, Indigenous data governance, large datasets, code, and qualitative material. If your discipline's needs aren't represented, the guidance won't fit them.

You can take part as much or as little as you like:

• Consultation webinar — Wednesday, June 24, 1:00–2:30 PM ET. Review what we've found, help prioritize, and flag what's missing. For more details and to register:   https://explora.alliancecan.ca/events/topic-community-driven-guidance-help-shape-trustworthy-data-repository-characteristics-for-canada

• Prefer asynchronous? A short follow-up survey is coming.

• Interested to know about consultation opportunities or just want to stay informed? Sign up (<2 minutes): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8fA4ZzyKcXsd-hevQJEIIDdZXJQcegW3ypx7QsGFRPOEvPA/viewform?usp=header

Please share with colleagues and students who work with research data.

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Really appreciate it — happy to fill you in on the project anytime.

Regards,

Neha Milan, MCA BSc

FRDR Product Lead

 

University of Saskatchewan

Information and Communications Technology