Gene-O-Rama 2012 Cancelled

Word has reached me that the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will not host the 2012 Gene-O-Rama this year. The reason – they will be helping Region VIII to host the Ontario Genealogical Society Conference this year at Kingston, Ontario.

But they will be holding the AGM, and Genealogy Day on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at City of Ottawa Central Archives at 100 Tallwood Drive, Ottawa, Ontario.

It starts at 9:30-10:00 when you arrive, and speakers include Robert Serré, Rick Roberts and one of the staff from the City Archives. The City Archives will be open 10 am to 5 pm for research as well.

Marketplace will feature Global Genealogy as well as the member organizations of Region VIII, and some of the local heritage organizations.

Cost is $25, and it including lunch.

Check the details at   http://ogsottawa.on.ca/?p=1989

New/Improved Canadian Websites and Blogs Week 15

Here are some of the websites and blogs that I have come across the week ending December 12, 2011

Leger Genealogy/Généalogie des Léger http://leger.genacadie.ca/index.htm (French/English) It includes an index of the names of the Leger family, and the index of where they were/are located.

Acadian and Maritimes Obituaries "The Acadian Genealogy Corner" http://obit.genacadie.ca/index.php?lang=EN As the website says, "This site is dedicated to collect, share and preserve obituaries from Maritime newspapers and others that contain Acadian obituaries".

OntarioGenealogist http://ontariogenealogist.blogspot.com The author of AlmostDunnGenealogy, she is updatimng the wiki of Halton County, Ontario https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Halton_County,_Ontario, and she is a volunteer with the Automated Geneaolgy website at http://www.automatedgenealogy.com

Ottawa Valley Irish: A family history weblog and genealogy database http://www.ottawavalleyirish.com Irish and French Canadian families in the Ottawa Valley area, including the Morans of Huntley township; the Laheys and Killeens of March township; the McGlades of Perth; the McCarthys of Kitley township; and the Derouins of Otter Lake.

Canada Germany Migration http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/expositions-exhibitions/migrations/english/index.html A very interesting webpage, beginning with the first wave of 1750 to 1752.

An American Adventure - Gray Family http://www.phillipsplace.net/genealogy/surnames/gray.html Family history of John Edward Gray and family, 1908 from England to Victoria.

Cornelius John Soule: Architect/Photographer http://souleweb.ca The site says that "This site is mainly about Cornelius .. his life, projects, travels and family".

Sessional Papers/Parliamentary Papers:Canadian Pacific Railway http://jubilation.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/Sessional/cpr1884.html From Government of Canada Sessional Papers 48 Victoria 1885 (25), p.11 which shows the employee's monthly pay, term of service, and the cause of removal.

Local History and Genealogy http://torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/local-history-genealogy This is a blog which is posted on a regular basis to by the staff of Toronto Public Library staff. The latest blog is on James Esson, Photographer – 1853 -1933.

The MIERAU Family Home Page http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/i/e/Alvin-H-Mierau The author says that their ancestry goes back to "My ancestry ties back to a Peter Mierau, born 1810. Some of his siblings moved to Nebraska. Some of those Nebraska descendants eventually landed up in Langham, Saskatchewan".

Next Monday: I will give my Book Picks for 2011!

Simcoe County Ancestor Newsletter

The November issue of SCAN, the newsletter of the Simcoe County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, writes about celebrating, in 2012, the 175th anniversary of the founding of the community of Bond Head, Simcoe County.

Bond Head was originally named Wragg Corners, but in 1837 it was renamed to its present name after Sir Frances BOND HEAD.

The article, "Half-Way Stopping Place: A pioneer Ontario Community", gives a very good history lesson about Bond Head, and the article ends with "Bond Head Presbyterian Church – Communion Roll", which gives the names on the communicants, their residence, their profession or occupation, how and when they were admitted, and how and when they removed from the roll.

There are 202 names on these pages of Presbyterians who were living in West Gwillimbury in 1822.

In the previous meeting in September, Melissa Ellis gave a talk about the "Web Sites to further your Family History Project" in which she used Margaret Rudy (ROUTCLIFFE) EDMUND as a case study.

You can go to their website at http://www.simcoebogs.com

If you are interested in joining Ontario Genealogical Society, and the Simcoe County Branch, go to http://www.ogs.on.ca/membership.php.

Tomorrow's Post: New/Improved Canadian Websites and Blogs Week 15

Query on Silence

Here is a query sent us about an ancestor named "Silence" -

"Hi there:

A few years ago there was a show called Ancestors in the Attic. One of the first shows had a segment on "Silence".

Silence was a gr. gr. gr. grandmother of mine. I just happened to catch the programme and did not think of taping it.

I have been in touch with the History Channel, with no luck.

I am asking if anyone out there has a copy of this programme, I would appreciate a copy.  I have forgotten so much of the information on the programme and would like to have it for my family memoir.

Anyone out there who has information on how to obtain a copy, please get in touch.

Happy holidays, & a Very Merry Christmas"

If you can help Pamela, please email her at pamela.daly@sympatico.ca

Canadian Genealogist Will Be on The Radio!

Canadian genealogist Lynn Palermo of The Armchair Genealogist will be on GeneaBloggers Radio tonight at 9:00 pm EST as she and other guests talk with host Thomas MacEntee about Genealogy Gift Guide.

It says that in the new year, she will be hosting The Family History Writing Challenge in February, a series of new blog posts about turning a Family History blog into a book, and ebook offerings in 2012.

So read her always informative blog at www.thearmchairgenealogist.com, and listen to her this evening at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/geneabloggers/2011/12/10/genealogy-gift-guide

Launch of a New Flickr Image Set: Hong Kong, 1941–1945

The press release was received from the Library and Archives Canada this week - 

"To commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Hong Kong, a new Flickr image set was added, which focuses on the Canadian prisoners of war liberated from a prison camp at the end of the war.

This image set is available at www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157627734394912

Past Flickr image sets include Canadian participation and activities during the First World War, Irish immigration to Canada and immigration and quarantine facilities at Grosse Île. These collections highlight different periods of Canadian history and delineate the stages Canada has faced to become the modern nation it is today.

We invite you to explore other image sets on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac, and encourage you to comment, tag, and share content".

2012 Will Be a Banner Year for Canada!

There was a symbolic striking of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in Ottawa this week at the Royal Canadian Mint.

The medal will be created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. Sixty-thousand deserving Canadians will be recognized, and Canada Post will issue a number of stamps in her honour.

It got me thinking about other anniversaries which will be celebrated in Canada during 2012, and some of them are -

The Sinking of the Titanic http://titanic.gov.ns.ca Many of the victims are buried in Halifax. There will be a set of stamps issued by Canada Post to commemorate Canada's role in the sinking of the Titanic one hundred years ago.

The 150th Anniversary of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada Regiment http://2012.blackwatchcanada.com Their motto is "HONOURING THE PAST - PROTECTING THE FUTURE"

City of Victoria, 150th Anniversary www.victoria.ca/cityhall/arts-victoria-150.shtml Celebrating one of Canada's major cities and cultural centres.

Town of Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador, 250th Anniversary http://torbaytoday.blogspot.com/2011/10/torbay-2012-celebrations.html Commemorating the landing of the English in Torbay in 1762.

Vimy Ridge 2012 95th Anniversary Commemoration www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/salute/article/759 There will be a list of events posted as April 9th gets closer.

Do you know of other anniversaries that will take place in 2012? If so, please post a comment, or send me a note with the details, and I will be glad to post them.