Monday, April 21, 2014

Canadian Week in Review 21 April 2014

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. 

Social Media


Elgin County Ontario Canada and Talbot Times Genealogy Blog http://elgincountyogs.blogspot.com/2014_04_01_archive.html
If you have ancestors in Elgin County, this is a blog that you should put in your reader to keep abreast of the historical documents that are online.

The CRA and LAC
The Canadian Historical Association / La Société historique du Canada is pleased with the appointment of Dr. Guy Berthiaume as the new head of Library and Archives Canada.

News Articles 


St. James church building in Gatineau damaged by fire. Century-old building, being turned into furniture store, suffers only smoke damage.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/st-james-church-building-in-gatineau-damaged-by-fire-1.2608674
The 113-year-old building St. James Anglican Church in Gatineau was engulfed in flames, but the fire was contained to the church lobby.

The Story of Indian Immigration to Canada
This article gives a brief history of Indo-Canadian immigration to Canada which started in 1904 with a few immigrants landing ashore at Vancouver, British Columbia. 

Potato Month sales provides boost to Potato Museum
In February, Sobeys grocery stores in Atlantic Canada made a 25-cent contribution to the Potato Museum in Prince Edward Island for every specially marked 10-pound bag of Heritage Russet potatoes sold in Sobeys stores.
Visit the Canadian Potato Museum at http://www.peipotatomuseum.com

Karolyn Smardz Frost gave a talk to the Wolfville and Area Historical Society entitled Black Loyalists: the Early African Nova Scotia Experience in King's County. Between the founding of Halifax and the end of the American Revolutionary War, at least 600 people of African descent were brought to Nova Scotia.

Wolfville Historical Society
Their website is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfville_Historical_Society 

From Paris auction block to B.C. First Nation's museum, rare artifact comes home http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/From+Paris+auction+block+First+Nations+museum+rare+artifact/9719573/story.html
The Chilkat ceremonial blanket was recently discovered on the auction block in Paris and was purchased by the U'mista Cultural Society with a $27,368 grant from Canadian Heritage. Made some time between 1865 and 1871, the blanket is now on display at the U'mista Museum in Alert Bay, on the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

Canadian Sikh Billionaire Acquires Maharaja Ranjit’s Sword
In addition to the sword, Bob Dhillon, reportedly the first Sikh billionaire in Canada, has acquired a number of manuscripts, and miniature paintings.

Western Development Museum celebrates 65 years of living history. WDM uses modern methods to keep history alive.
What started off as a museum in a airport hanger has since grown to four locations in North Battleford, Saskatoon, Yorkton, and Moose Jaw.

Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada Burnt to Ashes, No Injury Reported 
http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/546844/20140407/ukraine-catholic-church-burnt-ontario-canada-toronto.htm
A Ukrainian church was burned to ashes due to a two-alarm fire in Ontario, Canada. The Catholic Church, which was completely destroyed due to the fire, was situated on Heritage Road north of Bovaird Drive West in Brampton, outside Toronto.

Everyone who has lived in Halifax has at one time or another has been in the Roy Building on Barrington Street, and now the 120-year old building is being town down to make way for a new condo.

What really happened to the Bell of Batoche 
Researchers at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) have uncovered the story of the real Bell of Batoche.

Visit Quebec City, Canada, on e of North America’s oldest cities http://www.perthnow.com.au/travel/world/visit-quebec-city-canada-one-of-north-americas-oldest-cities/story-fnjjva7e-1226881044655 
It is the only North American fortified city north of Mexico whose walls still exist.

Montrealer wants national day for Terry Fox on April 12. Eddy Nolan wants federal recognition for the day Fox launched his historic Marathon of Hope in 1980 http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/montreal/story/1.2608744
Do you realize that Terry Fox ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day for 143 days. He completed this before his cross-Canada trek was cut short by the return of his cancer near Thunder Bay, Ont. He died nine months later on June 28, 1981, at the age of 22. 

Story of the Week

World Book and Copyright Day

World Book and Copyright Day is an annual event, celebrated all around the world to promote reading and the cultural aspects of books. It is celebrated on April 23rd.

You would be well-advised to read Dr. Margaret Ann Wilkinson's (Canada’s answer to genealogy and the law) article, Recent Developments in Canadian Law Affecting Genealogists, in the May 2014 issue of Families, the journal of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS).

She gives a full explanation of Canadian law as it pertains to privacy and copyright for other people’s work, and for your own work, as you put family trees in software and on the Internet. 

If you are not a member of the OGS, you may be able to access this article at your local genealogical society library, or you can contact the OGS at https://www.ogs.on.ca/membership.php to see if a half-year membership could include this issue of Families.

Writers' Trust of Canada
Formed in 1976 by Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Graeme Gibson, Margaret Laurence, and David Young. its mission is to “advance, nurture, and celebrate Canadian writers and writing”. 

The International Edible Book Festival
Here is an interesting idea to try. Make a book and then eat it! You make a “book cake”, decorate it as you wish, and then celebrate Canada’s Book and Copyright day by toasting your accomplishment, and then eating a piece of cake. And, of course, read a good Canadian genealogy book that day!

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 April 28, 2014.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Canadian Week in Review

Check the Canadian Week in Review tomorrow morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

It has the latest news covered in New/Updated Websites, Social Media, and Newspaper Articles. 

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! 

Next week, the Canadian Week in Review will start its third year in bringing you the Canadian take on genealogy, heritage and history news. It has been a regular post every Monday morning since April 23, 2012.

Happy Canadian Easter!


It is a beautiful Sunday morning here in the Ottawa area, with sunshine and pleasantly warm temperatures. We give thanks that we made it through a terrible winter - where we had a plenty of snow, very cold temperatures (one of coldest in Canadian history), and power outages.

But today, we are “hopping” with joy. Buds are appearing on trees, and tulips are starting to come up through the ground. There is a lightness in the air, genealogical societies are getting their spring/summer activities on the go, and our thoughts are turning toward what looks to be an exciting and rewarding summer.

So Happy Easter everyone!

Enjoy this wonderful day, and "Happy Hunting!" in your genealogy (and eggs)!

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Ancestry.ca releases Lower Canada and Canada East Census Records

  

Ancestry.ca has announced the release of more than 120,000 Canadian Census records from Lower Canada (now Quebec). These records document the lives of Canadians living in Lower Canada in 1825 and 1842 – before Canada was officially a country. 

As they say in their press release “The first national Canadian census was taken in 1871; however, many local and colonial censuses were taken before this date. The 1825 Census of Lower Canada and the 1842 Census of Canada East highlight the names of heads of the family, occupation, the number of people living in the house and other information that can help people discover more about their Canadian roots. 

Lower Canada and Canada East were vibrant and rapidly growing areas during the mid-1800s. Wheat and timber had replaced the fur trade as the main industries for export, creating a booming local economy and leading to a population that expanded by approximately 300,000 between 1784 and 1825. 

“These records shed new light on the lives of people who helped build Quebec and can help countless Canadians discover more stories about their ancestors living in Pre-Confederation Canada,” says Lesley Anderson, genealogist and Content Specialist for Ancestry.ca. “We’re excited to be offering Canadians the chance to explore these new records and adding to what is the largest online collection of historical Canadian records available anywhere in the world.””

The website for the 1825 Census of Lower Canada is at http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=9807

The website for the 1842 Census of Canada East is at
http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=9808

Friday, April 18, 2014

Heritage Gaspe/Heritage Gaspesie presents “Generation Sacrificed – The Gaspe Soldiers of the Great War 1914-1918”.

Tom Eden will present a photo and information exhibit, which will be held at St. James Anglican Church, from July 28-August 2nd. It will consists of 10 panels, each with a different theme outlining the activities of the war and the sacrifice of the lives of these young Gaspesians. Tom will also be available to share his project with the community at a conference to be held on August 2nd. 

A tour of the old Wakeham cemetery will take place as well as a pamphlet on the history of the church will be made available. The exhibit is free of charge but a good will offering would be appreciated. All proceeds will go towards St. James Church.

The conference will be held August 2nd at 1:30 p.m. in St-James Church, Wakeham. The photo exhibit will be held July 28 to August 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. also at St-James Church, Wakeham.

Foe information, go to http://gaspesie.quebecheritageweb.com/attractions-and-tours

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Parish registers: Manitoba

Heritage Canada has put more digital records online, and one of the records that you may find helpful are the parish records for Manitoba. 

Government registration of vital statistics (baptism, marriage and death) for Manitoba did not begin until the late 1800s. In this collection can be found parish registers and other church records from various churches in the province of Manitoba. 

There are three microfilm rolls - 

H- 1344

H-1812

H - 1813
 
Make sure that you read the first few pages before you start you search. It looks like they in alphabetical order, but in case you do not find the person you are looking for, you will have to go page by page to see if the person is there. Many of the records include the people of the Red River Settlement. 

To go to the records click on the website http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_mikan_115731

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Guy Berthiaume appointed as Librarian and Archivist of Canada

The LAC has finally filled the position of the Head of Library and Archives Canada -

The Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Shelly Glover announced yesterday that the appointment of Guy Berthiaume as the Librarian and Archivist of Canada will be for a term of five years, effective June 23, 2014. 

Dr. Berthiaume has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec since 2009. Before this, he spent thirty years as a senior university administrator. 

Dr. Berthiaume holds a doctorate in history from the École pratique des hautes études and the Université de Paris VIII, a Master of Arts degree from the Université Laval in Québec City and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Université du Québec à Montréal. He has published a number of articles and has served on the boards and committees of numerous organizations.

Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages say that “Having a person of Dr. Berthiaume’s calibre leading Library and Archives Canada will be a solid asset to the organization. His extensive experience in the management of large cultural organizations and his strong leadership are important qualifications for this position.” 

Please go to the LAC website at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca