Colchester Historical Museum Honours Local People

During their annua Heritage Night Celebration on Thursday, February 23rd, the museum honoured the following people or groups -

• Truro's Carol Campbell and James Smith received an award in the written history category for their writings about the Planters.
• Lisa Davies of Onslow will take home an award in the genealogy category for three extensive family genealogy projects.
• Tatamagouche's Dale Swan is being honoured with the Iindividual Heitage Award for volunteering with the Anna Swan Museum, North Shore Archives, and Creamery Square.
• The Planter 250 Committee will be given the Promotion of Heritage Award for its organization and implementation of events celebrating planters.
• The Town of Truro Award will go to the owners of 23 Inglis Place (Temptations) for its façade upgrades. The owners are Vineberg and Fulton.

The museum itself has—in its archives—vital statistics, newspaper articles, census reports, school registers, photos, and family genealogies. The museums has exhibits on lighthouses, "Colchester Today", "Unearthing Colchester", and past exhibits include "New Beginners: Planters in Cobequid 1761-1780"; “A Favourable Opportunity: The Planters Choose Cobequid"; and "Victoria Park: A Cultural Landscape"
.
The museum/s website is http://colchesterhistoreum.ca/. They have a newsletter, and are on Facebook and Twitter.

Congratulations to all - well done!

1918 Flu Epidemic

As I suffered through a bad cold this month in Ottawa, I started to wander how people dealt with the flu epidemic or the Spanish Flu that stuck people in 1918. I have found out that they now estimated that maybe between 40 to 50 million people worldwide may have died in the fall of 1918. Approximately, 50,000 would have been in Canada.

So I found some websites that talk about the epidemic as it struck Canada less than a year after the completion of the First World War, and the sites are -

1918 Flu Epidemic www.cbc.ca/news/background/flu/fluepidemic.html It gives a history of the flu as it hit in the fall of 1918.

1918 Flu Pandemic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic A short, but comprehensive history of the flu of 1918.

The Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918 in Ottawa,Ontario, Canada www.bytown.net/flu1918.htm A very interesting paper on the flu written by Marc St. Pierre.

Spanish Influenza Epidemic- Fall 1918: Tragedy on the home front www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/firstworldwar/025005-3100-e.html This website gives a concise history of the flu (the site says that 50,000 people died of the flu), plus a few extra websites to visit online.

Thematic Guides - Unpublished Guides:Spanish Flu Epidemic www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/the-public/005-1142.18-e.html A list of guides at the Library and Archives Canada to the flu of 1918.

Note: A couple of weeks ago, as part of my blog concerning disasters, I received a note from fellow Ottawa blogger, John D. Reid (famous for his always informative and entertaining Anglo-Celtic Connections blog - http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.com/), drawing my attention to the following -

“Hello Elizabeth:

I see from your blog you've developed an interest in disasters. Maybe you'd also like to mention this article that attempts to capture all types of Canadian disaster that took 20 or more lives at http://web.ncf.ca/jonesb/DisasterPaper/disasterpaper.html

John"

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Books

I have just published two booklets - The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com/, the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/, and now, in the U.S., from the Family Roots Publishing Company at http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/.

For more on the booklets, go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html and http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Library Lover's Month

I did not know it, but February was Library Lover’s Month! And the Yorkton Public Library in Yorkton, Saskatcewan, http://ypllibrary.wordpress.com/, recently had a flood at their location. They renovated their location, and rededicated their library.

One area where there is particular pride is a new multi-use room, currently unnamed, which has a fireplace and is designed to encourage people to "sit down and read." The room, established in honor of Bob Ribchester, a former board member, also houses materials from the Yorkton Chapter of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society www.parkland.lib.sk.ca/genealogy.htm. The space represents the library’s ideal of becoming a "third space", a place other than home and work where people come to spend time and are comfortable.

This sounds like a great idea to have a room like this in a library.

Congratulations, Yorkton Public Library, and Happy Library Lover's Month to all!
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Talk about books, have you had a chance to read about my booklets on the War of 1812 and on migration?

Books

I have just published two booklets - The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com/, the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/, and now, in the U.S., from the Family Roots Publishing Company at http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/.

For more on the booklets, go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html and http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Ontario Jewish Heritage Month

On February 23, 2012, the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 17, making the month of May Jewish Heritage Month in the province. The Bill, presented yesterday at Queen’s Park by Eglinton-Lawrence MPP Mike Colle, was co-sponsored by Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman and Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo.

The President & CEO of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Ted Sokolsky, and UJA Federation’s Board Chair, Elizabeth Wolfe, issued the following joint statement:

"On behalf of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, we are proud and grateful to the Members of the Ontario Legislature for passing Bill 17, making May Jewish Heritage Month a reality in Ontario. Building - and contributing - to community and to society has always been a top priority for Jews since their arrival in Canada, and this honour recognizes those contributions as we continue to add to the diverse multicultural mosaic that has made Ontario a place envied by many around the world. This announcement will call for an extra celebration at this year’s UJA Walk with Israel, which for 45 years has taken place in May."

It was supported by many leading Jewish organizations in Toronto, along with the National Congress of Italian Canadians–Toronto District, the London Jewish Federation, Ontario Jewish Archives, and the Toronto and Hamilton chapters of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Canada.

Community Archives May be Closing

Word has it that the Mitchell Archives located in Logan Township in Perth County, Ontario may be closing. There has been a petition in the community, and so far, 276 people have signed it to keep the archives open.

Michell is a small community located just outside of Stratford, and it was settled in 1837 by William Hicks, and his son John, near the Thames River.

To read more of the history of Mitchell, go to
 http://www.westperth.com/communitylife/history/westperthhistory.html

The Mitchell Archives is a small branch of the The Stratford-Perth County Archives which has recently been upgraded, and the branch could be folded into the main archives. A date for the possible closing has yet to be announced.

The Stratfor-Perth Archives is at http://www.perthcounty.ca/stratford_perth_archives

QFHS - Seminars and Public Lecture Series

News has been received from the Quebec Family History Society (QFHS) in Montreal that they will host two events in March, and they are -

The War of 1812 (Free Lecture)

It will take place on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at the Briarwood Presbyterian Church Hall, 70 Beaconsfield Blvd, Beaconsfield, QC, H9W 3Z3.

The talk, given by Luc Lépine, will be a lecture about the War of 1812 and will focus on events that took place in Lower Canada (now Quebec) and the Battle of Châteauguay. Luc Lépine is one of the leading experts on the War of 1812 and author of the book, Lower Canada's Militia Officers, 1812 - 1815.
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A Genealogical Day in England and Wales (Seminar)

It will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Quebec Family History Society Library, 173 Cartier Ave., Pointe-Claire, QC H9S 4H9, and will be presented by Gary Schroder.

The purpose of this seminar will be to a) examine the basic structures of family history research in England, Civil Registration of BMDs, 1837-2005; Censuses, 1841-1911; Wills 1858-2011, etc.; and b) examine how to find your ancestors for the period prior to 1837 and how to make the best use of the English databases to be found on Ancestry and other commercial websites.

Reservations are necessary. Please call 514.695.1502

For details, visit them online at http://www.qfhs.ca/

LDS and Nova Scotia Church Records

The LDS Church is making available church records for the Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and United Church of England denominations.

As their website says, "The Public Archives of Nova Scotia has many original church registers as well as microfilm copies. The Protestant registers generally cover 1780–1914. There are Catholic records 1679–1914. A list of these holdings can be found in Genealogical Research in Nova Scotia, by Terrence M. Punch.

Parish registers of baptisms, marriages, deaths and other records for some Catholic and Church of England in Canada parishes from Nova Scotia. These records cover 1720-2001, and dates vary for each parish. Some parish registers are written in French or Latin".

They have put on a Wiki to explain the church records, and Citation for This Collection.

The website is https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Nova_Scotia_Church_Records_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)

Louis Riel Day

Yesterday was Louis Riel Day in Manitoba. The Library and Archives Canada just put more pictures on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157628221185477

Louis Riel Day: Remembering Manitoba Founding Father http://louisrielday.com/ You can go on the Louis Riel tour, a very good timeline of events in his life, and a video.

Louis Riel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Riel#Execution There is a history of Louis Riel from his birth on the 22 October, 1844 to his execution on 16 November, 1885. It reviews his life in Parliament in Ottawa, and as a Métis leader of his people in Manitoba, to his involvement in the Red River Rebellion, and the North-West Rebellion.

A Biography of Louis Riel http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/riel/rielbio.html The biography discusses his education in Montreal, and as a voice of the Métis of the prairie provinces, and of his trial for treason.

Riel, Louis www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/louis-riel A very good review of Riel’s life and times.

Louis Riel www.metisnation.org/culture--heritage/louis-riel.aspx His life is examined from the Métis point of view. He is referred to a “the Father of Manitoba”.
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Books
I have just published two booklets - The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com/, the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/, and now, in the U.S., from the Family Roots Publishing Company at http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/.
For more on the booklets, go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html and http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Ontario Heritage Week 2012

The Ontario Heritage Trust has been celebrating Heritage Week since 1985. This year, it celebrates Heritage Week from February 20th to the 26th. Even if you can’t get out to visit the events, the website itself, www.heritagetrust.on.ca, has a wonderful array of things to see, such as the exhibit on Samuel de Champlain; Ontario’s Places of Worship; and Heritage Matters - the organization’s magazine.

You can also see what is happening this week in the following communities - Ajax, Aurora, Brampton, Cambridge, Cayuga, Fergus, Guelph, Harley, Jordan, Kitchener, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Oakville, Smiths Falls, Thornhill, Thunder Bay, and Toronto.

They also opened the new Parliament interpretive centre on February 16th with an exhibit called, Foundations & Fire: Early Parliament and the War of 1812 Experience at York.

The interpretive centre is located at 265 Front Street East, Toronto, and it comprises the site of Ontario’s first purpose-built parliament buildings.

The press release goes on to say that they were “Opened in 1797, the buildings were burned by invading American forces during the War of 1812. They were later rebuilt, but were destroyed by fire again in 1824. Today, the site is both historically and archaeologically significant for its association with the beginnings of our representative government”.

Books

I have just published two booklets - The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com, and now, in the U.S., from the Family Roots Publishing Company at www.familyrootspublishing.com.

For more on the booklets, go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html and http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Genealogy Show and Tell (GANS)

From Pamela Wile, the Programme Convener for GANS (Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia), comes this press release -

"Our society encourages those interested in their family history to participate in the social aspect of genealogy. This is our 2nd event of this type. The Show and Tell last year was fabulous and brought together people with many different research interests. As well, we heard some great stories and saw some interesting family heirlooms.

Please join us on February 25, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. for our 2nd Annual Genealogy Show and Tell.

Come and meet other folks who may share your genealogy interests.

Members have been invited to take ten minutes to tell us about their research, show us an heirloom or talk about a book they've written. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions or make suggestions on how they can further their research. As well, members that aren't in the area have been invited to email in their research interests so you'll have an opportunity to look through those and possibly "meet" a cousin or two!

Are you new to genealogy? Browse our publications, pick up some handouts and research tips and get to know some fellow genealogists.

Don't forget to wear your family t-shirts, hats or buttons!

There will be a door prize and light refreshments will be served.

All lectures are open to the public and will be held unless otherwise noted in the Akins A/V Room, Nova Scotia Archives, Public Archives Site, 6016 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Many of our publications are normally on display and available for purchase at our regular monthly meetings.

Hope to see you there.

Regards,

Pamela Wile
Programme Convener
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/GANS/
https://www.facebook.com/NovaScotiaAncestors
___________________________________________
nsroots mailing list
nsroots@ednet.ns.ca
http://mailman.ednet.ns.ca/cgi-bin/listinfo/nsroots"

Heritage Day 2012

This year's theme of Heritage Day in Petrolia, Ontario is 'History of ENERGY’. It will take place on Saturday, March 3rd from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Victoria Hall, Petrolia.

There will be at the display the Union Gas, the Oil Museum of Canada, Van Tuyl and Fairbank Solarware, Waste Management, Wind Power, the Lambton Room, and the Lambton Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society!

Oil was discovered in Petolia, and in the Oil Springs area in the 1850s, and the Petrolia Heritage Committee has amassed a huge amount of material you can go through at http://www.petroliaheritage.com.

Storing and Preserving Family Archives and Artifacts

On 3 March 2012 from 1 pm to 4 pm, there will be at the City of Ottawa Central Archives, 100 Tallwood Drive, a talk will be given by Kyla Ubbink, and sponsored by Ottawa Branch OGS.

She will let you in on the secrets when it come to telling you how to store your family documents, how to save newspaper clippings, why your photographs are going ‘silvery’, and how you get rid of that musty smell in your books.

The cost: $20.00 per person. The registration is limited and the Deadline for Registration is 24 February 2012

Please make cheques payable to “OTTAWA BRANCH, OGS”

Registration Form available at http://ogsottawa.on.ca

Ancestry.ca Offers FREE Access to Records

I just received this press release from Ancestry.ca. In part, it says -

“Did you know that almost 40 per cent of Ontarians can’t trace their ancestry back more than 100 years, and 40 per cent don’t know when their family first arrived in Canada? Even more surprising, almost 35 per cent don’t know the maiden names of either of their grandmothers.

Family Day is an ideal time to spend with loved ones discovering the ancestors that came before you. With schools and shops closed, not to mention the chilly winter temperatures, there’s no better time to stay indoors and close to the ones you love, and to start to learn about your genealogy.

Lesley Anderson, genealogist for Ancestry.ca, is available to discuss:

· Why Family Day is the perfect time of year to begin your family research
· Tips on getting started and gathering information
.  How to use historic records available on Ancestry.ca to find your ancestors
· How to get family members – including your kids – involved in your family history project
. How to incorporate memories from this year’s Family Day into your family tree

In honour of Family Day, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca/) is providing free access to more than 28 million records. Those wishing to discover their family history this week will be able to explore all Canadian birth, marriage and death records free of charge until Monday, February 20th".

Call for Papers the Ontario Genealogical Society

The Ontario Genealogical Society (the Durham Region Branch) will hold it's conference May 31 – June 2, 2013 at The University of Ontario Institute of Technology/ Durham College, Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario.

The deadline for Submissions is 31 July, 2012, and selected speakers will be notified in the late summer of 2012, and the Syllabus material (PDF files), due in late 2012, is require for...

The theme will be Pulling Up Stakes – Putting Down Roots

The press release says that “We invite lecture submissions on topics about migration from all over the world to Canada – to Ontario specifically from early times to the present.

They should include: why the people left their homeland, the method of transportation used and why and where they settled. Topics could also include movement from Ontario to other parts of Canada and the USA”.

If you have any questions, email the Programme Chair at <2013progcom@gmail.com>.

Books

I have just published two booklets - The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com.

For more on the booklets, go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html and http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Manitoba Genealogical Society Sponsors Heritage Fair Award

The society is sponsoring the MGS Book Award for the Best Project Utilizing Family or Local History at this year's Red River Regional Heritage Fair, taking place in Winnipeg on May 3, 2012.

The website says that "The project must be based on research that deals with family or local history. The subject could be biographical; about someone who lived in or is living in what is now Manitoba (formerly Rupert’s Land/Northwest Territories). This person may be famous or not but, ideally, they should be related to the contestant. The subject could also deal with a historical topic concerning the student’s local Manitoba community or neighbourhood. The project should make use of primary source materials".

For other entry information see the Red River Regional Heritage Fair at www.redriverheritage.ca or the MGS site at www.mbgenealogy.com.

Books

I have just published two booklets - The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com.

For more on the booklets, go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html
and http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Roots to Boots Festival War of 1812

The Bicentennial Signature Event in Amherstburg, Ontario to commemorate the War of 1812 will take place on the weekend of August 3, 2012.

They say that it will be a community “totally immersed in 1812” during the festival.

There will be a Genealogy Pavilion – Ontario Genealogy Society & Certificate Program on the Saturday, as well as a Grand Parade Downtown, a First Nations presentation at Kings Navy Yard Park, and a Destiny Art Exhibit, and much more!

Go to www.1812amherstburg.com to find out about the summer long program.

Books

I have just published two booklets  -

The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com

For more on the booklets, please visit these links -

War of 1812 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html, and

Migration - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Ancestry Search at Library and Archives Canada Blog

In their blog today, they had hints for doing ancestry research in their databases by simply using the ancestor’s name. I have used this method before on my Webster line, and it has worked for me, so give it a try, and see what you can find.

They also give hints under the title of "Did you know?", and some of them are -

Databases can have indexing errors because of poor handwriting, poor legibility, or the fading of ink over time in the original records. If you find an error in the index, use the “Suggest a correction” feature.

Some databases allow for wildcard searching, that is, you can substitute a letter with a symbol to allow for more search results. For example, use “Sm*th” for Smith or Smyth, or “Fred*” for Frederick or Fredrich.

In the past, many names were written phonetically by the person recording them, such as the priest for a Parish Register or an enumerator for the Census. This resulted in various spellings of the same name.

To read the rest of the hints, go to http://thediscoverblog.com

To search for your ancestor, go to www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/search/anc_adv .

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I have just published two booklets -

The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com

For more on the booklets, please visit these links -

War of 1812 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html, and

Migration - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

New/Improved Canadian Websites and Blogs Week 19

Here are some of the websites and blogs that I have come across the week ending February 5, 2012.

Yukon Territory Online Historical Directories  http://sites.google.com/site/onlinedirectorysite/Home/can/yt Over a dozen directories, and you can search them online. They include telephone directoties, city directories, and Alaska-Yukon City and Business Directory.

GenDisasters: Events That Touched Our Ancestors' Lives http://www3.gendisasters.com/taxonomy_menu/6/80 News reports about Newfoundland and Labrador disasters.

Ancestral Notes: A family history blog with genealogy links, resources, ancestors, and related topics http://ancestralnotes.ebradt.org A blog wich talks about family history found in Southwestern Ontario in Essex County.

Madeline's Essex County: A History of Canada's Deep South http://alifeinessexcounty.wordpress.com/about  A completely blog to the piece just written in the previous post. It is a blog about Madeline Wallace, and her time in Essex County by her daughter Victoria Fenner.

Mining Accidents U.S., Canada and Australia http://www.genealogy.com/users/s/h/e/Jerry-Sherard There have been 485,000 mining accident records (fatal and nonfatal) covering most of the United States, and the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec in Canada

Family Names: Beck, Keffer, Kratochvil, Moore, Puterbaugh, Secor http://ks-gt.blogspot.com This blog covers the families of Beck etc as they moved to Ontario from Pennsylvanian.

Canadian Vital Stats Genealogy Canada: Births Deaths & Marriages Exchange
www.olivetreegenealogy.com/can/bdm/index.shtml Have you checked this resource lately? The Olive Tree Blog has the Canadian Births or Baptism, Deaths and Marriages Exchange on file.

Panoramic Maps Canadian Map http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/pmhtml/canmap.html Check out these panoramic maps of the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec.

War of 1812 http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/sswetw/index.html?launch=true It gives a history of each of the topics covered as well as nifty graphics!

Rare list of P.E.I. Acadians intrigues N.B. researchers http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/01/31/nb-acadian-list-pei.html They have found a "rare list" of PEI Acadians at l'Université de Moncton. The list is of 289 names of Acadians who were living on Prince Edward Island in 1763.

Books

 I have just published two booklets -


The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.  

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com

For more on the booklets, please visit these links -

War of 1812 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html, and

Migration - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Rama-Mara History Website

On February the 16th, Rama-Mara History Society of Orillia, Ontario will meet at 7 o'clock at the Rama-Mara History Website

On February the 16th, Rama-Mara History Society of Orillia, Ontario will meet at 7 o'clock at the
Udney Community Centre at 2347 Concession Road 10, Rama Township at which Mike Crosby will conduct a "Genealogy 101 Workshop."

Recent acquisitions of the society are Fires of 1881, McKinnon Family Tree, Murphy-Heiztener Tree/genealogy site, Sebright United Cemetery, and St. John's Anglican Cemetery Atherly/Ramara Cemeteries.

They have records of 26620 individuals, 8694 families, 3759 Surnames, Photo of the Day, and 2136, Photos, and 126 Photo Albums online at www.ramarahistoricalsociety.net/index.php?module=pnTNG&func=main.

Books

I have just published two booklets: The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and
Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com

For more on the booklets, please visit these links -

War of 1812 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html,

and

Migration - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Genealogical Society Study Groups

Some genealogical groups in Canada have study groups, and Brant County Branch has two such groups -

The British Isles Study Group meets at the Brant County OGS library, 114-118 Powerline Road, Brantford at 7:30pm on the 1st Tuesday of each month.

There is also The Family History Study Group meets at the Brant County OGS library at 10:00am on the 3rd Thursday of each month.

Bring what you have, and the groups will be glad to assist you. The groups are a great place to meet fellow researchers and to obtain valuable assistance in your pursuits of elusive ancestors.

The website is http://brantcountybranchogs.ca

Books

I have just published two booklets - The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com.

For more on the booklets, go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html
and http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Are You Listening to RootsTech 2012?

All keynote speakers, and people who are giving lectures in Room 155 in the Salt Palace are having their talks live streamed to us at RootsTech 2012. Are you listening to them? Lots of interesting things are being said with many new features being introduced now at the conference.

I have heard from Louis Kressler, a Canadian from Winnipeg, and founder of Behold Genealogy (who is at the conference), and have read three posts on his blog already at
www.beholdgenealogy.com/blog/?p=915. 

Follow him and his posts. He is giving a demo of his product on Saturday at 12:30 at the conference. So if you know someone there, be sure to tell them about it.

To go to the conference, click on www.rootstech.org

Remember GeneaBloggers Radio Birthday Bash tonight. It's been a year since Thomas MacEntee started the radio program, and sounds like it is going to be fun with everything that is going on at the conference.

Check www.geneabloggers.com to see the time in your area.

Books 

I have just published two booklets - The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com.

For more on the booklets, go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html and http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

2012 Bruce & Grey Branch Family Story Contest

For the second year, the KEN YOUNG FAMILY STORY FOR GREY COUNTY and the BETTY WILSON FAMILY STORY FOR BRUCE COUNTY is being sponsored by the Bruce & Grey County Branch of the OGS. 

The story must be a previously unpublished work in essay form, 800 to 1500 words in length telling of the arrival, the life, or other interesting detail of your family in Bruce or Grey County.

The entrants must be a member of BGOGS or another branch of OGS., and the winner will be announced at the Bruce Grey Annual Fall Event in September 2012

Please submit your entry by e-mail to rdclark@sympatico.ca or by regular mail to BGOGS, Box 66, Owen Sound, Ontario, N4K 5P1.

The winners will receive a Certificate of Achievement and the Township CD of their choice. The winning stories will be published in the Branch Newsletter with the author retaining the copyright. 

The Branch is also inviting members to a fall trip for research to Salt Lake City on August 12-18, 2012.

For details, go to http://tiffanyweb.bmts.com/~bgogs/calofevent.html

Books


I have just published two booklets - The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com.

For more on the booklets, go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html and http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Spring Meetings for Toronto Branch OGS

The Branch will be presenting five courses in April and May 2012. Three are co-sponsored by the Toronto Public Library, and two are being held at the Archives of Ontario:

Going Back to Basics – A Refresher

This course will cover the basic resources used to find your family history – it will be centred on Ontario records, but can be expanded to cover participants’ areas of interest. Instructor: Ruth Burkholder

Hands-On Ontario Estate Records

Participants will follow assigned case histories to learn hands-on at the Archives of Ontario how to find estate files and land registry records. Instructor: Jane E. MacNamara

Advanced English Family History

This course will focus on the 1700-1837 period – topics will include vital events, parish research, population listings, poor relief, apprenticeship, land tenancy and inheritance records. Instructors: James F.S. Thomson and Joan Read

A Day of Technology for Family Historians

Spend a full day finding out how technology can assist family historians in finding and organizing information, and in editing and sharing photographs and other images. Instructor: Carol Nichols

Hands-On Early Ontario Land Records

Participants will learn through hands-on practice how to use the collections at the Archives of Ontario to trace ancestors’ attempts to acquire land in Upper Canada. Instructor: Jane E. MacNamara

For program details, course dates, speaker biographies and information on how to register for Toronto Branch courses, visit www.torontofamilyhistory.org/courses.html.

Black History Month in Canada

This year, the government of Canada will celebrate Black History Month (February) by recognizing the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812. It will honour the contributions of Black soldiers in the fight for Canada.

Black History Canada: War of 1812 http://blackhistorycanada.ca/events.php?themeid=21&id=5 This site gives the history of Black volunteers (Canadian) who fought for the British in the War of 1812.

Toronto Celebrates Black History Month www.toronto.ca/blackhistory As the website says, “Each year, the City of Toronto is proud to support events and exhibits scheduled for Black History Month, inviting members of the public to explore and celebrate the heritage, traditions and culture of African-Canadians”.

Black History Month www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/black-history/index-e.html Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has a list of resources as well as related Internet links on their website.

Books

I have just published two booklets with references to Blacks in Canada -

• The War of 1812: Canada and the United States includes a section on Blacks who fought both on the Canadian and American sides during the War of 1812, and

• Migration: Canada and the United States has a section on the migration of Blacks to Canada

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com

For more on the booklets, please visit these links -

War of 1812 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html, and

Migration - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html