Monday, May 12, 2014

Canadian Week in Review 12 May 2014




I have come across the following Canadian websites, social media websites, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too.

Canada in History

Here are some moments in our countries history which may interest you –

May 5, 1814 - During the War of 1812 to 1814, a small British and Canadian fleet destroyed the United States naval base at Oswego, New York. The victory re-established British control of Lake Ontario for the remainder of the War of 1812.
You can read more about this battle at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Oswego_(1814)

In 1900, Pte. Richard R. Thompson of Ottawa was awarded the Queen's Scarf for gallantry during the Boer War. The scarf was knitted by Queen Victoria and was awarded only seven times. Thompson, who died in 1908, served with the 2nd Special Service Battalion. His scarf is on permanent loan to the National War Museum.
You may read about it at http://www.angloboerwar.com/other-information/16-other-information/1852-queens-scarf

In 1882, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Assiniboia and Athabaska were formed as districts of the Northwest Territories.
You may read about it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Districts_of_the_Northwest_Territories

In 1987, Ottawa unveiled the $1 coin, nicknamed the "Loonie" because a loon was engraved on its flip side. It is made of nickel, copper and recycled tin.
You can read more about the Loonie at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loonie

And here is something we can think about as we enjoy our summer ice cream - In 2008, Irvine Robbins, a Canadian-born visionary who helped bring Rocky Road, Pralines ‘n Cream, and other exotic ice-creams to Canada and United States, died in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at age 90. He, along with his brother-in-law, helped to found the Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream parlor stores in 1945.
You can read more about him at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irv_Robbins

Websites

Cemeteries and Headstones in Canada (The ROE Family)
Some cemeteries in Canada were the Roe family is buried.
http://roefamilytree.info/headstones.php?country=CANADA&tree=roe

Social Media

Lynn Palermo
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/114977011024441632198
Lynn has added a Google+ community site called FamilyHistory Writers along with her blog, The Armchair Genealogist.

Ruth Blair - The Passionate Genealogist
http://blog.familyhistorysearches.com
Ruth had been at the National Genealogical Society (NGS) conference in Richmond, Virginia this past week, and has been blogging about it from a Canadian point of view. 

The blog posts are -
  • National Genealogical Society Conference in Richmond Virginia. Are you ready? #NGS2014gen
  • NGS Conference Richmond Virginia – Day 1 – #NGS2014gen
  • NGS Conference Richmond Virginia – Day 2 #NGS2014gen
  • NGS Conference Richmond Virginia – Day 3 #NGS2014gen

News Articles

Québec reaches for record
http://www.cruiseandferry.net/article/News/001401/Qu%C3%A9bec-reaches-for-record
For the first time in Quebec City’s history, six cruise shipswill be docking in the city harbour on 3 October 2014.

History come alive in Shelburne
http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/1206484-history-comes-alive-in-shelburne
Lou Gossett Jr., who won an Emmy for his role as Fiddler in the 1977 miniseries Roots, has been in Shelburne, Nova Scotia filming Book of Negroes.

Canada Post releases stamp on Komagata Maru http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Chandigarh/Canada-Post-releases-stamp-on-Komagata-Maru/articleshow/34895536.cms
It will be the 100th anniversary of Komagata Maru incident on May 23rd. Canada Post has issued a special stamp in memory of the ship that carried 376 Indians to Canada, and although it embarked at Vancouver they were not allowed to leave the ship. It returned to India and British troops had gunned down several of the occupants at Baj Baj, near Calcutta 

Manitoba Museum to honour vets 
http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/2014/05/08/manitoba-museum-to-honour-vets
In order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War and the 75th anniversary of the Second World War, the Manitoba Agricultural Museum will exhibit the country’s military heritage at this year’s Threshermen’s Reunion and Stampede.

1947-1980 history of oil
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/1947+1980+history/9819438/story.html
This article gives a timeline of oil discoveries in Alberta.

Kingston Region
http://www.kingstonregion.com/news-story/4508361-there-really-is-something-about-a-lighthouse
Prince Edward County's Marc Seguin, a founding member of the Organization "Save our Lighthouses," has had a life long interest in Canadian history and has a passion for Canada's built heritage – lighthouses.

Nova Scotia students submit dozens of possible names for February holiday http://www.timescolonist.com/nova-scotia-students-submit-dozens-of-possible-names-for-february-holiday-1.1025747#sthash.Dlbeo0AC.dpuf
Students from across Nova Scotia have submitted 75 suggestions on what to name the province's new holiday in February.

Change Street Naming policy http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Change+street+naming+policy/9817995/story.html
Saskatoon city council was told that they should establish a blue-ribbon committee of historical, cultural, social and demographic experts public before a public street is named, or the street name is changed.

South Asian Heritage Month features the big three: colour, culture and contribution
http://www.mississauga.com/community-story/4502760-south-asian-heritage-month-features-the-big-three-colour-culture-and-contribution/
May provides an opportunity to learn about the history of people from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka during South Asian Heritage Month.

School trip to Quebec aims to inspire
http://www.cloverdalereporter.com/community/258151851.html
Students in Grades 6 and 7 at the George Greenaway Elementary School in Cloverdale, Surrey, British Columbia will be visiting the province Quebec next week to take part in the culture and language of the area. 

Historic milestones usher new release of Royal Canadian Mint collector coins http://www.menafn.com/7191df7c-e082-4cdd-8253-5d6cb9a9dc70/Historic-milestones-usher-new-release-of-Royal-Canadian-Mint-collector-coins?src=main
The 75th anniversary of the first Royal visit to Canada and the centennial of the sinking of R.M.S. Empress of Ireland among latest national story-telling themes of the Royal Canadian Mint.

Holocaust education in Canada uneven at best
http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?q=node/124759
Now that the Holocaust Remembrance Day has passed for another year, Naomi Azrieli says that we needs to take stock of the state of Holocaust education in Canada and ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust go beyond commemoration one day a year. 

Tour the province this summer 
http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/2014/05/05/tour-the-province-this-summer
An annual Experience Alberta History Pass offers unlimited access to Alberta’s provincial historic sites, interpretive centres and museums. 

Manitoba Book Awards handed out on April 27
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/aboriginal-lawyer-takes-home-book-award-1.2624484
Aboriginal issues were front and centre at the 2013 Manitoba Book Awards. Thirteen awards were given out at an event at the West End Cultural Centre on April 27


Long-form census: Internal survey blasts feds for missing database 
Some of the databases are missing!

Story of the Week

Social Media


Two conferences in two weeks – the OGS in Canada and the NGS in the States - means that there was a lot of social media going on - Tweets, Blogs, Facebook, and now Dear Myrt’s AmbushCAM https://plus.google.com/communities/104382659430904043232 interviews with everyone from the latest news on software, to the people in the know like Dick Eastman, and ordinary people at the NGS. It was something like the “Man in the Street” interviews of the Steve Allen days on TV.

It was really neat. She would have 2-3 minute interviews with the Conference participants by using her camera and putting them on Goggle+ Hangouts On Air, and it worked very well. There didn’t seem to be any glitches, the picture qualify was god, and the audio was excellent.

Just like at the OGS last week, there was an ambitious Live Streaming programme that certain speakers took apart in and gave special lectures. And it worked for the people who could not go to the Conference and people who actually went, because now they will be able to view the Live Streaming after they get home.

So where does this leave Canadian genealogy?

Is Canada keeping up-to-date with Social Media? We are great Facebook users, but are we taking advantage of Live Streaming and Google+ Hangout On Air as much as we should?

For example, Australia has a number of Hangouts On Air now on a regular basis, and also there are a number of Genealogy Podcasts being produced ‘down under’, so if they can do it - why can’t we?

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! The next post will be on May 17, 2014.