Monday, November 9, 2015

Canadian Week in Review 09 November 2015



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 1873, during the "Pacific Scandal," Sir John A. Macdonald defended himself against corruption charges in a five-hour speech to Parliament. He resigned as prime minister two days later.

To read about the "Pacific Scandal," go to  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Scandal







Social Media

Video: From the CBC archives: Nellie McClung celebrated in Manitoba

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/from-the-cbc-archives-nellie-mcclung-celebrated-in-manitoba-1.3306714

With Manitoba set to mark a century since it became the first province to allow some women to vote, we look back at efforts to honour Nellie McClung, who was instrumental in the fight for women's votes in Canada.

(Video) Arizona woman searches for Quebec birth parents on Facebook

http://globalnews.ca/news/2318811/arizona-woman-searches-for-quebec-birth-parents-on-facebook/
Julie Levanhagen was adopted when she was just 9 days old.

She spent the first seven years of her life growing up in Fabreville, before moving to Wisconsin and then settling in Arizona.

(Video) A living history of Canada's Great War effort a century later

http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/a-living-history-of-canadas-great-war-effort-a-century-later

A hundred years ago, a young Canada was engaged in one of the deadliest global conflicts the world has ever witnessed.

The Great War, as it was known then, lasted more than four years (1914-18) and eventually claimed the lives of nine million combatants, including more than 60,000 Canadians.

Upcoming Events

Gwyneth Pearce, the Publicity Chair of the Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society sent me the winter 2016 lineup of educational events.

Registration is now open for -

A Series on Social History: A four-session course on Tuesday afternoons in February to develop your understanding of your ancestors’ everyday life and challenges – with a focus on medicine, food, clothing and footwear in 19th century Canada. Speakers: Ingrid Mida, Sarah B. Hood, Sheila Knox and Marianne Fedunkiw.

· Introduction to Genealogy and Family History: A fast-paced one-day course on Saturday 20 February to introduce you to records and techniques that will help you research your family tree. Instructor: Linda Reid.

· Ulster Historical Foundation – North American Tour 2016: A full day of lectures on Saturday 5 March by two research specialists from the Ulster Historical Foundation – for those with Irish or Scots-Irish ancestors. Speakers: Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt.

· Hands-On Ancestry.ca Library Edition: A three-session course on Wednesday afternoons in February and March on how to use one of the largest databases of Canadian and international genealogical records. Instructor: Carol Nichols.

· Drop-In Ancestry.ca Library Edition: A series of three relaxed drop-in sessions on Wednesday afternoons in March, April and May for family history researchers to meet each other and practice Ancestry.ca skills with the help of Toronto Branch volunteers.

Further information is available on the Toronto Branch website at http://torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/

Newspaper Articles

Newfoundland

The View From Fogo Island

http://www.lportepilot.ca/Columnists/Benson-Hewitt/2015-11-04/article-4331307/The-View-From-Fogo-Island/1

Next year, 2016, St. Andrew’s congregation, Fogo, will be celebrating the centennial of their present church building, having been opened and dedicated for divine worship on Aug. 13, 1916.

New Brunswick

Cenotaph plaques will be replaced by Remembrance Day

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fredericton-cenotaph-plaques-heritage-minister-1.3308952

Plaques to replace those stolen from the New Brunswick cenotaph in downtown Fredericton will be ready for Remembrance Day says Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Bill Fraser.

Quebec

A living history of Canada's Great War effort a century later

http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/a-living-history-of-canadas-great-war-effort-a-century-later

Stolen Chute-a-Blondeau, Ont., church safe found in Quebec ditch

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/stolen-eastern-ontario-church-safe-found-ineast-quebec-ditch-1.3302387

As I reported last month on a number of churches had been broken into, they have found the safe in a ditch of the l'Église de Saint-Joachim, in the small town of Chute-à-Blondeau, a the safe was unopened.

Ontario

THE JOY OF GENEALOGY: 5 websites to search for an elusive Canadian veteran

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6082617-the-joy-of-genealogy-5-websites-to-search-for-an-elusive-canadian-veteran/

Nov. 11 is Remembrance Day, a national day that marks the anniversary of the end of the hostilities of the First World War (Nov. 11, 1918).

Province launches 'virtual museum' highlighting Franco-Ontarian heritage

http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/province-launches-virtual-museum-highlighting-franco-ontarian-heritage

History buffs, teachers, parents and students are among the targeted audiences for a new Virtual Museum of Franco-Ontarian Heritage. The website www.mon400.com was unveiled Thursday to more than 300 delegates at the opening of the 44th annual Ontario Museum Association conference in Windsor.

Manitoba

Manitoba government celebrating Women's History Month

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-government-celebrating-women-s-history-month-1.3292238\

The Manitoba government is celebrating Women's History Month today, as it looks ahead to the centennial of the province granting some women the right to vote.

Alberta

Day in History, Nov. 7, 1910: 75 per cent of men applying to Canadian navy suffer from 'motion picture eye'

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/day-in-history-nov-7-1910-75-per-cent-of-men-applying-to-canadian-navy-suffer-from-motion-picture-eye

A story out of Ottawa reported 75 per cent of men applying to the Canadian Navy being rejected because of motion picture eye and cigarette heart

Day in History, Nov. 6, 1910: New post office opens without ceremony

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/day-in-history-nov-6-1910-new-post-office-opens-without-ceremony

Although the city’s first post office building, it was actually Edmonton’s eighth main post office in 30 years.

Staff moved into the city’s largest building at the time, “under cover of darkness,” the story said.

Canadian news stories this week

 
I am going to join them …

Just like James Tanner* and Randy Seaver** said in their blogs this week, fewer people, in fact, less than 10% are blogging every day, and I have decided to pull the plug on my daily news blog. BUT, I am not totally going away. I will still be doing the Canadian Week in Review (CWR), and it will be published every Monday, as usual.

Given my commitments of finishing a certificate course through the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, the editorship of the OGS Families, and an increase in my research services, I had to cut back somewhere – and the daily blog is the thing which was let go.

 Meanwhile, I have added Upcoming Events to the news, and I will highlight a genealogical events or events that is taking place somewhere is Canada.

At this time, I would like the thank everybody who supported me since I started my newsletter which later turned into a blog, and I hope to see you every Monday morning reading the Canadian Week in Review (CWR). 

*What is the future of genealogical blogs? James Tanner http://genealogysstar.blogspot.com/2015/11/what-is-future-of-genealogical-blogs.html

* *Three Days of Genealogy Blogging Statistics by Randy Seaver
http://www.geneamusings.com/2015/11/three-days-of-genealogy-blogging.html

 And that was the week in Canadian news!

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

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Friday, November 6, 2015

Ancestry.ca is offering free access to its Second World War records



Ancestry.ca is offering free online access to its entire collection of global military records from November 6 to November 11, 2015. 

It includes attestation forms, medical history forms and correspondence to family members back in Canada. Digitized records detail the brave service of more than 29,000 Canadian soldiers killed in action in WWII.

It contains over 29,000 records of Canadian military personnel killed in action during the conflict. The collection, consisting of more than two million images, includes a variety of different documents for each soldier. From attestation papers, to medical history forms and even correspondence to family members back in Canada, this collection can help tell a more in-depth story of what these war heroes were like during their time in conflict.

Each service file contains an average of 52 pages of personal information.

"The most incredible part about this new collection is the sheer amount of detail revealed about these individuals. Records of promotions or tributes written by comrades help bring to light the true heroism of these soldiers during an incredibly terrifying time, and will undoubtedly instill pride among living relatives of these brave souls today,” says Kevin James, PhD, Professor, Department of History at University of Guelph. “The other benefit of this collection is that it can help shed light on what life in Canada was like during the war. From hand-written letters, to telegraphs informing Canadians at home that a family member was missing in action, these records provide fascinating insight into the life and times of the WWII era.”

The records, digitized and archived by Ancestry, were originally compiled by Library and Archives Canada as part of the Canadian school curriculum, and will be available to search for free online from November 6 to November 11, along with Ancestry’s entire collection of military records - which includes more than 4.4 million records pertaining to Canada alone.

The Ancestry.ca site is at http://www.ancestry.ca/

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

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Naturalization Records 1915 1951 updated at Library and Archives Canada


Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the release of a new version of the online database – Naturalization Records 1915 to 1951.

The nominal index has been extended with the addition of more than 68,000 names and now covers the years from 1915 to 1944, inclusively. Work is ongoing to extend the nominal index to 1951, and volunteers are welcome to help. Those interested should write to Cdn-Nat-Coord@jgs-montreal.org.

This database is one of the few Canadian genealogical resources specifically designed to benefit researchers having roots other than British. The reference numbers indicated in the database can be used to request copies of the original naturalization records, which are held by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Library and Archives Canada would like to thank the Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal and its volunteers, without whom this project would not have happened.

The database is at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/citizenship-naturalization-records/naturalized-records-1915-1951/Pages/introduction.aspx

The website of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal is http://jgs-montreal.org/

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

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) opens to the public today



The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) was created to preserve the memory of Canada’s Residential School system and legacy - not just for a few years, but forever.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) at the University of Manitoba will be home to millions of records, including statements from survivors, photos, videos and government documents and records that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has collected.

Most of these records are digital, and the physical centre has a ceremonial space, reading room, computers to access the material, a meeting room, library and physical items of the collection, such as artifacts from residential schools.

The Internet access is at http://umanitoba.ca/nctr/

For the history of the Residentail Schools, go to http://umanitoba.ca/centres/nctr/overview.html

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

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Bring the long-form census back in time for 2016!


In 2010, the long-form census was done away with, and we went with a volunteer form. Now that the governmemt has changed during the last election (October 19th), a call has come from the people to reinstste the long-form census, and once again to make it mandatory.

But from what the experts say, it must be done right away, so a petition has been put on at https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/en/save-the-census, and you may sign it if you wish. Although I have found through other campaigns that we have had over the years, that a letter to your minister can be a more effective way to go.

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

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Monday, November 2, 2015

Waterloo Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will be an e-presence only



As has been reported by bloggers over the past day, the Waterloo Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society is going to re-invent itself as "an e-presence only, with a new website and the creation of a Facebook group. The new website will have a members only section and an e-store. Queries will be handled via this on-line presence”. 
 
The press release that was issued as part of the OGS e-Newsletter on Saturday, said that “Since this Branch is modeled on that of our on-line based Special Interest Groups, the fee, as decided by the Branch, is a bargain of $4 for the first year due to the website being "under construction" as members and the TSIC Committee of OGS work to place items, prior to January 1st, 2016, in the members only section related to research in the County of Waterloo. The same as with other OGS Branch members only sections on websites, the "stocking" of the section will be ongoing. There will be no newsletter, no physical Branch meetings and no postal mailing address”.
 
The OGS says that that this is a “pilot project authorized by the Board in order to explore alternatives when the volunteer base for a Branch becomes too small to provide all of the services that have been provided in the past”. 
 
So is this the way for the future of the OGS as members disappear? The membership has been decreasing for years, and something had to give, so to speak, and this looks like it may be a solution. What do you think? And this news comes a day after the 2016 re-membership drive starts. It will be interesting time ahead, I think. 
 
As of this morning, the Waterloo Branch still has a website at http://www.waterlooogs.ca/ with limited information. They still have cemetery CDs at for sale at http://www.waterlooogs.ca/cemeteries.htm, and the following family CDs - Bauman/Bowman Family, Bechtel, Bergey, Biehn, Bricker, Eby, Erb, Groh, Hallman, Hoffman, Lichty, Martin, Snyder, Shantz, Wanner and Weber are available for $20 each. 
 
Happy Researching!!
===========================================================================
Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

 

Canadian Week in Review (CWR) 02 November 2015



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 1918, Canadian aviator William George (Billy) Barker won the Victoria Cross during the First World War. The Dauphin, Manitoba, native downed four German planes despite being wounded three times himself. Barker died in a 1930 training accident.

If you wish to learn more about William George (Billy) Barker, go to
http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/barker_william_george_15E.html

In 1971, La Presse, the largest French-language daily in North America, announced the suspension of publication in Montreal. The paper, with a circulation of 225,000, shut down because of the threat of increasing violence in a labor dispute. It resumed publication in February, 1972.

To be brought up on the latest news about La Presse, go to http://montrealgazette.com/business/local-business/montreal-la-presse-to-end-weekday-printed-paper-in-new-year

Social Media

(Photos) Stayner students plant tulips to create Dutch-Canadian Friendship Garden

http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/6034620-stayner-students-plant-tulips-to-create-dutch-canadian-friendship-garden/

A piece of shared Dutch and Canadian history has been honoured at Stayner’s high school.

(Video) This Week in History: A Royal BC Museum photograph exhibition in Guangzhou, China

http://www.cheknews.ca/this-week-in-history-a-royal-bc-museum-photograph-exhibition-in-guangzhou-china-120108/

Lieutenant Colonel John Frederick Crease (1836 – 1907) was mastering the art and science of photography, and captured various images of Canton, China immediately following the Anglo-French bombardment of the city.

Now, 156 years later, these photographs are being presented in Guangzhou (formerly Canton) as part of an exhibition: “Guangzhou to British Columbia – The Chinese Canadian Experience.”

(Video) Ireland pays tribute to Maritimes' help during Great Famine

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-famine-commemoration-1.3285452

 Ireland's Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is visiting New Brunswick this week as part of this year's International Famine Commemoration.

(Video) Artist rolls into Saskatoon as part of ambitious photo project

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/artist+rolls+into+saskatoon+part+ambitious+photo+project/11461518/story.html
What does Canada look like?

Artist Tim Van Horn is trying to answer that question with his Canadian Mosaic Project.

With a goal of taking photos of 54,000 Canadians ahead of the nation's 150th birthday in 2017, Van Horn has already captured 42,000 citizens with a camera. On Thursday, he stopped to collect Saskatoon faces.

(Photos) HANTS HISTORY: Oct 29 edition

http://www.hantsjournal.ca/Opinion/Columnists/2015-10-29/article-4325713/HANTS-HISTORY%3A-Oct-29-edition%26nbsp%3B/1

Here's a look at what was making the news 25 and 50 years ago in the Hants Journal, Nova Scotia.

(Video) Historical Second World War DC-3 aircraft unloaded in Saskatoon

http://globalnews.ca/news/2307814/historical-wwii-dc-3-aircraft-unloaded-in-saskatoon/

It was retired several years ago but this week an old DC3 Second World War airplane was on the move again. Jackie Wilson tells us about this historical craft and where its final resting place will be.

Newspaper Articles

Nova Scotia 

Heritage Trust asked town for time on BMO building

http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/News/Local/2015-10-26/article-4322641/Heritage-Trust-asked-town-for-time-on-BMO-building/1

Heritage Trust Nova Scotia has asked Amherst to give it some time to come up with an alternative to demolishing the former BMO building in the downtown.

Stewiacke cheers as schooner hand-built by Densmore cousins launches

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/schooner-stewiacke-cousins-hand-built-1.3290534

Five years of commitment was tested today when two cousins from Stewiacke launched their 24-metre wooden schooner.

Evan and Nick Densmore's ship sat on the banks of the Stewiacke River waiting for the tide to rise. The Densmores had hoped the new moon tide would lift the boat safely over sandbars and shoals into the water — and it did.

Quebec

Exploring Quebec City's Musee de la Civilization

http://www.travelpulse.com/opinions/blog/exploring-quebec-citys-musee-de-la-civilisation.html

But I discovered one rainy afternoon that the Musee de La Civilisation is where natives head when they can't enjoy outdoor attractions.

Ontario

Recalling the not-long-ago battle of Canadian suffragists

http://www.guelphmercury.com/opinion-story/5974266-recalling-the-not-long-ago-battle-of-canadian-suffragists

Canadian history books and classes concentrated primarily on political and military events, neglecting to offer information on how women have impacted our nation and have thus been impacted by our nation.

THE JOY OF GENEALOGY: Five ways to celebrate Family History Month

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6048119-the-joy-of-genealogy-five-ways-to-celebrate-family-history-month/

The leaves are falling and genealogy is calling, so let’s celebrate Family History Month in North America.

Whose Mother would this monstrous monument be?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/whose-mother-would-this-monstrous-monument-be/article26957709/

The first is the controversial Memorial to the Victims of Communism, planned for a prime piece of Ottawa’s parliamentary real estate near the Supreme Court of Canada – a site long designated for a new Federal Court building, and the second is the Mother Canada statue, a privately promoted expression of monumentality proposed for an evocative coastline site in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Alberta

Group using old bricks for new memorial honouring Edmonton's First World War history.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/group-using-old-bricks-for-new-memorial-honouring-edmontons-first-world-war-history

A community group wants to incorporate bricks from the recently destroyed Leamington Mansion apartments in a new memorial honouring Old Strathcona’s First World War history.

Calgary tour digs deep into city's past

http://calgaryherald.com/life/calgary-tour-digs-deep-into-citys-past

A new full-day tour of Calgary delves deep into the city’s past. The Herald asked Judy Uwiera of Lifetime Adventures Travel to talk about the new offering for visitors and residents alike.

British Columbia

Coffee with: New city archivist loves opening windows into the past

http://www.richmond-news.com/community/coffee-with-new-city-archivist-loves-opening-windows-into-the-past-1.2094067

When Jennifer Yuhasz took her first steps into the world of documenting history, she didn’t have to go very far. As a grade schooler, she simply explored her grandparents’ yard on the family cattle and wheat farm two hours southeast of Regina, Saskatchewan.

Canadian news stories this week

Canadian Women on our banknotes, please!


I see where the town of Oakville, Ontario has joined a chorus of voices calling for Canadian women to be pictured on Canadian currency.

The Oakville council voted unanimously recently to encourage the Bank of Canada and federal Minister of Finance to add prominent Canadian women to Canadian bank notes.

Did you know that in 2004, the Bank of Canada circulated a $50 bill honouring the contributions of Therese Casgrain, first woman to lead a political party in Canada, and The Famous Five - Nelly McClung, Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Bouise McKinney and Henrietta Edwards?

This $50 bank note was eventually taken out of circulation in 2011 and replaced with one featuring the Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King and an icebreaker.

There is an online petition at https://www.change.org/p/bank-of-canada-add-women-from-canadian-history-to-canadian-bank-notes

So far has more than 64,000 supporters and other municipalities have passed similar motions.

And that was the week in Canadian news!

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

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Sunday, November 1, 2015

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport (MTCS) will be holding province-wide meetings


The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport (MTCS) will be holding province-wide meetings so as to
establish a vision for culture across the province, and they want to know which aspects of Ontario’s culture are valuable to you and your community.

The press release says “One of the most valuable cultural resources in Ontario is our heritage sector. All across the province, not-for-profit organizations such as historical societies, museums, archives, and other heritage organizations and institutions are working to preserve and promote our diverse history. Activities such as cemetery tours, historical walks, community bike tours, plaque unveilings, archaeological digs, and visits to museums and historic sites are just a few examples of how Ontarians participate in culture by connecting with their heritage. Many of Ontario’s grassroots heritage organizations also work tirelessly to protect our natural history—which is a vital part of both our cultural identity, and our tourism industry.

Since government funding to heritage organizations was both cut, and frozen, in the mid-1990s, the groups who provide these services to their communities have been forced to do more with less. These are the people restoring our train stations, preserving our lighthouses, defending our cemeteries, protecting our genealogical resources, and telling our stories through lectures, films, publications, and exhibitions. Despite all their valuable work preserving our historical landmarks and cultural landscapes, government funding to these not-for-profit organizations remains incredibly low”.

The deadline for public submissions to the MTCS is December 7, 2015, and they are looking for your ideas.

Go to https://talk.ontario.ca/culture/?_ga=1.252357641.1845137880.1418760706 for more information.

And to see the places where the meetings are to be held, go to https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-culture-strategy?_ga=1.214450967.1845137880.1418760706

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

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Do you know that Halloween has Celtic origins?



In pre-Christian times, many people believed that spirits from the underworld and ghosts of dead people could visit the world of the living on the night of October 31.

To avoid beimng taken back to the underworld by the spirits, people started dressing up as ghosts and spirits if they left their homes on October 31. They hoped that this would confuse the ghosts and spirits, and they wouldn't be touched.

Now, I am not so sure when that get confused with the children knocking on doors and asking for treats, and if not received, then there would be treat visited upon the house, but the Halloween traditions were brought to Canada by Irish and Scottish immigrants.

Happy Researching!!

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

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Friday, October 30, 2015

Only 2 days left to become a member



There are only 2-more days left to enroll in the half-year membership to the Ontario Genealogical Society. The closing date is 31 October 2015, and the price is $37.00CDN

This 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.

To see what you get for the money, go to https://www.ogs.on.ca/membership.php

The website is https://www.ogs.on.ca/integrated/integrated_account_new_step1.php

Happy Researching!!

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

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Look at what I have found in the Saskatchewan Archives!


In the early 1950s, the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan distributed a series of questionnaires to early settlers of the province. There were eleven different questionnaires which covered the following topics - 
 
Pioneer Diet
 
General Pioneer Experiences
 
Schools
 
Churches
 
Recreation
 
Social Life
 
Farming Experiences
 
Folklore
 
Health
 
Housing
 
Local Government
 
Christmas
 
The 3500+ replies which were received are located in the Saskatoon office of the Archives of Saskatchewan. They provide a sample of each questionnaire. 
 
The questionnaires may be searched by the name of the pioneer, the nearest community, or the year of settlement in Saskatchewan. 
 

To access the questionnaires, you can contact the archives at https://www.saskarchives.com/emr/?q=website-enquiry-form
 
This is a gold mine of information for those who had people who went to Sasatchewan during the early days. The information here is astounding!
 
Happy Researching!!
 
===========================================================================
Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

1921 Canadian census


Dwayne Meisner has sent me notice that the 1921 census for Inverness County, Nova Scotia is now fully transcribed and available to view at http://www.dwaynemeisner.com/census/novascotia/inverness1921/index.php

As usual, if you are not already a member of his site, you will have to complete a free registration form.

His site is at http://dwaynemeisner.com/index.php

Happy Researching!!

===========================================================================
Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.
 
If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Here Comes the Train! The Ottawa Valley Railway Story



Here Comes the Train! The Ottawa Valley Railway Story, the latest hit musical from Stone Fence Theatre, is coming to Smiths Falls on November 7 for two performances at the Station Theatre.

The story of the show goes behind the scenes of life in the railway steam era, with much of it based on stories from Smiths Falls, collected with the help of the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario.
The show looks at the lives of the people who worked on and around the trains and the impact railways had on the Ottawa Valley and Canada as a whole.

Most of the play is set in the 1950s, with a five-piece band and musical styles including bluegrass, blues and country/folk.

The show will be performed at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Station Theatre on November 7. Tickets are available online at www.stonefence.ca or by phone, toll-free, at 1 866 310 1004."

The website of the museum is at http://rmeo.org/

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

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Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday 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/2015/10/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-26-october.html

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

It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Monday, October 26, 2015

Canadian Week in Review (CWR) 26 October 2015



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
 
Men Wearing Masks During the Spanish Flu, Alberta Fall 1918 
 
Library and Archives Canada
Photographer: Unknown PA-025025







Spanish Influenza Sweeps the Globe


In 1918-19 influenza pandemic was a global catastrophe that killed more than 3 percent of the world’s population. Over 50,000 Canadians died. 
 
Social Media
 
(Photos) HANTS HISTORY: Oct. 22, 2015 edition
 
 
Newspaper Articles
 
Nova Scotia
 
Yarmouth building renovation unearths interesting family history

 
Clifford R. Hayes was the signature written on a piece of wood that workers unearthed during renovations at the new location for Surette’s Jones Gym at 345 Main St.
 
Absolutely nobody wants to be Halifax’s town crier
 
 
Council votes to leave ceremonial position unfilled due to lack of applicants.
 
Ontario
 
TORONTO ROOTS: Beyond the grave: Don’t overlook the cemetery registers when searching for your family’s history
 
 
There's nothing quite like the instant thrill of brushing aside shrubbery or tugging away overgrown sod in a cemetery and uncovering a name you recognize – the feeling of connecting with an ancestor you may never have met in person.
 
Sarah Mushtaq: Islam's 144-year history in Canada
 
 
According to the 1871 Canadian Census, four years after Canada’s birth, there were 13 European Muslims in this country. 1882 saw the arrival of the first Arab immigrants — both Christian and Muslim — who were mainly Ottoman Syrians fleeing conscription.
 
This eventually led to the construction of the first Canadian mosque in 1938 in the city of Edmonton.
 
The Amateur Genealogist: Where there’s a Will – There’s Genealogical Gold
 
 
Many beginners do not look for wills -- “My family was too poor to have a will.”  There are many more wills than people suspect, so you should always look for one.  Furthermore, if a person died without a will (died intestate) someone often had to apply to the courts for permission to administer the estate. These Letters of Administration – loosely called Admons – are indexed with the wills.
 
Statues to memorialize Canada’s prime ministers would be ‘culturally insensitive’: university
 
 
More than a year after Kitchener, Ont., rejected it, a proposal to install statues of all 22 Canadian prime ministers at nearby Wilfrid Laurier University is once again facing accusations that it is “politically and culturally insensitive” to memorialize Canada’s heads of governments.
 
Celebrating women's history
 
 
Women's History Women's Month is a national celebration each October highlighting the contributions of women and girls to Canada’s rich history.
 
House of Refuge
 
 
Passion for the past inspires a young historian in Cornwall, Ontario, to memorialize inmates who died at a local ‘poor house'.
 
Manitoba
 
Manitoba Museum gets $10M from province for renewal.
 
 
The Manitoba Museum is embarking on its largest-ever renewal and received a big boost Thursday with a $10-million donation from the province.
 
Alberta
 
Day in History, Oct. 21, 1925: Telephone service links Alberta to rest of Canada, U.S.

 
Alberta took a big stride forward with the introduction of direct telephone service linking the province with other parts of Canada and the United States.
 
Lougheed House exhibit explores Canadian women's roles in WWII
 
 
A new exhibit at Lougheed House showcases the lives of Alberta women who served in the armed forces during World War II.
 
Eamon's building may get moved from storage to High River
 
 
The city is negotiating with a High River group that wants to buy the Eamon's gas station, a 1950s building the city bought three years ago to make way for the park-and-ride lot at the Tuscany LRT station.
 
British Columbia
 
In what kind of shape is your ‘Stop of Interest?'
 
 
Heritage BC wants to give Central Okanagan residents the chance to shape what ‘Stop of Interest’ should look like to commemoratief historic people, places, and events.
 
There are many ways to participate in this process and prizes can be won.
 
And that was the week in Canadian news!
 
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Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.
 
If you missed last week’s edition, it is 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Goal is almost in sight!


If you have been reading this blog over the past year, you will know that the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society has experienced some hard times. In fact, if the people did not respond and contribute to the Demolish the Deficit Fund, they would have had to close down. Well, people did respond!

They are only $300.00 dollars away from their 2015 goal of 12,000!.

Congratulations to everyone who has contributed, and to the society for seeking help from the public with their monetary difficulties. 

And there is more good news – they will be having a 2016 SGS Conference on April 15, 16 and 17, 2016! This is good news. 

The theme will be Diving in to the Genealogy Pool, and it will be held at the Ramada Plaza, Regina, Saskatchewan.

Watch for more information coming soon,

The website for the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society is http://www.saskgenealogy.com/


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

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 


It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada! 
It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!