Ancestry.ca is offering free access to its Second World War records

Ancestry.ca is offering free online access to its entire collection of global military records from November 6 to November 11, 2015. 

It includes attestation forms, medical history forms and correspondence to family members back in Canada. Digitized records detail the brave service of more than 29,000 Canadian soldiers killed in action in WWII.

It contains over 29,000 records of Canadian military personnel killed in action during the conflict. The collection, consisting of more than two million images, includes a variety of different documents for each soldier. From attestation papers, to medical history forms and even correspondence to family members back in Canada, this collection can help tell a more in-depth story of what these war heroes were like during their time in conflict.

Each service file contains an average of 52 pages of personal information.

"The most incredible part about this new collection is the sheer amount of detail revealed about these individuals. Records of promotions or tributes written by comrades help bring to light the true heroism of these soldiers during an incredibly terrifying time, and will undoubtedly instill pride among living relatives of these brave souls today,” says Kevin James, PhD, Professor, Department of History at University of Guelph. “The other benefit of this collection is that it can help shed light on what life in Canada was like during the war. From hand-written letters, to telegraphs informing Canadians at home that a family member was missing in action, these records provide fascinating insight into the life and times of the WWII era.”

The records, digitized and archived by Ancestry, were originally compiled by Library and Archives Canada as part of the Canadian school curriculum, and will be available to search for free online from November 6 to November 11, along with Ancestry’s entire collection of military records - which includes more than 4.4 million records pertaining to Canada alone.

The Ancestry.ca site is at http://www.ancestry.ca/

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Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 

at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/11/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-02-november.html

 

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

 

It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Naturalization Records 1915 1951 updated at Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the release of a new version of the online database – Naturalization Records 1915 to 1951.

The nominal index has been extended with the addition of more than 68,000 names and now covers the years from 1915 to 1944, inclusively. Work is ongoing to extend the nominal index to 1951, and volunteers are welcome to help. Those interested should write to Cdn-Nat-Coord@jgs-montreal.org.

This database is one of the few Canadian genealogical resources specifically designed to benefit researchers having roots other than British. The reference numbers indicated in the database can be used to request copies of the original naturalization records, which are held by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Library and Archives Canada would like to thank the Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal and its volunteers, without whom this project would not have happened.

The database is at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/citizenship-naturalization-records/naturalized-records-1915-1951/Pages/introduction.aspx

The website of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal is http://jgs-montreal.org/

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Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 

at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/11/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-02-november.html

 

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

 

It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) opens to the public today

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) was created to preserve the memory of Canada’s Residential School system and legacy - not just for a few years, but forever.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) at the University of Manitoba will be home to millions of records, including statements from survivors, photos, videos and government documents and records that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has collected.

Most of these records are digital, and the physical centre has a ceremonial space, reading room, computers to access the material, a meeting room, library and physical items of the collection, such as artifacts from residential schools.

The Internet access is at http://umanitoba.ca/nctr/

For the history of the Residentail Schools, go to http://umanitoba.ca/centres/nctr/overview.html

===========================================================================

Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 

at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/11/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-02-november.html

 

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

 

It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Bring the long-form census back in time for 2016!

In 2010, the long-form census was done away with, and we went with a volunteer form. Now that the governmemt has changed during the last election (October 19th), a call has come from the people to reinstste the long-form census, and once again to make it mandatory.

But from what the experts say, it must be done right away, so a petition has been put on at https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/en/save-the-census, and you may sign it if you wish. Although I have found through other campaigns that we have had over the years, that a letter to your minister can be a more effective way to go.

===========================================================================

Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 

at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/11/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-02-november.html

 

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

 

It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

Waterloo Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will be an e-presence only



As has been reported by bloggers over the past day, the Waterloo Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society is going to re-invent itself as "an e-presence only, with a new website and the creation of a Facebook group. The new website will have a members only section and an e-store. Queries will be handled via this on-line presence”. 

 

The press release that was issued as part of the OGS e-Newsletter on Saturday, said that “Since this Branch is modeled on that of our on-line based Special Interest Groups, the fee, as decided by the Branch, is a bargain of $4 for the first year due to the website being "under construction" as members and the TSIC Committee of OGS work to place items, prior to January 1st, 2016, in the members only section related to research in the County of Waterloo. The same as with other OGS Branch members only sections on websites, the "stocking" of the section will be ongoing. There will be no newsletter, no physical Branch meetings and no postal mailing address”.

 

The OGS says that that this is a “pilot project authorized by the Board in order to explore alternatives when the volunteer base for a Branch becomes too small to provide all of the services that have been provided in the past”. 

 

So is this the way for the future of the OGS as members disappear? The membership has been decreasing for years, and something had to give, so to speak, and this looks like it may be a solution. What do you think? And this news comes a day after the 2016 re-membership drive starts. It will be interesting time ahead, I think. 

 

As of this morning, the Waterloo Branch still has a website at http://www.waterlooogs.ca/ with limited information. They still have cemetery CDs at for sale at http://www.waterlooogs.ca/cemeteries.htm, and the following family CDs - Bauman/Bowman Family, Bechtel, Bergey, Biehn, Bricker, Eby, Erb, Groh, Hallman, Hoffman, Lichty, Martin, Snyder, Shantz, Wanner and Weber are available for $20 each. 

 

Happy Researching!!

===========================================================================

Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 

at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/11/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-02-november.html

 

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

 

It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

 

Canadian Week in Review (CWR) 02 November 2015

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

This Week in Canadian History

In 1918, Canadian aviator William George (Billy) Barker won the Victoria Cross during the First World War. The Dauphin, Manitoba, native downed four German planes despite being wounded three times himself. Barker died in a 1930 training accident.

If you wish to learn more about William George (Billy) Barker, go to
http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/barker_william_george_15E.html

In 1971, La Presse, the largest French-language daily in North America, announced the suspension of publication in Montreal. The paper, with a circulation of 225,000, shut down because of the threat of increasing violence in a labor dispute. It resumed publication in February, 1972.

To be brought up on the latest news about La Presse, go to http://montrealgazette.com/business/local-business/montreal-la-presse-to-end-weekday-printed-paper-in-new-year

Social Media

(Photos) Stayner students plant tulips to create Dutch-Canadian Friendship Garden

http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/6034620-stayner-students-plant-tulips-to-create-dutch-canadian-friendship-garden/

A piece of shared Dutch and Canadian history has been honoured at Stayner’s high school.

(Video) This Week in History: A Royal BC Museum photograph exhibition in Guangzhou, China

http://www.cheknews.ca/this-week-in-history-a-royal-bc-museum-photograph-exhibition-in-guangzhou-china-120108/

Lieutenant Colonel John Frederick Crease (1836 – 1907) was mastering the art and science of photography, and captured various images of Canton, China immediately following the Anglo-French bombardment of the city.

Now, 156 years later, these photographs are being presented in Guangzhou (formerly Canton) as part of an exhibition: “Guangzhou to British Columbia – The Chinese Canadian Experience.”

(Video) Ireland pays tribute to Maritimes' help during Great Famine

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-famine-commemoration-1.3285452

 Ireland's Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is visiting New Brunswick this week as part of this year's International Famine Commemoration.

(Video) Artist rolls into Saskatoon as part of ambitious photo project

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/artist+rolls+into+saskatoon+part+ambitious+photo+project/11461518/story.html
What does Canada look like?

Artist Tim Van Horn is trying to answer that question with his Canadian Mosaic Project.

With a goal of taking photos of 54,000 Canadians ahead of the nation's 150th birthday in 2017, Van Horn has already captured 42,000 citizens with a camera. On Thursday, he stopped to collect Saskatoon faces.

(Photos) HANTS HISTORY: Oct 29 edition

http://www.hantsjournal.ca/Opinion/Columnists/2015-10-29/article-4325713/HANTS-HISTORY%3A-Oct-29-edition%26nbsp%3B/1

Here's a look at what was making the news 25 and 50 years ago in the Hants Journal, Nova Scotia.

(Video) Historical Second World War DC-3 aircraft unloaded in Saskatoon

http://globalnews.ca/news/2307814/historical-wwii-dc-3-aircraft-unloaded-in-saskatoon/

It was retired several years ago but this week an old DC3 Second World War airplane was on the move again. Jackie Wilson tells us about this historical craft and where its final resting place will be.

Newspaper Articles

Nova Scotia 

Heritage Trust asked town for time on BMO building

http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/News/Local/2015-10-26/article-4322641/Heritage-Trust-asked-town-for-time-on-BMO-building/1

Heritage Trust Nova Scotia has asked Amherst to give it some time to come up with an alternative to demolishing the former BMO building in the downtown.

Stewiacke cheers as schooner hand-built by Densmore cousins launches

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/schooner-stewiacke-cousins-hand-built-1.3290534

Five years of commitment was tested today when two cousins from Stewiacke launched their 24-metre wooden schooner.

Evan and Nick Densmore's ship sat on the banks of the Stewiacke River waiting for the tide to rise. The Densmores had hoped the new moon tide would lift the boat safely over sandbars and shoals into the water — and it did.

Quebec

Exploring Quebec City's Musee de la Civilization

http://www.travelpulse.com/opinions/blog/exploring-quebec-citys-musee-de-la-civilisation.html

But I discovered one rainy afternoon that the Musee de La Civilisation is where natives head when they can't enjoy outdoor attractions.

Ontario

Recalling the not-long-ago battle of Canadian suffragists

http://www.guelphmercury.com/opinion-story/5974266-recalling-the-not-long-ago-battle-of-canadian-suffragists

Canadian history books and classes concentrated primarily on political and military events, neglecting to offer information on how women have impacted our nation and have thus been impacted by our nation.

THE JOY OF GENEALOGY: Five ways to celebrate Family History Month

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6048119-the-joy-of-genealogy-five-ways-to-celebrate-family-history-month/

The leaves are falling and genealogy is calling, so let’s celebrate Family History Month in North America.

Whose Mother would this monstrous monument be?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/whose-mother-would-this-monstrous-monument-be/article26957709/

The first is the controversial Memorial to the Victims of Communism, planned for a prime piece of Ottawa’s parliamentary real estate near the Supreme Court of Canada – a site long designated for a new Federal Court building, and the second is the Mother Canada statue, a privately promoted expression of monumentality proposed for an evocative coastline site in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Alberta

Group using old bricks for new memorial honouring Edmonton's First World War history.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/group-using-old-bricks-for-new-memorial-honouring-edmontons-first-world-war-history

A community group wants to incorporate bricks from the recently destroyed Leamington Mansion apartments in a new memorial honouring Old Strathcona’s First World War history.

Calgary tour digs deep into city's past

http://calgaryherald.com/life/calgary-tour-digs-deep-into-citys-past

A new full-day tour of Calgary delves deep into the city’s past. The Herald asked Judy Uwiera of Lifetime Adventures Travel to talk about the new offering for visitors and residents alike.

British Columbia

Coffee with: New city archivist loves opening windows into the past

http://www.richmond-news.com/community/coffee-with-new-city-archivist-loves-opening-windows-into-the-past-1.2094067

When Jennifer Yuhasz took her first steps into the world of documenting history, she didn’t have to go very far. As a grade schooler, she simply explored her grandparents’ yard on the family cattle and wheat farm two hours southeast of Regina, Saskatchewan.

Canadian news stories this week

Canadian Women on our banknotes, please!


I see where the town of Oakville, Ontario has joined a chorus of voices calling for Canadian women to be pictured on Canadian currency.

The Oakville council voted unanimously recently to encourage the Bank of Canada and federal Minister of Finance to add prominent Canadian women to Canadian bank notes.

Did you know that in 2004, the Bank of Canada circulated a $50 bill honouring the contributions of Therese Casgrain, first woman to lead a political party in Canada, and The Famous Five - Nelly McClung, Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Bouise McKinney and Henrietta Edwards?

This $50 bank note was eventually taken out of circulation in 2011 and replaced with one featuring the Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King and an icebreaker.

There is an online petition at https://www.change.org/p/bank-of-canada-add-women-from-canadian-history-to-canadian-bank-notes

So far has more than 64,000 supporters and other municipalities have passed similar motions.

And that was the week in Canadian news!

===========================================================================

Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 

at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/10/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-26-october.html

 

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

 

It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport (MTCS) will be holding province-wide meetings

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport (MTCS) will be holding province-wide meetings so as to
establish a vision for culture across the province, and they want to know which aspects of Ontario’s culture are valuable to you and your community.

The press release says “One of the most valuable cultural resources in Ontario is our heritage sector. All across the province, not-for-profit organizations such as historical societies, museums, archives, and other heritage organizations and institutions are working to preserve and promote our diverse history. Activities such as cemetery tours, historical walks, community bike tours, plaque unveilings, archaeological digs, and visits to museums and historic sites are just a few examples of how Ontarians participate in culture by connecting with their heritage. Many of Ontario’s grassroots heritage organizations also work tirelessly to protect our natural history—which is a vital part of both our cultural identity, and our tourism industry.

Since government funding to heritage organizations was both cut, and frozen, in the mid-1990s, the groups who provide these services to their communities have been forced to do more with less. These are the people restoring our train stations, preserving our lighthouses, defending our cemeteries, protecting our genealogical resources, and telling our stories through lectures, films, publications, and exhibitions. Despite all their valuable work preserving our historical landmarks and cultural landscapes, government funding to these not-for-profit organizations remains incredibly low”.

The deadline for public submissions to the MTCS is December 7, 2015, and they are looking for your ideas.

Go to https://talk.ontario.ca/culture/?_ga=1.252357641.1845137880.1418760706 for more information.

And to see the places where the meetings are to be held, go to https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-culture-strategy?_ga=1.214450967.1845137880.1418760706

===========================================================================

Check the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is 

at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/10/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-26-october.html

 

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

 

It has been published on a continuous basis every Monday since April 2012!