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
The first edition of the Evening Star was published in Toronto on 03 November 1892. It was a self-styled “Paper for the People,” and it was put together under the guidance of Horatio Hocken, a foreman and future Toronto mayor.
It was a four-page paper which eventually turned into the Toronto Star. It turned into Canada’s largest daily newspaper, with the largest readership in the country.
To read more about the paper, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Star
Social Media
(Blog) ‘New Tales from Old Records’
The first blog post, ‘Piecing It All Together,’ explores how early government financial records tell the story of founding the Humane Establishment on Sable Island two hundred years ago.
(Blog) Do you have Aboriginal ancestry? The census might tell you
The Library and Archives Canada (LAC) blog has put out a summary of how you go about finding if you have Aboriginal ancestry.
Go to https://thediscoverblog.com/2016/10/05/do-you-have-aboriginal-ancestry-the-census-might-tell-you/
Newspaper Articles
Newfoundland
Why Do We Irish Not Take More Pride in What We Are?
Why, I wonder, do we have to be told as a people that we must become ‘more European,’ so that we ape the characteristics and the lifestyles of those who live on the European mainland?
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia's only Speakers to share chair built for Edgar Rhodes
Parliament Hill is undergoing major renovations and asbestos-removal that will empty Centre Block for years, but crews can't get the massive Speaker's chair out the doors.
Recognizing Mi’kmaq History Month
http://thechronicleherald.ca/halifaxcitizen/1403215-recognizing-mi%E2%80%99kmaq-history-month
How do you mark more than 11,000 years of history? For the Mi’kma’ki nation, one of the ways is to educate people by celebrating Treaty Day every Oct 1, followed by a month of activities and education
Nova Scotia working on posthumous pardon for Mi'kmaq grand chief
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/treaty-rights-grand-chief-gabriel-sylliboy-pardon-posthumous-1.3789395
The Nova Scotia government is working on a pardon for a major figure in Mi'kmaq history who died more than half a century ago
Burnley 'Rocky' Jones celebrated in posthumous autobiography
A new book tells the life story of one of Canada's greatest civil rights leaders, Burnley "Rocky" Jones.
Jones, who fought for the rights of black Canadians from the streets of Halifax to the highest courts in the land, died in 2013. But he left behind about 90 hours of conversations recorded with the poet George Elliott Clarke and the historian James Walker.
OPINION: Remember and learn from our greatest shipbuilder
When the Canadian Mint produced the Transportation Series of coins a few years back, one of them was a fully rigged square rigger, the W.D. Lawrence, which I recognized immediately from the sail plan.
Halifax Explosion documentary to tell untold survival story of deaf students
Two novice documentary filmmakers are hoping to spread the word about the Halifax School for the Deaf and its students, who miraculously all survived the Halifax Explosion on Dec. 6, 1917.
Quebec
Quebec group pushes Ottawa to recognize former slave burial site
A Quebec cemetery where black slaves are believed to be buried should be formally recognized as a historical site, say a black rights group and some Montreal city councillors.
Outremont’s Vimy Park officially renamed after Jacques Parizeau
Months after Montreal’s city council voted overwhelmingly in favour of renaming Outremont’s Vimy Park after former Quebec premier Jacques Parizeau, a ceremony held Sunday afternoon made it official.
Nigger Rock, Quebec: What’s in a name?
Nigger Rock is the name of one of eleven geographical sites in the province of Quebec that a group of mostly black people want changed. Understandably, they find the name offensive.
Save 'breathtaking' west Quebec mine from demolition, petition urges
A scenic, off-limits mine in western Quebec that's seen an influx of visitors over the past year could end up being demolished if a campaign to save it is unsuccessful
Ontario
Shortage of those willing to step up to executive posts could pull plug on Sault Ste. Marie and District Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society
An area genealogical group could, itself, become history by December.
A dearth of interest in filling executive positions — and not necessarily technology — is the chief culprit, says Mary Anne MacDonald, chair of the Sault Ste. Marie and District Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society.
Saskatchewan
Effort to preserve Chinese history in southern Alberta in the running for $40,000 prize
A bid to save a historic building in Lethbridge’s shrinking Chinatown and preserve an important part of Alberta’s history is in the running for $40,000 prize
Alberta
Remembering the horrible harvest of 1919
Another fall harvest is well underway. Although Central Alberta experienced a long and very dry spring, growing conditions over most of the summer were good.
However, there has been uneven weather this fall, with rain showers that have made harvesting a challenge.
British Columbia
REMINDER: Putting South Asian historic places on the BC map: you can nominate a place
THE South Asian Canadian community is invited to nominate historic places in B.C. that it believes is of significant importance to the history and development of the South Asian Canadian community in the province, says Heritage BC.
You can nominate a place here https://secure.heritagebc.ca/south-asian-canadian-historic-places/
Trove of historic documents heads to Vancouver Public Library
Thousands of boxes of aging federal documents, containing reams of information on B.C.'s First Nations, will move to downtown Vancouver as part of a new collaboration between the national archives and the public library.
This Week in History: Girl Guides in British Columbia
Girl Guides began in England in 1909, when girls demanded to take part in a Boy Scouts rally in London.
Just three years later, in 1912, guiding made its way to Canada.
Canadian Stories this Week
Women's History month in Canada
One thing that I forgot to mention last week is that October is Women's History Month in Canada.
Women's History Month was proclaimed in Canada in 1992, where its purpose is to give Canadians "an opportunity to learn about the important contributions of women and girls to our society – and to the quality of our lives today".
It was chosen to coincide with the celebration of the anniversary on October 18 of the decision of the court case, the Persons Case, in which it was established that Canadian women were eligible to be appointed senators in the government.
It is a time to recognize that “Because of Her” Canada is the extraordinary country that we know today.
To learn more about the month, please go to http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/whm-mhf/index-en.html
Ancestry has put on index
The Quebec, Canada, Notarial Records, 1626-1935, in collaboration with the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BanQ), has out on the index to the records, and are available for free until today – 10th of October. The records themselves are not on Ancestry.
Some records are in English, but the reason that they are not translated from French to English is because the records are narrative – they are written in French.
So to our non-French people, they will have to get them translated.
It is well-worth the translation because they hold lots of juicy details on land grants, and marriage contacts not available anywhere else.
So take a look at the index at the 16,000 French and English language records and more than 7,000 images at http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=61062 or at additional information on the collection’s contents as well as tips for navigating and searching the records please consult the Quebec Notarial Records Research Guide.
And finally, are you and did you have a good Thanksgiving?
We did, and all though tired with the activity we did over the weekend, the weather was fine, the trees were absolutely spectacular, and the time away from our jobs was an excellent break.
So hope that you time was as good as ours was and that you had an excellent holiday!
For more information on the Canadian Thanksgiving, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(Canada)
And that was the week in Canadian news!
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