New/Improved Canadian Websites and Blogs Week 16

Here are some of the websites and blogs that I have come across the week ending December 18, 2011.

This week is about blogs only -

Robineau Family Genealogy www.robineau.ca/page/4 The website says that most of the blogger's family is from Eastern Ontario, Quebec, and France. The surnames are Sauve, Cartie, Lavimodiere, Powell, and White.

After They Left Antrim: A Peacock Family History http://ulsterpeacocks.blogspot.com Hugh Peacock (Ellen Waggot) and Thomas Peacock (Sarah Smith) left Ulster and immigrated to King Township, York County, Ontario in the mid-nineteenth century.

Etobicoke Cemeteries http://torontocemeteries.blogspot.com There are some cemeteries of Etobicoke, Toronto onsite here, with tombstone data online.

Forsyth Family History http://eastlothianforsyth.blogspot.com This blog covers the "ancestors and descendants of John Forsyth who was born in Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland in 1835. He came to Canada about 1855 (perhaps with his brother, Charles) and appears in the 1861 Census in King Township, York County".

The Kelowna & District Genealogical Society www.kdgs.ca There is some information on this blog about the society.

Loom to Lumber: Family History of Robert Gavin and Sarah Miller http://lanarkgavins.blogspot.com This blogs covers the family of "Robert Gavin and Sarah Miller and their descendants. The 1841 Scottish census records that Robert was a hand loom weaver born in Ireland. The couple and their young family emigrated from Lanarkshire after 1841, taking up land in Poland, Dalhousie Twp in Lanark County, Ontario".

Missisquoi County Canada Genealogy Research http://missisquoicanadagenealogyresearch.blogspot.com  Started in 2008, the blog is the "Roll Call of familes being researched in the Missisquoi area", which is in Quebec.

Prairie History Blog www.reginalibrary.ca/blogs/index.php?blog=7&tempskin=_rss2 New editions of magazines are discussed. The blog is part of the Regina Public Library.

The Hillmans Of Elgin County www.hillmansofelgin.blogspot.com A look at the Hillman family who immigrated from Wiltshire to Ontario, and then spread throughout North America.

Ukrainian Genealogy Group - Prince Edward Island, Canada http://uggpei.blogspot.com Started in 2004, this blog interests people who have a Ukrainian ancestry.

Next Week's Blog (Dec 26th) – Canadian Genealogy Books for the Holidays

BCGS Blog

The British Columbia Genealogical Society now has a blog!


It went online December 10 with the “BCGS TOUR – Vancouver City Archives – April 12, 2012”, and has continued with what is new in their library, and on December the 15 they celebrated the 40th anniversary of BCGS.


So keep posted on what is happening by going to their blog at http://www.bcgs.ca .

War of 1812 Celebration at Winterlude

This year at the annual winter festival called Winterlude in Ottawa will be held on the weekends from February 3 to 20, 2012. There will be a number of events which will celebrate the War of 1812.  

“Portraits on the Ice” presented by Library and Archives returns again this to mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 featuring portraits of British officers, First Nations allies, and French-and English-speaking militia and colonists.

As part of a longstanding relationship with Veterans Affairs Canada, a majestic ice sculpture will commemorate the 20th anniversary of Canadian military service in the Balkans and to pay tribute to the brave Canadians who lost their lives during the mission.

At Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park on the Gatineau, Quebec side of things Parks Canada will re-create the way of life of our ancestors in 1812. Maison Charron will be transformed into barracks from the war of 1812;

Also, celebrating their 50th anniversary, the Canadian Coast Guard will be at Snowflake Kingdom to demonstrate a day in the life of a Coast Guard employee through exciting activities and a unique display of water safety equipment.

For more information about Winterlude and the Rideau Canal Skateway, the public can contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 613-239-5090 (TTY), 1-800-465-1867 (toll-free) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY), or visit the website at http://www.Winterlude.gc.ca.

Age of Sail Heritage Museum

The federal government has just announced a $130,000 contribution toward the Cumberland County project the Age of Sail Heritage Museum at Port Greville, Nova Scotia. It will allow for the completion of the Wind, Waves and Tides exhibit building.

The press release says that "The completed facility, which will resemble a ship’s hull, will provide room for additional exhibit displays, storage of artifacts and genealogy research, as well as more space for workshops and community meetings".

The museum first opened in 1994, and it highlights the history of Parrsboro Shore communities along the Minas Channel of the Bay of Fundy with an emphasis on the area's shipbuilding and lumbering heritage.

It hosts a museum in an 1854 church, local blacksmith shop from the Wagstaff and Hatfield shipyard, as well as the Port Greville Lighthouse circa 1908, and a boathouse. Local genealogy and research material are also available.

The website is http://www.ageofsailmuseum.ca/default.htm

Toronto Branch of OGS – Winter Program

Toronto Branch of the OGS has now announced its winter 2012 lineup of family history courses. The Branch will be presenting four courses in February and March 2012, with a view to providing practical information for researchers with a variety of interests and a range of experience:

Family History Writing

This course is designed for individuals who want to make progress with organizing and writing up their research for personal or public use. Instructor: Gayle Dzis

Sharing Networks for Genealogists

This new half-day workshop will offer new ideas and approaches to help researchers share genealogical data on-line safely and effectively. Instructor: Marian Press

Creating a Family History Blog – for Genealogists

This new course will be taught in a computer lab. It will provide all the information necessary to find and read blogs, but will concentrate on how to build one’s own blog to share family research. Instructor: Marian Press

Exploring the Baldwin Room’s Manuscript Collection

This advanced course will explore the important Canadian manuscript collection housed in the Baldwin Room at the Toronto Reference Library, with hands-on examination of several manuscript fonds. Instructor: Jane E. MacNamara

For program details, course dates, speaker biographies and information on how to register for Toronto Branch courses, visit www.torontofamilyhistory.org/courses.html.

Jewish Heritage Month

On November 30th, 2011, M.P.P. Mike Colle, the member from Eglinton-Lawrence, introduced a Private Members’ Bill (Bill 17) in the Ontario Legislature. If it is passed, it will proclaim the month of May as Jewish Heritage Month in Ontario.

As the website says "Jewish Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the inspirational role that Jewish Canadians have played, and continue to play, in communities across Ontario".

“This bill would create an opportunity for Ontarians of all backgrounds to share and celebrate the long and vibrant history of the Jewish community in Ontario.” says M.P.P. Colle.

The Jewish Heritage Month Act, 2011 is co-sponsored by MPP Peter Shurman (Thornhill) and MPP Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale-High Park). The bill will come up for debate early in 2012.

If you would like to support Bill 17, please contact your local Member of the Provincial Parliament, or contact Mike Colle, M.P.P. Eglinton-Lawrence, Whitney Block, 99 Wellesley Street West, Room 6521,  

Tel: 416-314-6467. His email is mcolle.mpp@liberal.ola.org

For further information contact: Dustin Cohen, Office of MPP Mike Colle Tel: 416-314-6467. His email ia  dcohen@liberal.ola.org

Gene-O-Rama 2012 Cancelled

Word has reached me that the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will not host the 2012 Gene-O-Rama this year. The reason – they will be helping Region VIII to host the Ontario Genealogical Society Conference this year at Kingston, Ontario.

But they will be holding the AGM, and Genealogy Day on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at City of Ottawa Central Archives at 100 Tallwood Drive, Ottawa, Ontario.

It starts at 9:30-10:00 when you arrive, and speakers include Robert Serré, Rick Roberts and one of the staff from the City Archives. The City Archives will be open 10 am to 5 pm for research as well.

Marketplace will feature Global Genealogy as well as the member organizations of Region VIII, and some of the local heritage organizations.

Cost is $25, and it including lunch.

Check the details at   http://ogsottawa.on.ca/?p=1989