British Women’s Emigration Association Database

The British Islands Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) has just written to me about a new database which they have just put on their site - British Women’s Emigration Association Database.

They say that “The Hon. Mrs. Ellen Joyce was the head of the British Women’s Emigration Association (BWEA) from 1901 until 1919. Mrs. Joyce was married to a Church of England clergyman and they resided at St. John’s Croft, Winchester, Hampshire, England. Most of her work appears to have been carried out from this house as the address shows frequently in her correspondence.

The aim of the Association was to encourage middle class women to emigrate to the colonies because of a perceived surplus of women in England and Wales while there was a dearth of British women in the colonies, particularly in Canada and Australia. The 1901 Census revealed that there were a million more women than men in England and Wales.

The young women ranged in age from 14 to mid 40s and the majority went to Ontario or Western Canada, most were single but a few of the older women were widows. All were said to be `of good character’.

Any records in England that contained information on individual women were destroyed in 1964, therefore the records held by Library and Archives Canada have added significance for any persons researching women’s immigration to Canada”.

To view the database, go to http://www.bifhsgo.ca/cstm_mrsJoyce.php

CrowdSourcing: OGS and The Ontario Heritage Fairs Association

The OGS and the Ontario Heritage Fairs Association (OHFA) are teaming up to CrowdSource to see if they can continue to offer provincial heritage fairs for students in Grades 4 to 10.

“The OGS supports this initiative by providing a prize for the best genealogical project at each regional fair, with the aim of encouraging our future genealogists and historians.

This year’s Provincial Fair is in need of funding and to this end, the OHFS is running a CrowdSourcing campaign". 

If you wish to support the work of the Association and to fund another Provincial Heritage Fair in the spring of 2014, please visit them at https://chimp.net/groups/ontario-provincial-heritage-fair

Acadian Family Recipes Newsletter

Yvon Cyr has written to tell us that they will be “creating a newsletter to share Acadian Family Recipes. Get together with family members over the holidays and pick your favorite, and send it to us.

We are looking to have this newsletter out by February 2014.

Have a great Holiday!”

The website is www.acadian.org

Gwyneth Pearce, Secretary of the Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, has sent the winter meeting schedule, and it is -

Tracing Your African Heritage in the British West Indies
Saturday, February 1, 2014, 1 – 5 p.m.
This half-day course will cover the basic principles of research, how to read and interpret slave registers, what to look for in vital records, church records, parish registers and much more.
Instructor: Pooran Bridgelal
Where: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto

The Social History of Medicine in 19th Century CanadaTuesdays, February 4 & 11, 2014, 2 – 4 pm
This two-part lecture series will examine life and death and the role of medicine in Canada in the nineteenth century, as well as the revolution in Canadian medical education from 1875 to 1920 that extended life span and professionalized medicine and medical training.
Instructor: Dr. Marianne Fedunkiw
Where: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto

Making the Internet Work for GenealogyWednesdays, February 12, 19 & 26 & March 5, 2014, 6:15 – 8:15 pm
This four-week course is aimed at those who have considerable experience already with using the Internet for genealogy, but who are interested in learning how to fine tune their search abilities and how to take advantage of the social networking opportunities the Internet provides.
Instructor: Marian Press
Where: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto

Tracing Your East Indian Heritage in the British West IndiesSaturday, February 15, 2014, 1 – 5 pm
This half-day course will cover the basic principles of research, how to understand indenture contracts, what to look for in vital records, church records, parish registers and much more.
Instructor: Pooran Bridgelal
Where: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto

The Social History of Dress in 19th Century CanadaTuesdays, February 18 & 25, 2014, 2 – 4 pm
This two-part lecture series is intended as a primer to the social history of dress seen in 19th century photographs, with a special emphasis on Canadian history. The course will cover the period from 1840 to 1910.
Instructor: Ingrid Mida
Where: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto

Introduction to Genealogy and Family History
Saturday, February 22, 2014, 10 am – 3 pm
A fast-paced one-day course that introduces some of the type of records and techniques needed for researching your family tree. It highlights vital records (civil and church), census records and probates (wills), showing how to extract and evaluate data.
Instructor: Linda Reid
Where: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto

They are parented by the OGS and the North York Central Library.

To learn more, you can go to http://torontofamilyhistory.org/

Annual general meeting at the Niagara Peninsula Branch

The area that is covered by the Niagara Peninsula Branch of the OGS

Tyler Stevens, the Membership Coordinator at Niagara Peninsula Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society write to tells us of a meeting that they will hold this Thursday at 7 pm.

They will feature a Genealogy Showcase, Branch Voting & the Holiday Gathering. Looking forward to seeing what folks have put together for their Showcase's.

So if you have a something to show or tell, email niagara@ogs.on.ca to book your time.

The website of the Niagara Peninsula Branch is http://www.ogs.on.ca/niagara/

Global Genealogy makes an announcement

Global Genealogy has just made the announcement that they have almost completed work on a book and CD called Genealogical Extracts from the Perth Courier Newspaper 1834-1929. Global Genealogy says that "It will be an 8 volume set of genealogical extracts from the Perth Courier newspaper that were published between 1834 and 1929 (known as the Bathurst Courier in its early years). They say that the series will be available in a coil-bound printed edition, and as books on CD (searchable pdf). Buy individual volumes (sorted by year of publication) or save by purchasing a complete set. The series includes 3618 pages of extracts of births, marriages, deaths, silver and golden anniversaries and other information of genealogical interest - about 40,000 extracts in all. All are extensively indexed including cross referencing and females listed by both maiden and married names when known. They say that they will announce the release date in an early January newsletter. A complete online index will be provided at that time . This collection will be a valuable addition to every genealogical reference library that has a Canadian section". Global Genealogy website is http://globalgenealogy.com/

Canadian Week in Review 09 December 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

No new websites this week.

Social Media

South Peace Regional Archives http://southpeacearchives.org/ It was founded in 2000 and is the first regional archives in Alberta. It covers the district of Alberta - the City of Grande Prairie, the County of Grande Prairie, the Municipal District of Greenview, and the Municipal District of Spirit River.

Who’s Your Grandaddy http://whosyourgrandaddy.ca/A genealogical research service specializing in the acquisition of documents relating to Canadian research for the following provinces - British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

News Articles

Poster contest draws on military history http://lethbridgeherald.com/news/local-news/2013/12/poster-contest-draws-on-military-history/ Read about how the entrants are down this year in the student poster contest for Remembrance Day at the Lethbridge Legion, Alberta.

St. Louis: Ship of Fate exhibit at Museum of Industry http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2013-12-06/article-3532713/St.-Louis%3A-Ship-of-Fate-exhibit-at-Museum-of-Industry/1This exhibit tells of the St. Louis, a ship of Jewish refugees from the Second World War who were not allowed to enter into Canada.

Local’s search for family history leads to university degree at age 76 http://www.lucknowsentinel.com/2013/12/04/locals-search-for-family-history-leads-to-university-degree-at-age-76 This article is about Carolyn Helfenstein, the editor of The Teeswater News from Bruce County, Ontario who went to university to earn her diploma at age 76. Her thesis was called “In Search of an Identity,” which she intends to turn into a book called “Rock Solid: The people of Newfoundland.”

Rose Murray updates classic Christmas cookbook with more history, new recipes http://www.brandonsun.com/lifestyles/breaking-news/rose-murray-updates-classic-christmas-cookbook-with-more-history-new-recipes-234464131.html?thx=y With so many cookbooks out at Christmas, it’s often hard to choose which one to buy, but here is one that combines Canadian history and cooking.

Harrietsfield man helps re-create history http://globalnews.ca/news/1005211/harrietsfield-man-helps-re-create-history/ Global News reports that Blair Higgins is the president of Loyalist Arms and Repair, a company in Harrietsfield (outside of Halifax) that specializes in recreating historical props inspired by the 17th or 18th century.

More bones found during Queen Street road work. Workers stumbles on old Methodist cemetery, an early 19th century burial ground http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/more-bones-found-during-queen-street-road-work-1.2455001This is the third finding on human bones under Queen Street since September. People think they are connected to the 19th century Methodist Cemetery that once was on the site.

Story of the Week

Christmas Lights Across Canada

For the past 29 years, Ottawa has led to country in the Christmas Lights Across Canada.

As in past years the official illumination ceremony took place on Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 6 p.m. on Parliament Hill and was hosted by Benoit Huot, Paralympic gold medalist, and Jean-Luc Brassard, Olympic gold medalist and Assistant Chef de Mission of the Canadian Olympic Team for Sochi 2014

They were joined The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and a representative of Manulife Financial.

Adding to the festive mood of the evening, the celebration included performances by the Dunlop Public School Choir and Big Soul Project, a community gospel and groove choir.

The ceremony was broadcasted live on Rogers TV, Cable 22, in Ottawa, and an edited version will be re-broadcast throughout the holiday season on community cable stations across Canada.

Those in attendance were invited to indulge in some favourite winter treats: BeaverTails® pastries, hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows (free while supplies last).

For more information on the Christmas Lights Across Canada program, members of the public can contact 613-239-5000, 1-800-465-1867 or visit www.canadascapital.gc.ca. TTY (text telephone for the hearing impaired) is available at: 613-239-5090 or toll-free 1-866-661-3530.

You can also go to http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1379447340362

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 16 December 2013.