Closed for Maintenance

The OGS e-Store site will be closed for maintenance on Tuesday September 10^th from 7 to 9 pm, so the site will not be available during that time.

The Ontario Genealogical Society website is at http://www.ogs.on.ca/index.php 

One billion global records will be available online

This notice was received yesterday, and it says that Ancestry.com and FamilySearch is going to make a billion records available online over the next five years! 

Ancestry.com and FamilySearch International (FamilySearch.org), the two largest providers of family history resources, announced today an agreement that is expected to make approximately 1 billion global historical records available online and more easily accessible to the public for the first time. With this long-term strategic agreement, the two services will work together with the archive community over the next five years to digitize, index and publish these records from the FamilySearch vault.

The access to the global collection of records marks a major investment in international content as Ancestry.com continues to invest in expanding family history interest in its current markets and worldwide. Ancestry.com expects to invest more than $60 million over the next five years in the project alongside thousands of hours of volunteer efforts facilitated by FamilySearch.

“This agreement sets a path for the future for Ancestry.com and FamilySearch to increasingly share international sets of records more collaboratively,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of Ancestry.com. “A significant part of our vision for family history is helping provide a rich, engaging experience on a global scale. We are excited about the opportunities it will bring to help benefit the family history community and look forward to collaborating with FamilySearch to identify other opportunities to help people discover and share their family history.”

The organizations will also be looking at other ways to share content across the two organizations. Both organizations expect to add to the already digitized records shared across the two websites in addition to new record projects to be completed over the next five years.

“We are excited to work with Ancestry.com on a vision we both share,” said Dennis Brimhall, President of FamilySearch. “Expanding online access to historical records through this type of collaboration can help millions more people discover and share their family’s history.”

Doors Open Quinte West

On September 14, Door Open Quinte West will take place at the Quinte Genealogy Centre from 10:00 to 4:00 pm and learn about the Quinte Branch of the OGS (Ontario Genealogy Society). 

Explore the Research Library and discover how they can assist you with your family history research.

The Quinte West City Hall Library is at 7 Creswell Drive, Trenton, Ontario. 

The web site is at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canqbogs/

NIGS appoints a Director of Professional Development

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies (NIGS), the Canadian educational company, announces that Gena Philibert-Ortega has been appointed Director of Professional Development. 

In her new position, Philibert-Ortega will be reviewing, updating and overseeing the addition of courses to the program. 

Louise St Denis, Managing Director of NIGS, comented that "We are excited to have Gena Philibert-Ortega's involvement in our Professional Development program.  Gena has had a successful full-time genealogy career for over 12 years and her experience will assist others as they transition to professional work or continue in their careers." 

Philibert-Ortega said "I'm excited about this opportunity to bring courses designed for 

those interested in professional genealogy. I'm looking forward to continuing to 

grow the program to meet the needs of the genealogy community."

Everyone at The National Institute welcomes Gena Philibert-Ortega to her new 

position and looks forward to the growth of the Professional Development 

Certificate. 

For more information, please visit their site at http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/ 

or call them toll-free in North America at 1-800-580-0165 or email them at

admin@genealogicalstudies.com

Nova Scotia 1921 census is being transcribed

More 1921 census records have been added to Dwayne Meisner’s Nova Scotia site.

Some of them are -  

Bill Bruhm has transcribed the 1921 census for several areas in Lunenburg
County.

The areas are Northfield, which also includes West Northfield,
Cookville, Lower and Upper Northwest, Pine Hurst. He has also transcribed
the Chester Asylum, County Asylum, and the Indian Reserves.

In Halifax County, the following areas have been transcribed –

Lawrencetown, County Jail, City Prison, Sable Island Portuguese Cove in Halifax County, Ketch Harbour, Chebucto Head, Duncan Cove, Bedford Basin, Rockingham, Mount Saint Vincent, Hammond's Plains, as well as a few names from Fairview.

Tom Downing has transcribed the census for Seal Harbour in Guysborough
County. The census also includes Drum Head, Coddles Harbour

Alan Dinn has transcribed the 1921 census for Clementsport in Annapolis
County

Wendy Morash has transcribed the 1921 census for Peggy's Cove in Halifax
County. The census also includes Hackett's Cove, Glen Margaret and Indian
Harbour.

There are other areas that have been transcribed, and he adds to the site daily, so check it often.

Dwayne’s website is http://www.dwaynemeisner.com/census/novascotia/index.php

Are there other areas in Canada being transcribed? 

Contact me at genealogycanada@aol.com, so that I can post them. Thank you. 

Announcing a new Certificate Design Competition

 This press release was just received from the OGS - 

"Create a design for a new Heritage Society certificate for The Ontario Genealogical Society.

As an addition to our current heritage clubs and societies, OGS is developing the First World War Society for genealogists who can prove they have one or more ancestors who served with the allied forces in the First World War.

We need a striking certificate for members of the First World War Society to proudly display, particularly as we commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the start of the First World War next year.

Prize: $500

Design Criteria

Each 8.5" x 11" portrait format certificate design must have,

• The OGS logo present somewhere on the certificate (.jpg of the logo may be obtained by contacting OGS provincial office provoffice@ogs.on.ca)
• Space for the name(s) of applicant(s)
• Space for the name of qualifying ancestor
• Space for the date of issue and signature of the OGS president
• Room for the OGS seal measuring 5.5 cm in diameter

Please visit the OGS site to view examples of our other certificates. We are looking for a design that will fit into our collection. Multiple entries are welcome.

While you may submit your entry in a format of your choice, please be aware that the OGS office is a PC environment.

Deadline: December 31, 2013

The winner will be contacted in March 2014 and the certificate will be launched at The Ontario Genealogical Society's Annual Conference May 1st - 4th  2014

Please submit entries and any questions you may have to provoffice@ogs.on.ca

The website is http://www.ogs.on.ca/home/heritage_societies.php

Nova Scotia Obituaries

If you haven’t been to the Nova Scotia Roots Facebook page and the Nova Scotia Obituaries website yet by Ron Zink, you should check it out.

The Facebook page has comments by various visitors, and vary up-to-date information on Nova Scotians that you will find helpful. 

As the Facebook says "It is an open group, and shares charts, scans, and discusses various family histories". 

There are over 67,000 Nova Scotia Obituaries listed on the websitw  http://nsobits.ca/nsobits/default.asp

The Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/groups/510478038981398