Dutch Heritage Month

May is Dutch Heritage Month in Ontario.

Last month, Ontario's PC MPP, Elizabeth Witmer, introduced a private member's bill into the Ontario Legislature which would designate May as Dutch Heritage Month in Ontario.

Bill 166, Dutch Heritage Month Act, was unanimously given both second and third reading March 24th.

More than 500,000 citizens of Ontario are of Dutch extraction, and about a million people in Canada are of Dutch ancestry.

"This bill recognizes the many contributions of the Dutch community to the province of Ontario," said Ernie Hardeman, Oxford MPP. "As a Dutch Ontarian, I am especially proud to see the strong relationship between the Netherlands and Canada recognized by the Ontario Legislature."

May is a historically significant month. Canadian soldiers were instrumental in the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945. As a result, the Netherlands celebrates its liberation and independence along with the heroic actions of the Canadian forces with a national holiday on May 5, known as Liberation Day.

Ottawa has its annual Tulip Festival celebration in May. This year's theme is "Kaleidoscope – a celebration of spring awakening through colour, culture and community". You can go to www.tulipfestival.ca to see the list of events.

For more information on the Dutch in Canada, you can go to the LAC's website www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-905.013-e.html, and research the "Immigration Branch", "Central Registry Files (RG 76)", the "Other Series of Records, the "Research in Other Institutions", "Research in Published Sources", and the "Research Online" pages.

Tartan Day

Here is my clan's dress tartan, that being the Barclay Clan.

(yellow and black with white overcheck)

Back on October 22, 2010, the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, announced that the Government of Canada made the official announcement that the country would recognize April 6 as Tartan Day.

"A tartan represents a clan, a family, and a community, and is an enduring symbol of Scotland that is cherished by Canadians of Scottish ancestry," said Minister Moore. "Many Canadian provinces and other countries already celebrate Tartan Day. As well, through Tartan Day, Canadians will have an opportunity to learn more about the various cultures that comprise Canadian society."

Tartan Day originated in the late 1980s in Nova Scotia, where it was declared an official day by the provincial government. It then spread across the country, with many provinces joining in. This marks the first time the Day has been recognized by the federal government.

"By officially recognizing this Day, we encourage Canadians all across the country to celebrate the contributions that over four million Canadians of Scottish heritage continue to make to the foundation of our country," said Senator John Wallace, who recently introduced a bill in the Senate in support of nationally declaring Tartan Day.

In Canada, Tartan Day is celebrated on April 6, the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence. Tartan Day celebrations typically include parades of pipe bands, Highland dancing and sports, and other Scottish-themed events.

For an online copy of the Declaration, please visit http://ucsac.blogspot.com/2011/02/tartan-day-just-around-table.html.

As well, check out the Tartans of Canada website for the official and non-official tartans of Canada, the provinces, and the territories www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/symbols_facts&lists/tartans.html

From Scotland On Line, check out the thousands of tartans for your own clan or related septs at www.tartans.scotland.net/find_tartan.cfm.htm. The site shows samples of the tartan, and offers a history of it. Truly, an awesome resource.

And for a history of the tartan, check out Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan

Here is Clan Barclay's hunting tartan
(blue and green with red overcheck)

Genealogy One-to-One Consultation

Are you looking to solve a curious family mystery? Need guidance and advice on where to go next?

Book a free 30 minute one-to-one appointment with Local History and Genealogy Librarian, Joanne McCarthy, at the Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library on Saturday, April 16 at 10:00 a.m. Registration is required.

You will learn how to research and organize your family tree; discover important local and online genealogy records; and learn how to search for your ancestors using Ancestry.ca.

You can reach the Library online at www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca, follow them on Twitter http://twitter.com/hfxpublib and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/hfxpublib, and you can call them at 902.490.5813.

NewsLeaf Editor Announced

Joyce Fingland has been appointed the new NewsLeaf and e-NewsLeaf editor. She has already assumed the editorship of e-NewsLeaf (the first issue will be out in April), and she will produce the first issue of NewsLeaf in August.

I have been the editor of NewsLeaf since 1996, and editor of e-NewsLeaf since 1998, and now I am the editor of Families - the journal of the Ontario Genealogical Society.

It will seem strange not to have the editorship of NewsLeaf in which I worked directly with the Regional Directors and Chairs of the Branches of the OGS, but am pleased to know that it will be in good hands with Joyce.

From e-Announce of March 4th, 2011 -

The Ontario Genealogical Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Joyce Fingland as Editor of NewsLeaf and e-NewsLeaf.

Currently the Editor of Kingston Relations, Joyce is an active OGS member who belongs to the Kingston, Quinte, and Ottawa branches. She has worked on the Kingston Branch Publications Committee and has authored several books about the history of her family as well as an article about British Home Children. Joyce also brings extensive technical and layout experience from her work with the Limestone District School Board.

Joyce will be taking over the position previously held by Elizabeth Lapointe, who was recently appointed Editor of Families, and who can now direct all of her energies to that endeavour.

We are happy to have Joyce with us, and look forward to her work on NewsLeaf.