Library and Archives Canada RIP?

Over the past few months, some disquieting news about the future of Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has drifted through the genealogy community in Ottawa, and now - worldwide.

Last weekend, I wrote an article about federal government cutbacks at the LAC for Columns, the newsletter for ISFHWE http://www.isfhwe.org/ (International Society of Family History Writers and Editors), of which I am the International/At-Large Director.

In the article, I mentioned that the LAC is promoting the digitization of the microfilm that the LAC holds. This is a laudable idea, making the records available for everyone online so that you won't have to go to the LAC in Ottawa. But on the other hand – it is not indexed!

So you will have to spend hours in front of your computer (instead of a microfilm reader) trying to find the person you are looking for. And they are cutting back on the number of people digitizing the microfilm – so what now?

To read the latest posts on the LAC, here are some blogs and websites that you can check -

On to Ottawa Trek, in photos Blogger John D. Reid has been keeping his eye on the LAC ever since he started his Anglo-Celtic Connections blog, http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.ca/2012/05/on-to-ottawa-trek-in-photos.html. He, as well as his readers, have seen the LAC go through its many revisions over the years until it has come to this – a mock funeral held on its doorsteps on May 28, 2012.

Archivists Protest in Ottawa Over Federal Cuts The CBC has a write-up of the mock funeral held in Ottawa www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/28/archivists-protest.html.

Ottawa Citizen Photos and Video Another story on the mock funeral held in Ottawa. www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Photos+Video+attend+funeral+archival+funding+cuts/6691237/story.html

May Was Asian Heritage Month in Canada

The month of May recognized the long and rich history of Asian Canadians, and the incredible contribution to the history of Canada.

In December 2001, the Senate adopted a motion proposed by Senator Vivienne Poy (the former patron of the Ontario Genealogical Society) to officially designate May as Asian Heritage Month in Canada

In May 2002, the Government of Canada signed an official declaration to designate May as Asian Heritage Month.

If you wish to learn more about Asian Heritage Month in Canada, here are some of the websites -

Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Society Website http://www.asianheritagemonth.net/ They have an events page, profiles, and news.

Edmonton Asian Heritage Month www.asian.ca/heritagemonth/index.html They have an events page, and they give a short history Asian Heritage Month in Edmonton.

Calgary Asian Heritage Month http://asianheritagecalgary.ca/ They have an events calendar, and a photo gallery.

Winnipeg Asian Heritage Month http://www.asianheritagemanitoba.ca/ They have an events page,

and Asian-Canadian history on the website.

Asian Heritage Society of New Brunswick http://ahsnb.org/ They have a photo and video gallery onsite, and an events page.