10th Anniversary of Canada's Juno Beach Centre

For a look back at the ceremony on 06 June 2003 of the opening of Canada's Juno Beach Centre, please visit our website for the original post - http://www.genealogycanada.com/Juno%20Beach.htm

69th Anniversary of D-Day

 The Men Are Ready...Only You Can Give Them Wings

  Credit: Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1983-30-106 (Copyright: is expired) 

Today is the 69^th Anniversary of D-Day – the Normandy Invasion on the northern beaches of France.

As the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, said today in an official statement -

“The 109 vessels and 10,000 sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy helped keep the German fleet bottled up in ports, cleared mines across the English Channel, silenced enemy batteries on the shoreline, and carried Canadian troops and landing craft to the battle.

“Finally, the soldiers of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade through raw courage, grit and determination engaged in fierce combat on the beaches and in the small towns of Normandy helping smash the first line of German coastal defences.  In fact, by the evening of June 6, 1944, Canadian troops had progressed further inland than any of their Allies – a proud and remarkable accomplishment.

“The day took a heavy toll.  To secure victory on D-Day, 340 Canadians gave their lives, 574 were wounded and 47 taken prisoner.

“Let us pause on this day to recall and honour the noble sacrifices of these heroes who with other Allied forces turned the tide of the war, rid Europe of the Nazi scourge, and paid a price so that we and so many others might be able to enjoy peace and freedom with our families. While it is an impossible debt to repay, we honour their memory". 

Lest We Forget

D-Day: Canada's role http://www.cbc.ca/news/dday CBC give a very comprehensive retelling of  Canada’s role in D-Day, with video, photos, and excellent timelines that you might find useful in writing family history.

Juno http://junobeach.stormpages.com A site which describes the Canadian participation of the 3rd Canadian Division which landed on Juno Beach. 

Experience Aboriginal History Month at the Canadian Museum of Civilization

If you are planning to come to Ottawa during your summer vacation, stop by the Canadian Museum Of Civilization to take in their new Aboriginal exhibit - Indigenous and Urban.

Indigenous and Urban is a summer-long program featuring visual and media arts, music, dance, film, readings and interactive workshops.

Come see the new outdoor sculpture created by Mary Anne Barkhouse of the Nimpkish band, Kwakiutl First Nation for the Canadian Museum of Civilization. The sculpture of a life-size copper canoe and bronze wolf will be installed outside in the pond adjacent to the Grand Hall.

You can also walk through the six Native houses and explore the newly-redesigned First Peoples of the Northwest Coast exhibition. You can also see the brightly coloured ceiling mural by Dene Suline artist Alex Janvier  and Bill Reid's well known sculpture, The Spirit of the Haida Gwaii.

In addition, you can also visit the Grand Hall and the towering totem poles of the Northwest Coast. And you can continue on to the First Peoples Hall for an overview of the  history and culture of Native Peoples across Canada.

Join the people on June 27 at 5 p.m. for Indigenous and Urban, and see the new sculpture by acclaimed  Kwakiutl First Nation artist Mary Anne Barkhouse.

As the press release says “MAKE JUNE your month to connect with the songs and stories, history and present day of the Peoples who have inhabited this land for thousands of years”.

The exhibit will be open from June 27, 2013 to September 2, 2013 

To see more about the museum, you can go to www.civilization.ca

UPDATE: 1891 Canada Census

There is still more census news today - 

"Library and Archives Canada is pleased to announce the release of a new version of the Canadian Census of 1891. This third general census covered the seven provinces and one territory that were then part of Confederation: British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the Northwest Territories.

The new version includes suggestions for corrections that were received from users in recent months, as well as revised district and sub-district information".

You can go to www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx

Update on 1921 Census

Here is the press release we have been waiting for -

"Library and Archives Canada took custody of the Census of the Canadian population, 1921 from Statistics Canada on June 1st, 2013, and is beginning work to make it discoverable for Canadians. Closed for 92 years under the Statistics Act to protect individuals’ private information, the census data is being indexed so it can be mined for historical and genealogical research as soon as possible.

Information for the census was collected on the following five subjects: population; agriculture; animals, animal products, fruits not on farms; manufacturing and trading establishments; and supplemental questionnaire for persons who were blind and deaf. This represents a total of 565 questions. The population questionnaire contained only 35 questions.

Library and Archives Canada is committed to making the 1921 Census’ rich and complex information accessible and available to all Canadians, no matter where they live, in the next few weeks. Further details on the 1921 Census’ availability will be shared once they are available".

So there we have it – the 1921 Census has been transferred from Statistics Canada to the Library and Archives Canada.

Now, the LAC isn’t saying who the indexers are, right now. Will we learn, as they say, in the next few weeks? Who are these “mysterious indexers”?

The website is www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx.

OGS Branch Anniversaries in 2013

Crest of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS)

This year, the following branches of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) will be celebrating their respective anniversaries (in chronological order) since becoming an organized branch of the OGS -

 

London & Middlesex County Branch - They will be celebrating their 45th anniversary this year. They are presently reworking their website, which already contains many resources online.

 

Their website is www.londonmiddlesex.ogs.on.ca

Kingston Branch - It will be 40 years since they first met in Kingston to form a genealogical society.
 

They have interesting speakers at their monthly meetings, and have extra resources available on their "Members' Only" webpage.

 

Their website is www.ogs.on.ca/kingston

 

Kent County Branch - It will be 35 years ago this year that Kent County formed a genealogical society to be a part of the Ontario Genealogical Society.

 

Their website is www.ogs.on.ca/kent

 

Leeds & Grenville Branch - It will be 35 years since the Leeds and Grenville Branch was formed, and they have made great progress since then.

 

They publish a great newsletter four times a year, and have interesting programs. They also have a very good resource centre.

 

Their website is www.leedsandgrenvillegenealogy.com

 

Simcoe County Branch - The Simcoe County Branch was formed 30 years ago, and they have a great website, with many programs highlighted.

 

The website is www.simcoebogs.com

 

Perth County Branch - The Perth County Branch was also formed 30 years ago, and they have many of the township resources online.

 

Their website is www.ogs.on.ca/perth

 

Irish Palantine SIG - The Irish Palantine Special Interest Group (SIG) was first formed five years ago. They have a history of the Irish Paltines online, and are always conducting tours of Ontario, plus tours of Ireland.

 

The website is www.ogs.on.ca/SIG-IP

 

The website of the Ontario Genealogical Society is www.ogs.on.ca

Canadian Week in Review

03 June 2013

I have come across the following Canadian 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

There is none available this past week.

Blogs

My Ain Folk The Faunt & Fants of Ireland  http://myainfolkfantofireland.blogspot.com The blogger’s family were mostly in Cork/Tipperary/Limerick for 600 years when they left Ireland in 1869 and came to New Jersey. Other lines ( Fant) are in Colonial Virginia c. 1671 and Canada and Australia ( Font and Faunt) Few are left in Ireland.

Facebook- YouTube – Video

At Park Canada, they have over 40 videos to view, and over 4,000 people have spent time at this site. 

Some of the videos are not what you would expect to see, but they are interesting, nevertheless.

An example is the Whitewater German Prisoner of War Camp, The Vikings of L’Anse Aux Meadows, and The Battle of Fort George.

They are available at http://www.pc.gc.ca/media/index_e.asp

 

Newspapers

'Lest We Forget' - launched at Algoma U www.sootoday.com/content/news/details.asp?c=57444

A new collection, the "Lest We Forget" Remembrance and Military Library (LWFRML), which houses a special collection of books focusing on Canada's vast military history and peacekeeping activities is now at Algoma University at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Upper Fort Garry heritage park development set to begin www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2013/05/27/mb-upper-fort-garry-heritage-park-winnipeg.html Work is starting this week on a heritage park at Winnipeg's Upper Fort Garry site, an area known as the birthplace of Manitoba.

Rescued murals now at U of S: Saskatoon's Perehudoff paintings on display http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/story/2013/05/29/saskatoon-mural-130529.htmlMurals that William Perehudoff painted at the now demolished Intercontinental Packers building are on display at the University of Saskatchewan. Art historians painstakingly removed the murals before the building was torn down.

Classic cars rev up the ultimate car show at Reynolds-Alberta Museum

http://beaconnews.ca/blog/2013/05/reynolds-alberta-museum-hosting-ultimate-car-showOn June 8 and 9, over 550 cars, trucks and motorcycles will be on display at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum west of Wetaskiwin, Alberta.

Canadian history on a brick wall: Three cameras will synchronize for War of 1812 video screening www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/metro/Canadian-history-on-a-brick-wall-209257921.html A free showing of Flames of War — An 1812 Experience will take place at The Historical Museum of St. James-Assiniboia on Sat., June 8 at  3180 Portage Ave, Winnipeg.

Irish delegation coming to West Prince (Prince Edward Island) www.journalpioneer.com/News/Local/2013-05-23/article-3257682/Irish-delegation-coming-to-West-Prince/1The Tignish Municipal Council and the Irish Heritage Festival committee meant with a delegation from County Monaghan, Ireland during the last week in May.

The lonesome beauty of Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore: The coast between Halifax and Cape Breton is rugged, rich in history and largely unexplored www.montrealgazette.com/travel/lonesome+beauty+Nova+Scotia+Eastern+Shore/8425394/story.html Follow along with Elin Miller as she travels Route 7 along the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia.

Pictures and Story of the Week

Have you decided where you are going on vacation this year? Ever thought about our national parks, and what Canada Parks have to offer?

The 2013 season, called Reboot, Escape, Discover, they have many programs that you can visit at their National Parks of Canada, National Historic Sites of Canada, or at National Marine Conservation Areas of Canada.

The site where you can visit is at www.pc.gc.ca/eng/index.aspx   

The next Canadian Week in Review will be issued Monday June 10, 2013