Niagara Peninsula Hopes to "Live Stream" Conference 2014

Words has reached me that Niagara Peninsula Branch hope to live stream Conference 2014.

This is great news for the people who can’t travel to the area to take in the three day conference. They can stay at home and view the conference from their favorite chair. I image that it will cost to view the live streaming, but still it is a great way to see the talks that will be given.

Stay tuned for developments.

The website for the Niagara Peninsula Branch is www.ogs.on.ca/niagara

GenealogyCanada's Blog - 5 Years Old Today

Today is the fifth blogiversary of GenealogyCanada!

Although I didn’t hit the 1,000th blog posting today, I still managed well over 900 of them. I am pleased to have seen so many visitors dropping in for a visit - coming from every continent, and representing a wide variety of countries and regions. I sincerely hope that this blog has helped many of you find your Canadian connections, no matter where they came from.

I would like to thank all who read my posts, the comments they left, and those who sent me their press releases and notes about Canadian genealogy.

For your interest, the 10 most popular posts of the past five years are -

1. Ancestry.ca Offers FREE Access to Records
2. 1921 Canadian Census
3. The Canadian Census of 1891
4. FREE Ancestry.ca
5. Passing of John Becker, Editor, OGS Families
6. Attestation Papers of Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF)
7. Easter Treats from Ancestry.ca 
8. Historical Online Newspapers in Canada
9. The Eastern Ontario Countryside
10. Genealogy Courses in Toronto

As promised, five copies of my resource booklet – Migration: Canada and the United States – will be given away today as part of the blog's fifth anniversary celebrations.

All you have to do is correctly answer the following question, send it to me at genealogycanada@aol.com, and the winning results will be announced after the five lucky winners are picked by random draw from all correct entries.

The question is: Before GenealogyCanada became a blog, it started its life as a newsletter on the GenealogyCanada.com website. In what month and year did the online GenealogyCanada Newsletter start, leading  to the blog?

Please don't forget to bookmark the site - each month features Genealogy, Heritage, and History news, with lots of links to interesting websites, and tons of useful information to glean from its many webpages, including the famous Website Pick of the Month.

Thank you for dropping by to help celebrate the past five years, and for making GenealogyCanada.blogspot.com a part of your genealogical life.

Happy New Year!

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles – 31 December 2012

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

Main Index: Native American Names of Quebec and Ontario (Marriage Documents) http://acanadianfamily.com/2012/01/06/main-index-native-american-names-of-quebec-and-ontario-marriage-documents Anyone who has tried to research Native American ancestry in their genealogy knows how difficult it can be to trace. Here is a site that may help you.

Canadian Christmas Books (and a few more ...) http://sd2cx1.webring.org/l/rd?ring=geneabloggersweb;id=17;url=http%3A%2F%2Fcanadagenealogy%2Eblogspot%2Eca%2F2012%2F12%2Fcanadian%2Dchristmas%2Dbooks%2Dand%2Dfew%2Dmore%2Ehtml Diane Rogers of the British Columbia Genealogical Society has posted a Christmas book list, that you may find helpful.

English Research From Canada http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/12/blake-newsletter-year-ii.html Elizabeth Kipp has the latest news about the Blake ancestry in preparation for the publication of the Blake Newsletter due 1 Jan 2013.

Ireland XO uses ‘reverse genealogy’ to link descendants to the Emerald Isle http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Ireland+uses+reverse+genealogy+link+descendants+Emerald+Isle/7743064/story.html Read about how Ottawa’s Phil Donnelly is helping to connect 70-million of people all over the world to the home county of Ireland in an article in the Ottawa Citizen. Goal is to connect over a million people by the end of 2013, and to create a database of 10 million members of the Irish Diaspora by 2016.

They have a website at www.irelandxo.com, and they have a newsletter onsite, a parish handbook to help you find the parish you are looking for, and a glossary which explains the terms used in Irish research eg townland, province, and so forth.

Our Town Waterford Pedestrian crossing light closer to completion www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2012/11/30/pedestrian-crossing-light-closer-to-completion What started out as a newspaper column by Carol Steedmen in which she talks about a pedestrian crossing light nearing completion in the town, turns into a column about a letter she received from a reader.
In the letter from Marilyn Nurse, Carol finds out that Marilyn is from the McMichael family from Waterford, and her father, Leamon Becker McMichael, was a first cousin to Dr. Hooker from Waterford, and recounts the genealogy.
© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Archive CD Books (Canada) SALE!

I have just received a notice from Archive CD Books (Canada) that they are offering almost ALL of our CANADIAN topic books on CD at a discount for a limited time. And the sale prices are shown on each product - just above the "Regular Price" - so you can see your savings.

They give examples -

Gazetteer and Business Directory, Canada 1930, Cat.No. CA0035

ON SALE FOR: $18.75, Regular Price: $37.50

Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of York, Ontario - 1907 Cat.No. CA0254

ON SALE FOR: $13.13, Regular Price: $26.25

British Columbia from the Earliest Times to the Present, Historical & Biographical. 4 Vol. set. Cat.No. CA0361-S

ON SALE FOR: $24.50, Regular Price: $49.00

You are reminded that this sale won't last forever, so act now and you won't be disappointed.

Don't forget that they already give you free shipping if you live in Canada (flat rate elsewhere)

Sale prices are shown in the regular locations in the catalogue on each product on sale. To help you see ALL of the products on offer we have added a special "SALE" category in our online catalogue, and you can go straight there using this link www.archivecdbooks.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.viewCategory&intCatalogID=29&intCategoryID=227

You are reminded that because of the complexity, and illogicality, of Canada Post's overseas shipping rates we check and, if possible, reduce our overseas rates for multiple purchases - we try to give you our best prices. Any shipping overcharge will be rebated on your credit card.

And while you are there on the website, you can subscribe to their very informative newsletter by subscribing to books@archivecdbooks.ca

FREE Access Ends Tonight!

The other day I posted about the free access at Ancestry.ca. Well, that free access ends tonight at midnight – December 29!

By taking advantage of this free access, you can explore their newest, as well as their most popular collections from Canada, the U.S., UK and around the world!

To go to the site for more information, go to http://search.ancestry.ca/search/grouplist.aspx?group=newyearoffer&o_xid=53405&o_lid=53405&o_sch=Email

Saltwater Heritage: The History and Conservation of Our Coastal Architecture:

The Institute for Architectural Studies and Conservation, in association with Beaconsfield Historic House, in Charlottetown, PEI, invites you to join them for the annual January lecture series. The theme for 2013 is Saltwater Heritage: The History and Conservation of Our Coastal Architecture.

The Institute has assembled a group of specialists to explore stories of the connections with Prince Edward Island shores.

January 7, 2013 – “Weeping Saltwater Tears: Charlottetown’s Disappearing Maritime Heritage” by Harry Holman. He is a sailor and former Provincial Archivist, and the Director of Culture, Heritage and Libraries, and he will draw on is extensive knowledge of the local waters and present an illustrated lecture using historical and contemporary images to reveal the changes to waterfront and maritime architecture and institutions.

January 14, 2013 - Carol Livingstone, President, PEI Lighthouse Society and Josh Silver, Red Seal Carpenter and Learning Manager, Heritage Retrofit Carpentry program at Holland College, will present “Lighting the Way: History, Form and Function in Lighthouse Conservation of PEI”. Together, they will explore these iconic forms of coastal architecture and the close relationships between their architectural features and their varied designs.

January 21, 2013 - Historian, Dr. Monica MacDonald, will be there to give a talk on one of the most stately seaside summer residences of PEI, and national historic site, in her illustrated presentation, “Dalvay-by-the-Sea: A Historical Overview”. She will look into the many lives of this former retreat of American industrialist, Alexander McDonald.

January 28, 2013 - Boyde Beck, popular historian, author, and Curator of History, PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation will speak on the fascinating story of Green Park and Beaconsfield, the former houses of shipbuilders, James Yeo (Jr.), and James Peake (Jr.), and the industry that made them in his talk, “Green Park and Beaconsfield — Two Shipbuilding Stories".

The talks start at 7 pm, at the Beaconsfield’s Carriage House in Charlottetown. Admission is open to the public by donation. Storm dates to be announced via local media.

For more information, please go to their website at http://iascpei.wordpress.com

Press Release: GenealogyCanada Will Celebrate 5th Blogiversary

Hello, Everyone,

As the press release says, GenealogyCanada will be celebrating its fifth blogiversary January the 2nd.


Feel free to pass the press release along to your genealogical friends.

If you have any questions about genealogycanada, please email me at genealogycanada@aol.com.

Elizabeth

(Ottawa Dec 27, 2012) On January 2, 2013, Elizabeth Lapointe will be celebrating the 5th Blogiversary of GenealogyCanada.blogspot.com, her daily genealogy, heritage, and history blog.

Lapointe says, “I have had five great years telling people about Canada’s latest genealogy, heritage, and history news and stories. Because of the blog, I have made friends from all over, and look forward to reaching new audiences in the next five years.”

GenealogyCanada.blogspot.com is expected to reach its 1,000th blog in the next few weeks. Come join the others who drop by for their genealogy fix – simply visit the blog, subscribe to the “Blog Update” email notification service, or follow along on Twitter.

Among the blog posts of which Lapointe is extremely proud are the posts that make up the yearly Veterans’ Week series in November, and the posts that greet her readers every Monday morning of new and improved Canadian websites, blogs, and news articles on Canadian genealogy, heritage, and history.

“Both of these posts are very important to me because they bring to my readers news of what is happening in Canada—or somehow related to Canada or Canadians worldwide—whether it’s in remembrance of her veterans each November, or on a weekly basis.”

To mark the 5th Blogiversary on January 2nd, there will be a special contest give-away of 5 copies of her cross-border resource booklet—Migration: Canada and the United States—to those readers who correctly answer a question about the blog. So please take a moment to visit us that day, and be sure to also tell your friends and fellow genealogists.

A random draw of all the correct entries will take place the next day, on January 3rd.

To find out what’s been posted or to see what you’ve missed, scroll down to the “Blog Archive” list and pick a date, or simply use the dedicated Google search box near the top to find your favourite subject.

If you have any questions about the blog, please direct them to Elizabeth Lapointe at genealogycanada@aol.com.

========================
About GenealogyCanada

GenealogyCanada.blogspot.com is a Canadian blog covering Canadian genealogy, heritage, and history news and events. There have been over 900 posts since January 2008.

The GenealogyCanada.com website contains over 30 newsletters dating from 2004 to 2007, again covering the same news as the blog. Also included is the Website of the Month, showcasing the best in Canadian genealogy.

Genealogy Retailer Has Year-End Sale

My friend, Leland Meitzler of Family Roots Publishing, has just sent out the following notice - a year-end sale offering an additional 20% off all items.

“Family Roots Publishing has more inventory still in stock than ever before at the end of a current year! So – to reduce inventory and keep the company from having to pay taxes on all these books, they are offering an additional 20% off on all purchases between now and 7 pm MST December 31, 2012.

To take advantage of this offer, just put the year – 2012 – in the Offer Code box at checkout.”

And, to encourage sales, FRPC is offering free U.S. shipping on all sales over $75.00.

And this includes my two research booklets - War of 1812: Canada and the Unites States and Migration: Canada and the United States. Both of these booklets are divided into Canadian and American sections, each offering country-specific resource materials, URLs, and explanations on the War and on cross-border migration between these two great countries.

If you have any questions about the booklets, just ask me at genealogycanada@aol.com.

Genealogy Classes at Royal Roads University

Dave Obee is teaching two classes at Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC in February, and they are called Discovering Your Family History: An Introduction.

The course description says that “The Internet has made it easy to gather information about family histories, however, it is still important to use proper research techniques to understand the records being consulted and to flesh out the raw details of a family tree with information about the lives of ancestors. Designed for people who have already gathered the basic information on their families, this course stresses the need for research in local history and social history as well and will help participants understand how to use a wide variety of resources and plan further work”.

The courses takes place on the 2nd and 9th of February, and it cost $145 + applicable taxes. The site says it is best to register by Sat, Jan 19th, 2013.

More information is available at http://cstudies.royalroads.ca/courses/PEOI3001-Y12.htm

Ancestry.ca is FREE!

Ancestry.ca has two Canadian records sets FREE until December 29th at Midnight ET! And there are other non-Canadian records that are also free. 

The two Canadian historical records are 

Nominal Rolls and Paylists for the Volunteer Militia, 1857-1922

and

Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980

Go to http://search.ancestry.ca/search/group/newyearoffer to take advantage of this offer.

Happy Holidays!

DIGGING FOR GOLD IN TORONTO LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES

The Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, and the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library is planning to hold a day-long workshop for family historians on May 4, 2013 at the North York Memorial Community Hall, located on 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto.

It is so easy these days for genealogists to spend all their time immersed in online resources, that we sometimes forget about the wonderful archives and libraries available to us in Toronto and the GTA. We are seeking presentations that will inspire researchers to get out of their pyjamas and explore the wealth of information and special services in and around our city.

We hope to receive proposals from genealogists and historians, as well as librarians and archivists who would like to showcase their facilities and collections.

We are looking for a variety of presentations at various skill levels. Here are a few ideas, but we welcome all proposals that emphasize on-site research in Toronto:

an overview of collections and services in a Toronto-area repository

 a collection or how several collections can be used together

a survey of the holdings of a particular type of resource at several repositories (like newspapers, for example)

Each session will be an hour long, including 5 to 10 minutes for questions. Presentations should be illustrated – we can provide a computer projector or an overhead projector. Speakers will be expected to provide a handout of supporting material (up to four pages) in advance, which we will photocopy for all registrants. Speakers will be paid an honorarium of $100 per lecture plus modest expenses.

Please submit your lecture proposals by e-mail to: courses@torontofamilyhistory.org. Please keep proposals brief and informal at this point. Be sure to include your mailing address, phone number and a brief bio.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: Friday, 25 January 2013

Toronto Branch is one of 34 branches of the Ontario Genealogical Society, a not-for-profit organization and the largest genealogical society in Canada. For more information about Toronto Branch, please visit www.torontofamilyhistory.org.

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles – 24 December 2012

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

My Descent into Descent http://mydescentintodescent.blogspot.ca A genealogy blog where you can check the surnames - Saunders, Sanderson, Hart, Merriam, Wright, Marlow, Bosomworth, Monk, Crawford, Lefevre, Green, Cook, Goff, and Dickenson.

To Edmonton House with the Saskatchewan Brigade, Part One http://furtradefamilyhistory.blogspot.ca/2012/12/to-edmonton-house-with-saskatchewan.html Nancy Marguerite Anderson has a blog about the North Saskatchewan River and the people who travelled along it and the history they lived. And here is Part Two - Saskatchewan Brigade to Edmonton House, Part Two http://furtradefamilyhistory.blogspot.ca/2012/12/saskatchewan-brigade-to-edmonton-house.html

Hooper-Squires Photo Archives Treasure No. 5
http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.ca/2012/12/hooper-squires-photo-archives-treasure.html These are rescued photographs of the Hooper and Squires families of St. Mary's, Ontario.

SGS Prince Albert member recognized with Heritage Award www.paherald.sk.ca/Local/News/2012-12-18/article-3142969/SGS-Prince-Albert-member-recognized-with-Heritage-Award/1 The Prince Albert branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society recognized Barb Beck with the 2012 SGS Volunteer Heritage Award according to an article in the Prince Albert Daily Herald

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

OGS President Shirley Sturdevant Has an Update on the LAC

There has been an update on the termination and replacement of the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Services at the Library and Archives Canada‏ from OGS President Shirley Sturdevant. 

You can read the full update on their blog at www.ogs.on.ca/ogsblog/?p=2794, but it more or less says that although she offered to be a part of the discussion, that offer wasn’t accepted. This is rather unfortunate, since Shirley might have been able to present the “genealogical point of view”, which has been missing from the discussion so far.

The answer that she received from the LAC said, in part, that “Although my offer was not accepted, I was promised by M. Grandmaitre (of the LAC) hat we would receive the same documentation as the other participating parties for further discussion with or distribution to our members”.

In the meantime, she says that “The Ontario Genealogical Society shall stay its course in advocating for open and equal access to our Canadian archival documents”.

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Dick Eastman and Tourtière Genealogy

Dick Eastman wrote in his newsletter this morning about his French-Canadian ancestry, and the making of the Christmas meat pie in an article called “Tourtière Genealogy”. 

He talks about how he has it every Christmas, but he didn’t realize that people from different parts of Quebec have different views on meat pies – and it is tied in with their ancestry.

The article came about because of a story in The Montreal Gazette by Susan Semenak in which she talks about the beloved French-Canadian food tourtière called “The genealogy of your tourtière: The Quebec Christmas feast staple, the tourtière, can reveal where a person’s family comes from”.

To read about it, go to www.montrealgazette.com/genealogy+your+tourti%C3%A8re/7683786/story.html

To read Dick's article, go to http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2012/12/tourti%C3%A8re-genealogy.html


© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Old Time Christmas

Father Christmas, horse-drawn sleigh rides, music in the Harvey House and the Schoolhouse featuring the Good, the Bad & the Ugly, Roger-Lee Martin, Marven Condo and Nancy Vignola, traditional food & drink, outdoor fires, Tea Room, carollers, kid’s crafts and skating on the pond. Doesn't it sounds great!
It will be available Wednesday, December 26, 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. at the Gaspesian British Heritage Village, 351 Perron Blvd. West, New Richmond, in the Gaspe Region, which is in Quebec.

And there will be a Family Day on December 28 from 1:00 p.m. to: 4:00 p.m. which will be presented by the Town of New Richmond. There will be Dogsled rides, decorating gingerbread men, outdoor fires, treasure hunt, music, face-painting and other activities.

And it will be held at the Gaspesian British Heritage Village, 351 Perron Blvd. West, New Richmond, Gaspe.

The entrance fee to both events is $3.00 per person

For more information, go to www.villagegaspesien.com

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

A Special Invitation for a Victorian Christmas Eve

A very interesting notice came into the office this morning that the readers of this blog be interesting in attending -

The people at the Fairbairn House have invited you to the Victorian Christmas Eve event at Fairbairn House from 2 to 4 p.m. on December 24th.

Please come by and help decorate the tree, join in the carol singing, sip a hot cocoa or spiced apple cider, and sample our selection of home-made treats while enjoying the ambience of the newly renovated heritage home.

The 1861 builder William Fairbairn, with his wife Jean, will be in attendance to greet you in the old house, decorated in the fashion of the time.

The event is free, but we would be most grateful for an offering, such as a hand-made vintage-style decoration to add to our collection of decorations for the house, a small plate of homemade sweets, or a donation in our money jar at the house.

They look forward to seeing you on this special afternoon, with expectations that it will set a festive mood for the family celebrations to follow.

Come and stop by the FAIRBAIRN HOUSE HERITAGE CENTRE at 45 Wakefield Heights Road, La Pêche, Quebec just north of Ottawa.

If you wish to know more about the Farirbarin House, you ca go to www.fairbairn.ca/English/history.html

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Toys and Games in Canada

The Library and Archives Canada (LAC) sent out this notice yesterday about the history of toys in Canada, and pictures on their Flickr album -

"The joyful holiday season is the perfect time to introduce you to the Library and Archives Canada collection of photographs related to games and toys.

Although toys and games have existed since the dawn of time, it was only in the 19th century that the ‟toy” really came into its own in Canada. It was also during the Victorian era that toys and diversion were deemed beneficial to children, thereby kick-starting the mass production of playthings. At first, toys mainly came from England, Germany and the United States, but between 1860 and 1915, some 20 Canadian companies began to manufacture them as well. They were made of wood and generally mimicked miniature furniture, cars or horses.

The First World War slowed toy production in Europe, giving the Canadian toy industry the opportunity to flourish. New toys were produced, particularly battleships and construction sets. This is also when manufacturers started using a wider variety of materials, which resulted in copper, tin, iron, lead, and rubber toys. Plush dolls and animals, small lead soldiers, bugles and trumpets, rubber balls, hockey pucks and even humming tops could also be found.

In the 1940s, plastic was introduced in toy manufacturing; it was used to make rattles, beach toys, tractors, trucks and construction sets, as well as an array of tools. In subsequent years, large multinational companies emerged and completely diversified the toy-making industry".

Various outdoor games, such as croquet and lawn bowling have become popular. Children also enjoy games of strength, string, and chance, which are featured in our new Flickr album at www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157631912501393