Polar Medal

A press release from the Prime Minister of Canada office was received today - 

“Prime Minister Stephen Harper today welcomed the announcement of the creation of a Canadian Polar Medal. As Sovereign and font of all honours, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has given her approval to this addition to the Canadian Honours System.

The Polar Medal will recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the Canadian North across a diverse range of endeavours.

The design of the new medal was released earlier today by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada. The medal program will be managed by the Chancellery of Honours as part of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, which is responsible for administering the Canadian Honours System”

The Polar Medal will celebrate Canada’s Northern heritage and recognize persons who render extraordinary services in the polar regions and Canada's North.

The call for nominations will start fall 2015

The website is http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=16120&lan=eng

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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/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-22-june-2015.html

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

"Demolish the Deficit” Fund is starting to move

As I reported on May 30, 2015 blog post at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/05/is-there-another-canadian-genealogy.html, I commented on the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Demolish the Deficit fundraiser. At the time, I said I would keep my eye on it, and there has been positive movement.

Nearly half of the 2015 goal of $12,000 - $6,526 has been raised so far!

So there is hope that the society can raise the rest of the money, and return to it’s former self as an vibrant Canadian genealogical society.

If you would like to contribute, you can contact them at their website at http://www.saskgenealogy.com/

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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/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-22-june-2015.html

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

Canadian Week in Review (CWR) - 22 June 2015

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. 

Podcasts

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

National Aboriginal Day – June 21st

National Aboriginal Day is a day to celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

In support of National Aboriginal Day, visitors to Fundy National Park and Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick are invited to meet local Aboriginal artists and learn more about New Brunswick's Aboriginal culture and heritage. Artists will be on-site between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

In Alberta, there will be Blackfoot elders who will tell stories about the plains buffalo culture, and there will be drumming and dancing, guided facility tours, a live display of Alberta Birds of Prey, traditional hand game demonstrations, and aboriginal food sampling.

There are events all across the county today, and to see what else is available, go to http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100013248/1100100013249

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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 this 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
 

The International Gathering of the Clans, 2015 will be held in Nova Scotia

I couldn’t think of any better place than to hold the International Gathering of the Clans in Nova Scotia – New Scotland!

 

It will take place from July the 1^st to July 25^th , and there will be events in Pugwash, New Glasgow, Antigonish, Yarmouth, and Halifax.

 

July 1st will begin with a flag raising ceremony at the Pugwash Gathering of the Clans, and the Official Opening will be held in Halifax on July 3rd at the Grand Parade.

The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Nova Scotia will be running during the first week with acts from all over the world.

June 30 – July 7 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo will be held in Halifax.

July 1 Gathering of the Clans and Festival There will be flag-raising and first event of the 10th International Gathering of the Clans. This will ne held in Pugwash.

July 3 Flag-raisingFlag-raising Halifax City Hall, 11:30 a.m Reception courtesy Clan Lamont & Clan Stewart/Stuart. This will be held in Halifax.

 

July 5 Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan St. Matthew’s United Church, Barrington St., Halifax
Sponsored by The Scots and the FSCNS. Reception to follow. This will be held in Halifax.

 

July 5 – 12 Antigonish Highland Games.

 

July 15-19 Festival of Tartans & Highland Games New Glasgow.

 

July 25 Closing of the 10th International Gathering to be held at the Yarmouth Seafest Festival, Yarmoth, Nova Scotia.

 

The offical site for the International Gathering of the Clans, 2015 is http://www.cassoc.ca/frameset.htm

 

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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 this 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

 

 

Are your ancestors from Iceland?

Do you want to know who your first Icelandic ancestor was and when he or she left Iceland and arrived in Canada? Are you curious about your Icelandic origins?

If so, the website at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is a great place to begin your research.

Here you will find a page dedicated to genealogical research on the http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/history-ethnic-cultural/Pages/icelandic.aspx.

This page provides you with historical information, archival documents and published material from the Library and Archives Canada collection, as well as links to other websites and institutions.

If your ancestor came to Canada between 1865 and 1935, you might find his or her name on the http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/immigration-records/passenger-lists/Pages/introduction.aspx

To read more about Iceland, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_Canadian

If you want to learn more about Icelandic Immigration to North America, go to http://www.halfdan.is/vestur/vestur.htm

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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 this 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

Canadian Heritage is looking for Canada Day volunteers

Canadian Heritage is looking for Canada Day volunteers.

As a volunteer, you could be handing out Canadian flags, managing crowds, helping people with special needs, and serving as information officers during the July 1 festivities at Parliament Hill and Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa and Jacques-Cartier Park across the Parliament Hill in Gatineau next to the Canadian Museum of History.

Each year more than 500 volunteers help with Canada Day celebrations in the National Capital Region.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Canadian Heritage Volunteer Centre at 819-956-2626 or benevoles.volunteers@pch.gc.ca.

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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 this 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