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.
Canadian History
First Ukrainian Immigrants
The first train-load of settlers from the provinces of Galicia and Bukovyna in the Austro-Hungarian empire arrived in Edmonton, Alberta, on September 16, 1891.
They came to Western Canada because of the Homestead Act which allowed each homesteader to acquire 160 acres for $10.00. The newspaper noted that Ukrainians were well-known as careful and industrious farmers, and speculated that this initial group was probably the first of many more to come.
For further information, go to
https://personal.uwaterloo.ca/marj/genealogy/ukrainian.html
Calgary was Alberta's first city
With a population of almost 4,000 people, Calgary became Alberta's first city on September 16, 1893. In the decade following the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1883, Calgary's population had increased ten-fold.
Today, the population is a little over 1,000,000,000
For more information about the city, go to
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary
Social Media
(Audio) Peserving an aspect of pioneer life- in noise and smoke
http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2016/09/11/preserving-an-aspect-of-pioneer-life-in-noise-and-smoke/
This week we hear about a group preserving a bit of Canadian pioneer history in a way. Its loud, its smoky, but its fun too.
For over 50 years now the Saskatoon Muzzle Loaders Club, in the western prairie province of Saskatchewan, has been preserving an aspect of Canadian history and pioneer life.
(Photos) Prescott House hosts philatelic presentation on Valley apple industry history
http://www.novanewsnow.com/Living/2016-09-12/article-4638692/Prescott-House-hosts-philatelic-presentation-on-Valley-apple-industry-history/1
It was a chance to learn more about the history of the apple industry in the Annapolis Valley – from a philatelic perspective.
(Photos/Video) 1880 time capsule discovered in Almonte during restoration work
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/almonte-time-capsule-restoration-work-1.3764232?cmp=rss
When it comes to happy accidents it doesn't get much better than this. A masonry crew discovered a time capsule encased in the stone wall of an Almonte condo building, which once housed the Rosamond Woolen Mill.
(Photos) The West Block: A look inside Parliament Hill's $863M fixer-upper
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/west-block-renovations-1.3764429?cmp=rss
The federal government offered its first look Thursday inside the $863-million renovation job on Parliament Hill's West Block, the heritage building expected to act as the temporary home for the House of Commons for 10 years.
Newspaper Stories
Newfoundland
Newfoundlanders use whatever means available to hold fast to their cherished land
http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/features/163073/outport-life
European exploration of Newfoundland was tied to the island’s rich fishing grounds, especially on the Grand Banks—a continental shelf roughly two hundred miles off the southeast coast. As early as 1500, migratory fishermen from England, France, Portugal, and Spain made the arduous six-week voyage across the Atlantic each spring.
Prince Edward Island
P.E.I.'s Scottish connection celebrated in worldwide art effort
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/tapestry-scotland-p-e-i-diaspora-1.3760879
One of the world's largest community art projects is coming to P.E.I. in October, and part of it was made right here.
It's a gigantic tapestry made up of hundreds of panels, and five of the panels tell stories about this province, sewn by Island stitchers.
That's because it's all about Scotland, and the Scottish people spread around the world.
Nova Scotia
Son of renowned civil rights activist Garvey to speak at CBU Wednesday
http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2016-09-13/article-4639821/Son-of-renowned-civil-rights-activist-Garvey-to-speak-at-CBU-Wednesday/1
The son of a well known civil rights activists from Cape Breton’s history will be guest speaker at Cape Breton University on Wednesday as part of the Decade for People of African Descent speaker series.
East Preston United Baptist Church recording community's history
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/east-preston-united-baptist-church-anniversary-174-1.3755027
A church that is the heartbeat of a historic African Nova Scotian community on the outskirts of Dartmouth will celebrate its 174th anniversary with a literally historic event on Sunday.
Ed Coleman’s history: Racism in 1763?
http://www.kingscountynews.ca/Living/2016-09-11/article-4637017/Ed-Coleman%26rsquo%3Bs-history%3A-Racism-in-1763%3F/1
In the History of Kings County, Arthur W. H. Eaton skims lightly over an incident involving “some of the new settlers in Horton and Cornwallis” and an “Indian named Batholemew Nocout.”
New Brunswick
Ancient portage trail re-opens in Mount Carleton Provincial Park
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-portage-trail-1.3757526
After years of backbreaking work, a restored portage route used hundreds of years ago by those who travelled the province by canoe is now officially open.
‘It’s completely unique’: N.B. history lovers uncover answers about mysterious artifact
http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/it-s-completely-unique-n-b-history-lovers-uncover-answers-about-mysterious-artifact-1.3067531
The biggest mystery in Cape Enrage, N.B., is also its smallest.
A five-centimetre tall artifact with a human-like face, carved from the mandible of a white-tail deer,was discovered in the community in 1998.
Hillsborough heritage church finds new life as business centre
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/hillsboroough-church-business-centre-1.3764097
A church in Hillsborough that is over a century old was saved when a German bakery moved in.
Oliver Hofer runs his bakery, rents office space and even lives in the church.
The former church is now home to several businesses.
After the Hillsborough Baptists Church congregation outgrew the original, castle-like structure, it moved into a larger church on Salem Road in 2011.
Prince Edward Island
Facing the Change: 50% of Lennox Island, P.E.I., could be underwater in 50 years
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/lennox-island-pei-water-ocean-sea-levels-1.3756916
Lennox Island, a small First Nations community in Prince Edward Island, is beginning to disappear amid the rising waters of the Atlantic Ocean, having already lost one square kilometre of land in a single generation.
Quebec
Montreal prepares for year-long 375th birthday bash in 2017
http://www.ottawasun.com/2016/09/13/montreal-prepares-for-year-long-375th-birthday-bash-in-2017
Giant puppets, street parties and social media-savvy bridge lights are just some of the ways Montreal is planning to celebrate its 375th birthday next year.
Ontario
Canadian WWII soldier killed on Belgian battlefield buried after 72 years
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadian-wwii-soldier-killed-on-belgian-battlefield-buried-after-72-years-1.3072381?autoPlay=true
A Canadian soldier killed during the Second World War, whose remains went undiscovered for 70 years on a Belgian battlefield, has been laid to rest in a Commonwealth cemetery outside the city of Bruges.
The Elgins celebrate 150 years of military history
http://www.theweeklynews.ca/news-story/6851103-the-elgins-celebrate-150-years-of-military-history/
Before there was officially a Canada, the Elgin Regiment was there to defend it.
The Elgin Regiment was created as the 25th Elgin Battalion of Infantry on Sept. 14, 1866, subsequently becoming the current 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins), which claims the distinction of being the nation’s last surviving county regiment.
EMEMBERING OUR YESTERDAYS: City directories are an important resource for genealogists
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6848388-remembering-our-yesterdays-city-directories-are-an-important-resource-for-genealogists/
Often when I receive a new genealogical case, one of the first things I like to do is visit the library to trace the subject through a given range of years (or decades) in Toronto city directories.
Quebec
Hydro Quebec archaeologist finds history in unlikely places
http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/hydro-quebec-archaeologist-finds-history-in-unlikely-places-1.3066951
Montreal’s streets are lined with history, but for Hydro Quebec archaeologist Andre Burroughs, the real history is under those roads.
Whenever Hydro Quebec is working underground, Burroughs is on the scene, just in case a discovery is made.
“Whenever we have a new project, we look into the historical background of the area we’re going to be building on,” he said.
Kuujjuarapik woman reunited with southern Ontario father
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/kuujjuarapik-woman-reunited-with-southern-ontario-father-1.3751235
This summer, George Luchuk of Milbrooke, Ont., decided to go searching for the daughter he'd never met.
"I had that in my heart all my life." Luchuk told CBC's Quebec AM.
It had been 55 years since he set foot in the remote northern Quebec community of Kuujjuarapik when he landed there on August 15.
In Depth: Burial ground under René-Lévesque Boulevard shines light on Scottish Montreal
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/rene-levesque-cemetery-montreal-scottish-1.3757370
A 19th-century burial ground uncovered during construction on René-Lévesque Boulevard has revived interest in the long and colourful history of Montreal's Scottish community.
First German submarine sunk by the Royal CanadianNavy
https://thediscoverblog.com/2016/09/09/first-german-submarine-sunk-by-the-royal-canadian-navy/
‘It’s completely unique’: N.B. history lovers uncover answers about mysterious artifact
http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/it-s-completely-unique-n-b-history-lovers-uncover-answers-about-mysterious-artifact-1.3067531
The biggest mystery in Cape Enrage, N.B., is also its smallest.
A five-centimetre tall artifact with a human-like face, carved from the mandible of a white-tail deer,was discovered in the community in 1998.
Saskatchewan
Montgomery Place Becomes National Historic Site
http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/local-news/76562-montgomery-place-becomes-national-historic-site
A flash of the 1940s will take place in the Montgomery Place neighbourhood as it celebrates a significant anniversary.
The neighbourhood was built after the Second World War as soldiers returned back to Canada, and is being recognized as a National Historic site.
Alberta
Protecting our heritage: How Calgary stacks up against other Canadian
http://globalnews.ca/news/2945777/protecting-our-heritage-how-calgary-stacks-up-against-other-canadian-cities/
This week the City of Calgary moved to protect another piece of its history. Councillors voted to designate
Wild Rose United Church as a municipal heritage resource.
The building, in the community of Crescent Heights, dates back to 1930.
British Columbia
UBC centre to honour residential school survivors breaks ground
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ubc-residential-school-history-dialogue-centre-1.3757593
Cindy Tom-Lindley says her grandmother had all her children taken to residential schools and the family had no choice but to
B.C. recognizes South Asian Canadian heritage; nominations will be open until November 6
http://www.voiceonline.com/b-c-recognizes-south-asian-canadian-heritage-nominations-will-be-open-until-november-6/
BRITISH Columbians are invited to nominate places of historic significance to South Asian Canadians for recognition.
North
The value of Inuit oral history
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/the-value-of-inuit-oral-history-393206241.html
If the discovery of the wreckage of the two ships belonging to Sir John Franklin underscores anything, it’s the value of indigenous knowledge.
Canadian Stories this Week
Life & Family History Writing Workshop
There have been many writing workshps held every fall in Canada, and one of them is
(and it's back by popular demand) - Michele Buhler's Life & Family History Writing Workshop.
It will be held from October 4 to December 6, 2016 (10 sessions), and it will be held at the AFHS Library at 712 - 16 Avenue NW in Calgary, Alberta.
This is a series of 10 classes featuring Chinook editor Michele Buhler as the instructor.
Her workshop got rave reviews the first time around, so you won't want to miss out on it!
The fee will be $200.00 for non-members, $170 for AFHS members.
For more information visit the Alberta Family History Society at
http://afhs.ab.ca/resources/education.shtml
THE Weekly Genealogist Vol. 19 No 39 Whole #80
In the online magazine, they take weekly surveys, and here is the latest and it is about DNA.
So they asked what you thought about your your experiences with genealogical DNA testing. 4,579 people answered the survey. More than one answer could be selected.
The results were
69%, Yes, I have had my DNA tested.
7%, The results of my DNA test had a major impact on my life.
27%, The results of my DNA test changed the way I thought about my family history.
19%, I thought my DNA results were neither interesting nor surprising.
18%, No, I have not had my DNA tested but I plan to do so.
11%, No, I have not had my DNA tested and do not ever plan to have it tested.
Isn't that interesting news! 69% says that they have had it tested, yet only 27% say is changed the way the person thought about their genealogy. Almost an equal amount thought that the DNA results were not interesting,
So it it worth getting your DNA tested, or is it somethinh “new” thst you feel you must have dine ti be included in tiday conversation.
And that was the week in Canadian news!
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