Free Access to Ancestry.ca

This just came across my desk this afternoon from Ancestry.ca –

TORONTO (June 25, 2013) – Ancestry.ca, Canada’s largest family history resource, is celebrating Canada Day with the launch of a collection of historical records that pre-date Confederation. Dating back to 1743, these are some of the oldest records ever to become available and be fully searchable online. In addition, Ancestry.ca is offering free access, from June 27 through July 2, to more than 40 million Canadian historical records from some of its most popular collections

Among the records being made available for free from June 27 through July 2 are some of the most popular collections on Ancestry.ca, including:

·         Canadian Passenger Lists and Ocean Arrivals – These collections consist of all records of immigration to Canada by ship or overland from the United States between 1865 and 1935, a period of 70 years that saw the largest influx of immigration into Canada ever, from all parts of the world.

·         The 1871 Census of Canada – the first census Canada conducted as a nation, which gives a snapshot of the lives of the people living at the time, including their ages, their jobs, the birthplaces of their parents, their neighbours and more.

·         Soldiers of the First World War – This collection contains the Attestation papers of all 600,000+ men enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and includes information about the soldier’s birthplace, next of kin, regiment number and more.

To check out the new Pre-Confederation records please visit www.ancestry.ca/150years and to search the records being made accessible for free in time for Canada Day, visit www.ancestry.ca/canadaday.

Happy Canada Day!

UPDATE: Petition for 1921 Canadian Census

Today, I offer two new items related to the 1921 Canadian Census. One is an editorial by Canadian genealogist (www.cangenealogy.com) Dave Obee, and the other is a new online petition by blogger Bill Robinson.

First, there has been further clarification on the release of the census, as well as other news from the Library and Archives Canada, compliments of Dave Obee in his editorial in the Times Colonist newspaper in Victoria, British Columbia entitled, "Don’t let politics interfere with data access" at

www.timescolonist.com/news/b-c/dave-obee-don-t-let-politics-interfere-with-data-access-1.325155

I noticed that he said, “Back to the 1921 census. Volunteers are lined up, ready to start indexing the 8.8 million names as soon as the images are placed online. Last year, after the 1940 United States census was put on the Internet, volunteers compiled an index of its 132 million names in just four months”.

Have you been approached to be a volunteer?

In the meantime, we await the release of the census so that the LAC can put it online.

According to my sources, there might be something happening in about two weeks’ time.

It seems that the pressure has been felt.

From the comments on my blog and emails, and from other blogs, websites, and listservs I follow, your continued individual and collective efforts put forth in the "trenches" in letting the Heritage Minister and others know how genealogists everywhere feel about the current stance on the non-release of the 1921 Canadian Census ARE being noticed!

In the meantime, fellow blogger, Bill Robinson, http://robinsonb.blogspot.com, has started an online petition, and you are encouraged to read it and add your name to it at https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/the-honourable-james-moore-release-the-1921-census-now

Thank you, Bill, for this initiative.

Where this will lead is anyone’s guess, but I suspect that we will find out sooner rather than later.

As for the Heritage Minister, the Honourable James Moore, he can be contacted through his constituency office at www.jamesmoore.ca/EN/contact_us

To look at my past posts on the 1921 Canadian Census, just type in “1921 Census” in the search box on the right-hand side of the main page. Here are screenshots of the search and results boxes, below.

And please take a moment to check out the comments – they are interesting, supportive, and informative. Thanks to all who have written.

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Canadian Week in Review 24 June 2013

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

Websites

No new websites this week.

Blogs

No new Blogs this week

Facebook- YouTube – Video

Ottawa Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ottawa-Branch-Ontario-Genealogical-Society/173536239339341 This Facebook page is very good. There is nothing fancy about it, but there is a timeline of history on it, meetings that are held in Ottawa at the OGS are also on it, and news about Canadian genealogy.  

Newspapers

Historic canoe route recreated on St. John River http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2013/06/16/nb-historic-canoe-trip-recreated.htmlA New Brunswick couple are paddling the 460-kilometre route of the St. John River to recreate a historically important waterway.

It was the route travelled by generations of the Maliseet and Mi`kmaq, and the French and British also relied on it to travel from an area near the St. Lawrence River in Quebec to the Bay of Fundy. It later became called the Grand Communication Route, which was used before it was surpassed by rail and the car.

Weekend in Honour of Veterans of the Korean War launched at the Canadian War Museum

 www.menafn.com/9636eb7d-fc46-41d5-8ce3-57e4fe800e35/Weekend-Honour-of-Veterans-of-Korean-War-launched-at-Canadian-War-Museum?src=main

Korea 60 is an exhibit of a selection of photographs “that depict Canada's role in the war and subsequent ceasefire, and illustrate the conflict's enduring legacy”. Many of these are personal photographs taken by Canadian soldiers. The exhibit will be on display until January 5, 2014 at the Museum of War in Ottawa.

UNESCO defers decision on heritage bid for Manitoba-Ontario forest   www.ctvnews.ca/canada/unesco-defers-decision-on-heritage-bid-for-manitoba-ontario-forest-1.1337400#ixzz2X3ITw0SJ Although UNESCO did recognize the Red Bay Basque Whaling Station in Labrador, it deferred it’s decision on the Boreal forest because it still has unanswered questions about whether “the area is unique enough to warrant a designation as a world heritage site”.

To read more about the Red Bay Basque Whaling Station in Labrador, read the article that the CBC has at www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2013/06/22/nl-red-bay-labrador-world-heritage-site-622.html

Stolen bell to become living history www.thestarphoenix.com/Stolen+bell+become+living+history/8564065/story.html

The Bell of Batoche is coming home! It has been stolen from Manitoba after the defeat by the  Northwest Rebellion in 1885 and displayed at the Legion hall in Millbrook, Ont. until it was stolen again in 1991. It is going to be displayed Saturday, July 20, during the Back to Batoche celebrations.

NS diocese concerned heritage status could affect sale of church http://globalnews.ca/news/657035/ns-diocese-concerned-heritage-status-could-affect-sale-of-church A Roman Catholic diocese in Nova Scotia is concerned that one of its churches which may be listed for sale, may be designated a municipal heritage property.  The church is St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Lingan and it was one of the oldest churches in Nova Scotia, having been built in 1723.

Story of the Week

Canada History Week

With Canada in the midst of the 1921 Canada Census debacle last week, the government has decided to “mark the launch of Canada History Week, which will run every year from July 1 to 7. Canada History Week is an opportunity to reflect on our great country, learn about our history, explore a museum, visit one of our national historic sites, or join in a local event that celebrates the history of your community.

Our history is full of exciting people, places, and events. For example, in 2013 we are commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first major Canadian scientific expedition to the Arctic. The Canadian Arctic Expedition's groundbreaking work contributed to Canada's scientific, social, and cultural knowledge of the Arctic, deepening our understanding of each other and unifying our country”.

This is according to the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages who announced this on June 11^th, and it will include

•A Canada History Fund will connect youth to their history through the first ever Government of Canada History Awards, which will honour outstanding students and teachers who show an interest in celebrating Canadian history. The awards will be administered by Canada’s History, an independent national organization with a mandate to make our nation’s past relevant and accessible to all Canadians.

•The Harper Government will partner with the Historica-Dominion Institute to create two new Heritage Minutes per year between now and Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017.

•Existing programs at Canadian Heritage will be strengthened to improve access to funding for local organizations that wish to promote Canadian history in their communities, including local museums and youth groups.

•Starting in 2013, July 1 to 7 will become Canada History Week, an opportunity for Canadians from coast to coast to coast to get actively involved in learning about our country’s history.

Read more about Canada History Week at www.sacbee.com/2013/06/21/5514485/statement-by-the-honourable-james.html#storylink=cpy

The next Canadian Week in Review will be issued Monday July 08, 2013.  There won’t be one for Monday July 1^st, because it will be Canada Day.

Research: Information needed on abandoned or deserted buildings

Esther Pilon, a journalist and researcher from Quebec, is working on a documentary series produced by Baroque (a production company in Quebec), and she wants information on abandoned or deserted buildings in the province. The series will be broadcasted on the Historia channel in 2015.

She is looking for abandoned or deserted buildings that have either been closed recently or for some time some examples are: farms, houses, factories, country homes, chapels or churches, stores etc…

Her goals is to hopefully be able to show these places in their historic and anthropological perspective. The documentary series will present these places with the input of antique specialists and historians. Also, she would like to meet and talk with people who have worked as employees in the factories or lived in the houses and or country homes, or know the places as past clients, student or attended the churches. 

For every abandoned place there are human stories.

This documentary series is a project of Baroque, a documentary producer from Montreal. Their recent projects include a history of taverns that will be broadcasted on Historia in 2014.

To send your information or to contact Esther, please either write to her at  6255 St-Vallier, Montréal, H2S 2P6, or at estherpilonrecherchiste@gmail.com . Her  . telephone number: 514-967-9541.

Historia TV Channel is at www.historiatv.com

UPDATE: TONI (The Ontario Name Index)

Since last reporting on TONI (The Ontario Name Index) earlier this spring, nearly 2 ½ million entries have been added.

TONI, as an index, is FREE for everyone the world over. In order to access information found in the databases you must pay a small fee. All proceeds from those fees support Ontario's heritage community.

Go to www.ogs.on.ca/integrated/toni_database1.php to read more about TONI, and to see if the name who are researching, is there.

IRISH COMMUNITY SUMMER PARTY

The Federation of Irish Societies invites you to a Cross Community Get Together and the Special Guest will be Dr. Ray Bassett, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada

Bring your friends and meet new ones. There will be traditional Irish music and it will be provided by SIAMSA. Happy hour prices and complimentary finger food.

It will take place on Tuesday, June 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the The Irish Embassy Pub & Grill, 1234 Bishop Street, Montreal (on the back patio).

The website of the United Irish Societies of Montreal is www.montrealirishparade.com/gallery/index.php

Their Facebook page is www.facebook.com/pages/United-Irish-Societies-of-Montreal/102884813130606

Ancestry.ca - Life Before Canada

Ancestry.ca has just released Life Before Canada, in which their “collection of Canadian Pre–Confederation Records can help paint a picture of life in the years leading to the birth of our nation. Remarkable in their detail, you may even find out what your ancestor looked like! Learn about officers and soldiers in the British Army and Navy, early emigrants from Ireland, Scotland and England, Rideau Canal workers in the first years of Bytown (Ottawa) and prisoners of the War of 1812”.

Get to know the history of Canada through Canadian Pre–Confederation Records and discover even more about the country you call “home”.

Go to www.ancestry.ca/150years?o_xid=55887&o_lid=55887&o_sch=Email

to start searching.