Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Canadian Genealogy News 08 September 2015



Here are some news items which have come across my desk this morning - 

Family history from Scratch 

Basics and best practices for beginners and beyond!

Presented by both Hamilton and Niagara Peninsula Branches of the Ontario Genealogical Society, and it helps you find out where to begin.

Network with beginner, intermediate, advanced, and professional genealogists through a day of back-to-basics style of learning!

The highlights will be - 

An Overview of Family Search by Terri Wood

Essentials of Ancestry.ca by Lesley Anderson

Research from a Distance by Danielle Manning - Archives of Ontario

Inspirational/Research in the UK by Kirsty Gray, Family-Wise Ltd.

It will be held on Saturday from 8:45 till 4:00 pm, at the St. Andrew's Church, Grimsby, Ontario. 

The cost is $20.00.


Branch meetings 

There has been a change of date for the September meeting – it will be held tonight with the Durham Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society at the Oshawa Public Library Auditorium, Bagot St., Oshawa at 7:30 pm. 

The topic will be Solve Genealogical Problems by Creating a Timeline (recorded webinar) 

Timelines are very useful ways of visualizing data. Timelines give you an order of and context for events, or to show what kinds of events were happening around your ancestors. Using Excel spreadsheets, this webinar will show how to solve different types of genealogical problems by using timelines.

The webpage is at http://www.durham.ogs.on.ca/

And 

On September 19th, Quinte Genealogical Society will be holding Great Moments in Genealogy. Members will be encouraged to share their research successes, brick wall breakthroughs, serendipity moments or any other significant event in the pursuit of our past.

Join them for the afternoon is Jim Harrison, Mayor of Quinte West. In addition to bringing words of greeting from the city, Mayor Harrison will be making a presentation to Quinte Branch to mark and recognize their 35th Anniversary. 

The meeting is held at Quinte West City Hall Library, 7 Creswell Drive, Trenton, Ontario at 1:00 pm. 

Their website is at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canqbogs/index.htm (They hold records for Prince Edward, Hastings & part of Northumberland Counties).

They also have a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/QuinteBranch.OGS

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 at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/09/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-07.html

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

Monday, September 7, 2015

Canadian Week in review (CWR) 07 September 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

A note to researchers, did you know that before September 1955,the Anglican Church of Canada was known as the Church of England in the Dominion of Canada.

In 1977, the church's General Synod adopted l'Église épiscopale du Canada as its French-language name, and the name was changed again in 1989 to l'Église anglicane du Canada.

To read more about the subject, go to http://www.anglican.ca




On 02 September 1912, a wild west show cowboy named Guy Weadick, started a show called the Calgary Stampede, billed as the The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth, and The Last and Best Great West Frontier Days Celebration. 

Over 150 riders from Western Canada and the US arrive to claim the purse, and 25,000 spectators watch the six day pageant of bronc busting, calf roping, trick riding and steer wrestling at an oval arena at the confluence of the Bow River and Elbow River. 

The Stampede reopened again after the First World War, in late August, 1919, when it was billed as the Victory Stampede. It was then renamed the Calgary Stampede, and it has been held annually every summer.  

To read more about the Calgary Stampede, go to http://www.calgarystampede.com/

Social Media

I am so glad that Fred Blair has decided to do a blog on War of 1812 Canadian Stories at http://warof1812cdnstories.blogspot.ca/

Among Canadian genealogists, he is a recognized authority on the Canadian side of the War of 1812, and has spent many hours going over the microfilm at the Library and Archives Canada.

To use his own words, his blog will be “a collection of stories on life in Upper Canada organized in order by the date of the event. You can search for stories related to historical events like the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812, by checking that date or the days before or after that date". 

There is also a name index and list of sources. 

Newspaper Articles

Nova Scotia

Amherst to meet with Heritage Trust over BMO building

http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/News/Local/2015-09-01/article-4263427/Amherst-to-meet-with-Heritage-Trust-over-BMO-building/1

Amherst is going to meet with representatives of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia to discuss the fate of the former BMO building, but it’s continuing to move forward with the demolition process.

Halifax's first zoo is well-kept secret of Fairmount history

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-zoological-gardens-1.3207653

The year 1847 was a long, long time ago — so long, in fact, that the area around what is now Joseph Howe Drive and the Armdale Rotary was a little on the wild side.

One of the area's well-kept secrets is that there was a zoo located in what's now known as Fairmount. 

Ontario 

THE JOY OF GENEALOGY: Beware the seven dastardly deeds of genealogy

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5818759-the-joy-of-genealogy-beware-the-seven-dastardly-deeds-of-genealogy/

The Catholic religion has a list of seven cardinal vices, the Seven Deadly Sins: wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony. 

Heritage on the buses, rails and Internet

http://www.lfpress.com/2015/09/04/heritage-fun-on-the-buses-rails-and-internet

There is big-time heritage fun on the buses, on the rails and online in the London region this month.

The bus gets rolling on what is wittily dubbed “the steel wheels tour” on Sept. 19 when the London and Middlesex Historical Society and Architectural Conservancy of Ontario London team up to offer a day trip into London, St. Thomas and Port Stanley railway heritage.

Manitoba 

Kennedy House tea room faces 2.5 year closure: province

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/kennedy-house-tea-room-faces-2-5-year-closure-province-1.3215175

A popular summer destination north of Winnipeg has spent the summer closed and won't open again anytime soon.

Captain Kennedy House, a privately-run tea room in St. Andrews, was closed by the province in April after engineers found the 150-year-old historic building had structural problems.

Saskatchewan

Proposed Bill Would Make Province More Accountable for Archives

http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68525:proposed-bill-would-make-province-more-accountable-for-archives&catid=61&Itemid=179

Bill 141, which is the Archives and Public Records Management Act, which has yet to be proclaimed, will advance government accountability for the management of public records, particularly electronic ones.

The Stories This Week 

Is Canadian Family History Month in our future??

I listened to Jill Ball's six-hour Hangout on Air last week on the subject of Australia National Family History Month, and it lead me, once again, to wonder if Canada should have such a month, so that the county can focus on their family history. 

If you listen to the hangout, Jill was successful in bringing Australian genealogists from all over the county together, and they discussed various topics addressing their societies, groups, bloggers, and conferences. 

I thought it was very good, and along with the help of Dear Myrt and Cousin Russ in the United States who helped Jill with the technology stuff. Jill did a good job.  

So to get back at the question - Do we need a family history month in Canada? Do we want a family history month in Canada? Do we need to define Canadian genealogy? Does our genealogy need a national forum like Canadian Family History Month?

What do you think? Would it be a good or bad thing for us to start working towards the goal of having our own family history month? 

If you need some direction, take a look at http://www.familyhistorymonth.org.au/ 


===========================================================================

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/2015/08/canadian-news-in-review-cwr-31-august.html

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

Friday, September 4, 2015

FREE! Ancestry is providing free access to its entire collection of Canadian immigration records


Part of their press release says -

The majority of Canadians view Labour Day as the unofficial end to summer, but how often do we stop and think of the historic origins of this national holiday?  How many of us know it marks a massive public protest in the streets of Toronto in 1872 for worker’s rights and benefits?

If you’re a third-generation Canadian, there’s a good chance your great-grandparents would have been working-age during the first Labour Day over 140 years ago, or may have even taken part in the protest themselves. But do you know what they actually did? 

According to a recent Ancestry survey, only one-third of Canadians know the occupation of at least one great-grandparent. 

And for those Canadians that don’t know when their ancestors arrived or where they arrived from, AncestryDNA gives you the ability to learn your ethnic ancestry and connect with others who may hold the key to the stories of your family’s past. More information about AncestryDNA can be found at: http://dna.ancestry.ca 

To access the immigration records Sept 3-7, please go to http://www.ancestry.ca/cs/labourday2015?o_iid=67317&o_lid=67317&o_sch=Web+Property

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 at
http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/08/canadian-news-in-review-cwr-31-august.html

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

Ontario's Oldest Family History Fair - Norfolklore Family History Fair 2016



The Norfolklore Family History Fair is the oldest genealogy fair in Ontario and is the one annual event that should not be missed if you are interested in Norfolk history and genealogy.
Each year since 1976 it has attracted dozens of genealogical resource providers/exhibitors and hundreds of genealogists researching their Upper Canada/Ontario/Norfolk roots.

It will be held Saturday, September 19th, 2015 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm at the Eva Brook Donly Museum & Archives, 109 Norfolk St. S. Simcoe, Ontario. 

The admission will be $10.00 per person. $5.00 for Historical Society Members. 

Included in Admission - Norfolklore Gift Bag, containing information from family history providers across the Internet and local businesses.

There will be a speaker series, door prizes, and vendors.



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 at
http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/08/canadian-news-in-review-cwr-31-august.html

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

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Canadian Genealogy News (CGN) 03 September 2015



Here are some news items which have come across my desk this morning - 

Legacy Vital Statistics Now on Family Search Website

 
Although I reported on this during the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) conference back in May of this year, this is the first chance I have had to read about it on the Archives of Ontario website at http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/microfilm/legacy_vital_statistics_on_family_search_website.aspx

They signed a licencing agreement with Family Search International (FSI) to make available online several years of historical Ontario vital statistics records previously available only on microfilm.

The following records will be available online through the FSI website for free

Births 1869-1910 are available at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1784212

Marriages 1869-1927 are available at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1784216

Deaths 1869-1937 are available at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1307826

1392 Steam Locomotive Running Labor Day Weekend!

The Alberta Railway Museum located in Edmonton, Alberta, will be taking passengers on the Labour Day weekend September 5th, 6th and 7th for a trip around the museum. 

The museum is an outdoor display of railway equipment and buildings. The museum replicates a small terminal with station, water tank and shops. The main emphasis is on cars and locomotives from the Canadian National Railways (CNR), Northern Alberta Railways (NAR) and industrial and short line railways.

So, you can go to the museum at http://www.albertarailwaymuseum.com/

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 at
http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/08/canadian-news-in-review-cwr-31-august.html

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

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Canadian Genealogy News (CGN) 02 September 2015



Here are some news items which have come across my desk this morning - 

Genealogy courses at Oakville Public Library

The Oakville Public Library, Oakville, Ontario has announced the list of genealogy courses for the fall and winter of 2015-2016.

The courses for September are -

Scottish Research From Afar

Professional Genealogist Ruth Blair will take you through the process of using the site (ScotlandsPeople) and show you how to use other resources to narrow down your search in order to use it in a cost – effective manner. She’ll also demonstrate other online resources that can assist you with our research. If you can’t go to Scotland to research your family, then this lecture will help you discover what is available online.

The course will be held at the Central Branch on Wednesday September 23 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm 

The cost: $8.00

You can register through the website https://secure.oakville.ca/iris/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp 


The course code is 210787

Scottish Research beyond the Census and Civil registration

You’ve searched the Scottish census and civil registration records for your ancestors. What’s next? Are you on the right track? 

Professional Genealogist Ruth Blair will provide you with some resources to take you past the basic records to help you find out more about your Scottish ancestors. Why did the Scots emigrate and where did they settle? Understanding the emigration of the Scots is vital and will assist with your research and enhance your family history story.

Central Branch on Wednesday September 30th from 7:00 am to 8:30 pm

You can register through the website https://secure.oakville.ca/iris/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp 


The course code is 210785




Job opportunity

Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) is looking for an editor of their newsletter/journal The Ottawa Genealogist, as well as one new proof reader.

This is a very good newsletter/journal, with lots of news and articles, photos and local news. It is produced both electronically and manually, and is published four times a year. 

If you are interested, contact ottawachair@ogs.on.ca.


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 at
http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/08/canadian-news-in-review-cwr-31-august.html

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

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Canadian Genealogy News (CGN) 01 September 2015


Here are some news items which have come across my desk this morning - 


1921 census for Pictou County, Nova Scotia has been posted 

The 1921 census for Pictou County, Nova Scotia is now fully transcribed and available to view at the link below. 

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

Canada and U.S., Dutch Emigrants, 1946-1963

Very seldom does Ancestry put on new Canadian records, but this week there is a new one - Canada and U.S., Dutch Emigrants, 1946-1963.

You may find the following on the databse -

name

birth date

place of origin

arrival year

destination

sponsor year

religion

relation to head

family size

This database was Dutch Emigrant Families Assisted by the Immigration Committee of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, 1946–1963. Archives at Calvin College in Heritage Hall, Christian Reformed Church of North America, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

The database is at http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60926

Family members and others gathered at the DeForest Pioneer Cemetery in Milton, Ontario

On Saturday Aug 29, members of the DeForest family and others gathered at the DeForest Pioneer Cemetery in Milton, Ontario to witness the unveiling of a United Empire Loyalist Burial Site plaque to recognize Abraham DeForest.

See the photos on the Halton-Peel Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/774317655963454/permalink/920942034634348/

Abraham DeForest is listed at the United Empire Loyalist Directory at http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info/loyalist_list.php?letter=d

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 at
http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/08/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-23-august.html

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

Monday, August 31, 2015

Canadian News in Review (CWR) 31 August 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 August, Fleury Mesplet, first published the bilingual Montreal Gazette, in Montreal, Quebec. It is the oldest operating newspaper in Canada today. 

To read more about Mesplet, read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleury_Mesplet






Fort Brisebois, Alberta, which had been established by the North-West Mounted Police, was renamed Fort Calgary in August, 1875. 

To see Fort Calgary, go to http://www.fortcalgary.com/

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

Social Media 

(Photos) Historic photos project tells Bonavista's history for Ross Abbott 


Ross Abbott, who is from Bonavista, Newfoundland, is using Facebook to document some of the town's history, through old photographs - 31,000 photos, to be exact.

(Video) St. Patrick's High School demolition begins in Halifax


The demolition of St. Patrick's High School in Halifax started Monday with heavy equipment rolling onto the property and backhoes punching holes in the walls.

Newspaper Articles

Newfoundland 

We don’t call it Fogtown for nothing


No one can deny that the weather in Newfoundland has been worst kind so far this summer.

Tara Feener's 100 Days of Newfoundland on display at Gallery 24


An artist's digital take on Newfoundland and Labrador is on display at a gallery in St. John's.

Tara Feener's 100 Days of Newfoundland is an exhibition of 100 unique drawings of people, places and popular landmarks, and it opened Thursday night at Gallery 24.

Nova Scotia

Grand Pré company’s maps travel the world


Three of Lost Art Cartography's maps have been chosen by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) to be featured in its annual map book. The map book recognizes important and innovative accomplishments of geographic information system (GIS) users around the world.

New Brunswick

Minto murals show off town history


Some new artwork is being unveiled along the streets of Minto thanks to some residents in the town who commissioned murals to be painted by Fredericton artist Ron Sajack.

Ontario 

Champlain Week to celebrate 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain first portage in the Peterborough area


Next week marks the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's first portage through the Peterborough region.

To honour the occasion, Mayor Daryl Bennett proclaimed next week, from Sunday to Sept. 5, to be Champlain Week.

Birthplace of Alexander Mackenzie for sale in Scotland

For less than the price of a fixer-upper in Toronto, you can own a stately piece of Canadian history in Scotland for 287,000 pounds — or about 594,900 loonies. 


It’s the birthplace of Canada’s second prime minister, Alexander Mackenzie, who was born in 1822 and went on to be Liberal PM from 1873 to 1878. 

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan skateboard company teaches riders about colonial history 


A Saskatchewan man is using his passion for skateboarding to teach others about Canada’s history of colonialism and its effect on Aboriginal Peoples, 

Alberta

“The Morrow County History Center” is name of Historical Society Museum


Morrow County Chamber of Commerce members at the August meeting were the first to hear the name chosen for the History Museum on the Mount Gilead public square. 

The Stories This Week

Now that summer vacation is over, one can tell by the weather today, that Fall is on it's way in the Norther Hemisphere. That can only mean one thing – genealogy! 

I had the occasion to write an article this week for the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE), and I wrote that “The schedules for the fall genealogy meetings have started to appear in Canada. Libraries have released their course schedules for the fall, and the archives have put their exhibit schedules on their websites - so all is set. Canada will be an exciting place to explore your Canadian ancestors this fall”.

Isn't that true!

So here are some activities that you may like to attend - 

Be sure to attend the British Columbia Genealogical Society’s second annual Harvest Supper, Wednesday, 9 September, 2015 from 6-7 pm, before the General Meeting, at the Danish Lutheran Church, 6010 Kincaid Street in Burnaby.

The dinner was well attended last year and a great time was had by all, so reserve your places early. [ If you need to e-mail about the supper, send a note to bcgs@bcgs.ca

The general meeting will begin at 7:30 pm.

Group sessions after the meeting will include the English Interest Group and the USA Interest Group. 

The dinner cost is $10. RSVP to Darlene at 604-591-2841, or to Lynne at 604-942-3663 before September the 4th.

The Edmonton Branch of the Alberta Genealogical Society is happy to host an array of genealogical topics under their fall session Tracing Your Family Tree over three Saturdays. 

The date of the course will be 

Saturday, 24 October 2015, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Saturday, 31 October 2015, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Saturday, 7 November 2015, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Cost for the entire course, including handouts: $80 for AGS members; $100 for non-members. 

You need to register, and this can be done at http://www.agsedm.edmonton.ab.ca/pdf/BrochureTYFT2014.pdf 

There is going to be an Open House at the Manitoba Genealogical Society (MGS) Open House held in conjunction with MB Culture Days on Saturday, September 26 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Join MGS in exploring “genealogy” and family history. For beginners, our interactive Open House will introduce you to genealogy and will provide: assistance to begin your family search, a tour of our Library/Resource Center, and activities for children. For current genealogists we will have an introduction to our new online database MANI with 1.5 million records of Manitoba names. We will also have a “problem corner” to help solve roadblocks in your family search. Join us for a look back into your own family history.

This sounds great!

The website of the MGS is http://www.mbgenealogy.com/

And the Canadian Museum of History is offering a 15-minute curatorial mini-tour with historian Erin Gurski, research associate for the Terry Fox – Running to the Heart of Canada exhibit. 

See the most significant objects and learn more about iconic artifacts related to the Marathon of Hope. 

The mini-tour will be held 

Sunday, September 6 at 1:30 p.m.

Monday, September 7 at 1:30 p.m.

Meet in the Museum’s Main Lobby

Free with Museum admission


This is just of the few activities that are going to take place in Canada during the fall months. 

===========================================================================

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/2015/08/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-23-august.html

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

Friday, August 28, 2015

Canadian Genealogy News (CGN) 28 August 2015


Here are some news items which have come across my desk this morning - 

Genealogical library will close on Labour Day weekend (Sept 7) 

The office and library of the Quebec Family History Society (QFHS) will be closed from Thursday August 27th until Monday September 7th. 

The office and library will re-open on Tuesday September 8th and will resume our regular opening hours: 

Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Wednesday Evening 6:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 

Sunday Afternoon 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 

They have their new membership now in effect. It runs from August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016.

If you want to renewed or are new and want to join the society, you can do so by going to the website at http://www.qfhs.ca/upload/files/2014/New_Membership_Year.pdf

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


Greek Canadian Heritage Project 

This weekend will be the last chance to see the Greek Canadian Heritage Project (GCHP) in Toronto. 

The GCHP was invited by Mike Cullen, owner of the community café, and Laura Heaney, curator, participated in the month long collaboration. The café’s walls are consistently decorated by the work of local artists and engage patrons while they enjoy Broadview Espresso’s coffee and snacks.

The segment of its Toronto Telegram exhibit from August 1 – 31 at Broadview Espresso – 817 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON (Broadview Avenue just north of Danforth). 



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 at
http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/08/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-23-august.html

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