Genealogy Canada

Monday, March 9, 2015

Canadian News in Review - 09 March 2015

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.

This Week in Canadian History

In 1875, the Hospital for Sick Children opened in Toronto with six beds and one nurse. A group of women led by Elizabeth McMaster rented an 11-room house and declared the hospital open for "the admission and treatment of children."
   To read more, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hospital_for_Sick_Children

In 1888, parcel post between Canada and the United States was established
   To read more, go to http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/cpm/chrono/chs1868e.shtml#yr-1881

In 1917, the Alberta Provincial Police Force was established.
   To read more, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Provincial_Police

In 1939, Trans Canada Airlines, now Air Canada, inaugurated the trans-continental airmail service.
   To read more, go to http://www.lib.uwo.ca/programs/companyinformationcanada/cr-transcanada.htm

Articles

Nova Scotia

Black Halifax project a ‘labour of love’ as African Nova Scotian heritage brought to life
http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/1303550/black-halifax-project-a-labour-of-love-as-african-nova-scotian-heritage-brought-to-life
   Black Halifax: Stories From Here is a new video project and website telling the stories of people, places and events significant to African Nova Scotian history, including Davis, Dixon, Rocky Jones, William Hall, and the 15 ships that left Halifax carrying hundreds of Black Loyalists to Sierra Leone in 1792.

Make the most of a Nova Scotian staycation
http://thechronicleherald.ca/go/1271668-make-the-most-of-a-nova-scotian-staycation
   While many of these events may appear to be designated for tourists and out of province visitors, Patrick Sullivan, CEO of the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency, says that isn’t the case. These events are fpr Nova Scotians, too.

Grade 9 students share African Heritage studies at Academy
http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2015-03-05/article-4067023/Grade-9-students-share-African-Heritage-studies-at-Academy/1
   North Nova Education Centre Grade 9 students went back to elementary school on Thursday, making presentations to New Glasgow Academy students based on their studies during African Heritage Month, which was celebrated in February.

Prince Edward Island

North Rustico gets $446K to promote Acadian heritage
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/north-rustico-gets-446k-to-promote-acadian-heritage-1.2978462
   North Rustico will receive funding to continue developing the town as an Acadian tourism destination.

Quebec

Snowman welcomes guests to Quebec and biggest winter carnival in the world
http://www.dailynews.com/lifestyle/20150302/snowman-welcomes-guests-to-quebec-and-biggest-winter-carnival-in-the-world
   Since it began in 1894, the Carnaval de Quebec has grown into the largest winter carnival in the world. Since then, the inhabitants of New France have enjoyed getting together just before Lent to eat, drink and be merry.

Canadian History Ehx: Looking back at the Grenfell School
http://www.grenfellsun.sk.ca/Community/2015-03-01/article-4061327/Canadian-History-Ehx%3A-Looking-back-at-the-Grenfell-School/1
   The children who were in the community were educated in the Agricultural Hall. This was in 1888 and one year later, council passed an order to form the Grenfell School District. The school would be built on the future site of the United Church.

Ontario

Key genealogy resources for researching your family tree
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5451559-key-genealogy-resources-for-researching-your-family-tree
   Plenty of resources available in Toronto to help you uncover your family’s past.

TORONTO ROOTS: Into genealogy? Talk to your relatives and join your local family history society
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5458645-toronto-roots-into-genealogy-talk-to-your-relatives-and-join-your-local-family-history-society
   There are a few key pieces of advice that most of us who take the plunge into researching our family history receive early on: start with what you know and work back in time.

Grimsby receives three Ontario Heritage Awards
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/5461512-grimsby-receives-three-ontario-heritage-awards/
   John and Josie Dunstall, Allan Smith, and Town of Grimsby recognized.

Manitoba

Winnipeg's human rights museum bans selfie sticks
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-s-human-rights-museum-bans-selfie-sticks-1.2978092
   The Canadian Museum for Human Rights has banned the use of selfie sticks.

Heritage status sought for Armstrong's Point neighbourhood
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/heritage-status-sought-for-armstrong-s-point-neighbourhood-1.2978606
   The City of Winnipeg is looking at giving heritage designations to entire neighbourhoods.

Saskatchewan

Saskatoon says farewell to Lydia's building; Historic Broadway Avenue building set to be demolished
http://cjme.com/story/saskatoon-says-farewell-lydias-building/539382
   The new owners say the century-old brick structure is too expensive to renovate. The building was last home to Lydia's bar.

Alberta

Proposed power line threatens iconic views in southern Alberta
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/proposed-power-line-threatens-iconic-views-in-southern-alberta
   The iconic scenery in southwestern Alberta featured in tourism commercials and Hollywood movies could soon be criss-crossed with power lines, according to landowners in the area.

British Columbia

Breathing life into B.C.’s ghost towns
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/breathing-life-into-into-bcs-ghost-towns/article23225716/

News Stories of the Week

MooseRoots.com, an new American genealogy site, hit the airwaves this week, with their PR people saying what an innovate site it is - new and exciting!

As I watched their publicity, I wondered why Canada companies and individuals don’t make a bigger effort to break into the American market, such as the Innovator Summit held at RootsTech every year.

MooseRoots has two Canadian record sets on their site – Canadian World War I Enlistment Records and Canadian World War II Casualties.

These site are already available on other sites like Library and Archives Canada, and Ancestry.com – so it isn’t a big deal, but what about other record sets that can’t be seen right now? What about those local records that haven’t digitized? Who is taking care of them?

Let us see Canada represented at next years Innovator Summit at Rootstech 2016, to be held February 3–6, 2016. To check out the site, go to https://rootstech.org/About/FAQ?lang=eng

That was the Canadian genealogy, history and heritage news in Canada this past week!

Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/03/canadian-week-in-review.html

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

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

Need help in finding your Canadian Ancestors?

Michael D. from Florida says that “Ms. Elizabeth Lapointe is an experienced professional with a broad-based detailed knowledge of the available genealogical documentary resources, together with an understanding of the colonial and modern history, economy, and sociology of the French and English aspects of Canada. For a client, she is both a teacher and a guide into the field of genealogy."

If you do, go to Elizabeth Lapointe Research Services and see how I can help you find that elusive Canadian ancestor.

Great service. Reasonably priced.

Website: www.elrs.biz

The next Canadian Week in Review will be posted 16 March 2015

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Customer Appreciation Week in April at the Archives of Ontario

Mark this event on your calendar, and attend as many of the events as you can, because from Tuesday, April 7th to Saturday, April 11th, the Archives of Ontario will be celebrating Customer Appreciation Week at the Archives of Ontario, 134 Ian Macdonald Blvd., Toronto.

One of the events will be Finding Your Upper Canada Ancestors Workshop which will take place on Saturday, April 11th, 8:45 am to 4:00 pm at the North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M2N 5N9.

This workshop will be hosted by the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, and learn more about how our amazing resources and services can help you in your family history research. Get advice on using our Second Heir and Devisee Commission Case Files Database, and be sure to pick up our free research guides and Archives of Ontario souvenirs.

If you want to see this exciting week of events, read about them at the Archives of Ontario site, and be sure to register at the website http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/about/archives_week.aspx

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

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

American residents serving in Canadian Expeditionary Forces, 1917-1918

Source: War Department. Office of the Provost Marshal General. Lists of United States Residents Serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and Australian Imperial Force [1917–1918]. Series PC-26 21

It has always intrigued me about Americans who enlisted in the Canadian army in the First World War. Why would they do that? But I slowly discovered that most likely one of their parents, or both of their parents had come from Canada down to the United States, with many of them leaving cousins, aunts and uncles back in Canada. And, further still, and many of them had been born in England, Scotland, and Ireland. So they felt a certain loyalty to their country of birth, I suppose.

But now, Ancestry.ca has put the record group online, and it is called U.S. Residents Serving in Canadian Expeditionary Forces, 1917-1918.

Each entry contains the name of the resident, his address in the United States, date and place of birth, nationality, marital status, occupation, and place and date of entering service.

So, if you find that an American ancestor has disappeared between 1914 and 1919, check this database. Maybe he is here at http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=9177

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

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

You help is needed!

One day, while doing research on British Home Children in past issues of the Ontario Genealogical Society`s journal, Families, I came across an article about the children who were British Second World War evacuees to Canada. In the article, they had come to Port Colbourne, Ontario, and had stayed there while the war was raging in the UK and in Europe. They went to school while staying together in a house, and most of them seemed to have adjusted very well to their situation. They were a part of Operation Pied Piper.

That article stuck with me, because I hadn’t known about this before reading about them. But now there is a post-graduate student at the University of Western Ontario who is doing a project on the children, and her name is Claire Halstead.

Her thesis work, by its completion, will account for more than 3,000 children who came to Canada, of which 1,500 came by way of the Children’s Overseas Reception Board (CORB). They were all part of Operation Pied Piper.

If there is any information that you might have on this subject that you would like to share, please get in contact with Clare at chalstea@uwo.ca.

You can read the story in the Western News at http://news.westernu.ca/2015/01/student-returns-identity-to-british-war-evacuees/http://news.westernu.ca/2015/01/student-returns-identity-to-british-war-evacuees/

To get some background information, you can read Children's Overseas Reception Board at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Overseas_Reception_Board

There is also an article on the web called “Guests” not “Refugees” Child Evacuees to Canada During World War II at http://www.cst.ed.ac.uk/Events/Conferences/documents/SmerdonCPaper.pdf

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

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Canadian tourism photos on Flickr

How many photos do you have in your family genealogy of Canadian vacations? Did you know the the Library and Archives Canada has travel photod too, and now are putting some of them on Flickr.

The press release says that -

The concept of Canadian tourism emerged during the early nineteenth century. Improved modes of transportation, such as new railways stretching across the country, facilitated leisure travel and offered people the chance to witness some of the nation’s greatest marvels and modern achievements.

'Photographs were the ideal medium with which to attract potential visitors, and photographers were hired by transportation companies to produce images of majestic scenery that would promote destinations. Later rivaled by amateur picture-takers, eager to create their personal holiday mementos, these photographs were a vital component of the burgeoning tourist industry. The imagery created during this period helped to characterize the country, establishing a sense of national identity by introducing viewers to iconic images of Canadian scenery'.

The website is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157650719659971/

And for people who will travel to Ottawa in the coming months, visit the National Gallery of Canada to see the photos exhibit from March 6 to August 30, 2015.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Toronto Time Capsule online

Metroland Media, a newspaper company in Ontario, has launched a new history project, complete with stories, columns and resources called Toronto Time Capsule .

This online treasure of columns, articles and resources will be dedicated to Toronto’s history and genealogy. This collection bring Toronto's history to life.

On the site, you’ll find these sections -

- In ‘Flashback’ you can peruse articles on heritage news and events written by Metroland Media news staff.

- In ‘Local Tales’ read interesting columns from local historical associations and expert historians.

- In ‘Genealogy’ you’ll find insider tips from local genealogists and resources to help you with family history research.

As the project grows, so do the opportunities for the public to contribute. They want local historical groups, heritage groups, and genealogical socities to contribute.

Anyone wishing to contribute can email gpeacock@insidetoronto.com

Go to the site at www.insidetoronto.com/history

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

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Findmypast has just gone FREE for the weekend!

Just received word that Findmypast has just gone free for the weekend!

From now until midday on Monday, March 9th (GMT), they are giving you the chance to bring your past to life for FREE, with unlimited access to over 2-billion records from all over the world on Findmypast.

Throughout our FREE Weekend, you’ll be able to access everything you need to build an incredible family tree, including:

Census records

Birth, marriage and death records

Travel and migration records

Military records

Crime and punishment records, and much more, all absolutely free.

There is no need to do anything to your account to get started this weekend, just sign in as normal and you’ll be able to explore our record sets from around the world.

To find out how you can get the most from our Free Weekend visit findmypast.co.uk/freeweekend

Historic train and train stations in Mississauga, Ontario

Kathy Baker, a member from the Halton-Peel Genealogical Society of the Ontario Genealogical Society sent in a newspaper article about the train stations that were built on the Mississauga line at the turn of the 20th century.

In 1856, the Great Western Railway was completed though Port Credit and Clarkson, connecting Toronto and Hamilton.

The article says ‘The railways were built through historic Mississauga: the Grand Trunk Railway arrived through Malton in 1854, which allowed Malton to develop into a major wheat exporting centre, and the Credit Valley Railway in 1878-81, which was built through Cooksville, Erindale and Streetsville. The last railway, of sorts, to come was the Toronto-Guelph Radial Railway, which operated from1917-1931’.

Read the rest of the story on http://www.insauga.com/historic-train-stations-in-mississauga

The website of the Halton-Peel Genealogical Society is at http://www.haltonpeel.ogs.on.ca/

Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/774317655963454/

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

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Dear Myrt’s Beginning Genealogy - Sessions 6 & 7

As I promised my blog on 06 January 2014 at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/beginning-genealogy-study-group.html, I watched Dear Myrt’s Beginning Genealogy Session 6 and 7 yesterday. I will continue to watch the rest of the study group as it proceeds.

The top two things that were discussed in Sessions 5 and 6 were -

Session 5 - How reliable are the documents we use? How reliable are newspapers documents vs date of birth documents? See how Dear Myrt explains the difference – and there is a difference. She uses the clothes line graphic to describe the documents.
Session 6 - The second session was a case study in conflicting evidence. This was an interesting session. Dear Myrt took the evidence of one of her listeners, and went through the exercise of testing the evidence. If you don’t listen to any session, you should listen to this one. You will see why professional genealogists are so particular about the evidence they are given by the casual genealogist to research.

The website for Session 7 is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqS2BCu5IQU

Session 1 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/dear-myrts-beginning-genealogy-session-1.html

Session 2 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/dear-myrts-beginning-genealogy-session-2.html

Session 3 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/dear-myrts-beginning-genealogy-session-3.html

Session 4 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/dear-myrts-beginning-genealogy-session-4.html

Session 5 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/02/dear-myrts-beginning-genealogy-session-5.html

Session 6 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PfzbJIUHcE

Remember to make yourself a member of Dear Myrt’s Genealogy Community before watching the YouTube Google+ Hangout on Air at https://plus.google.com/communities/104382659430904043232

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Pictures of First World War Valcartier Camp, Quebec on Flickr

The Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has put pictures of the First World War soldiers stationed at Valcartier Camp, Quebec on Flickr. The LAC says that -

‘With a small army of approximately 3,000 soldiers, a small navy, and some militia units, Canada was able to enlist about 35,000 men in a matter of a few months. They were stationed at Valcartier Camp situated northwest of Québec City for initial training and formed into battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and into a division—the 1st Canadian Division.

Comprising 31,000 men, the Division was sent overseas by convoy for further training at Salisbury Plain in England where it continued training through the winter of 1914, and was finally sent to France in February 1915’.

To see the pictures, go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157650216555548/

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Quebec Family History Society – Video

Three members of the executive - Gary Schroder, Deborah Robertson and Kelley O'Rourke – of the the Quebec Family History Society (QFHS) has made a YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgOYA6QtXec about the Conference which they will be holding on June 19, 29, and 21, 2015 at McGill University, Montreal.

Already, there have been over 100 viewers of the video, so that shows that there is interest in the Conference.

If you are interested in Conference 2015, you can go to http://www.qfhs.ca/cpage.php?pt=174 to see the programme, the accommodation, the Genealogical Resource Fair, and the registration package.

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

UPDATE: OGS Conference – Interview No 4

Shirley Sturdevant, former president of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) has interviewed Dave Obee LLD (University of British Columbia) from Victoria, British Columbia. He will be a speaker at the OGS Conference to be held in Barrie, Ontario from May 29th to May 31st, 2015.

He will be participating in the Saturday morning panel discussion and be presenting lectures entitled A Sense of Place and Time, Western Canada by Rail, and From Eastern Europe to Canada.

Dave is the editor-in-chief of the Times Colonist newspaper. He is also the author of twelve books, including guides to Canadian immigration records and census records. He is a columnist for Internet Genealogy and Family Chronicle, and serves on the board of Canada’s History Society.

To view the YouTube interview, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5932gCFc5Ig

And to review the other interviews on this blog, you can go to the following websites -

Interview No 1 with Thomas MacEntee and Dr.Janet Few at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/02/update-ogs-conference-interviews.html

Interview No 2 with Dr. Maurice Gleeson at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/02/another-ogs-interview.html

Interview No 3 with Kirsty Gray http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/02/update-ogs-conference-interview-no-3.html

The OGS website is at http://www.ogs.on.ca/

The Conference Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioGenealogicalSocietyConference?ref=hl

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Upcoming events in Ontario and Quebec

On March 21, 2015, the Quinte Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will feature author Bill Kennedy's recent book At the Call of King and Country, the stories of WWI Soldiers and the Canadian Army Medical Corp nurses, some from Hastings County.

The talk will take place at the Quinte West Public Library, 7 Creswell Drive, Trenton, ON K8V 6X5 at 1 pm to 3 pm. Everyone is welcome, and bring a friend!

For more information, visit www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canqbogs/

And there is a 2-session genealogy course at Quebec Family History Society and the lectures will be given by Gary Schroder. The lectures will be entitled Family History Research: How Do Find Your Ancestors?

Gary Schroder, long-time member of the Q.F.H.S. will be giving a 6 course at the Pointe Claire Public Library. This is an excellent way to learn about the Quebec Family History Society and it’s Heritage Centre and of course to learn more about family history resources and to discover what is available on the Internet.

This 6-hour course is an introduction to the sources used in family history research and also how to use the Internet for genealogical research.

The lectures will be at the Pointe Claire Public Library, 100 Douglas Shand, Pointe Claire, Quebec on Wednesday March 11 and March 18, 2015, and the time will be 6 to 9 (6 hour course). The cost will be $30.00 residents of Pointe Claire $40.00 non-residents.

Advance reservations are required: To Reserve a Place Call 514-630-1218 or go in person to the Pointe Claire Library.

The website is at http://www.qfhs.ca/

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

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Library and Archives Canada - online survey

Sylvie Tremblay, Manager, Online Content of the Library and Archives Canada (LAC), has sent out the following press release -

‘Library and Archives Canada is conducting a usability study of our to gather information about how visitors use our website. This study includes a question about digital content available on the LAC website. Please note that the identity of respondents is strictly confidential’.

The study can be accessed at: http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/lacbac01/lac/ until March 6^th.

If you have any questions about the study, please contact: webservices@bac-lac.gc.ca.

So I took the survey, and found that they asked very good questions, such as how did you find the LAC website and what (records) were you searching for today?

The questions caused me to think, and the two things that I would like to see added would be the 1851, 1861 and 1871 agricultural census and the vast collection of newspapers that they have onsite. Whether they will accommodate my wish list remains to be seen.

What did you think of the survey? What would you like to see in the future as far as digital content is concerned? Are there questions that they should have asked, and didn’t?

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

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Call for Speakers - Irish Genealogy

Gwyneth Pearce, the Secretaryof the Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society has sent me the following press release -

'Toronto Branch is planning a one-day workshop on 19 September 2015 on Irish genealogy and family history with a specific focus on Ulster. Historian Dr. William Roulston and genealogist Chris Paton have agreed to lead this workshop as keynote presenters, and we are now seeking other speakers with Irish expertise who would like to be part of the team. We invite proposals for presentations at either a beginner or more advanced level aimed at family historians researching ancestors in the nine counties in the historic province of Ulster'.

They have detailes at their call for presentations at http://torontofamilyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Call-for-Speakers-Irish-Genealogy-Workshop-Sept-2015.pdf.

The deadline to submit a proposal for this workshop is Saturday,18 April 2015.

Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/TOFamilyHistory

Their Twitter account is @TOFamilyHistory

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

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Canadian Week in Review 02 Mar 2015

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.

This Week in Canadian History

1917 Women in Ontario win right to vote in provincial elections. On December 6, 1921, at the age of 31, Agnes Macphail became the first woman to sit in the House of Commons.

For more information, go to http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP12CH3PA1LE.html

On February 24, 2013, the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, unveiled a plaque at the former site of Hogan’s Alley, officially recognizing the area’s deep historical ties to the city’s first Black community

For more information, go to http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/cseh-twih/index_e.asp

Social Media

(Video) Black Halifax’s unseen histories

http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/black-halifaxs-unseen-histories/Content?oid=4553663

Black Halifax: Stories from Here highlight 14 important historical African Nova Scotian moments
(Photos) Sir John A. Macdonald's gold watch impresses students

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/sir-john-a-macdonald-s-gold-watch-impresses-students-1.2971780

A pocket watch owned by the first prime minister of Canada has proven popular with students at a Summerside school.

New Brunswick

Girl Guides seek memorabilia for Saint John archives
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/girl-guides-seek-memorabilia-for-saint-john-archives-1.2973309
Former N.B. Brownies, Guides and Pathfinders asked for uniforms, photos and other items

Nova Scotia

Creignish stone cottage restoration wins heritage award
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/creignish-stone-cottage-restoration-wins-heritage-award-1.2971559
Settler's descendant reclaims family homestead. Ian MacMaster built what's known as Moidart house around 1801

Broughton ghost town attracts heritage interest
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/broughton-ghost-town-attracts-heritage-interest-1.2968959
Cape Breton heritage group hopes to preserve former mine town

Ontario

Museum of History among local cultural institutions to get a boost in funding
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/museum-of-history-among-local-cultural-institutions-to-get-a-boost-in-funding
Local museums and cultural agencies will be among the beneficiaries of federal government largesse this year, according to spending plans outlined in the 2015-16 main estimates.

Saskatchewan

A special month for black history in Saskatchewan
http://www.leaderpost.com/life/special+month+black+history+Saskatchewan/10836909/story.html
A pphysician, politician, pharmacist, farmer and publisher: Dr. Alfred Schmitz Shadd was the man whom history records as the first black settler in Saskatchewan.

News Stories of the Week

This week The Stories of the Week is slanted towards the youth of Canada – your talents are wanted!

Canadian Day Challenge 2015

This year, the youth from ages 8 to 18 years across Canada are asked to tell us what makes them proud to be Canadian by submitting their best, most dynamic drawings, photos or pieces of creative writing that represents everything that Canada is as a strong, proud and free nation.

Enter the 2015 Canada Day Challenge for a chance to win great prizes, including all-expenses paid trip for two to Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day on Parliament Hill: go backstage, meet some of Canada’s most inspiring people, tour museums, galleries, the iconic Parliament Buildings and be part of a special summer exhibit at the Canadian Museum of History!

Plus, there’s even more to be excited about this year! Winners will also receive the opportunity to work with the amazingly talented team of education specialists from the National Film Board of Canada to create their very own short films about their adventures in Ottawa.

How cool all of this is. So parents and grandparents, be sure to encourage the young people in your lives to enter the contest. The deadline is coming fast, so be sure to enter before March 20, 2015.

Contact the Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages at 819-997-7788
for further information.

Commonwealth Day

Commonwealth Day is March the 9th, and the theme this year is 'A Young Commonwealth'.

"A Young Commonwealth recognises the capacity, contribution and potential of young people, who play a vital role at the heart of sustainable development and democracy," said Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, announcing the theme.

"The Commonwealth is also a family of dynamic countries at the forefront of innovation, growth and contributing global value. As a diverse and increasingly connected global network, we bring fresh perspectives and new ideas.”

Find out about youth events taking place throughout the year at thecommonwealth.org/ayoungcommonwealth

That was the Canadian genealogy, history and heritage news in Canada this past week!

The next Canadian Week in Review will be posted 09 March 2015

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Family History Library - FREE Classes for March 2015!

FamilySearch.org is at it again – they are offering FREE classes this month, and I am going to take the first class (since I have relatives in the New England States) on March 7: New England States Research Series. The classes include “Town and Vital Records” at 9:30 a.m., “Probate, Land, and Tax Records” at 10:45 a.m., and “Pilgrims Progress and Migration Patterns” at 1:00 p.m.

The other classes include those given in Spanish for Hispanic Records and they are -

March 7: Arbol Familiar Para Principiantes Webinar is a class for Spanish-speaking guests and starts at 1:00 p.m.

March 14: Hispanic Research Methodology: A Case Study Webinar. This class starts at 1:00 p.m.

March 21: Hispanic Research Series Webinar. This series is for Spanish-speaking patrons. The classes include “Conozca los sitios asociados de FamilySearch: Inscripcion y findmypast,” “Conozca los sitios asociados de FamilySearch: Ancestry y MyHeritage,” and “Como utilizar Mejor el Wiki FamilySearch.” These classes start at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m

Webinars can be accessed by going to FamilySearch.org, and then click Wiki,then Family History Library, then 2.2 Live Online Classes for details.

These classes and workshops are designed to help individuals and families find their ancestors and teach others family history techniques.

Meanwhile, more information has added to the name index of Canadian headstone inscriptions courtesy of CanadianHeadstones which is a family history database of records and images from Canada's cemeteries. Volunteers capture images of headstones in a cemetery and upload them to the site.

To search the site, go to https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2290953

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

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012

Archive CD Books Canada has a new website

Great news for Canadian genealogy!

The Archive CD Books Canada website has returned to a new website, and it looks fabulous!

It is easy to see exactly what they have to offer, and you get a first-hand look at the products that they have onsite.

So congratulations Malcolm and Chris Moody on their new website, and stop by to see if there is anything that you would like in Canadian books!

Remember to support out Canadian booksellers. They, and societies, are the backbone of out genealogy community.

And subscribe to their newsletter. It has regular news on their new products. As Malcolm says 'Remember this Newsletter is published for you so if you think we're missing something important drop me a line to Malcolm@ArchiveCDBooks.ca'.

The website is at www.ArchiveCDBooks.ca

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

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Crowd sourcing transcription - is it useful?

Everyone knows that people have been busy at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) digitizing the service files of the men and women who enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the First World War.

Now, it is disclosed that 1,000 files (which is a small sample) of the medical records section of the service files - the form of temperature charts, dental records and medical case sheets has been transcribed and given to the public.

Read about it at http://blog.muninn-project.org/node/79

The press release says that “The transcribed data generated has value for researchers in handwriting recognition, and archival and medical institutions’. What about genealogists – we use these papers in our research too!

So how useful is this form of transcription? Is crowd sourcing transcription a good way to do it? How accurate will it be? They say it will be verified by computer.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Canadian News in Review - 09 March 2015

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Customer Appreciation Week in April at the Archives of Ontario

American residents serving in Canadian Expeditionary Forces, 1917-1918

Saturday, March 7, 2015

You help is needed!

Canadian tourism photos on Flickr

Friday, March 6, 2015

Toronto Time Capsule online

Findmypast has just gone FREE for the weekend!

Historic train and train stations in Mississauga, Ontario

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Dear Myrt’s Beginning Genealogy - Sessions 6 & 7

Pictures of First World War Valcartier Camp, Quebec on Flickr

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Quebec Family History Society – Video

UPDATE: OGS Conference – Interview No 4

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Upcoming events in Ontario and Quebec

Library and Archives Canada - online survey

Call for Speakers - Irish Genealogy

Monday, March 2, 2015

Canadian Week in Review 02 Mar 2015

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Family History Library - FREE Classes for March 2015!

Archive CD Books Canada has a new website

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Crowd sourcing transcription - is it useful?

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