Canadian Week in Review 18 November 2013

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

Websites

Social Media

Writing Up the Ancestors http://www.writinguptheancestors.blogspot.ca/

Genealogist and Montreal writer Janice Hamilton recently started a genealogy blog about her family who lived in Canada, the US, England, Scotland, and Ireland. What sets this blog apart from many are the research remarks Janice adds at the end of each story. Not only can blog followers learn about Janice’s ancestors, they learn how she pieced together their story.

The Most Controversial Figure In Canadian History Is… http://rickpaulettervjournal.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-most-controversial-figure-in.html Rick Doyle is an RVer, but this time he writes about Louis Riel who was hanged on November 16, 1885 at the Northwest Mounted Police(RCMP) barracks in Regina, SK.for treason.

6th Annual Canadian History Forum http://canadashistory.ca/HistoryForum On Monday, November 18th at the Canadian War Museum (1 Vimy Place) in Ottawa from 1 pm - 5:30 pm, Canada's History will present the sixth annual Canada's History Forum. This year's topic is - Is Technology Altering Our History?

There are still a few seats remaining to attend the event on site but Canadians can also watch a live broadcast of the presentations.

News Articles

Nova Scotia's tree for Boston begins journey http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2013-11-12/article-3478263/Nova-Scotias-tree-for-Boston-begins-journey/1 Mary Lou Milligan donated this year's tree from her property in Mill Cove to Boston. For forty-two years Halifax has been sending a Christmas Tree to Boston, Mass in appreciation for the medical personnel and supplies Bostonians provided after the explosion of Dec. 6, 1917.

Piece of Saskatoon history becoming target for vandals http://metronews.ca/news/saskatoon/852333/piece-of-saskatoon-history-becoming-target-for-vandals/ The Farnam Block, former home of Lydia’s Pub, was constructed in 1912 and has seen two World Wars alongside its share of interesting and unusual tenants.

Yarmouth council defers decision on Zion de-registration http://www.novanewsnow.com/News/2013-11-14/article-3481869/Yarmouth-council-defers-decision-on-Zion-de-registration/1 The council defers the decision on the Zion Baptist Church in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to remove the church from its municipal heritage registry to give the province's Heritage Trust time to decide whether to make a formal offer of assistance to the church's trustees, and it is considered to be a last ditch effort to save the church from demolition.

Story of the Week

Father of Confederation (c) Collections Canada  

PEI gets ready for 2014

Over the past year, I have been reading about how the Prince Edward Island government has been getting ready for the 2014 events as PEI celebrates 150 years since the Fathers of Confederation meeting in Charlottetown.

Canada's smallest province on the east coast of the county, wants everyone to know that's where the idea of forming a country began 150 years ago.

The premiers of P.E.I., New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and what are now Ontario and Quebec all sat down at a table in the government house in Charlottetown and held talks for eight days in September of 1864. And they eventually came up with the idea of a confederation of provinces which would lead to the country of Canada.

Present-day premier Robert Ghiz says there will be 150 events that will take place all across the province. There will be concerts, theatre festivals, ecotours, culinary events, sailing regattas, to the Celebration Zone in Charlottetown where there will be free entertainment for the whole family every day over the summer.

If you want to see what PEI has planned, go to http://pei2014.ca/

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next 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 on 24 November 2013.

Alight at Night Festival

Upper Canada Village will hold its 13th annual Alight at Night Festival from December 6th to January 4th at the Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ontario.

You will see close to one million lights adorn the heritage buildings, trees and fences of Upper Canada Village creating a one-of-a-kind magical backdrop for its annual Alight at Night Festival…a true winter wonderland!

You will experience the enchantment of horse-drawn wagons and romantic carriage rides for two, or enjoy a festive dining, shopping and other seasonal surprises all add to the event.

It sounds like lots of fun.

You can go to http://www.uppercanadavillage.com/index.cfm/en/activities/alight-at-night/ to find out all the details.

The passing of Bob Crawford of the OGS

Late yesterday, I received the sad news of the passing of Bob Crawford of the OGS on November the 13th.

Bob was the Past-President of OGS, having served in that role from 2006-2008, as well as Past-President of the Halton-Peel Branch. He was also the Corporate Secretary since 2010.

Services will be held at the Jones Funeral Home in Georgetown, Ontario, 11582 Trafalgar Road, Georgetown, ON L7G 4Y5 Phone: 905-877-3631

Viewings are scheduled for Friday November 15, 2013, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday November 16, 2013 at 2:30 pm.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the OGS Provincial Office to be forwarded to Bob's family.

I have known and worked with Bob since 2005 in my capacity as editor of Newsleaf, and Families. He was always most helpful, and he had a vast knowledge of the daily workings of the OGS. We are all appreciative his service in the work that he did in the preservation of cemeteries in the province.

He will be missed.

Another Free Service at FHL

The Family History Library of FamilySearch recently announced a FREE SERVICE where you can send a limited preview of Google Books page and get them to scan the entire page and email it to you for free.

All you have to do is to fill out their Online Photoduplication Request Form, and send it to Salt Lake City by email, and you will get the full page back as soon as possible.

This is a great idea!

They walk you through the process on their blog at https://familysearch.org/blog/en/google-books-free-copies-pages-family-history-library-books/

Two workshops at the Windsor Public Library

The Central Branch of the Windsor Public Library in Windsor, Ontario invite people who have an interest in family history at two workshops presented by Tom Vajdik, WPL Genealogy and Local History Librarian.

The two workshops are –

Introduction to Genealogy will take place at 7:00 pm on Monday, October 28 in WPL’s Fred Israel Auditorium (lower level of Central Branch, 850 Ouellette Avenue) This workshop will be an introduction to the methodology and cover the basics of genealogy as well as offer resources that assist in learning to trace your family history.

Genealogy on the Internet will be offered at 7:00 pm on Monday, November 18, in WPL’s Computer Lab (main floor near Dufferin Entrance at Central Branch, 850 Ouellette Avenue). This workshop will examine the many free web sites devoted to genealogy.

“At Windsor Public Library, we have noticed there’s been a resurgence in people’s desire to know their ancestors as people and learn more about their roots,” says Vajdik. “People visit us from far and wide to avail themselves of our resources. Solving puzzles and being the Sherlock Holmes of their own family stories satisfies a desire to tie their past to their present. Windsor Public Library is pleased to offer these genealogy workshops. All are welcome to attend and there is no fee to register.”

For more information and to register for either of these free workshops, please call 519-255-6770, ext. 4434 or email tvajdik@windsorpubliclibrary.com.  

Please register early for the November 18 workshop to ensure you get a seat!

Canadian Week in Review 11 November 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

This is an abbreviated edition of the Canadian Week in Review.

Newspapers Articles of the Week

UPDATED: Huge exhibition of Greek artifacts coming to Gatineau http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2013/11/01/huge-exhibition-of-greek-artifacts-coming-to-gatineau/ The exhibit - The Greeks — From Agamemnon to Alexander the Great - will be at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (by then it will be known as the Canadian Museum of History) from June 5th to October 15th. It will be the largest exhibit of ancient Greece that has ever visited North America.

Plans to mark 250th anniversary of Samuel Holland’s survey of P.E.I. http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Living/2013-10-31/article-3456631/Plans-to-mark-250th-anniversary-of-Samuel-Holland%26rsquo%3Bs-survey-of-P.E.I./1 This year marks the 250th year that Samuel Holland surveyed Prince Edward Island as the first surveyor general of British North America.

New Canada Post stamp series will feature Africville http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1164190-new-canada-post-stamp-series-will-feature-africville Africville, a former community in the north end Halifax, and Hogan’s Alley in Vancouver will be featured on Canada Post’s 2014 Black History Series.

Bill to create new Canadian Museum of History passes http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Conservative+government+used+closure+Wednesday+push+through/9134544/story.html The government has passed the bill that will change the name of the Museum of Civilization to the Canadian Museum of History. Now it has to go to the Senate, and receive royal assent (sometime in 2014, it is believed), and there will be a new museum in the country!

Historical society fights to save remaining Alberta Provincial Gaol building http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Historical+society+fights+save+remaining+Alberta/9133505/story.html The Fort Saskatchewan Historical Society is seeking signatures on an online petition to convince Fort Saskatchewan city councillors to preserve and restore the 99-year-old jail’s facility shop.

Story of the Week

Here are three more articles about the Canadian military -

Ottawa casualties from the First World War: CBC Ottawa has mapped the local addresses of soldiers who died overseas http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-casualties-from-the-first-world-war-1.2418617 Read how the original Ottawa Senators Hockey team was impacted by the First World War.

Caribou war memorial returns to Bowring Park
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/caribou-war-memorial-returns-to-bowring-park-1.2421664 The famous Caribou monument was returned home to Bowring Park on Saturday, after undergoing repairs for damages caused by vandals.

How to Find the Military Heroes in Your Family http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/iman-sheikh/military-ancestry_b_4242270.html Do you know that almost one-third of Canadians do not know if any of their ancestors fought in either the First or Second World Wars. There is lot of work for genealogists to do!

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next 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 on 18 November 2013.

Remembering the Fallen in Canada

A new app for the iPad has been created for Remembrance Day as an interactive experience, giving Canadians a way to remember those who have given their lives in service to our country.

Click on the red poppy (I clicked on the poppy on Halifax, and discovered the story of The Sisters of Mercy – the Canadian Nursing Sisters, part of the Canadian Army Medical Corps of the First World War), but they have graves from the Boer War, through the World Wars, Korean War, our Peacekeeping Missions and Afghanistan.

The website is http://www.thefallen.org/