Some land records are being digitized

Canadiana.org is a Canadian company in Ottawa which is preserving Canada's published history and is making it available online to everyone – free!

The part of Canadiana.org which interests me is the Heritage Project. 

The Heritage Project is going to take some of Canada’s most popular archival collections, such as 60-million pages of FREE primary-source microfilm images from the 1600s to the mid-1900s.

I have read the list and I am impressed! What would have taken me years to find these documents in the different institution across the country, will be appearing online right in my own computer.

One of the first projects that they have done is the Heir and Devisee Commission of the Upper Canada (Ontario) Land Records.

The second commission met in York, and they were restricted to claims to land made by heirs, devisees, or assignees, not by the original nominees themselves

This commission was established by provincial statute in 1797, to clarify the titles to lands in Upper Canada.

There were actually two distinct periods which the commission covered. In the first commission, they heard from people who had originally received the land, their heirs, devisees, and assignees.

Records can include (although not always) affidavits, bonds, location certificates, powers of attorney, orders-in-council, copies of wills, mortgages, deeds of sale, and testimonial letters.

The digitized copies of the microfilm reels onsite appear in the same order as on the microfilm reels themselves. Remember, unfortunately, there is NO index by name.

Alternatively, the records are arranged by district, then by type of document, then in chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order.

The list of microfilm rolls are on  http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_mikan_205142, just click on the reel you want to view, and it is there for you to research.

Update on closure of QFHS library and office

Just got word from the Quebec Family History Society (QFHS) that the "Library and office of the Quebec Family History Society will also be closed up to and including Tuesday September 3, 2013.

The library and office will re-open on Wednesday September 4, 2013".

If you require further information, please go to http://www.qfhs.ca

Quebec Family History Society Holiday Hours

The library and office of the Quebec Family History Society will be closed from Thursday August 22, 2013 until and including, Monday September 2, 2013.

On Tuesday September 3, 2013 the library and office will reopen and the regular schedule of opening hours will resume.

Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday Evening 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

For information on upcoming events please consult our website http://www.qfhs.ca/

The Quebec Family History Society is the largest English-language genealogical society in Quebec

Lecture Series: Canadian History, eh?

On Tuesdays in November, at 2:30 pm, there will be the Fall Lecture Series presented by Grey Roots, and Gary Weigner will give talks on the following -

November 5: European Discovery Natives and Europeans first contact: struggle was inevitable. How Europe paid for its future industrial growth on the backs of the Natives of North America.

November 12: French VS EnglishWhy is there still tension between us? Where did it begin in our history? Why did the French stay in Canada after 1763? Where do we go from here?

November 19: The Canadian IdentityBritish? American? Melting pot or Fruitcake blend? How has our history shaped our character?

November 26: From Nationhood to the Present
Explore the hot button issues about why we confederated and how we began as a player on the international stage.

A graduate in History and Political Science from the University of Guelph, Gary Weinger taught High School History, English, Law and Business for over thirty years.

For more information, go to Grey Roots Museum and Archives at http://www.greyroots.com/programs-events/events

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They are located in Owen Sound, Ontario.

Decoration Days, Doors Open and Tours

My thanks go to Sherri Pettit for posting Decoration Days, Open Doors, and Tours in local cemeteries in Ontario.  

For example, some of the events will take place on the following dates –

Amherstburg – Christ Church Anglican Cemetery Aug 28 Open Doors

Burlington – Nelson United Cemetery Sat., Sep. 28. Doors Open.

Fairfield – Fairfield Cemetery Sun., Sep. 8. Decoration Sunday

For more information about the places where these events will be held, go to http://canadacems.blogspot.com/2013/08/decoration-days-tours.html

Dick Eastman Lectures in Halifax

This is an event you cannot afford to miss!

The Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia (GANS) is presenting Dick Eastman at a day-long genealogy event at the Capt. William Spry Community Center on October 19, 2013.

Dick will talk on -

The Organized Genealogist - a look at various methods of reorganizing record keeping by use of digital techniques. Focuses on converting paper based record keeping to digital records

Cloudy with a Chance of Genealogy - what is “the cloud” and how it can simplify your computer usage

Putting the Genes in Genealogy - a look at the possibility that today’s genealogists may become the lifesavers of family and loved ones in the near future.

Conservation: Keeping up with Technology - how to make sure that your genealogy data is still readable by future generations

Our program will be from 9 am to 5 pm and will include lunch in the price.

Lectures are open to the public

$45.00 for members of GANS

$75.00 for non-members

Contact : Dawn Josey at info@novascotiaancestors.ca to register

For more information on Dick Eastman please visit blog.eogn.com/about.html

I have heard Dick speak on a number of occasions, and he always is a wealth of information!

Canadian Week in Review 19 August 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

Canadian Society of Mayflower Descendants http://www.csmd.org Have you been to this website lately? I had the occasion to go to it last week and notice that they have chapters (called colonies) across the country, and they appeared to be an active group in Canada.

Blogs

Canadian Heritage Tours on The Waterways www.thegreatwaterway.com/blogs A collection of different things to do and see on the Rideau Canal Waterway in Ontario.

Facebook, Videos, You Tube

No sites this week.

Newspapers Articles of the Week

Thousands connect with Alberta's Ukrainian heritage http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2013/08/12/edmonton-ukrainian-heritage-day.html The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village is located at Edmonton Alberta, along Highway 16, just 3 km east of Elk Island National Park. It is an open-air museum that tells the story of Ukrainian immigrants who settled in this region to 1930 (1892-1930). The website is www.history.alberta.ca/ukrainianvillage/default.aspx

Confederation Centre to play host to new Mi'kmaq exhibition

www.journalpioneer.com/News/Local/2013-08-12/article-3347467/Confederation-Centre-to-play-host-to-new-Mikmaq-exhibition/1  A new travelling exhibition highlighting the Mi’kmaq history of Prince Edward Island is set to open at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery in Charlottetown.

Fort Vermilion marks 225th anniversary with a parade that touches on its historic past www.edmontonjournal.com/Fort+Vermilion+marks+225th+anniversary+with+parade+that+touches+historic+past/8775802/story.html The float down the main street in Fort Vermilion told of the start of the town as a fur trading post established by Charles Boyer with the Northwest Company on the banks of the Peace River in 1788.

Vikings exhibit coming to Museum of Civilization in 2015 www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Vikings+exhibit+coming+Museum+Civilization+2015/8793876/story.html The exhibition We Call Them Vikings will open at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in November, 2015, and continue to the next April.

Swaminarayan sect buys 2 US, Canada churches http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-15/ahmedabad/41412652_1_churches-sansthan-mahesh-varsani The  Shree Swaminarayan Gaadi Sansthan Maninagar religion, based in India, is busy buying unused churches across the world. One such church is a 100-year old church in Scarborough, Ontario – next door to Toronto.

Key piece of lighthouse history makes it back home www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2013-08-14/article-3351059/Key-piece-of-lighthouse-history-makes-it-back-home/1 Barry MacDonald, president of the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society, has donated the original lens from the second Caribou lighthouse to the Northumberland Fisheries Lighthouse Museum.  

Story of the Week

National Acadian Day

The National Acadian Day is held every year on August 15^th.  During the first National Convention of the Acadians held at Memramcook, New Brunswick in 1881, that the Acadians leaders received the directive to set the date of this celebration as August 15^th.  

A good site to bring you up-to-date on the history of Acadians is at www.cbc.ca/acadian/feature_national_acadian_day.html

Reminder: Check out Canadian Week in Review every Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! The next post will be 9 September, 2013.