Essex Branch has a new website

The Essex Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has a new exciting website on WordPress.

They have tagged themselves as Volunteer Genealogists: Networking & Collaborating. Advocates for Archives and Cemeteries.

They have the usual divisions of Publications, Events, Resources, and the ever-important Member’s Only page.

Plus, they highlight news of interest to people who have ancestors in the Essex area.

The Branch will celebrate it’s 35th anniversary by holding an Open House on Monday, September 8, 2014 from 6 pm – 8 pm at the Windsor Public Library, 850 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor.

If you are new to family history, or a seasoned researcher, they hope you will join them to discuss family history research, tour their library collection, hear about the branch history and their plans for the future, meet other members of the branch, other branches, and other Essex County family history-driven organizations, and, of course, enjoy some cake and good company!

So their site is at http://www.ogs.on.ca/essex/

If you wish to belong to Essex Branch, go to the Ontario Genealogical Society at http://www.ogs.on.ca/membership.php.

They are still offering a Partial Year Membership ($35.70 - available June 1 to October 31)

It is an introductory offer for brand new members that allows you to join right away rather than waiting for the next calendar year (this category is also available to those who have not been an OGS member for the past two years and would like to come back).

Canadian Expeditionary Force Registers

The pre-August 1914 Canadian Expeditionary Force Registers are now online at Canadiana at http://www.canadiana.ca/en/cef-register They are an important part of the picture of the First World War because they tell us who was in the militia, when they enlisted, how much they were paid. With the personnel files of the Canadian Expeditionary Force available at the Library and Archives Canada, we can paint a fairly complete picture of the life of a Canadian soldier.

Many of these battalions were broken up on arrival in Europe and absorbed into existing reserve units before being fed piecemeal to reinforce units at the Front. 

And I have run into this many times in my research. For instance, they may have left Canada as a member of the 1st Canadian Division and ended up in the 4th Canadian Division when they were sent from England to fight in France. So read the service file very carefully. 

The Canadian Army Services Registers are -

Canadian Field Artillery

1st Canadian Division

2nd Canadian Division

3rd Canadian Division

4th Canadian Division 

So if you think that your First World War person was in the militia before the war broke out, or he put the division on his enlistment paper, check these registers to see if he is there.

A Toronto Branch workshop - Industrial England

Gwyneth Pearce, Secretary of the Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society has sent us this notice -

“[The Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society is pleased to announce that registration for our fall workshop, "Industrial England", is now open. 

This full-day workshop on Saturday 1 November 2014, 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, a founding member and Chair of the Society for One-Place Studies, and Director of English Studies with the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, will be our keynote speaker for this event. Kirsty and six other expert genealogists and social historians will team up to present a day of learning and discovery that you won’t want to miss.

The early-bird registration deadline is 18 September, and there is a further discount for OGS members. 

We hope this workshop will be of interest." 

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/.

Canadian Week in Review 01 September 2014

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

History Week in Canada

In 1954, 16-year-old Marilyn Bell became the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. About 300,000 people were on hand when she came ashore in Toronto.

Bell continued her long-distance efforts, and, in 1955, became—at the time— the youngest person to swim the English Channel.

To read more, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Bell

Nova Scotia

Gottingen Street celebrates 250 years with special audio project

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/gottingen-street-celebrates-250-years-with-special-audio-project-1.2746668

One of the most well-known streets in Halifax is about to turn 250 years old, and the birthday will be celebrated from September 9th-14th.

The webpage is http://gottingen.ca

Parrsboro's Ottawa House hosts genealogy workshop

http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/News/Local/2014-08-26/article-3848600/Parrsboros-Ottawa-House-hosts-genealogy-workshop/1

A two-day genealogy workshop called Muddles and Mysteries was held in Parrsboro last weekend.

Prince Edward Island

Creating their own success on and off P.E.I.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/150th-Charlottetown/2014-08-28/article-3851321/Creating-their-own-success-on-and-off-P.E.I./1

The family tree of Father of Confederation George Coles features generations of self-made men and women.

Fatal flights

http://www.journalpioneer.com/News/Local/2014-08-26/article-3848710/Fatal-flights/1

They have unveiled honouring those who lost their lives in three tragic training flights.

Canada's premiers pose like it's 1864 in Charlottetown

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-s-premiers-pose-like-it-s-1864-in-charlottetown-1.2749853

Council of the Federation photo pays homage to 150th anniversary of Charlottetown Conference.

Quebec

Historical Day on the Plains of Abraham

http://www.lifeinquebec.com/historical-day-on-the-plains-of-abraham-10033

The National Battlefields Commission invites the public to its traditional “Historical Day”—this year, on the theme of War and the Plains—on Sunday, September 7th from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Ontario

Mint unveils four new Superman coins at Fan Expo 2014

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/mint-unveils-four-new-superman-coins-at-fan-expo-2014-1.2750654

The limited-edition coins, inspired by iconic comic book covers, will be available Sept. 2nd.

Canada struggled to produce official historical record of First World War

http://ww1.canada.com/after-the-war/canada-struggled-to-produce-official-historical-record-of-first-world-war

Scottish-born former artilleryman and staff officer, Archer Fortescue Duguid, was pegged to write the first official history of the First World War.

Mint unveils coin marking 150th anniversary of Charlottetown, Quebec Conferences
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/news/national_news/article_cee8e0f9-f25d-52c1-9830-184199e4945f.html
The Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a new gold coin Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences.

Manitoba

Fighting for history: Uncovering the truth of residential schools

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/08/29/fighting_for_history_uncovering_the_truth_of_residential_schools.html

A report from the front lines of the search for “truth” in Truth and Reconciliation, and a look at the people trying to make history accessible to aboriginals and non-aboriginals alike.

Northern Manitoba featured in eighth season of Ice Road Truckers

http://globalnews.ca/news/1526232/northern-manitoba-featured-in-eighth-season-of-ice-road-truckers

Ice Road Truckers debuts its eighth season Wednesday night on the History Channel, and this year, its all about Manitoba’s northern ice roads, and it showcases the province.

Saskatchewan

Saskatoon berry at centre of naming spat

http://cjme.com/story/saskatoon-berry-centre-naming-spat/410099

American group wants to market them as 'Juneberries'.

Alberta

Red Ensign flag protected for future generations

http://www.highrivertimes.com/2014/08/29/red-ensign-flies-again-in-high-riverr

The historic Canadian Red Ensign—flown as the country's national flag from the late 19th century until 1965—has returned to its former home at the #187 Foothills Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron base at the High River Regional Airport after being out of sight for five decades.

Airplane parts stolen from Alberta Aviation Museum
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/08/25/airplane-parts-stolen-from-alberta-aviation-museum
The Boeing 737's emergency hatch and other parts were stolen, but thieves trashed the plane, to make the crime look like vandalism.

British Columbia

Vancouver real estate titles reveal city's racist history
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-real-estate-titles-reveal-city-s-racist-history-1.2747924
Now-void land title clause was used to prevent sale or rent of land to people of Asian and African descent.

Story of the Week

War Brides of the First and Second World Wars

The Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has just released a press release about their holdings on the War Brides of the First and Second World Wars. 

During the First and Second World Wars, Canadian soldiers often found love overseas. They married their loved ones overseas, or sent for them once they were back in Canada, and then got married. 

As they point out, the majority of war brides were from Great Britain, with a smaller number originating from Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy and Germany.

The LAC has put together a new page, and on it, you will find the records from a variety of sources. The majority are found in the records of National Defence, Department of Employment and Immigration, Department of External Affairs, the Directorate of Repatriation, and the Canadian Wives′ Bureau, but many also come from private organizations.

Do not expect to be presented with lots of indexes because the records have not been indexed. You would have got through the microfilm yourself or hire a researcher to go through them for you.

Visit the War Brides page at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/Pages/war-brides.aspx which explains the printed and archival resources available at Library and Archives Canada.

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country!

The next post will be on September 8, 2014.

Reminder: Canadian Week in Review

Check the Canadian Week in Review tomorrow 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/2014/08/canadian-week-in-review-25-august-2014.html

It has the most up-to-date news items covered in New/Updated Websites, History, Social Media, and Newspaper Articles. 

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

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

Amherst Island Heritage House Tour

There will be an Amherst Island Heritage House tour held on September 27, 2014 on Amherst Island, off of the coast of the Greater Kingston area of Lake Ontario.

Amherst Island was settled during the Loyalist Period and has pretty much remained unchanged since, so quite unique to those interested in Loyalist history. 

To get direction, go to the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/731484386917854/ 

To read about Amherst Island Genealogy, you can go to http://www.amherstisland.on.ca/genealogy.htm

Anglo-Celtic Roots Summer 2014

Tagged as a “Quarterly Journal”, the publication of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO), called Anglo-Celtic Roots, issued their summer edition, and it has three interesting articles – 

Travels With My Aunt: Adventure in Europe 1914 by Barbara Tose. I read this article over about three times because it was so gripping, and I have a soft spot when it comes to travel stories. 

It involves a group of travellers led by James L. Hughes of Montreal, who, in 1914 (just before the start of the First World War) went to England and Europe. And one of those traveller was Tose’s great-great aunt, Ellen Margaret Miller, from Lindsay, Ontario. 

An Officer and a Gentleman by Andrew Billingsley is the recounting of Thomas Alexander Rowat’s experiences in the First World War. He is the author’s great-uncle.

He belonged to the Divisional Cyclists, and they were used to carry messages bask and forth between the division headquarters and the battlefield. 

By the summer of 1917, fighting had become unbearable, and on June 26, Lieut. Rowat was killed, and he is buried in Villers-au-Bois, France. 

John Henry McVittie: Before, During and after World War I by Brian Latham is a life story of his uncle, John Henry McVittie, from St. Joseph Island, encompassing the First World War, and his life after the war. 

BIFHSGO is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and the conference will be held September 19-21, 2014 in the Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa. 

Their website is http://www.bifhsgo.ca.

WORLD WAR ONE - THUNDER BAY CENTENNIAL

The Thunder Bay Public Library in Thunder Bay, Ontario has issued the following press release -

“The Thunder Bay Public Library is spearheading a community partnership to commemorate the centennial of World War One. Members of the partnership, which includes the Library, the City of Thunder Bay Archives, City of Thunder Bay Heritage Advisory Committee, the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, the Thunder Bay Military Museum, Lakehead University History Department and the Northwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre, will contribute photographs and records to a dynamic online exhibit depicting life in Thunder Bay during World War One.

The Library will host and administer the exhibit here on the website. New stories, photos and documents will be added throughout the next four years. The public will be invited to contribute their World War One stories, photos and documents at a launch planned for early November”.

It sounds as if they have taken on a large project, with many other museums, archives, libraries within the city. Each facility explains their involvement on the library webpage.

The website is at http//www.tbpl.ca/article/world-war-one--thunder-bay-centennial-1566.asp

Ancestry.ca - Free Access!

Word has come from Ancestry.ca that “In honour of Labour Day, from August 28 to September 1, Ancestry.ca is offering free access to all FamilySearch API records, which includes 1 billion records from 67 countries (nearly 200,000 records and more than 2 million images from Canada), so Canadians can discover more about their family’s working history”. 

You can visit the website at http://www.ancestry.ca/cs/ca/international

Canada's smallest library

According to Atlas Obscura, a magazine which reports on obscure things in the world, the smallest library in Canada is in Cardigan, in the province of Prince Edward Island.

It is operated by John A. MacDonald, who manages the library of 1,800 books, and offers a lifetime membership for $5.00.

And now MacDonald has sets his eyes on another title – he wants it added to the Guinness World Records, but sadly, there’s no category at the moment. 

View the story at http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/canada-s-smallest-library?sf4051357=1

Another Branch joins the group

The Nipissing Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has joined Facebook. 

Their mission is to encourage, assist, and bring together all those interested in the pursuit of family history in the Districts of Nipissing, Parry Sound and Timiskaming. 

Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/338694066286724/ 

Their webpage is at http://www.nipissing.ogs.on.ca/oldsite/index.html although I understand they are going to put on a new website in the near future.

Canadian Week in Review 25 August 2014

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

Websites

Black Ribbon Day in Canada
http://www.blackribbonday.org
In November 2009, the Canadian parliament passed a resolution declaring August 23rd as Black Ribbon Day, an annual day of remembrance for the victims of Communism and Nazism in Europe.

History Week in Canada

In 1541, French explorer Jacques Cartier landed near Quebec City in his third voyage to the New World.

Read about Jacques Cartier at http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jacques-cartier/

===================================================

In 1957, Saskatchewan was the first province to complete its section of the Trans-Canada Highway.

To read more, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan_Highway_1
===================================================
In 1890, Moncton, New Brunswick was officially incorporated as a city.

To read the history of Moncton at http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/moncton/

===================================================
In 1882, Pile O’ Bones was named Regina when the Canadian Pacific Railroad arrived there.

Read the history of Regina at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Regina,_Saskatchewan

Social Media

WWI: How Canada remembers its fallen

http://www.cbc.ca/news/multimedia/wwi-how-canada-remembers-its-fallen-1.2744274
The CBC News Community captures how Canada remembers its WWI fallen a century later.

(Video) The First World War: Excerpts from the diary of Woodman Leonard

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/08/21/the-first-world-war-excerpts-from-the-diary-of-woodman-leonard

The Ottawa Sun continues with excerpts from Leonard’s diary.

Last week\s installment is at http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/08/15/the-first-world-war-excerpts-from-the-diary-of-woodman-leonard

(Video) Prince Edward Island woodworker building replica ice boat
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2014-08-17/article-3837723/Prince-Edward-Island-woodworker-building-replica-ice-boat/1

Project will see an ice boat replica as part of exhibit marking 100th anniversary of Transportation Association of Canada.

(Video) Prince Edward Island Potato Board launches video series

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2014-08-20/article-3841600/Prince-Edward-Island-Potato-Board-launches-video-series/1

The PEI Potato Board is sharing the History of the P.E.I. Potato Industry with the Next Generation centrepiece of five-video series.

(Photos) Historic Thunder Bay buildings rendered in Lego
Kieran Marcus and his Lego creations inspire an exhibit at the Thunder Bay museum

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/historic-thunder-bay-buildings-rendered-in-lego-1.2742006
The Thunder Bay museum's "City Beautiful" exhibit highlights amazing local architecture. But the inspiration for the exhibit is equally amazing, and they are made of Lego.

Newfoundland

What People Are Asking | What is the history of the transatlantic cable?

http://www.cecildaily.com/features/misc_features/article_f444fbac-53f0-5324-a43b-23b945537402.html

The man behind the laying of the transatlantic cable - Cyrus Field - is discussed.

Nova Scotia

Remembering a sad part of Canadian history

http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/News/Local/2014-08-18/article-3838924/Remembering-a-sad-part-of-Canadian-history/1

A commemorative plaque was laid at Cumberland County Museum on Friday as the first of 100 locations across Canada where the internment of Ukrainian and other enemy aliens during World War One happened a century ago.

Chapel Island thrilled to host 8,000 visitors to Mi’kmaq Summer Games

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1230334-chapel-island-thrilled-to-host-8000-visitors-to-mi-kmaq-summer-games

The Mi’kmaq Summer Games takes place each summer on Chapel Island in the southwest corner of the Bras D’Or Lake in Cape Breton.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island, Canada: where the seeds of a nation were sown

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/northamerica/canada/11050549/Prince-Edward-Island-Canada-where-the-seeds-of-a-nation-were-sown.html

Read a short history of PEI as the birthplace of Canada.

Ontario

Aborists work to keep Canada’s oldest sugar maple’s legacy alive

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/08/21/aborists-work-to-keep-canadas-oldest-sugar-maples-legacy-alive#disqus_thread

Read about how Canada’s oldest sugar maple, called the Comfort Maple, is believed to be more than 500 years old!

Dark period in Canada's history

http://www.niagaraadvance.ca/2014/08/22/dark-period-in-canadas-history

Nikola Yerich of Niagara Falls, and thousands of others who came from certain European countries, ended up in Canada’s first internment camps during the time of the First World War.

Interim councillor calling for 'O Canada' change
http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/interim-councillor-calling-for-o-canada-change-1.1970843
A Toronto councilperson has put forward motion to make 'O Canada' gender neutral passes.

HISTORY: 'Alien enemies' sent to internment camps
http://www.timminspress.com/2014/08/17/history-alien-enemies-sent-to-internment-camps
Read about the fascinating history about interment camps in northwestern Ontario.

The perilous history of Canada’s Ross rifle
http://globalnews.ca/news/1511892/the-perilous-history-of-canadas-ross-rifle
Read about the history of the Ross Rifle, that notorious firearm that was used by Canadian troops at the start of the First World War.

Canadian War Museum welcomes your donated artifacts, but can’t take everything
http://ww1.canada.com/after-the-war/canadian-war-museum-welcomes-your-donated-artifacts-but-cant-take-everything
You should call the museum first to see if they can accept your donation first before you sent the article to the museum in Ottawa.

Local historian reveals region’s stories, myths and secrets
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/4765187-local-historian-uncovers-region-in-college-course
Joanna Rickert-Hall, a local cultural and social historian, has been successful in having the Conestoga College in Kitchener to have a course on local history. It is called History of Waterloo Region 1 & 2.

Alberta

Alberta's African Americans and the cowboy maverick honoured in John Ware Reimagined

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/08/19/albertas-african-americans-and-the-cowboy-maverick-honoured-in-john-ware-reimagined

There is a new play about John Ware, the former American slave who helped establish ranching in Alberta, and whose own skills at steer wrestling made it a popular event at the Calgary Stampede.

Park actor to retell Alberta history
http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/2014/08/21/park-actor-to-retell-alberta-history
A Sherwood Park-born actor will be starring in a play that showcases the life of the first black cowboy in Alberta.

British Columbia

Queen’s Park Stadium has significant heritage value
http://www.royalcityrecord.com/opinion/your-letters/queen-s-park-stadium-has-significant-heritage-value-1.1319803#sthash.JIhDAVL9.dpuf
In a letter to the editor, a reader of the Royal City Record says that he thinks that Queen’s Park Stadium should receive Heritage Status.

BC ghost town for sale Bradian can be yours for $995,000
http://www.news1130.com/2014/08/20/bc-ghost-town-for-sale/
This town is for sale!
It is located next to where the gold rush took more than four million ounces of gold and 1.2 million ounces of silver from the Bralorne mine before it closed in 1971.

Story of the Week

Greek Canadian History Project

The Greek Canadian History Project (GCHP) is an archival initiative that seeks to preserve the knowledge, memory, and experiences of Canada’s Greek immigrants and their descendants.

They recently held an exhibit at Toronto City Hall called Memory and Migration: A History of Greek Immigrants in Toronto, 1864-2014.

They have a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greek-Canadian-History-Project/510739502333543

The Greek Canadian History Project is still seeking collections. If you have any questions or would like more information on how you can contribute materials to the archive project, please do not hesitate to contact them Sakis Gekas at agekas@yorku.ca or Christopher Grafos at cgrafos@yorku.ca 

They are looking collections of papers, diaries, photographs, books, pamphlets, audio, video, and other materials that will be valuable for research of the Greek-Canadian past.

The archives are at York University at http://archives.library.yorku.ca/exhibits/show/gchp

To read more about Greek immigration to Canada, go to http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/greeks/

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country!

The next post will be on September 1, 2014.

Reminder: Canadian Week in Review

Check the Canadian Week in Review tomorrow 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/2014/08/canadian-week-in-review-18-august-2014_18.html 

It has the most up-to-date news items covered in New/Updated Websites, History, Social Media, and Newspaper Articles. 

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

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

Fall is the time to research

The fall months are a great time to hold genealogy fairs, conferences, and “back-to-school” in-depth courses in Canada. The summer is winding down, and the months of September, October, and November are usually a prime time to rekindle research for those ancestors.

Genealogy Fairs 

On Saturday, September 20th, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Eva Brook Donly Museum & Archives, located at 109 Norfolk Street South in Simcoe, Ontario, will hold their annual genealogy fair. This is the oldest genealogy fair in Ontario. 

For more information, go to http://www.norfolklore.com/

Conferences 

BIFHSGO 

And some are having conferences, like the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, from September 19th to the 21st at the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) on Wellington Street.

This year, the conference will include English family history, immigration from the British Isles, Home Children; and genetic genealogy.

For more information, go to http://www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=126

Harvest Your Family Tree 2014 

Kelowna And District Genealogical Society will hold their bi-annual genealogy conference in Kelowna, British Columbia, from September 26 to 28, 2014. 

It is Western Canada's largest genealogy conference, and boasts a full day of seminars with renowned international speakers like photo specialist Maureen Taylor (who will also be giving photo consultations) of www.maureentaylor.com as well as Dave Obee of www.CanGenealogy.com and Stephen Young of FamilySearch https://familysearch.org

Go to http://www.harvestyourtree.blogspot.com/ to get more information. 

Genealogy Courses

And some are planning family history courses in the fall of 2014, like the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. These include -

• Basic Genealogy and Family History 

Wednesdays, 8 October to 26 November 2014, 2 – 4 pm

Are you thinking of starting your family history? Or maybe you have been working on it for a while but want to sharpen your research skills? This course will cover the basics, including terminology, types of sources, the use of on-line resources, libraries and archives, including LDS Family History Centres, and record-keeping – to help you “think like a genealogist”. 

Instructor: Jane E. MacNamara 

Where: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto

• Maps and Mapping for 21st Century Genealogists 

Thursday, 6 November and Wednesdays, 12, 19 and 26 November 2014, 6:15 – 8:15 pm 

This four-week course, designed for intermediate and advanced-level genealogists, explores sophisticated ways in which maps and mapping tools can contribute to family history research, analysis, and writing.

Instructor: James F.S. Thomson 

Where: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto 

For more information on these and other programs, go to http://torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/ 

The One Hundred Plaques Across Canada will be unveiled today

To mark the 100th anniversary of Canada's first national internment operations of 1914-1920, the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation will be unveiling 100 plaques today on Friday, 22 August 2014, the 100th anniversary of the War Measures Act.

All 100 plaques will be unveiled at 11 am (local time) in Ukrainian, Croatian, Serbian, German, and Hungarian churches and cultural centres, as well as in local and regional museums and other public venues, creating a "wave" of unveilings, moving from east to west, from coast to coast. 

Dr Lubomyr Luciuk, the CTO project leader says “ I want to add that this is the first time in Canadian history that any community has attempted to unveil 100 historical plaques from coast to coast at the same (local) time. This couldn’t happen without the enthusiastic support of hundreds of volunteers in 100 communities across the country, from Amherst, Nova Scotia to Nanaimo, British Columbia, and Grand Prairie, Alberta to Val D’Or, Quebec to name but a few. We’re also very grateful to our Patriarch, the two Metropolitans, the national executive of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the representatives of the other affected communities and many of our internee descendants, for their help. 

We’re calling on people to set aside 11 am (local time) on Friday, 22 August 2014 so that they can join us in witnessing a plaque unveiling in their own community or region. Be there to remember, and to learn." 

To see where the plagues will be unveiled today, go to http://www.uccla.ca/List_of_Plaque_sites.pdf 

The website of The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association is at http://www.uccla.ca/index.html

Do You Read Blogs?

Every week, the editors of The Weekly Genealogist—published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society—take a survey, and last week they asked their readers - “How many genealogy blogs do you follow?”

And the answers were quite interesting, as 53 % said that they did not read blogs at all, while only 3% said that they read 10 or more. I would say that I am in the latter category! 

But it goes along with what I have said for the past year or so. People just do not read blogs, but those that do read blogs – read them religiously. It seems that people who write blogs (like me) read them, too. 

So, do you read blogs? How do you keep up with the genealogy news? Maybe there aren't any news to keep up with, or do you prefer podcasts or Google Hangouts on Air rather than blogs? 

To read the rest of the survey, go to http://www.americanancestors.org/wg-vol-17-no-34/#6

Ontario Genealogical Society Branch Facebook Pages

The Ontario Genealogical Society is made up of 33 branches and SIGs, and besides their web pages, many of them also have their own Facebook pages so that they can keep in touch with members and non-members alike.

The Facebook pages are -

Bruce & Grey Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/633643046723946/?fref=tsa 

Elgin County Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ElginOGS?fref=ts 

Essex County Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006053194907&fref=ts 

Halton-Peel Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/HaltonPeelBranchOGS?fref=ts 

Hamilton Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/523462191101234/?fref=ts 

Huron County Branch, Genealogical Society Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/221555263797/?fref=ts 

Kent Branch Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/kent.ogs.96?ref=ts&fref=ts 

Niagara Peninsula Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NBOGS/ 

Ottawa Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/237267743111732/?fref=ts

Perth County Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/PerthCountyBranchOGS?fref=ts

Quinte Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/QuinteBranch.OGS?fref=ts

Sudbury Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/sudburyogs/?fref=ts

Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/TOFamilyHistory?fref=ts

Wellington County Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wellington-County-OGS/413477792099902?fref=ts

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry is on Flickr

Did you know this - that the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry is one of three Permanent Force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army? And that it is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year!

The Library and Archives Canada has 40 photos on Flickr and so far, there have been 397 views. 

The photos are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157645766644433/

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Patricia's_Canadian_Light_Infantry 

PPCLI history is at http://www.ppcli.com/ 

PPCLI Association is at http://www.ppcliassoc.ca/

Canadian Week in Review - 18 August 2014

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

History Week in Canada

In 1896, the discovery of gold in the Rabbit Creek, a tributary of the Yukon's Klondike River, led to the Klondike Gold Rush. After news of the strike reached the outside world, thousands of miners poured into the territory – especially from the United States. It's estimated more than $100 million in gold was recovered in the region during the next eight years.

Go to http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/klondike-gold-rush/

====================================================

On August 10th, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the first long-distance call from his home in Brantford to his assistant in Paris, Ontario. A call had been previously been made seven days earlier by the first telephone call from one building to another between Bell and his uncle.

To read more about Alexander Graham Bell, go to http://www.biography.com/people/alexander-graham-bell-9205497#passion-for-shaping-the-future

====================================================
In 1882, the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada merged with the Great Western Railway. The merger was the result of financial difficulties and American competition.

To read more, please go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Trunk_Western_Railroad
====================================================

In August 1904, Ford of Canada began building cars in a converted wagon works in Walkerville, near Windsor, Ont. The 17 men who worked there, assembled a total of 114 cars in the first year.

To read more about the history of the Ford Motor Company of Canada, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company_of_Canada

Social Media

Vote "Like"' for your favourite site!

   It has been since this past Thursday that this GenealogyCanada blog first appeared on County-Clerks.com, a new American website, as having been nominated as one of the top 200 websites/blogs!

   Since then, we have bounced between 14th and 3rd place, so we still need help.
   You have until September 30th to vote, and you can vote for your favourite website or blog by going to http://www.county-clerks.com/genealogy-blog. (Note: The URLs for these websites and blogs are given, but they are not yet hyper-linked.)
   Vote now, and vote often, for your favourite website or blog!

(VIDEO) Historic church moved for highway

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/historic-church-moved-for-highway-1.2736564

The 150-year-old Tryon United Baptist Church in P.E.I. is being moved as the province realigns the Trans-Canada Highway.

(VIDEO) Declining Newfoundland pony bred on P.E.I.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/declining-newfoundland-pony-bred-on-p-e-i-1.2735062

Darlene Ulvstal grew up on Newfoundland with the special ponies there, and now she is doing what she can to save the dying breed.

(Video) The First World War: Excerpts from the diary of Woodman Leonard

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/08/15/the-first-world-war-excerpts-from-the-diary-of-woodman-leonard

Read excerpts from Woodman Leonard’s diary as he fought in the battles of Ypres, The Somme, and Vimy Ridge.

Newfoundland

Site of shipwreck deep in family history for Marystown man

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/site-of-shipwreck-deep-in-family-history-for-marystown-man-1.2732589

A Marystown man paid a visit to the steep cliffs of Friday's Cove, where his grandfather narrowly escaped death because of a shipwreck 91 years ago.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia sitting on $4M in unclaimed estates

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-sitting-on-4m-in-unclaimed-estates-1.2736858?cmp=rss

Public trustee scans Christmas cards, records looking for long-lost relatives.

Nova Scotia's stunning waters

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/travel/a/24724925/nova-scotias-stunning-waters

Read an Australian writer\s first impressions of Nova Scotia as he tours the province.

Blast from the past: A look back at Kings County's history

http://www.novanewsnow.com/Community/2014-08-10/article-3829804/Blast-from-the-past%3A-A-look-back-at-Kings-Countys-history/1

Read what happened 25, 50, and 75 years ago in Kings County, Nova Scotia.

Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown nears completion

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/black-loyalist-heritage-centre-in-birchtown-nears-completion-1.2734229

The centre in Birchtown, near Shelburne, Nova Scotia, will the first of its kind in North America. It will present the black Loyalists’ journey as they fled revolutionary America to British Nova Scotia to build a better life during the 1780s.

Heritage Trust withdraws Nova Centre court challenge

http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1229230-heritage-trust-withdraws-nova-centre-court-challenge

A prominent heritage group is not going ahead with a court challenge over the construction of the Nova Centre in downtown Halifax.

Nova Scotia sitting on $4M in unclaimed estates

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-sitting-on-4m-in-unclaimed-estates-1.2736858?cmp=rss

Public trustee scans Christmas cards, records looking for long-lost relatives.

Ontario

Your marching orders for August

http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/details.asp?c=77010

Explore Fort St. Joseph, a national historic site located at the southern-most point of picturesque St. Joseph Island.

Ferris-wheel highs and nauseating lows from 135 years of "The Ex"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/cne-turns-135-ten-of-the-exs-hits-and-misses/article20017185

A history of Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition – nicknamed "The Ex" – in pictures and text.

Saskatchewan

Cree language camp at Wanuskewin Heritage Park teaches culture too

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/cree-language-camp-at-wanuskewin-heritage-park-teaches-culture-too-1.2736646

The camp celebrates its 10th anniversary.

British Columbia

A dark past unearthed

http://www.castanet.net/news/Vernon-N-Okanagan/120862/A-dark-past-unearthed

Some 8,500 Canadians, many naturalized citizens, were taken to one of the 24 internment camps across Canada, including a large one in Vernon that ran from 1914-1920. Another 88,000 Canadians were forced to register and report on a monthly basis to officials.

Story of the Week

National Acadian Day

August 15th was National Acadian Day in Canada.

As the Acadian Affairs Minister of Nova Scotia, Michel Samson, said, "National Acadian Day is a time for all Nova Scotians to experience the vitality of life that the Acadian and francophone community brings to the province."

Communities across the province are raising the Acadian flag for its 130th anniversary.

And the celebration continues.

There is the ExpoMONDE, an international showcase of the Congrès mondial acadien 2014, from Aug. 14-23 in Grand Falls, N.B.

More than 15 organizations that specialize in Acadian and francophone genealogy and history expect to greet thousands of people from around the world.

"For generations, the stories and traditions of the Acadian people of Nova Scotia have been enhanced by the many francophones from New Brunswick, Quebec, Louisiana, France, Africa, and many other parts of the world that have chosen to join communities throughout the province," said Mr. Samson. "I thank all of the organizations and volunteers at the genealogy pavilion in Grand-Falls for helping people from around the world to learn about their Acadian roots, many whose lineage began here in Nova Scotia."

To view the presentation schedule at the Genealogy Pavilion, visit http://cma2014.com/images/programmation/Pavillon_Genealogie_Presentations.pdf 

For more information about the Congrès mondial acadien 2014, go to http://www.cma2014.com/en

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country!

The next post will be on August 25, 2014.

Reminder: Canadian Week in Review

Check the Canadian Week in Review tomorrow 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/2014/08/canadian-week-in-review-11-august-2014.html 

It has the most up-to-date news items covered History Week in Canada, Social Media, and Newspaper Articles. 

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

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

An Act of Remembrance: World War I Publicity Posters at the Nova Scotia Archives

Credit: Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1983-28-826 Copyright: Expired 

Before the advent of the radio, television, and the Internet, newspapers and posters were the way that people got their news. 

During the First World War, colorful posters were produced, and soon appeared everywhere that people would see them.

At first, they were produced as a "call to action" by the government to encourage people to enlist, as 620,000 people eventually did, and then to build ‘public support for war industries, food production, and the sale of war or 'Victory' savings bonds. 

The Nova Scotia Archives say that this will be the first in a series of “online exhibits to be developed by the Nova Scotia Archives over the next four years, to commemorate the province's contribution to and losses sustained in 'The War to End All Wars'”. 

To see the posters, go to http://novascotia.ca/archives/virtual/warposters/

Families - August 2014

The  August 2014 edition of Families, the journal of the Ontario Genealogical Society, has just been published, and there are six articles in this issue.

The first prize in the Keffer Writing Contest this year goes to H. Nancy Holder and her article entitled, Who was Hannah FOSTER?

We find out that the author is from Arkansas, and that much to her surprise, she discovered that her great-grandmother was from Ontario!

This year's winner of the 2014 Mike Brede Genealogical Essay Prize was Chelsea H. Meloche, a graduate student at the University of Waterloo, for her winning essay, Genealogy in the Digital Age: A Beginner’s Commentary.

She wrote this article as a “newbie” who got caught up in the merry-go-round of online databases, and she wondered how new researchers will do in this world of instant genealogy. 

For Mom: With Love and Memories by Marianne Perry is the story of her family’s Italian heritage. The author has made two genealogical research trips to southern Italy, and writes about her Calabrian-Sicilian ancestry, and the new lives of her immigrant ancestors in Toronto and Ottawa. 

How a Toronto Bookbindery Girl Named Lizzie Wyllie Became a National News Headline in 1892 by Richard Deuel is a genealogical  mystery about Lizzie Wyllie, whose family migrated to the Michigan area from Bowmanville, Ontario in the late 1800s, and her supposed suicide which took place in San Diego.

The Petawawa Plains Land Clearances by Robb Gore is a piece about land clearances and the forced eviction of settlers by the Canadian government for the building of a training center in preparation for the First World War. The training centre eventually became Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, as it is today.

And the issue is completed with June Coxon's Family Stories, recollections about her mother growing up in Toronto in the early 1900s.

If you wish to become a member so that you can receive Families, along other benefits, please visit http://www.ogs.on.ca/become_a_member.php 

Quebec’s Civil Registers

Ever wonder why French-Canadian baptism, marriage, and death records are usually so complete, and that they go back to the 17th century?

Well, this year marks the 475th anniversary of the signing of the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts in 1539, which stated that priests were required to register baptisms and burials. In 1579, another ordinance was signed which required that marriages be registered. 

And in 1667, the Ordinance of Saint-Germain-en-Laye introduced a practice that has proven to be very important to genealogists – that is, the practice of keeping duplicate copies of the baptisms, marriages, and deaths. One copy was kept by the priest, and the second was filed with civil authorities at the end of the year.

Furthermore, in Quebec, civil status registers have the following characteristics -

· There are three types of acts: baptism, marriage, and burial.

· The acts are drawn up by parish priests.

· They are presented chronologically, usually within a single register.

· They are subject to two separate regulations: ecclesiastical and civil. 

The Library and Archives Canada has a very good website explaining Vital Statistics: Births, Marriages and Deaths at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/vital-statistics-births-marriages-deaths/Pages/births-marriages-deaths.aspx 

Ancestry.ca also has the Drouin Collection online, which contains Catholic baptisms, marriages, and deaths – including some Protestant records, also. 

The website is http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=1091

County-Clerks.com Nominates GenealogyCanada!

County-Clerks.com, a new American website, has nominated this blog as one of the top 200 websites/blogs! How about that?

Who are they? As mentioned in their "About Us" webpage at http://www.county-clerks.com/about-us -

"Welcome to County-Clerks.com! We are excited to share with you a vast resource of county clerk and court record information. County-Clerks.com is home to contact information (telephone number, address, email and fax numbers and county clerk websites) for all county clerk and court record offices in each of 50 states of the United States’ 3,143 counties and county equivalents.

You might be in search of a county clerk to get information about various public records, file for a marriage license, make arrangements for a divorce, research arrests and related information, public information, judicial records, probate, criminal, court, and all other related county records. This also includes records related to birth certificates, death, weddings, county specific licenses."

Needless to say, it's a great resource worth looking at, and to top it off, have started a contest to win the “top genealogy site of the web”, and we need your vote to help us reach the top!

You can vote as many times as you wish (but only once per day) from now until September 30th.

The list of online genealogy websites and blogs is varied and interesting, and worth looking at. The link for this list, and for voting for your favourite website or blog, can be found here - http://www.county-clerks.com/genealogy-blog. (Note: The URLs are given, but they are not yet hyper-linked.)

Also, if you find a preferred blog or website missing from this list, you can send a request to add it to the list. So the list may even grow a bit - another reason to stop in for a visit!

If you like to read the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning (such as the CWR post this past Monday - http://www.genealogycanada.blogspot.ca/2014/08/canadian-week-in-review-11-august-2014.html) to see what’s trending in Canadian news — genealogy, history, and heritage — then just go to the contest webpage, and hit the “like” button.

Or, maybe you like my post enough to retweet it, or add it to your Facebook page, as Elizabeth Shown Mills did yesterday with  my post, “LAC has updated the 1861 Census” at https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.shownmills?fref=tl_fr_box

So please drop in to check their website, and don't forget to vote for your favourite site, and vote often. We — the bloggers and website owners — would appreciate your encouragement!