I have come across the following Canadian genealogy, history and heritage websites, social media, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too.
This Week in Canadian History
Upper Canada’s last fatal duel happened on June 13, 1833 in Perth, Ontario.
To read more about the duel between John Wilson and Robert Lyon. Both were law students in Perth.
For more information. read http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/tales/last-duel.html
War of 1812
On June 18, 1812, the war of 1812 started, and it ended in 1815. Part of the force was made up of Canadians, and it is heart wrenching to read about their courage to defend Canada.
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/war-of-1812/IH.M.S. Shannon Leading Her Prize the American Frigate Chesapeake into Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia.
There are over 200 archived episodes available on their website, TodayInCanadianHistory.ca, or downloadable as podcasts from iTunes.
A great way to hear what the experts have to say!
To listen to the podcasts, go to http://cjsw.com/program/tich/
Social Media
(Photos) Old Shubenacadie Canal route in Dartmouth to house interpretive park
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/old-shubenacadie-canal-route-in-dartmouth-to-house-interpretive-park-1.3114119
150 years of industrial history exposed in one Dartmouth site. Is is a parcel of land in downtown Dartmouth that used to house Starr Manufacturing, one of the world's first skate manufacturing plants.
(Video) Allan Hawco, Mark Critch to trace steps of Newfoundland Regiment in new documentary
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/allan-hawco-mark-critch-to-trace-steps-of-newfoundland-regiment-in-new-documentary-1.3113670
A new film about the Newfoundland Regiment's role in World War I will feature two familiar personalities from the province.
(Photos and Video) Picking up the pieces: Paperwork tells story of Halifax Explosion survivors
http://thechronicleherald.ca/thenovascotian/1293139-picking-up-the-pieces-paperwork-tells-story-of-halifax-explosion-survivors
Overwhelming tales of loss and incredible stories of recovery are all right there – in the bureaucratic paperwork.
Retired history professor David Sutherland spends many of his days at the Nova Scotia Archives, poring through seemingly endless strips of microfilm.
Articles
Nova Scotia
Campaign puts spotlight on heritage lighthouses
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1293545-campaign-puts-spotlight-on-heritage-lighthouses
A national campaign is shining a light on Nova Scotia’s heritage lighthouses.
The National Trust for Canada, formerly the Heritage Canada Foundation, and the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Protection Society have partnered together in the This Lighthouse Matters contest, a fundraising initiative hoping to raise money for and awareness of Nova Scotia’s unique lighthouse culture.
Prince Edward Island
Two county lighthouses to be saved
http://countylive.ca/blog/?p=53417&cpage=1
Just prior to the expiry of the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, the county heritage advocacy group, Save Our Lighthouses, was informed the Scotch Bonnet Island and Prince Edward Point lighthouses would be preserved by the Government of Canada.
New Brunswick
Gagetown, N.B., steeped in history and tranquil haven for those escaping city life
http://news.nationalpost.com/life/travel/gagetown-n-b-steeped-in-history-and-tranquil-haven-for-those-escaping-city-life
The Village of Gagetown, in southern New Brunswick, is often described as a tranquil haven for those escaping the rush of city life.
The tiny community, just 35 minutes east of the provincial capital of Fredericton, is steeped in history and a favourite place for visitors who love wildlife, boating, and arts and crafts.
Historic Saint John church holding final service after sale
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/historic-saint-john-church-holding-final-service-after-sale-1.3108449
St. George's-St. Jude's Anglican Church was founded in 1821 and is a designated historic site. It will reopen as a resturant and as a wedding chapel.
Ontario
Stayner student's history project focuses on the family farm
http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/5679324-stayner-student-s-history-project-focuses-on-the-family-farm/
Oliviaq Walker peeled back the layers of history to present life on the family farm.
THE JOY OF GENEALOGY: Remember our fathers and the sacrifices they made
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5679386-the-joy-of-genealogy-remember-our-fathers-and-the-sacrifices-they-made/
The month of June brings about so many celebrations: the June solstice and the beginning of summer, National Aboriginal Day, which provides a chance to learn more about Aboriginal people and their contributions to the country and Father’s Day, which gives us a chance to express our gratitude and love for our dads and other special father figures.
Peterborough Museum & Archives
http://www.mykawartha.com/shopping-story/5666228-peterborough-museum-archives/
Through stories, images, exhibits, and so much more, The Peterborough Museum & Archives traces the people, land, and rich collective heritage of Peterborough, Ontario.
First Capital Day worthy of a civic holiday in 2016
http://www.thewhig.com/2015/06/14/first-capital-day-worthy-of-a-civic-holiday-in-2016
It is hard to think of another community in Canada - with the exception, perhaps, of Quebec City - that stands to benefit as much from its proud role in Canadian history as does Kingston.
Alberta
Uncovering history along the eroding Bow River
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/uncovering-history-along-the-eroding-bow-river
A new archeological site along the Bow River has a checkered history with flooding.
The teepee circle, a ring of sandstone blocks that mark the outline of a teepee, was covered by silt in a flood between 500 and 1,000 years ago, preserving the site. But after the Bow flooded in 2013, this bank in Fish Creek Park was eroded, washing away part of the site.
History Road rolls on with more than 600 vehicles http://www.wetaskiwintimes.com/2015/06/17/history-road-rolls-on-with-more-than-600-vehicles
The Reynolds-Alberta Museum hosted some of the nicest, rarest and most classic cars, bikes and other vehicles at History Road: The Ultimate Car Show weekend June 13-14, in partnership with AMA Insurance and the City of Wetaskiwin.
British Columbia
In Shaughnessy, New Heritage District to Halt Character Home Demolitions
http://thetyee.ca/News/2015/06/17/Shaughnessy-New-Heritage-District/
Richard Keate keeps a map of his neighbourhood at home. He's saddened every time he has to mark a demolition.
"My records are 56 pre-1940 houses have come down," Keate said of Shaughnessy's fallen character homes. Heritage Vancouver counted 51 in 2012.
Hidden history of African American settlers in Wellington, B.C. uncovered
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/hidden-history-of-african-american-settlers-in-wellington-b-c-uncovered-1.3114170
Jimmy Claxton, the first black man to play organized baseball in the 20th century, is one of the most well-known black Canadians in history.
But Nanaimo Community Archives manager Christine Meutzner has always believed Claxton's couldn't have been the only black family living in Wellington, B.C., where he was born in 1892.
The Stories This Week
Canadian Online Indexes
Indexes are the life blood of genealogy. We use them all the time. When we come across a new parson, or to see what’s out there for an event, we usually use an index. And of course, online societies, archives, libraries, businesses all understand this – they want to create and sell us access to plenty of indexes.
We must remember though, that indexes are NOT records, and we cannot source them as records. They are simply a finding aid to help us locate the records that we will use. And remember, not everything has been indexed. Look as hard as we may, not everything has been indexed – and may never be. For example, I am sure that that not every vital record (birth, marriages, deaths) in Canada has been indexed.
So this week, just by pure coincidence, two Canadian genealogists wrote about online indexes.
First all of, Jane McNamara has put some Ontario indexes online in her blog http://wherethestorytakesme.ca/top25/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WhereTheStoryTakesMe+%28Where+the+story+takes+me%29
She has called her posts Big indexes to consider for every Ontario ancestor.
There was one index that I hadn’t studied before, and it was the Indexes of Estate Files (Before 1859) and Surrogate Court Records by County and District (After 1858).
I took the time to look over the information that has been indexed and put it in my research took-box (you can build your own), and it now will be there for me to research whenever I need it.
And I, your genealogist blogger, have started a stint with Family History Daily at http://familyhistorydaily.com/ called 10 free Canadian Genealogy Websites and I am writing about – guess what – Canadian indexes! It's at http://familyhistorydaily.com/free-genealogy-resources/10-free-canadian-genealogy-websites/
To Canadian researchers, these are familiar indexes, but to the beginning genealogists, especially people not from our county, it can help you to find the correct indexes, which can be a daunting experience.
One of my greatest bug-a-boos is that the Library and Archives Canada has uploaded all of these microfilm to Heritage, and none of them are indexed. They say that they want them to be indexed, so I am waiting to see how this is done. And as I understand it, FamilyResearch is going to start putting unindexed microfilm online from their storage facility at the Granite Mountain in Salt Lake City. So it looks like the wave of the future, which will present new challenges to the genealogists.
So it is up to us, writers and genealogists, to keep the community aware of new developments on indexes as they come along.
Got any favourite indexes of your own you would like to share? It can be a new or old index, but there are plenty to choose from in the field of Canadian indexes.
And that was the Canadian genealogy, history, and heritage news in Canada this past week!
Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.
If you missed last week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-15-june-2015.html
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada
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