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
In 1851, the first North American chapter of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) opened in Montreal.
It began as a Christian organization, to provide young males and females going to the cities with low-cost housing. The YMCA combined preaching in the streets and the distribution of religious tracts with a social ministry.
To read more about the YMCA, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YMCA
It was the first national park in Canada, and only the third in the world.
The park spans 6,641 square kilometres of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows, and rivers.
Today, it is known as Banff National Park.
To learn more, please go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banff_National_Park
Social Media
(Photos) HANTS HISTORY: Nov. 26, 2015 edition
http://www.hantsjournal.ca/Opinion/Columnists/2015-11-26/article-4355837/HANTS-HISTORY%3A-Nov.-26,-2015-edition/1
Here's a look at what was making the news 25 and 50 years ago in the Hants Journal.
(NEW) E-Virtual Website and Facebook group for the Waterloo Region Branch
Tomorrow, there will be a new E-Virtual Website and Facebook group for the Waterloo Region Branch
This site has many exciting features starting with a name index of over 450,000 names and a E-Store for publication purchases. We will have a research form in case you need some help and finally for those who would like to add Waterloo to your OGS membership ($4) you will have even more access to the new members only section of the site.
See what the new website will look like, go to www.waterloo.ogs.on.ca
Upcoming Canadian Events
Conferences
International Genealogy Conference UNLOCKING THE PAST 2016 will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the The Beach Club Resort, Parksville, British Columbia of the Qualicum Beach Family History Society in British Columbia.
The featured speakers will be Colleen Fitzpatrick and Chris Paton, and registration is now open at http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/international-genealogy-conference-unlocking-the-past-2016-tickets-18765135024. It includes an early bird price.
The website is located at http://www.qbfhs.ca/
Genealogy on the Cutting Edge 2016
The Ontario Genealogical Society will be holding its annual conference from June 3rd to 5th at the Toronto’s International Plaza Hotel, Toronto.
Registration will open soon, and you can keep up-to-date with the latest news by following their website at http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference/, or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/171812826485725/
The Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will host the 2017 annual conference, and they have a call out for presentations.
The conference will be held in Ottawa on June 16-18, 2017 at Algonquin College. The theme of the conference is Our Canada – Your Family: Building a Nation. As 2017 will be the 150th anniversary of the birth of Canada, Ottawa Branch OGS will host the annual OGS conference and give the Conference a national flair, bringing together genealogists and family historians from all over Canada. We are looking for speakers and talks of interest to genealogists from all provinces.
In keeping with this theme, they are invite proposals for presentations on: family history from every region and territory of Canada (e.g. Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies and British Columbia); migration to and from Canada and also within Canada and how this helped to not only build our families, but also Canada; pre- and post-1867 research in Upper Canada; religious associations; military connections; the latest updates on computer, social media and genealogy database technology; the ever growing use of DNA testing for genealogy; and skill-building for family historians (e.g. use of the genealogy proof standard, getting more out of online resources).
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS IS FEBRUARY 15, 2016
To submit proposals or ask questions, please contact the Conference 2017 Program Committee at: program.conference2017@ogs.on.ca. For more information about OGS or Ottawa Branch respectively, please visit: www.ogs.on.ca or www.ogsottawa.on.ca.
The summit will be held in Brampton, Ontario from October 21 to the 23, 2016 at the Courtyard Marriott.
It will be three days of genealogy by speakers such as HRISTINE WOODCOCK | Director, Genealogy Tours of Scotland, RUTH BLAIR, PLCGS | Professional Genealogist, KATHRYN LAKE HOGAN, UE, PLCGS | Professional Genealogist at Looking 4 Ancestors, and MIKE QUACKENBUSH | Professional Genealogist - Research Coach, to name, but, a few.
Registration has opened at http://www.cangensummit.ca/product/full-weekend-registration/
Meetings
London & Middlesex Genealogical Society
Saturday 05 Dec 2015 at 10 a.m, Dennis Mulligan explores several detailed finding aids forgotten in the Branch Library for many years, and one of them is An Exciting Discovery - Newspaper finding Aids for local pre-confederation Newspapers.
The meeting will he held at the Presentations are held at the Westmount Branch of the London Public Library, 3200 Wonderland Rd just south of Southdale Rd, London, Ontario, unless otherwise noted. otherwise.
The website is at https://www.ogs.on.ca/londonmiddlesex/
Introduction to Genealogy (2 parts)
Tuesday, December 1 and 8
Genealogist Elizabeth Briggs will show you how to trace your family tree using family and public records. You’ll learn the types of genealogical resources, how to record your information, and be introduced to selected websites and online internet software. West End Library, 999 Sargent Ave. 6 – 8 pm. both nights.
City of Winnipeg Library Presentations. Registration required - phone 204-986-4677. No cost.
The website is at http://www.mbgenealogy.com/
Newspaper Articles
Nova Scotia
Alexander Keith's beer bottle may be seized from Halifax diver
If Jon Crouse wants to taste his 125-year-old ale, he'd better do it soon.
The Nova Scotia government hopes to analyze the beer bottle, which could be deemed a heritage object.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/hfx-diver-may-have-to-give-up-keiths-bottle-1.3340154
Preserving Nova Scotia’s proud military heritage
http://thechronicleherald.ca/more/thriving-50/1324405-preserving-nova-scotia%E2%80%99s-proud-military-heritage
Countless families through- out Nova Scotia are sheltering a treasure-trove of medals and other military memorabilia earned by generations of loved-ones who went off to fight for King and Country.
Worryingly, the chances of this precious history becoming scattered or lost entirely are increasing as the veterans and their descendants pass away.
Prince Edward Island
Cavendish Grove, former Rainbow Valley site, getting revamped
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/cavendish-grove-rainbow-valley-overhaul-1.3332425
They have now built a trail system and green space. Now they are looking for ways to improve the park.
A public meeting was held to discuss their plans Monday night in North Rustico.
P.E.I. author James W. Macnutt explores the history of Maritime courthouses in new book.
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Living/2015-11-23/article-4352713/P.E.I.-author-James-W.-Macnutt-explores-the-history-of-Maritime-courthouses-in-new-book/1
Every courthouse has a story.
And James W. Macnutt tells it in his new book, Building For Justice: The Historic Courthouses of the Maritimes.
Trinity United Church's stained glass windows focus of Sunday sermon
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/stained-glass-windows-attraction-1.3330100
On the 151st anniversary of Trinity United Church in Charlottetown last Sunday, the congregation was treated to the history of the building's stained glass windows.
Instead of hearing from the minister, retired heritage consultant Reg Porter spoke about the church's "paintings in glass."
Quebec
President Henry B. Eyring rededicates temple in Montreal
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642232/President-Henry-B-Eyring-rededicates-temple-in-Montreal.html
The newly renovated Montreal Quebec Temple stands as a tribute to the rich and diverse history of Montreal and the pioneering Latter-day Saints who built the Church in Quebec’s largest bilingual city.
Ontario
History column: Breaking sodbusters' hearts
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/11/22/history-column-breaking-sodbusters-hearts
During the 1840s and 1850s, 13 main colonization roads were built criss-crossing central and eastern Ontario to encourage settlement. That was helped by the flaccid economy in Britain, which was motivating people to migrate to the colonies.
Cobourg’s Carl Verge re-imagines his family history in novel
http://www.northumberlandnews.com/whatson-story/6127862-cobourg-s-carl-verge-re-imagines-his-family-history-in-novel/
With a passion for genealogy, Cobourg resident Carl Verge looked for an interesting way to bring his family history to life.
Manitoba
Exterior restoration on Dome Building almost complete
http://www.brandonsun.com/local/Exterior-restoration-on-Dome-Building-almost-complete-357120411.html?thx=y
A major fundraising campaign to restore the historic Dome Building on the Keystone Centre grounds has reached the halfway point.
Canadian human right's museum commemorates centennial of the Armenian Genocide
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/11/27/canadian-human-rights-museum-commemorates-centennial-of-the-armenian-genocide/
A delegation comprising members of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, were joined by members and representatives of the local Winnipeg Armenian community at an event organized by the Canadian Human Right’s Museum dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. To commemorate the anniversary, the museum had organized a special evening, which took place on Wednesday, November 25, with renowned Canadian-Armenian director Atom Egoyan and actress Arsinée Khandjian.
Manitoba, a province ‘Built On Agriculture
http://www.manitobacooperator.ca/crops/manitoba-a-province-built-on-agriculture/
The Selkirk settlers arrived in Manitoba 200 years ago only to be told that it wasn’t possible to farm in Western Canada due to the harsh conditions on the land. We all know how that turned out, and because of it, there are countless stories about agriculture in Manitoba today.
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon aims to increase the number of streets with indigenous names
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/saskatoon-aims-to-increase-the-number-of-streets-with-indigenous-names
Priscilla Settee says a plan by the city to increase the number of Saskatoon streets and public spaces with indigenous names is a step in the right direction.
Alberta
Edmonton soldiers gather bricks to save piece of city's history
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-soldiers-gather-bricks-to-save-piece-of-city-s-history-1.3341986
A piece of the city's past was rescued Saturday by a group of citizen soldiers who want to help preserve Edmonton's history.
Several reserve members from the South Alberta Light Horse regiment stacked up and hauled away bricks from the Leamington Mansions, which was destroyed by fire earlier.
British Columbia
Barry Lane illustrates history of the Canadian Pacific rail line
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/11/22/history-column-breaking-sodbusters-hearts
Knifing through southeast British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains, the 330-metre long and 50-metre high bridge was the largest wooden structure in the world upon completion in 1885, and is just one of the historic topics covered in Lane’s illustrative history book Canadian Pacific: The Golden Age of Travel.
Canadian Stories this week
Recently, the Ontario Genealogical Society released the Family History Lesson Plans, to be used by Ontario elementary and secondary school educators as educational resources for their classrooms which integrate family history into the Ontario Provincial Curriculum.
With the generous support provided from the Archives of Ontario, each lesson plan includes primary resources for students to work with and learn.
If you want to know more about the lesson plans, go to https://www.ogs.on.ca/leedsandgrenville/index.php/2015/10/20/family-history-lesson-plans-for-the-ontario-provincial-curriculum/
And in the same them as the Ontario Genealogical Society, there now is a new portable website that will offer a rich pedagogical resource bank for students everywhere across Canada, aimed at teaching the role played by Champlain in the early history of Canada.
French and English sector schools, and teachers at the elementary and secondary levels will have access to this new tool that will enable them to find a vast amount of pertinent pedagogical information concerning Champlain: books, magazines, audio clips, short videos, information programs, and more.
The data bank, part of which is downloadable, is meant to be used as a key pedagogical tool used to support history, geography, and French courses as much as for any school that would like to organize activities related to this historical figure.
If you want to know more, go to http://www.champlain1615.ca/en/resources/
Digital Publications: New Partnership Between Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec and Library and Archives Canada
In a recent press release, the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) are pleased to announce a new agreement concerning digital publications from Quebec publishing companies.
As a result of the partnership, publishers who deposit their publications in the ANEL-De Marque Digital Book Repository will be able to authorize BAnQ to transmit them to LAC. Up to 10,000 digital publications could be added to Canada’s documentary heritage through this initiative in the next two years.
I wonder if there will be agreements signed with other archival instutiomns in the country?
To read more about the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, go to http://www.banq.qc.ca/a_propos_banq/index.html
And that was the week in Canadian news!
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