UPDATE: New Brunswick GenWeb

New Brunswick GenWeb has put on 55 cemeteries and has another 16 cemeteries updates - mostly in Albert County.

Thanks to Helena Lewis for doing this update!

You can go to New Brunswick Cemeteries at http://cemetery.canadagenweb.org/NB

UPDATE: Vancouver, British Columbia, Mountain View Cemetery Index, 1887-2007

Ancestry.ca has put on a “third-party database” of the burials from the Mountain View Cemetery.

You can also go to 

http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/NONMARKETOPERATIONS/MOUNTAINVIEW/burials/burials.htm

139, 897 records have been added.

The website is http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=70665

UPDATE: LAC Release of a New Version of the Census of Canada, 1911 Database

This bit of positive news came from the LAC today -

Library and Archives Canada is pleased to announce the release of a new version of the Census of Canada, 1911 database. This fifth general census covered the nine provinces and two territories that were then part of Confederation: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

Previously, users could search only by geographical information, such as province, district and sub-district. Now, they can also search by nominal information, such as the name, given name(s) and age of an individual.

I decided to look for my maternal grandfather Lester Blades in East Pubnico, Nova Scotia and he was there when I looked at the jpg of the census report. It was very easy to do. I just put his name in the search box, as well as the province of Nova Scotia. You should give this a try. You can either view it as a jpg or pdf – and it is FREE!

It is at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1911/Pages/1911.aspx

Newspaper Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths

The people at Alberta Family History Society have added more information to their BMD newspaper records. There is a total of 31,500 newspaper records to search. This database is growing all the time so check back regularly.

The newspaper that the BMD are taken from are the Calgary Herald, Calgary Herald Daily, Calgary Herald Weekly, and The Albertan.

The people at the Alberta Family History Society have put the Last and First Names, Event, Location, Date, Notes, Name of the Paper, Publication Date, and Page in the index.

You can go to www.afhs.ab.ca/data/bmd/search.php

Meanwhile, word has reached us that the Alberta Genealogical Society is currently redesigning the AGS home page. No date of when it will be finished, but you can still go to the home page at http://abgensoc.ca

Regina Saskatchewan Family History Centre (FHC) News

John Williams, FHC Director, has sent us the following news story -

The Family History Centre at 550 Sangster Blvd. in Regina has recently undergone a “high-tech barn raising” to help individuals and groups succeed in their genealogical research efforts. Here are some of the changes we have made:

• New Computers: We recently set up four new Dell Optiplex 9010 AIO computers. With 4 GB of RAM and i5 processors, these machines offer considerably more speed and shorter processing times than their predecessors.

• New Printers: We have installed two new printers: a Lexmark E460dn and a Lexmark X466de. The X466de is a multifunction unit with copy, scan, fax and printing capabilities.

• New Software: Every Family History Centre computer now has a large selection of genealogy software including Roots Magic, PAF Companion, Ancestral Quest and Legacy Family Tree. For more details, see www.familysearch.org/products and the attached spreadsheet. The software provides new ways of organizing family information and enables the generation of a wide variety of reports including pedigree charts, family group sheets, relationship charts, wall charts and timeline charts.

• New Inventory List: For the first time, the FHC has published an electronic catalogue of its inventory including more than 1500 in-stock microfilms, 100 books and 150 maps.

• Premium Websites: The Family History Centre provides researchers with free access to a wide range of genealogy research websites that make it possible to search for an ancestor by typing in a name. Available sites include Ancestry, Find My Past, Heritage Quest and World Vital Records.

• Family Tree Training: In conjunction with the recent release of the New FamilySearch and Family Tree to the public, the Family History Centre offers its patrons free training on the use of these websites.

• Microfilm Ordering: Family History Centre patrons have access to the world’s largest collection of microfilms and microfiche. Films can be ordered online at https://familysearch.org/catalog-search Both 60 day & permanent loans are available.

The Family History Centre is open on Tuesdays from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM and on Thursdays from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The Centre closes at 12:00 PM on Thursdays in July and August.

As always, Family History Centre staff offer one-on-one assistance to individuals pursuing their own genealogical research.

If you have any questions regarding the Family History Centre, please do not hesitate to contact me at http://inbox463@hotmail.com

Check your Family History Centre on a regular basis because there is always something new. You can get the address of your local FHC by going to https://familysearch.org/locations

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, Facebook, and Newspaper Articles - 25 February 2013

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

Websites

Black History Month www.cic.gc.ca/english/multiculturalism/black/index.asp I gone to this website quite a bit over the past month because February is Black History Month, and I specially liked the Key Historic Events, and Games and Quizzes.

Blogs

Antiquated Canada: A Canadian history blog http://antiquatedcanada.com/category/everyday-life Read the short stories set in Toronto`s post-war Polish immigrant community

Facebook

OurDigitalWorld www.facebook.com/OurDigitalWorld OurDigitalWorld has a Facebook page, and it is interesting reading for a genealogist. See what they have to say about the Newmarket Public Library and Whitby Public Library newspaper projects.

Newspaper Articles

P.E.I.'s Province House on track for Confederation celebration

Repairs to historic building total about $2M  www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2013/02/21/pei-province-house-reno-584.html The CBC News has the story of the PEI Province House is getting ready for the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference.

Native group wins heritage award www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2013/02/22/pei-church-heritage-lennox-island-584.html Click on to the video and see how a group from Lennox Island First Nation in PEI has won a provincial heritage award for its repairs and renovation of a 19th-century church.

African history is Canadian history www.wellandtribune.ca/2013/02/22/african-history-is-canadian-history Read how the Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre held a celebration on Friday, marking Black History Month.  

Headstone inscription puts spotlight on municipal bylaw www.parisstaronline.com/2013/02/20/headstone-inscription-puts-spotlight-on-municipal-bylaw See how one city in Brant County, Ontario is dealing with the Korean tradition of putting genealogy on the rear of tombstones.

Falls honeymoon registries going digital www.wellandtribune.ca/2013/02/20/falls-honeymoon-registries-going-digital If Ancestry.ca doesn't do it, then the Niagara Falls Tourism in Niagara Falls, Ontario will make available their honeymoon registry which date back to 1949. Niagara Falls Tourism hopes to digitize the records and make the database available to the public

Rental fees for Library and Archives building threaten to freeze out community groups www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Rental+fees+Library+Archives+building+threaten+freeze+community+groups/7973170/story.html#ixzz2LoghbjU8 More and higher fees mean bad news for genealogical groups in Ottawa.

Six Nations plans 'more than a library' www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2013/02/14/six-nations-plans-more-than-a-library The Six Nations in Brant County, Ontario plans a $15-million facility that will be far more than a place to check out books – it will be the hone to a genealogy centre.

Look for more articles about new/improved Blogs, Websites, Facebook, and Newspaper Articles next Monday March 4^th . 

Newspaper Articles Every Monday

Don’t forget to check my blog every Monday morning for my New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles.

I love to go across this grand county of ours and pick out the interesting things that have happened in the genealogy, history, and heritage world the previous week and bring them to you.

I also check on the latest Canadian blogs, and websites to see what is new in them.

This week, I also highlight a Facebook pages too!

So don’t miss the New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles blog on Monday February 25th.

It has been a regular blog since April 23, 2012.

Elizabeth

UPDATE: Alberta, Manitoba & Saskatchewan Cemeteries

GenWeb Canada has put on the following updates –

ALBERTA

Barrhead:

- St Anne Roman Catholic Cemetery

Ponoka:

- Bismark Lutheran Cemetery

MANITOBA

Brokenhead RM:

- St Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery

Lansdowne RM:

- Arden Cemetery

Westbourne RM:

- Gladstone Cemetery

Winnipeg City:

- Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens

SASKATCHEWAN

Birch Hills RM:

- Holy Trinity Cemetery

Corman Park RM:

- First Saskatchewan Cemetery

- Kirilowka Cemetery

- Memorial Cemetery

Insinger RM:

- Theodore Cemetery

Torch River RM:

- Corner Lake Cemetery

To go to the above cemeteries, click on to
http://canadacems.blogspot.ca/2013/02/alberta-manitoba-saskatchewan-update.html

GenWeg Canada recognizes the following people, who do this work for free. They are Flora Stewart, Patricia Green and Julia Adamson for their help indexing. Flora Stewart, George Fedyck, Gloria MacDonald, Gordon Neish, Linda Doran, Patricia Green, Roy Hermanson, and Wayne Sys for photos.

RENINDER: New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles Blog

Don’t forget to check my blog every Monday morning for my New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles.

There will be newspaper articles that will cover such things as the P.E.I.'s Province House on track for Confederation celebration, native group wins heritage award, news about a blog, and a Facebook group that may interest you.

There is something of interest for everyone!

Elizabeth

JewishGen Canada Database

The JewishGen Canada database is a multi-database search facility containing nearly a quarter of a million records of Jews living in Canada.

A list of the different "JewishGen Canada Databases" include -

The JewishGen Family Finder (JGFF) - More than 3,800 surnames and towns of Jewish families of interest to genealogists researching Canadian Jewry.

The JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry (JOWBR) - There are 68,000 records of Jewish burials in cemeteries in Canada. It has records in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Québec, and Saskatchewan.

The JewishGen Memorial Plaques Database - Information from synagogue yahrzeit plaques.

The Canadian Jewish Heritage Network (CJHN) - There are more than 67,000 records from Canadian Jewish archival sources, including Jewish Colonization Association (JCA) - settler reports from western Canada and Québec (1906-1951), obituaries from the "Keneder Adler" (Montreal, 1908-1932), all text, translated from the Yiddish, Hebrew Sick Benefit Association of Montreal - membership listings from 1897-1945, Canadian Jewish Casualties in the Canadian Armed Forces, and so forth.
Montreal Jewish General Hospital Archives - More than 4,000 records, such as contribution cards from 1929.

The "JewishGen Canada Database" can be found at
www.jewishgen.org/databases/Canada

Hostages Along the Border!

On Wednesday, February 27, the Morrin Centre in Quebec City will host a presentation on what American history often refers to as the French and Indian War. While many writers have focused on the trauma and homesickness experienced by the captives during their journey north, fewer have told the story of those who chose not to return to New England and subsequently integrated into life in Quebec.

Several of these former captives played an important role in the early history of Quebec, where their descendants live today. This presentation will be an opportunity to learn more about their story.

With words and pictures Jack Bryden will tell the fascinating story of the hundreds of English-speaking men, women and children captured in New England and brought as prisoners to New France before 1760.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Morrin Centre, 44 Chaussée des Écossais, Quebec City.

Admission is free.

For more information or to reserve your seat, call 418-694-9147 or visit www.morrin.org

John D. Reid and Glenn Wright are at WDYTYA Conference

I learned last week that John D. Reid, and Glenn Wright, will give a special 45- minute talk at the Who Do You Think You Are Live genealogy conference in London, UK on Saturday afternoon.

The talk will be entitled Finding English Emigrants to Canada and Their Descendants.

John said that because of the time constraint “it will be a once over lightly” talk, but if you are going to the conference, both John and Glenn hope that you can stop by, and say ‘Hello’.

You can check John's blog at http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.ca, and Glenn is president of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, and their web site is at www.bifhsgo.ca

All information about the event is at www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com

With Only a Suitcase

Ellen Adamsons will talk about her family’s escape from their native Latvia after World War II, their settlement in Kars, Ontario, and the process of writingYou have recently attended a genealogy program at Ottawa Public Library, and this upcoming program may also be of interest to you.

This program will appeal to anyone with an interest in the local history of Kars, Ontario and North Gower Township, or in European history after World War II. It will also be attractive to anyone who wants to hear about telling family stories or writing about family history.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Room 1B, Nepean Centrepointe Library Branch, Ottawa.

Please register at biblioottawalibrary.ca/program

If you want to learn more about Canadian immigrants from Latvia, you can go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvian_Canadian

Kensington Market (Toronto) Historical Society Inaugural Public Event

On Wednesday, March 20, 2013 the Kensington Market Historical Society will be pleased to present two distinguished speakers and authors - Jean Cochrane who wrote the book Kensington (Boston Mills Press, 2000), and Rosemary Donegan who wrote Spadina Avenue (Douglas & McIntyre, 1985).

The meeting will be held at 6:00 pm, and it will be at Lillian H. Smith Library, 239 College St. (at Huron), Toronto.

Admission to this event is free, and light refreshments will be served.

If you want to find out more about this famous area of Toronto, please go to the Kensington Market Historical Society’s website at www.kmhs.ca

Film Screening of the Coffin Ship Hannah

On Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse,106 Trinity Street,Toronto, there will be a special screening of The Coffin Ship Hannah which recounting the extraordinary tale of an Irish coffin ship.

In 1849, while carrying Irish immigrants fleeing to Canada from Ireland’s potato famine, the Hannah struck ice off the coast of Newfoundland, and was shipwrecked.

The film was produced in 2011 by Galafilm, in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Radio-Canada.

The doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the film screening will be at 7 p.m. Discussion will follow the screening at 8:45 p.m.

Tickets for this special event are $10 for adults, $8 for students, seniors and Enoch Turner Schoolhouse Foundation members, and free for children 13 and under.

For more information, or to buy tickets in advance, please visit Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, call 416-327-6997 or email enochturner@heritagetrust.on.ca. Tickets will also be available at the door.

To go to the website, click on www.enochturnerschoolhouse.ca

To go to the Hannah website, click on the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_(1849_shipwreck)

One More River to Cross: Tales of the Underground Railroad

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is going to present the story of Isaac Brown, a Maryland slave. Historians and masterful storytellers Shannon and Bryan Prince bring to life this remarkable true story with hauntingly beautiful songs by Denise Pelley and Tom Starks.

It will be held on Saturday, February 21 in the theatre of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and tickets are $5.00. They are available online, at the Museum Box Office, or by calling 819-776-7000

The website of the Black History month is at www.civilization.ca/event/one-more-river-to-cross-tales-of-the-underground-railroad?calendar_date=2013-02-23&cm_mid=2217850&cm_crmid={76C38DEF-186A-E211-9333-005056A35E1C}&cm_medium=email

Ottawa Genealogy 2013

On Saturday 4 May 2013, the Ottawa Genealogy Society will hold a Genealogy Day at the James Bartleman Centre (City of Ottawa Archives), 100 Tallwood Drive, Ottawa from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The lectures that I will be attending are -

09:00 Session 1 British Home Children in Ontario Speaker - Carolyn Goddard Room 115

11:00 Session 2 Genealogy: the ‘Facebook’ of the past: a look at Library and Archives Canada’s ‘Wall’ Speaker - Marthe Séguin-Muntz Room 115

12:00 Lunch & Browse Marketplace (Lunch available only to pre-paid ticket holders)

1:15 Session 3 Utilising FamilySearch.org Information Resources Speaker - Shirley Ann Pyefinch Room 226

3:00 Session 4 Great Revelations: Canada, Canadians and the 1921 Census Speaker - Glenn Wright Room 115 (I am really interested to hear what Genn has to say about the 1921Census. Watch for a post that I will do after the lecture)

The parking is free, and you can register online at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/ogeventregistration, or by mail at
http://ogsottawa.on.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/RegFormBrochure13B-1.pdf

For more information e-mail conference@ogsottawa.on.ca

Because of the limited space available, there will only be 80 registrants spaces. So if you want to attend, the recommediation is that you register early.

See you there!

Canadian Blogger Supports Canada Census 1921 Indexing Project

M. Diane Rogers of the blog CanadaGenealogy, or, Jane's Your Aunt! has had an idea.

Why not a series of blog prompts on the 15th of each month?

She will be “blogging either about someone who lived in a certain Canadian province or territory, or about new or interesting resources for genealogy in a particular area of Canada, or about a special Canadian topic, like the long awaited release of the 1921 Canadian census in June.

I hope to be supporting indexing of this at a Canadian site like AutomatedGenealogy.com right after Library and Archives Canada receives it”.

While she awaits for the census to be released, she has put on the blogging calendar the dates of March 11th, and the territory of the Yukon, and the second one will be the week of April 8th and the province of Alberta.

Go to the blog, click on to http://canadagenealogy.blogspot.ca/2013/02/canadian-genealogy-blogging-prompts-for.html

Heritage Property Resource at the Nova Scotia Archives

People who want to join the Canada-wide celebration of Heritage Day can explore a new heritage property resource at the Nova Scotia Archives.

For the first time, records and photos of pre-1914 built homes, churches, railway stations, bridges and other community structures are available.

A selection of the records is now available for visitors on public computers in the archives' reading room. The records include photos, descriptions of the properties and information about historical features and architecture.

The Provincial Built Heritage Inventory Project began in the late 1990s to record and document all buildings built before 1914. The Heritage Property Program records were digitized then transferred to the Archives in January.

Information about the archives' resources and programs is available at www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm

I checked the information that the archives has on the town of Shelburne and there is the paper-covered book containing list of assessments of Shelburne county and poor taxes for 1787, in semi-alphabetical order. I had never actually seen the book before, only a photocopy of it, so it was good to see the book itself as it was created in 1787.

The other communities that I have got to check when I have more time is Barrington, Tusket, Yarmorth, and Kentville.

Two other papers I noticed was the original signature of Andrew Barclay, and a postcard photo of James Barclay’s house, son of Andrew, in Shelburne, on page 9 image 4.

Community Historical Recognition Program

Did you know that Canada has the Community Historical Recognition Program under which they develop all-exclusive programs of the Chinese, Italian, South Asian, Jewish, Ukrainian communities of the country? Apparently, they plan to cover other communities in the future.

The Community Historical Recognition Program was established in 2008 to acknowledge and to educate all Canadians about how certain ethno-cultural communities were affected by wartime discriminatory measures and immigration restrictions applied in Canada.

I took the time to look through the different programs, and it appears to be quite well done. They have taken different aspects of the communities, and have centralized them into one area.

To learn about the Community Historical Recognition Program, click on the www.CIC.gc.ca/CHRP

Join QFHS at Celebrating “Our Canadian Roots Day”!

This press release was sent to me over the weekend –

To celebrate our brave ancestors who came to our home and native land, the Quebec Family History Society will host Celebrating Our Canadian Roots Day on Wednesday, February 20, from 1:30 to 4:00 pm, at the QFHS Heritage Centre and Library.

This is part of the Society's monthly "Roots Days" program, created to bring together fellow genealogists in a friendly setting. You may drop in anytime for coffee, tea, Canadian sweets, and informal conversation to talk about your ancestors who came to Canada and browse books from the QFHS Canadian collection.

Bring in your books and resources about Canadian cities, towns and
communities, no matter how small the location, to share with others.

Whether your ancestors were Lower Canadians, pure laine, western farmers, Upper Canadians, Acadians, First Nations, Métis, voyageurs, gold rush seekers, British, Irish, French, Italian, or from anywhere else, join us.

Open to our members and the public. Admission is free.

Visit www.qfhs.ca/events.php

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, Facebook, and Newspaper Articles - 18 February 2013

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

Websites

Alberta Genealogy Research "The Recents" www.albertagenealogy-research.ca Indexes of births, marriages, deaths, articles, lists and other information from newspapers across Alberta. The latest is index is from the Edmonton Journal Index 1950-2002

KINGSHOTT GENEALOGY Apparently, there is quite a large concentration of Kingshotts in Canada - in Ontario. To see the families, go to www.kingshottgenealogy.co.uk/Pages/Canada.aspx

Blogs

The Genealogy and History newsletter www.reginalibrary.ca/blogs/index.php?blog=7&title=upcoming_regina_branch_sgs_february_meet&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 This blog posts things that are going on in Saskatchewan, as well as the Prairie History Collection, and the Regina Public Library's photos.

Alberta Genealogical Society Conference 2013 http://agsconference2013.blogspot.ca The registration has just opened for the conference to be held from April 19th and 21st.

The speakers will be Stephen C. Young, Lisa Louise Cooke, Dave Obee, Pat Ryan, Deanna Bullock, Lyn Meehan, John Althouse, and Alison Freake.

Facebook

Sudbury Branch launches facebook Group NEW!
Sudbury District Branch launched a Facebook Group this week. They're hoping it will be an active group, drawing members from well beyond the Sudbury District. They will be encouraging folks to share stories, ask/answer questions, post photos, let them know of branch events. Visit the branch on facebook www.facebook.com/groups/526081304080317

Niagara Peninsula Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society www.facebook.com/NPBOGS Keep in touch with the Niagara Peninsula Branch on their Facebook page.

Newspaper Articles

Family Day history event slated for South Peace Archives www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2013/02/13/family-day-history-event-slated-for-south-peace-archives The South Peace Regional Archives (SPRA), along with the Grande Prairie and District Branch of the Alberta Genealogical Society, will host a family history day event on holiday Monday to help people trace their family tree on February 21st.

CEMETERY: Frustration grows over dealing with discovery of human remains http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2013/02/10/frustration-grows-over-dealing-with-discovery-of-human-remains Read how the OGS Secretary Bob Crawford was asked for his comments by the Chatham Daily News on finding human remains when a house was being renovated.

Genealogy group eyeing new home in library basement www.cornwallseawaynews.com/News/2013-02-11/article-3175111/Genealogy-group-eyeing-new-home-in-library-basement/1 La Généalogie et archives Saint-Laurent (GASL) must move to a new location, and they think that they have discovered the perfect place ...

Canadian man's Black Loyalist heritage leads him to Africa www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/02/13/ns-black-loyalist-heritage.html A video tell the story of a man called John Hamilton who came to Nova Scotia as a free Black Loyalist, and later went to Sierra Leone, Africa.

Look for more articles about new/improved Blogs, Websites, Facebook, and Newspaper Articles next Monday February 25th.

Newspaper Articles Every Monday

Don’t forget to check my blog every Monday morning for my New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles.

I love to go across this grand county of ours and pick out the interesting things that have happened in the genealogy, history, and heritage world the previous week and bring them to you.

I also check on the latest Canadian blogs, and websites to see what is new in them.

This week, I also highlight two Facebook pages!

So don’t miss the New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles blog on Monday February 4th.

It has been a regular blog since April 23, 2012.

Elizabeth

British Columbia Celebrates Heritage Week

Heritage Week starts Monday, Feb. 18 and runs until Feb. 24, and this year they are celebrating Good Neighbours: Heritage Homes and Neighbourhoods. It is the perfect opportunity to explore your local heritage and learn more about the role historic neighbours play in your community.

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson says that it is a good time to “Take the opportunity this Heritage Week to get out and learn more about our province's rich past and the contributions historic neighbours make to your community."

The character and warmth of historic homes and heritage neighbourhoods enhance a community's attractiveness and liveability with their vintage house styles, gardens, landscapes and boulevards and create a positive sense of well-being throughout a community.

Many heritage organizations are hosting events during Heritage Week.

Find an event in your community http://www.heritagebc.ca/events/heritage-week/community-events

Some quick facts about B.C.’s heritage are -

Local governments have been responsible for conserving their own heritage buildings since 1994, when legislation was amended to give them the tools to recognize and protect their historic sites, and the ability to encourage conservation.

B.C.'s historic buildings, structures and cultural landscapes attract over 200,000 visitors annually from around the globe, creating jobs for British Columbians and supporting sustainable communities.

B.C.'s Register of Historic Places has over 3,500 listings of recognized historic sites - and ere may be hundreds more that have yet to be registered.

RENINDER: New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles Blog

Don’t forget to check my blog every Monday morning for my New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles.

To give you a hint, there will be newspaper articles Monday about the Family Day history event slated for South Peace Archives, genealogy group eyeing new home in a library basement, and a web site posting about the Alberta Genealogical Society Conference 2013 to be held in April.

And two new/improved FaceBook entries have been added to this post.

There is something of interest for everyone!

Elizabeth

The Ottawa Genealogist

The January-March 2013 issue of The Ottawa Genealogist has just been released, and I received my copy the other day.

Here are some articles of interest –

Sarah Belding/Beldin/Belden (alais Belvin or Dekdubsa) wife of Benjamin Burt is an article byEditor Ed Kipp, and these people are his 6th Great-Grandparents.

And Early Bytown (Ottawa) Settlers Index by Jim Stanzell in which he, in this issue, features surnames the start with “C”.

There is an Information column where it says, for example, that James Cuthertson “Work. Rideau Canal”, Patrick Costello has the information that says that he has a “brother in Ireland”, and William Calder is “age 30”. This could prove very helpful in your research. It is almost like reading a city directory of sorts, and it is fully sourced!

It pays to go through the two pages of Branch Library Additions on pages 42 and 43 because they may have some books in the library that may interest you. They have some books that interest me, and the next time that I am down to the Ottawa City Archives, I am going to look them up because some of the titles interest me, and the research that I do.

The web site of the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society is http://ogsottawa.on.ca

Also, don’t forget the Genealogy Fair that they will be having at City of Ottawa Archives on May 4, 2013.

The website for this is at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/ottawa-genealogy-2013

Genealogy Fair

There will be a Genealogy Fair at the London Public Library, Westmount Branch, 3200 Wonderland Rd. S. London from Saturday, 16 Feb 2013 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The Westmount Branch is planning a Genealogy Fair in honour of Heritage Week. For details, please check with staff .

No Registration Required

Feel free to drop in anytime during the day.

The web site for information is at www.londonpubliclibrary.ca/research/genealogy

New Brunswick Genealogy Society Has a New Website

This bit of news slipped by me, and I hadn’t noticed that the New Brunswick Genealogical Society has a new web site.

They offer FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ's) which answers all the questions that you have about the NBGS.

They also have some interesting online indexes like the First Families Index.

The daughter of my 4x great grandfather Andrew BARCLAY (a Loyalist in Shelburne, Nova Scotia), whose name was Jane BARCLAY, married Dr. John Boyd, and they moved to Saint John, New Bruswick shortly after they were married. Both of their name are included in the “First Families Index" of surnames containing 104,626 entries. What a resourse!

They also have area death records online, surname research that is being conducted, information about their newsletter Generations, and a Forum that covers Home Children.

Go to the new web site at www.nbgs.ca

If you want to do some research in New Brunswick records, I would suggest that you combine this site with the New Brunswick Archives web site at http://archives.gnb.ca/Archives/Default.aspx?culture=en-CA where you can search 3,048,551 names from 30 databases!

Summer Day Camps

We are starting to think of summer already, and summer camps.

There will be a summer camp for children ages 6 to 10, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization will challenge your child’s imagination with a week of fun and learning — in a bilingual environment.

The camp will be held from

July 15 to 19, 2013

July 22 to 26, 2013

August 12 to 16, 2013

August 19 to 23, 2013

The fee is $250 for non-members, and $225 for museum members.

Registration starts on February 18 at 9 a.m

For information, you can call 819-776-7014, or you can go to information@civilization.ca

UPDATE! FREE Ancestry.ca

Ancestry.ca is offering FREE access to the Canadian Marriage Collections from Feb. 14 to 18th in honour of Valentine’s Day!

The press release says –

“No matter what your relationship status, Valentine’s Day is a time to reflect on the love shared by our ancestors, without whom we wouldn’t exist today. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Ancestry.ca, Canada’s leading family history website, has dug deep into its vast collection of historical documents and discovered that Canada has long been a nation of serial romantics.

For some, Valentine’s Day involves a candle-lit dinner, but that isn’t enough for some! Yet records show that many Canadians honoured the holiday in a more committed fashion, with over 13,000 couples between 1608 and 1948 affirming their love with a February 14th wedding.

To commemorate this special day, Ancestry.ca is offering free access to its collection of historical Canadian Marriage records. Records in this collection date as far back as 1621 and contain key information about the newlyweds and their parents; information that can help expand an existing family tree and allow you to better understand the love birds in your family’s history”.

Go to http://search.ancestry.ca/search/group/Canada_Marriages?o_iid=54249&o_lid=54249&o_sch=Web+Property

UELAC Conduct Online Survey

Robert C. McBride UE, Editor of The Loyalist Gazette and UELAC Dominion President has sent this press release out last evening -

“As every organization should do, the UELAC is reviewing its communications with members and others. Please take this short survey to tell us how we are reaching you and for those who receive it, in more detail, your thoughts about The Loyalist Gazette.

Those who took the test version said it took about five minutes, but we would appreciate you taking a little longer to add a comment or three. For those who already took the survey as part of the test group, there is no need to take it again. Once you have taken the survey, if you wish to change any of your answers, use the same computer and just click on the survey link again to reenter the survey and make changes.

The world around us changes. We need to be mindful of those changes, and to move with them, but in a way that can best serve your interests.

The survey will be open until end of day Sunday March 3, 2013. Please help us by telling us what you think”.

To take the survey now, go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/MSR7QVZ

LAC Postcast: Home Children

The Library and Archives Canada has just released its sixth podcast episode, and this time it’s on the Home Children.

The the press release say “LAC Project Manager and Genealogist Marthe Séguin-Muntz along with John Sayers of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa talk about the lives of Canada’s Home Children. They discuss some of the incredible stories of hardship and prosperity in early Canada, share a wealth of resources available at LAC and provide helpful research tips and tools to discover your family history”.

Subscribe to the podcast episodes using RSS or iTunes, or just tune in at: Podcast – Discover Library and Archives Canada: Your History, Your Documentary Heritage.

To go to the postcasts, click on www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/news/podcasts/Pages/home-children.aspx

If you choose not to listen to the postcasts, there is a transcript of the talk on the same page as the postcast.

Ancestry.ca Puts on Web: Manitoba, Birth Index, 1866-1912

The key word here is “Web” Search. It means that Ancestry. ca has put on the index from online vital statistics from libraries, local governments, genealogical societies, universities and genealogists from all over the country.

They have put on 476, 200 birth records from Manitoba.

Ancestry.ca says that they make it easier to “find records from many of these content publishers. To help you find genealogy information wherever it exists, we summarize basic information from freely-available web records and provide a link to the original site where you can view the full record, including any associated images”.

If you want like to ckeck these records, go to http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=70599

The Manitoba government declared in 2003 that The Vital Statistics Act was to provide unrestricted access to the following records

Births more than 100 years ago

Marriages more than 80 years ago

Deaths more than 70 years ago

In particular, the index gives you the first and last names of the person, the date of birth, and the place of birth.

You can order the record from the full birth registration from The Vital Statistics Agency for a fee.

Go to the website http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/Query.php

Irish Palatine Group Sponsors Ontario Genealogical Tour

The Irish Palatines have the Irish Palatines in Ontario Tour in September of this year. And it seems like they will be visiting many spots of interest to the Irish Palatines in Ontario.

Here is the press release that was sent out a few days ago -

The Irish Palatine Special Interest Group (IP-SIG) is pleased to sponsor a 10-day Irish Palatines in Ontario Tour to take place September 5-15, 2013. You do not have to be a member of the IP-SIG in order to join us on the tour.

However, seating is limited and the bus is already over half full so if you want to be part of the Tour, book your seat today. Download the Tour brochure that outlines the places we will visit, as well as the cost. The tour brochure is available at http://briandunk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/tour-brochure-final.pdf

The tour will highlight several Irish Palatine settlement areas and we will meet various Palatine descendants along the way. The tour also includes visits to many major historical and tourists sites across Ontario. Accommodations will be at quality hotels in the heart of several major Ontario cities as well as a one night stop at a lovely, large Ontario cottage country resort.

If you are interested in joining our tour, please do not hesitate to contact "Great Canadian Holidays" for details at 1-800-467-8687 (ext. 280).

They now have a WordPress page at www.ogs.on.ca/ip-sig , in addition to the website at www.ogs.on.ca/ireland

Reminder: If you want the GenealogyCanada blog updates to come to you everyday in your email, send your address to genealogycanada@aol.com with the subject heading Blog Update, and I will put you on the email list.

UPDATE: Cemetery Project – Ontario GenWeb

The Cemetery Project Section of the Ontario GenWeb was updated Feb 11th.

Additions have been made to the names, when the person born, and when they died.

The following are the cemeteries that were updated –

Brant County:

- Farringdon Cemetery

Essex County:

- McDowell Cemetery

Grey County:

- Greenwood Cemetery

- Salem Cemetery

- St George's Cemetery

Haldimand County:

- Canborough Cemetery

Halton County:

- Lowville United Church Cemetery

Huron County:

- Greenhill Cemetery

Leeds County:

- Abandoned / Brennan Cemetery

- Blanchard Cemetery

- Maple View Lodge Cemetery

- Soper's Cemetery

- Weeks Cemetery

Middlesex County:

- Oakland Cemetery

- Strathroy Cemetery

Norfolk County:

- Port Ryerse Memorial Church Cemetery

Simcoe County:

- Minesing Union Cemetery

Waterloo County:

- Elmira Union Cemetery

- Riverside Cemetery

- St James Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery

Welland County:

- Hansler's / Christ Brethern Church Cemetery

Wentworth County:

- Hamilton Cemetery

- Winona (Fifty) Cemetery

Thanks to the many volunteers who put this information, and take the photos, and to Sherri Pettit who puts it on the Ontario GenWeb site.

This is a FREE site, and the volunteers do not get paid.

You can go to
http://canadacems.blogspot.ca/2013/02/ontario-update.html

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles - 11 February 2013

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

Websites

Francis Drake in 48° North Latitude http://home.surewest.net/rte395/Drake_48.html Here is a website that says Francis Drake made a trip to the 48° North Latitude (southern coast of Vancouver Island), and stayed there for six weeks in 1579.

Blogs

Wibbling Jo’s Genealogy Blog http://wibblingjogenealogy.blogspot.co.uk This blogger is conducting research the surname TILLIN in the US, Canada, Scotland and Gibraltar.

Newspaper Articles

New history museum will ‘pleasantly surprise’ Canadians, CEO predicts www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/history+museum+will+pleasantly+surprise+Canadians+predicts/7916909/story.html There will be an exhibit on the Empress of Ireland, the passenger ship that sank in the St. Lawrence River in 1912 with the loss of more than 1,000 lives, and an exhibit on Confederation tentatively planned for 2016

The search for family roots: Seeking out our ancestors is becoming a global phenomenon www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/the-search-for-family-roots/Content?oid=2450132 Follow the delightful story of how John Barker discovered old photos on a trip to Tantallon, Saskatchewan.

Taking charge www.theguardian.pe.ca/Arts/Entertainment/2013-02-07/article-3172484/Taking-charge/1 Did you know that there were recruiting agents in Prince Edward Island looking for young men to join the Glengarry Light Infantry in Eastern Ontario in the War of 1812? Winston Johnston has written a book about it called The Glengarry Light Infantry, 1812-1816: Who were they and what did they do in the war?

Saving history a piece at a time www.parisstaronline.com/2013/02/03/saving-history-a-piece-at-a-time Read how the Brant County branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has a huge collection of newspaper clippings. The massive collection includes indexed and alphabetized copies of obituaries from The Expositor (the local newspaper), as well as indexed binders bursting with copies of The Expositor's historical Flashback column, all dating back to 1965.

Canadian family, Vancouver researcher key to dramatic announcement: Richard III’s remains found (with video) www.vancouversun.com/technology/Canadian+family+proves+parking+corpse+Britain+King+Richard/7914806/story.html Read how a London, Ontario born furniture maker’s DNA helped to identify Richard’s III remains in England last week.

Focus on family www.tricitynews.com/entertainment/189709851.html Read how genealogy influences art pieces for Shaped by the Past, a multi-media exhibit by the ARTforce Collective. The exhibit is open on February 14th, Thursday at 7 p.m. at Place des Arts, 1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam, British Columbia.

Look for more articles next Monday February 18th.

Newspaper Stories Every Monday

Don’t forget to check my blog every Monday for my New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles.

I love to go across this grand county of ours and pick out the interesting things that have happened in the genealogy, history, and heritage world the previous week and bring them to you.

I also check on the latest Canadian blogs, and websites to see what is new in them.

So don’t miss the New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles blog on Monday February 11th.

It has been a regular blog since April 23, 2012.

Elizabeth

Manitoba to Put Local Histories Online

Here is an exciting resource that will be available tomorrow -

“MORE than 200 local Manitoba history books are only a mouse click away, thanks to a project headed by the Manitoba Library Consortium and Manitoba Historical Society, with funding from the Winnipeg Foundation.

The local histories, covering Manitoba communities from Altona to Zbaraz, bring 100,000 pages' worth of digitized Manitoba history to the website www.manitobia.ca.

Also included on the site, designed as a resource for students, teachers and researchers, are digital copies of dozens of Manitoba newspapers going back to 1871, as well as historical photos and maps.

The site will be launched Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Manitoba Legislature Reading Room”.

A great day for genealogists!

RENINDER: New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles Blog

Don’t forget to check my blog every Monday morning for my New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles.

There will be newspaper articles Monday about the agents who went down to Prince Edward Island to recruit men for the Glengarry Light Infantry in Eastern Ontario in the War of 1812, a new blog which features families from Prince Edward Island, and a story about the Empress of Ireland and an exhibit that goes up in 2014 at the new Museum of History in Ottawa, plus many more stories.

There is something of interest for everyone!

Elizabeth

UPDATE: 1921 Canada Census

We are starting to get release information on the 1921 Canada Census bit by bit.

Apparently, it is going to be released by Statistics Canada to the Library and Archives Canada on June 2, 2013, and then to us sometime after that date.

‘Sometime after that’ could mean months, not days, after the LAC receives it, but it will be in the system June 2, 2013.

The population of the country was 8,788,483 in 1921, and the census was taken on 1 June .

The Library and Archives Canada plan to digitize the microfilmed population schedules and make them available online with a nominal index as soon as it is possible.

Stay tuned!

Workshop Friday at the OGS Conference 2013

Years ago when the annual Conference of the OGS was held, it was a two-day affair – Saturday and Sunday.

Over the past couple of years, it has expanded to include Friday, and now since 20011, a Thursday evening “Meet the Board” Reception. It is a "get togther" with the OGS Board who have arrived early to have their pre-conference board meeting on Thursday.

So come out on Thursday evening 7:00 to 9:00, and meet the people who keep our organization running. There will be refreshments and snacks. Its a sort of a warm-up top the Conference.

And on Workshop Friday, there will be 4 workshops to choose from, and then in the evening, there is the Houston Memorial Lecture. Each year, the Ontario Genealogical Society sponsors a prominent genealogist to speak at the Conference Opening Ceremonies and Reception.

This year’s speaker will be Dave Obee, who will address the attendees on the topic of Seven Habits of Highly Successful Genealogists.

I have heard him on a number of occasions, and he has even written a paper for Families a few years ago, and he is worth listening to so that you can hear his latest thoughts on genealogy.

The two workshops I will be attending on Friday will be

An Introduction to Ontario Wills and Administrations & Beyond the Estate File by Jane MacNamara.

She is such a good lecturer, and the estate files are a rich source for finding family connections and social and financial circumstances. I hope to find out how to access these important court records.

In the afternoon, I will be going to The Scots-Irish: Origins, Emigration, Religion, and Research Sources by Dick Doherty, in which he will explore the Scots-Irish  from Scottish origins to Ulster Plantation, Presbyterian religion, emigration from Ireland to North America, and 17th and 18th century settlement patterns in Canada.

To find out more details, go to www.ogs.on.ca/conference2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/OGSConference2013Registration-Dec27.pdf

Did your ancestors come from China?

The Library anf Archives Canada just sent this out -
Do you ever wonder who your first Chinese ancestor was and when he or she left China and arrived in Canada? Are you curious about your family’s Chinese heritage?

If so, the Library and Archives Canada website at www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng is a great place to begin your research. For instance, you will find a page specific to genealogical research for the Chinese people. It provides you with historical background information, archival and published material from our collection, as well as links to other websites and institutions. This page also contains a link to the Immigrants from China database which provides access to more than 98,000 references to Chinese immigrants who arrived in Canada.

If your ancestor came to Canada between 1865 and 1935, you might find his or her name on the passenger lists at www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/chinese-immigrants/index-e.html

Smiths Falls Heritage Week Feb. 17-24

Smiths Falls in Ontario will celebrate Heritage Week this month by offering te following events -

LEST WE FORGET -

EXHIBITION GRAND OPENING!

This event will happen on Feb. 20 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Heritage House Museum.

Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute students will host the grand opening of their "Lest We Forget" exhibition. Learn the personal stories of the men and women from Smiths Falls and surrounding area who served in World War One and Two. Take this opportunity to discover more about each soldier with the chance to talk to the students behind the exhibit. Each student will have researched one of the soldiers highlighted. Refreshments will be provided. Admission free. You will not want to miss out on this great event. For more information please contact the Heritage House Museum at 613-283-6311 or by email at heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca

DISCOVER YOUR ROOTS:

GENEALOGY WORKSHOP

Come to the Heritage House Museum on Feb. 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. and discover your roots. In partnership with the Lanark County Genealogical Society, learn the skills and 'tricks of the trade' in our genealogical reference library. Price of $5 admission includes a full-year research membership to the Lanark County Genealogy Society. This workshop is for beginners or for those who have hit a road block in their family research. For more information or to register, please contact the Heritage House Museum at 613-283-6311 or by email at heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca

INTRODUCTION TO ANCESTRY LIBRARY EDITION

On Feb. 24 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. check out the free event at the library. Join staff at Smiths Falls Public Library to research your personal history with Ancestry Library Edition. One of the most important international genealogical collections available today, it contains thousands of databases including census, vital statistics, church, court, and immigration records. Starting with an overview of the content, you will then learn how to browse and search the various collections, view, print and save the materials. Handouts will be provided to help refresh your memory after the session. Limited number of spaces. To register call the Library at 613-283-2911

To learn about these events, go to www.smithsfalls.ca/heritage-house-museum.cfm

Tradition in Felicities: Celebrating 155 Years of Victoria’s Chinatown at the Royal BC Museum

I just received this press release from the Rotal British Columbia Museum -  

Victoria, BC – Follow the lanterns into Tradition in Felicities: Celebrating 155 Years of Victoria’s Chinatown, a display on Canada’s oldest Chinatown, featuring a unique artifact, images and stories from the collection of the Royal BC Museum, from Feb. 7 to Sept. 29, 2013. This display reveals a close-knit community of families developing new identities as Chinese Canadians and the felicities – the joyful celebrations of traditional Chinese holidays – that united and strengthened them since their first arrivals in the mid-1800s.

Four families from different walks of life recall, in video interviews, the period from 1930 to 1970 and their annual celebrations of the Chinese New Year. These are the personal views of this last generation to grow up in Victoria’s Chinatown, including the Low family. Kai Ho Low was one of the donors listed on the Chinese Freemason’s lantern, a unique item, part of a growing collection representing BC’s diverse communities at the Royal BC Museum.

‘This display is the result of an important partnership with the Victoria Chinese community,” said Professor Jack Lohman, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal BC Museum. “Generating a variety of cultural perspectives, then pairing those with the rich collections from the museum and archives, help us tell BC's diverse stories."

The centrepiece is one of a kind – the oldest-known Chinese Freemason’s lantern from Victoria’s Chinatown – and was likely on display for the Lantern Festival in the 1930s. Hand-made from paper over a bamboo frame, this large traditional ‘running-horse’ style of lantern used the heat from lights or candles to power an intricate system of wheels and long black hairs used like puppet strings. These moved parts of the lantern to animate scenes from nature set among stencil-like decorations, freemason’s symbols, hand-lettered poems and the names of the lantern’s original community sponsors.

The lantern is too fragile to operate as it once did. It arrived at the museum in poor condition with many parts broken or missing. The museum’s object conservator will be a live exhibit – a rare opportunity to see expert staff at work – using science-based treatments to stabilize and preserve the lantern while visitors look on, Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm until Sept. 29th.

For more information about the Royal BC Museum, visit www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca or call 1-888-447-7977.

Discovering History in Cemeteries

On Sunday, February 24, 2:00 p.m. at the Ste-Elisabeth Parish Hall, 47 Ste-Elisabeth Road, Cantley, Quebec (just north of Gatineau – right across from Ottawa), there will be an illustrated talk given by Carol Martin, called Discovering History in Cemeteries.


Everyone is invited to our tea party – an illustrated talk, our annual meeting and some sharing of family photos, archives and memories of Cantley’s early years. Cantley 1889 is looking for contacts for material for our archives; you are encouraged to bring photos and momentos of your family’s past. …free admission, everyone welcome

The event will be held by the Gatineau Valley Historical Society.

The website is at www.gvhs.ca

UPDATE: Policy Change for Patrons Requesting Photocopies From the Family History Library

Has anyone seen this notice on the latest post on Family Search blog?

Appearently, Merrill White from the Family History Library posted on the Family Search blog the other day that as of Feb 4 “all requests for information copied from films, book pages, CDs, marriage, death or birth certificates, wills and/or deeds, etc. will be copied in digital format and emailed to patrons in a zipped PDF or JPG file format. There is no charge for this service if we are able to email to information to patrons”.

They say that patrons of the library can request copies by emailing their request to Photoduplication@familysearch.org. All requests MUST include the following information -

■Film or Fiche number

■Item number

■Name of Individual(s) referred to in the record

■Title of the record

■Name of parents, spouse, grantor, grantee, etc.

■Event type (Birth, Death or Marriage)

■Complete event date and place

■Event place (county, parish, township, etc.)

■Volume or page number

■Registration or Certificate Number

■Any other information that will help us locate your record