The Ontario Name Index TONI

The goal of TONI is to include EVERY name found in any publication relating to Ontario. The index will go over a million entries in October.

The members of the Ontario Genealogical Society is indexing this list. It is free, and open to everyone at www.ogs.on.ca/integrated/toni_database1.php

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles - 15 October 2012

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

Wanuskewin Heritage Park wanuskewin.yastechserver.com Wanuskewin Heritage Park is a national historic site on the Great Plains of North America. Before European settlement in the area, Crow, Blackfoot, Cree, Nakota, Dakota, Salteaux, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Shoshoni, Kiowa, Comanche and other First Nations people lived there.

Mennonite Historical Society of Saskatchewan (MHSS) http://mhss.sk.ca/index.shtml There are many records onsite, for example, family histories, obituaries, church history, and death notices.

News Flash! Museum of Civilization to get new focus www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/museum-of-civilization-to-get-new-focus/article4611129/?cmpid=rss1 Daniel Leblans from The Globe and Mail reports that the Museum of Civilization will be re-named this week to either the Canadian Museum of History or the Museum of Canadian History.

Column: Mysteries in the family history www.saanichnews.com/opinion/173595151.html Don Denton is looking into his family history, and has concluded “ Families are odd things and family history is often odder.”

Fairview celebrates Alberta Culture Days www.fairviewpost.com/2012/10/02/fairview-celebrates-alberta-culture-days Fairview Fine Arts Centre in Alberta celebrated Alberta Culture Days with an open house Sept. 28 and 29. They observed Culture Days in order to celebrate “our artistic sector, heritage, cultural diversity and provincial pride.”

Autumn 2012 Issue of QFHS “Connections”

Roots and Branches of My Maternal Family Tree is an article by Dawn Miller Ouellette in which she tells of the years of researching to try and find who David McConaghie (her maternal grandfather) was, and why no one wanted to talk about him!

Although she never really discovered what happened to David, she does point out the importance of using LDS records, and of belonging to the Quebec Family History Society in order to research correctly.

In his article, Sex in the City and Edwardian Mores, Robert N. Wilkins tells of stories run by the Montreal Star in which early 19^th Century people were gossiping of “salacious stories” that were heard in court on a fairly regular basis.

The remainder of Connections has a list of their events, library news, Computree, queries, and other news and notes that will help you become more knowledgeable about Quebec genealogy.

Their website is www.qfhs.ca

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved.

Perth & District, Ontario

A 64-page booklet about the town of Perth, located 60 minutes southwest of Ottawa, has been put together by the Perth & District Chamber of Commerce. Among the topics listed within the booklet is “Museum and Libraries”.

The eight are –

Matheson House – Perth Museum

Visit the 19th-century home at the museum, and beside the home, see exhibits on the Last Fatal Duel, and the Mammoth Cheese.

Outdoors is a Scottish garden containing flowering plants and shrubs true to the era (that I would like to see), and an outdoor bake oven and kitchen herb garden.

The website is at www.town.perth.on.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?pageid=97

Hall of Remembrance Museum

This museum is on the second floor of the Royal Canadian Legion, and has artifacts of the Boer War, World War One and Two, Korea, and  Afghanistan.

The website is at www.lanarkcountymuseums.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=20

Lanark and District Museum

There are genealogical books in their library, as well as exhibits of early pioneers life in Lanark County. They have the archives of William Caldwell, one of the earliest lumber barons of the area.

Go to their website at www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/GetMuseumProfile.do?lang=en&chinCode=guadsp

Middleville and District Museum

Housed in a 1861 two-storey stone house, the exhibits includes a horse-drawn hearse!

There are original genealogy and family history records onsite, and a 1830s log cabin.

The website is www.middlevillemuseum.blogspot.com

Dalhousie Historic Library and Museum

This is the oldest rural library in Ontario, and it includes books donated by Lord Dalhousie in 1828, plus genealogical records.

There isn’t a website.

Archives Lanark

This archives is operated by the Lanark County Genealogical Society, and it contains deeds from 1868 to 1958, land records, newspaper clippings, and photos.

Their website is www.globalgenealogy.com/archiveslanark

Perth and District Union Public Library

This library serves the Town of Perth and Drummond/North Elmsley and Tay Valley Townships. They have genealogy books, and book clubs.

The website is at www.perthunionlibrary.ca

Lanark Highlands Public Library

This library has been in operation since 1824, and they have many books on the social and historical aspect of the Lanark Highlands.

The website is www.lanarklibrary.ca

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved.

Manitoba Heritage Tattoo & Festival

On Saturday, October 27, 2012, at 1:30 PM, there will be over 250 participants from across Manitoba who will be at Westman Place, Keystone Centre, in Brandon to perform at the Manitoba Heritage Tattoo & Festival.

The tattoo will feature the Winnipeg Police Pipes, Drums and Dancers, Rusalka Dance Ensemble, RCMP Drill Squad, Sagkeeng's Finest, Brandon University Symphonic Band, and Brandon University Massed Choristers.

There is also an exciting evening featuring the musicians of the RCAF Band's Celtic, Dixieland, and Jazz Ensembles, on Friday October 26th 7:30 pm at Knox United Church. Tickets are $12, and available at the door.

For more information, go to www.mbhtattoo.ca

All Hallow’s Eve Returns to Old Fort Erie

The following Press Release was received from The Niagara Parks Commission -

"Niagara Falls, ON – Experience the traditions of Halloween, 1812-style, brought to life through the ghosts of Canada’s bloodiest battlefield. Staff at The Niagara Parks Commission’s (NPC) Old Fort Erie are preparing the final details for these memorable tours, which will take place October 19 - 20 and October 26 - 27 beginning at 7:30 p.m.

A fun and frightening evening is promised for visitors to the old stone fort, ending with refreshments and the annual burning of a Guy Fawkes effigy. The site of the bloodiest battlefield in the history of Canada conjures up many of its own hair-raising tales. See the Old Fort from the perspective of the spirits who still make their presence felt. The past comes to life through story-telling and the ancient traditions of Halloween

Tours start at 7:30 p.m., followed by the burning of the Guy Fawkes effigy at 8:30 p.m. This event is suitable for all ages. Be prepared and dress for any kind of weather. Reservations are required. Please call 905.871.0540 to book".

The event will held October 19 - 20 and October 26 - 27 at 7:30 p.m.

The admission is Adult $12.25, Child (ages 6-12) $7.95, Children 5 and under FREE

The location is the Old Fort Erie, 350 Lakeshore Road, Fort Erie, Ontario

For more information, visit www.niagaraparksheritage.com

Say “Thank You” to Indexers

I revieved this notice from FamilySearch.org yesterday –

“Here’s your chance to say thank you to the indexers who have helped you find your ancestors. Create a short video that is one minute or less to thank FamilySearch indexers and arbitrators for helping to make records searchable online. Highlight an ancestor you have found, or highlight someone you know who has found an ancestor while searching on FamilySearch.org, and express your gratitude to the indexers who helped make it possible.

Help indexers know their work matters. Share this contest with your friends, and get them involved”!

Submission Start Date: Monday, October 8, 2012

Submission Deadline: Monday, November 5, 2012

Prized will be posted on the FamilySearch indexing Facebook page, and 5 winners will receive a $25 Visa gift card!

Read all about it at https://familysearch.org/blog/en/fsindexingvideocontest2012