Canadian Genealogy News 28 July 2015

Here are some news items which have come across the desk this morning -

Ontario genealogist takes top billing

The Toronto Time Capsule (TTC) has been in existence since this spring, and they have just released their seven top articles. The most read article is by Janice Nickerson. Congratulations, Janice!

Her article GENEALOGY WITH JANICE: 7 fun genealogy games for kids aims to get younger generations interested in family history with a list of games to try at home.

To read who the other six people are, go to http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5750390-7-most-read-history-articles-in-the-toronto-time-capsule/ 

Vote now for Canadian genealogy websites

The best Canadian website 

John D. Reid, the blogger at Anglo-Celtic Connections asks “Which genealogy websites do you most value for Canadian content? Rather than trust the judgement of self-proclaimed experts in other countries let's follow the model used for Rockstar Genealogist and conduct a survey”.

So who do you think is the best website as far as Canadian Content is concerned.

Let you views be known at http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.com/2015/07/best-canadian-genealogy-websites.html

Toronto Branch Workshops

Gwyneth Pearce, the secretary of the Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) writes to tell us of two special events that will take place this fall. Registration is now open for:

Atlantic Canada Genealogy – a full-day workshop on Saturday 17 October to explore the resources available to help you find your Atlantic ancestors. Led by keynote speaker Terrence M. Punch of Halifax, with additional lectures by Roberta Clark and Terri Raymond, this workshop will focus on understanding the patterns and sources of immigration into the four Atlantic provinces over the past four hundred years as well as subsequent migrations from Atlantic Canada to other parts of Canada and to the United States. Early-bird rates apply until September 22 and OGS members enjoy additional discounts.

For full program and speaker details and to register online, visit http://torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/workshops/atlantic-canada-genealogy-workshop/.

Basic Genealogy and Family History – two eight-week courses led by instructor Jane E. MacNamara designed for those who are just setting out on their family history journeys or who wish to upgrade their basic research skills. One course will be held at Riverdale Public Library on Tuesday evenings from 6 October to 24 November, and the other at North York Central Library on Wednesday afternoons from 7 October to 25 November. Learn how to "think like a genealogist"! 

For details and to register online, visit http://torontofamilyhistory.org/event/basic-genealogy-and-family-history-evening/

Until tomorrow, have a nice day researching!

How about changing the term “Meetings”?

What I mean by this is “Meetings” is getting to be an old term. Something out of the 20th century. How about calling them something different, like the Toronto Family History Branch has done. They now call their meetings and special events Learn with Toronto Branch.

And isn't that why we hold meetings – to learn?

September will be a busy month with them, with a three-session course taught by Carol Nichols on how to make the most of Ancestry.ca Library Edition running on Wednesday afternoons. Carol’s course, titled Hands-On Ancestry.ca Library Edition, will be followed by three drop-in sessions at the Toronto Reference Library, again on Wednesday afternoons, where you can practice your Ancestry.ca skills with the help of volunteers from the Toronto Branch Members Network.

On Friday 18 September, they present a special two-hour afternoon lecture by professional genealogist Chris Paton on his research into the hardships endured by our Scottish ancestors.

And on Saturday 19 September, Chris will be back with us together with historian Dr. William Roulston for a full-day workshop on Irish Genealogy—Focus on Ulster. This workshop is aimed at family historians researching ancestors in the nine counties in the historic province of Ulster, but many of the topics discussed will be of relevance to Irish research generally.

They are now accepting registrations for all of the above courses and events.

Visit their Learn with Toronto Branch pages at http://torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/ to read about the program and details and to sign up online. We expect to open registration for October and November courses in late July.

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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/2015/07/cwr-06-july-2015.html

 It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

Toronto Branch of the OGS releases its summer programe

We have just received the summer program of the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. The program is as follows -

Registration is now open for Genetic Genealogy, a full-day workshop to be held on Saturday 6 June 2015 at North York Central Library, co-sponsored by Toronto Branch and the Library’s Canadiana Department.

This workshop will cover the main types of DNA testing available to genealogists, different analytical techniques and how the results from genetic testing are used in conducting or supporting family history research. Our keynote speaker will be Irish genetic genealogy expert Dr. Maurice Gleeson.

Early-bird rates apply until 9 May and OGS members enjoy additional discounts.

For full program and speaker details and to register online, visit http://torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/workshops/genetic-genealogy/

Toronto Branch and the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library will also be co-sponsoring a one-day workshop on Atlantic Canada Genealogy on 17 October 2015.

The keynote speaker for this event will be Dr. Terrence M. Punch of Halifax, Nova Scotia. We are now looking for other speakers who would like to be part of this workshop.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 16 May 2015.

The full Call for Speakers can be found at http://torontofamilyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Call-for-Speakers-Atlantic-Canada-Genealogy.pdf.

The website is at http://torontofamilyhistory.org/

Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/TOFamilyHistory

Ever been to Genealogy Summer Camp?

One of the highlights of the summer was going Summer Camp, wasn't it?

Well, did you know that Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has had a Genealogy Summer Camp for almost twenty years?

If you didn't know, but would like to find out more about the summer camp, you can contact Jane MacNamara at her blog http://wherethestorytakesme.ca/genealogy-summer-camp/ for details.

Toronto Branch has been running this innovative program for almost two decades now - they invite out-of-town researchers to Toronto for a full week of concentrated family history research at our wonderful libraries and archives, under the guidance of local experts. More than 140 participants from England, right across Canada and many US states have attended over the years.

Local residents are welcome too, and may choose to stay with the group or attend as “day-campers”.

This year’s Genealogy Summer Camp will run from Sunday 7 June to Friday 12 June 2015.



Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/03/canadian-week-in-review-30-march-2015.html

 It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since April 23, 2012.

Fall workshop in Toronto

Gwyneth Pearce, Secretary of the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has sent us a reminder from the Branch that their fall workshop, "Industrial England", is coming up in less than two weeks - on Saturday 1 November.

This full-day workshop, co-sponsored with the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library, will explore the social, economic and cultural effects of the Industrial Revolutions on the lives of English people from 1750 to 1900. Author and professional genealogist Kirsty Gray will be our keynote speaker.

Spaces are still available, but we encourage you to sign up soon to ensure a spot. OGS members are eligible for a fee discount.

Full details about the program, speakers and how to register, are available on our Branch website at http://torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/workshops/industrial-england-workshop/.

Their Facebook page is on https://www.facebook.com/TOFamilyHistory

Toronto school memorials database

Gwyneth Pearce, Secretary,Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, sent us this notice –

More than 32,000 names now in Toronto school memorials database

It’s that time again… when children, parents and teachers launch into a new school year!

And to mark the start of classes for 2013, the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has added more than 2,700 new names and eight more schools to its on-line database of school memorials commemorating Toronto students and staff who volunteered for active service in the two World Wars and other military conflicts.

The newest schools in the For King and Country database include Essex Street, John English, Rose Avenue, Lambton Mills, Lansdowne, Humewood Public and Runnymede Collegiate Institute.

We’ve also added our first independent school – St. Michael’s College School – a Catholic middle and high school with a rich history dating back to 1852. The database now contains more than 32,000 names and 88 schools, with transcriptions and photographs of school war memorials, historical background and links to other useful school and community websites.

Explore this growing collection now at www.torontofamilyhistory.org/kingandcountry/.

To find out more about the For King and Country project, and how you can help, contact co-ordinator Martha Jackson at kingandcountry@torontofamilyhistory.org.

And if you happen to be one of the many heading back to school this month, take a moment to remember the past generations of students and staff who went to war.

Tracing Forward ‒ Searching for Relatives in Recent Times

Gwyneth Pearce, Secretary of the Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, let us

know this morning that registration is now open for Tracing Forward - Searching for Relatives in Recent Times, a special fall event co-sponsored by the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society and the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library.

She says to “Join expert speakers and fellow family history enthusiasts for a full day of lectures designed for researchers interested in expanding their family trees to find living relatives. Find out why we all should build “tracing forward” into our family history research, and discover new tools, techniques and strategies for tracing people who are either still alive or recently deceased. Learn how to navigate privacy and access rules and how to connect with “DNA cousins”, pick up tips from professionals who locate people for a living, and prepare to be inspired by stories of how family history mysteries have been solved”.

It will be held on Saturday, 26 October 2013 at the North York Central Library, 2nd floor Auditorium, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto.

For full program and speaker information and to register online, visit http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/TracingForward.html. OGS members pay reduced fees, and an additional early-bird discount applies for those who register before 30 September.

Tracing Forward - Searching for Relatives in Recent Times

Toronto Branch of the OGS has just issued a Call for Presentations for a fall workshop titled “Tracing Forward - Searching for Relatives in Recent Times”.

The aim of this workshop, to be held on Saturday 26 October, is to offer new ideas, skills or tools to help researchers trace members of their expanded family trees, people who might still be alive or recently deceased. We are hoping to receive proposals from professional genealogists, family historians, private investigators, legal experts and heir searchers.

The deadline for proposals is Friday 31 May. 

The website is at www.torontofamilyhistory.org

A Canadian Genealogist Dies in Scotland

Yesterday afternoon (Monday, October 27th, 2008), Don Hinchley, President of the Ontario Genealogy Society (OGS), wrote to tell a number of us that Paul McGrath, the genealogist on "Ancestors in the Attic", has died in Scotland.

He was the chair of the Toronto Branch, and had given many talks around Ontario on genealogy.

He died last Wednesday of a heart attack.

People who attended Conference '09 in London, Ontario this year heard him give a couple of seminars and the talk at the supper on "Ancestors in the Attic".

This blog send its condoldances to his family for thier personal loss, and to the genealogists of Canada, for they have lost a great family historian.