First military draft of the Second World War

On July 13, 1940, the Canadian government announced the first conscription of the Second World War for 40 days' compulsory military training on or before September 15 by the first draft under the National Mobilization Bill.

The National Mobilization Bill arose because of the stunning German victories in Belgium and France, and we felt, that as a nation, we should get ready to repel the German Forces, if they ever decided to invade out shores. The act enabled the government to requisition the property and services of Canadians for home defence.

Single men between 21 and 34 would be called up first for training. This would affect approximately 800,000 Canadians.

It was modified in August 1942 to permit the government to send conscripts overseas via an order in council after a plebiscite in April 1942. In 1944, the government passed such an order.

To read about the National Mobilization Bill in the newspapers of the day, go to www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/canadawar/conscription_e.shtml

The individual forms are available but they cannot be released until the person has been dead for 20 years. It will cost $40.00 to get access to the record. You also need a death certificate, or an obituary notice can be accepted.

You can send inquiries to Census Pension Searches Unit, Census Operation  Division, Statistics Canada, B1E-34 Jean Talon Bldg, Tunney’s Pasture, Ottawa, ON K1A 0T6  

Bayfield Library Grand Opening

A press release was just received by this office -

Bluewater, Ontario - Please join the Municipality of Bluewater and the Huron County Library in celebrating the Grand Opening of the new Bayfield Library. This event will take place on Saturday, July 13, 2013, with ribbon cutting taking place at 11 AM.

The new library, located at 18 Main Street, was designed by Skinner & Skinner Architects, and build by D&G Construction. A large program room, comfortable reading space with a fireplace, and computer stations are features included to make this an inviting space for the community.

Friends of the Bayfield Library will be providing FREE hot dogs and refreshments during the day. They will also be unveiling their plans for a new reading garden for the library.

For further information please contact: Jennifer Zoethout, Branch Services Librarian, Huron County Library at 519.482.5457 ext. 3

To go to their Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Bayfield-Library/346776925360848

ISLANDS AND HIGHLANDS Concert in PEI

This special concern will be held Wednesday, July 17, 7:30 p.m. at St John's Presbyterian Church, Garfield Road, Belfast, Prince Edward Island.

Join the Belfast Historical Society (BHS) and the Belfast community in celebrating the 210th anniversary of the 1803 landing of the Selkirk Settlers.

The group Dàimh (pronounced “Dive” in Gaelic) is coming from Scotland to Belfast's acoustically brilliant St. John’s Church for one night only.    Of late, BHS concerts at this venue have been consistently sold out.   To show Dàimh PEI's Scottish roots, attendees are encouraged to wear their kilts and tartans.

Dàimh are a 5 piece band based in Lochaber in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; an area as much renowned for its scenic beauty as for its rich musical and cultural heritage. A long established favourite at folk festivals in Scotland, Ireland and across Europe, twice nominated for Folk Band of the Year at the Scots Traditional Music Awards, Dàimh are also regulars on BBC television.

Angus MacKenzie of Dàimh figured prominently on the Belfast Historical Society’s CD commissioned in 2003 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Selkirk Settlement. The CD entitled simply “The Island” was beautifully composed around the Selkirk story.    Copies will be available for $ 15 the night of the concert.

Advanced tickets for this very special concert are $ 20 and $ 22 at the door, and will be available from BHS President Hazel Davies by phone (905.659.2276) or from BHS Directors Donald and Doris MacDonald by email: dorism@pei.sympatico.ca  For details, photos, and updates of this -- and all of our events -- check the Belfast Historical Society Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Belfast-Historical-Society/137470232958298

Census of Manitoba, 1870 is now available online at the LAC

Library and Archives Canada is pleased to announce that Canadians can now access the Census of Manitoba, 1870 online. This census was taken shortly after Manitoba joined Confederation.

This census provides the names of more than 12,200 individuals living in Manitoba at that time and contains information such as age, marital status, place of birth, religion, race and name of the father.

Access to this census is FREE.

To access the census, go to www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1870/Pages/1870.aspx

Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics

An additional 25,120 historical vital statistics have been added to the Nova Scotia Vital Statistics website. 

These records were released on 31 December 2012 and since then have been digitized, fully indexed and checked for quality control. 

This year's accruals include 14,378 births (1912), 4,359 marriages (1937) and 6,383 deaths (1962).

As usual, the birth records include some 'delayed' entries for individuals born in 1912 (or earlier) but not registered until a later date.

To search the records, go to https://novascotiagenealogy.com/Start.aspx

A History of Canada by Montreal Metro

Samuel Wood, Montreal native who has returned to the city after being away for 18 years of studying and teaching in Britain, has a new blog called A History of Canada by Montreal Metro.

It’s a history based on the names of Montreal’s 68  metro stations.

He says he is “inspired by my fascination with the stories that shape the world in which I live”.

The stations tell the history of both France and Britain.

“Only in Montreal could you find Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix, a French Jesuit explorer and teacher of Voltaire, on the same line as Robert Peel, prime minister of Great Britain and the founder of the London police force”, says Wood.

To read his blog, go to http://historyofcanadabymetro.com 

The Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) has a new postal code!

The use of this new postal code will ensure that all correspondence and packages will be sent directly to CCI's Innes Road location in Ottawa where they can be received and handled by our trained personnel.

Please update your mailing information immediately.

Canadian Conservation Institute

1030 Innes Road

Ottawa, Ontario K1B 4S7