Tools to help you tell the Story of Your Family

Pierre Clouthier of Progeny Genealogy will give a talk at the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in the Akins A/V room at the Nova Scotia Archives on University Avenue, Halifax.

They say that "Pierre has been programming computers since 1965, learning FORTRAN at the University of Montreal. He has programmed for the life insurance industry, computer manufacturing and sales, electronic publishing, food, transportation, telecommunications, paper, petroleum, banking, electric utilities, provincial and municipal governments. His grandfather got him interested in genealogy in the 1970s.

Progeny Genealogy was founded in 1995, to develop and distribute graphics software to genealogists in over 50 countries. Progeny has partnered with Ancestry.com, Corel, Mindscape, The Learning Company, Individual Software, and the LDS Church. Their mission is to help you tell the story of your family".

And he will be offering a 40% discount on sales of his software CDs at the meeting.

The general public is invited to join us for this free lecture!

For more information on our lecture series visit
http://www.NovaScotiaAncestors.ca or you can phone 902.454.0322 or email them at Info@NovaScotiaAncestors.ca

Canadian Week in Review 17 February 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

Websites

No new website this week.

Social Media

IRV'S LONDON http://www.irvslondon.blogspot.com The Fugitive Slave Chapel is located in London, Ontario. A group has been formed to raise money so that they can move the chapel to a new location. 

Lesser Known Databases for Scottish Genealogy Research Christine Woodcock is holding a free webinar on Thursday, February 27, 2014 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM EST. https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/155864215

The South Peace Regional Archives has produced a video of stills and film to celebrate Grande Prairie, Alberta's 100th anniversary this year. This is posted on A YouTube website http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwjra9axXEY&feature=youtu.be

3D model a virtual tour of Saskatoon's past http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/model+virtual+tour+Saskatoon+past/9492980/story.html Michael Swaan is using video game software to construct a virtual model of the city's downtown in the 1930s. There is a YouTube video on the news site.

News Articles 

Sleep in a First Nations longhouse
http://www.montrealgazette.com/travel/Checking+Ancient+long+house+addition+chic+hotel/9503741/story.html The longhouse is the newest addition to the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations in Wendake, Quebec, 15 minutes north of Quebec City. Visitors, who opt not to sleep in one of the 55 deluxe hotel rooms, may sleep under bearskins on one of the bunk-style platforms in the longhouse where firepits provide heat. A longhouse stay includes a snack of bannock, dinner in the hotel, and traditional Huron storytelling. 

A virtual exhibit on the South Peace Regional Archives website that will interest family historians with Western Canadian homesteaders in their ancestry Oliver H. Johnson’s diary. From June 1908 to January 1909, Johnson recorded his daily activities about working on his homestead and interacting with neighbours. The last few pages of the diary list recipes, drugs, groceries, dry goods, and hardware. 

Digitized images of the diary and a transcription are available at http://southpeacearchives.org/publications/photo-essays/oliver-h-johnson-diary. 

Festival du Voyageur Warms Up Winnipeg - Minister Glover joins thousands of Manitobans at annual winter celebration http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1736619 The Festival du Voyageur is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. 

Black History Month: CBC readers pay tribute to inspiring black Canadians http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/02/black-history-month-meet-some-inspiring-black-canadians.html Every day, black Canadians break barriers, create change and evoke empowerment. Read about seven people and how they do it to give back, to speak for the voiceless or for pure joy.

Black History Month in full swing across the island http://www.westislandchronicle.com/Community/2014-02-13/article-3614925/Black-History-Month-in-full-swing-across-the-island1See how the West Island in Montreal has celebrated Black History Month. 

(Some stories were suggested by Special Correspondent Gail Dever). 

Story of the Week

Family Day at the Museum

Today is Family Day in parts of Canada, with lots of events taking place.

In the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan, it is observed on the third Monday of February. In the provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island,  the statutory holiday on this date is instead referred to as Louis Riel Day and Islander Day

If you are in Ottawa, you can go to the Museum of History. Join in, play games, listen to music and learn about traditional snowshoe making. And don’t forget to visit the Snow exhibition… indoors.

Their website is at http://www.historymuseum.ca/home

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 24 February 2014.

Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on National Flag Day

February 15, 2014

Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement to mark National Flag of Canada Day:

“The Canadian flag is an inspiring and endearing symbol that unites Canadians from coast to coast to coast. It is equated both at home and abroad with a peaceful and progressive country of enormous natural beauty, prosperity and generosity of spirit. At no time is national pride in our flag more evident than during the Olympic Games, and it is certainly on prominent display in Sochi over so many podiums and around so many of our magnificent athletes. We could not be more proud.

“In keeping with the recent tradition of presenting a Peace Tower flag to deserving Canadians, I am deeply honoured to present this symbol of our country to Gordon Burke and Jan Phelan, parents of the late Sarah Burke, who are accompanied today by widower Rory Bushfield. Sarah was a gifted athlete, a trailblazer in freestyle skiing, and one of the principal reasons why the half pipe was introduced as an Olympic sport this year in Sochi, Russia. She was a great Canadian whose efforts have had a remarkable impact on the world of sport, and whose story has touched the nation. Her legacy will live on in the many athletes who take up the sport she so championed.

“On this day, I invite all Canadians to take a moment and reflect on our national icon and what it means to be Canadian.”

February 15 was declared National Flag of Canada Day in 1996. To celebrate this special day in Canadian history, each year the Peace Tower flag is presented to a Canadian who has exemplified the values our country holds most dear.

To read about the history of National Flag Day, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Flag_of_Canada_Day and go to http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1359736104513

FUNDING FOR GENEALOGICAL PROJECTS

 

The Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical society is offering grants of up to $2,500 each to support genealogically related projects within the geographical area under the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, which includes the amalgamated City of Ottawa, the United Counties of Prescott & Russell, the County of Lanark and the County of Renfrew. The total grant money available for 2014 is $5,000.

Acceptable projects will contribute to the knowledge of genealogical techniques and to the knowledge of genealogy relating to names, places, dates and family histories. This can include creating publications, developing databases, digitization of archival material collections, hosting training sessions and workshops, and the preservation of archival material collections. This grant is not meant to fund employees, or other in - house labour wages , but can be used to contract services and goods.

Only non - commercial entities may apply for this grant money including, genealogy societies, museums, archives, libraries, schools, historical societies, and community groups. An eligible applicant may submit more than one project proposal in any given year, and may apply in any year the grants are offered regardless of previous proposals or grants issued.

Successful applicants will be required to prepare and deliver a presentation related to their funded project at either a Branch Meeting or Ottawa Branch Conference. The support and funding given by the Ottawa Branch must be acknowledged with the logo, web address, and name of the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society appearing on all promotional material and/or physical aspects related to all projects receiving funding. Successful applicants must agree in writing to these conditions.

Application Deadline: March 15, 2014

Their website is at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/grants

Thanks to Gail Dever, Special Correspondent to Canadian Week in Review, for bringing this to our attention.

Heritage Day in Saskatchewan

The Yorkton Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogy Society invites you to join them at “Heritage Day” on Sunday, February 16 at the Western Development Museum in Yorkton from 2 PM – 5 PM..

The theme of Heritage Day is “Have Fun with Heritage: Historic Places Made for Play”, with the goal of seeing the historical value of places designed for play.

The press release says that "Guest speakers will talk about interesting locations in the area that have special memories for them. You can take your genealogy work one step further and record special family stories and memories as part of your family archives.

Every family has a story: make this the year to discover yours with the Yorkton Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogy Society”. 

The website is at http://www.saskgenealogy.com. 

The Western Development Museum where Heritage Day is being held is in the city of Yorkton. The website is http://wdm.ca

And they have a Family History File at http://www.wdmprairiegamble.com 

All Saskatchewan-based stories of family, community, organization and business history are welcome. The Family History Album is a perfect celebration of anniversaries, birthdays and family milestones like becoming a Century Farm.

Montreal’s endangered buildings

Gail Dever, Special Correspondent to the Canadian Week in Review sends us this story -

The Montreal Gazette's two-page report about the city's top 10 endangered buildings will interest genealogists whose ancestors lived in Montreal.

The first one listed is Huguenot trader Pierre du Calvet's home that was built in 1770- 71 and is located in what is known today Old Montreal. He emigrated to New France in 1758 , one year before the battle of the Plains of Abraham, and rose to prominence under British rule as a merchant and justice of the peace.

The full story is on http://www.montrealgazette.com/Montreal+endangered+landmarks/9494291/story.html

Family historians researching their Huguenot ancestors should visit Michel Barbeau's bilingual website Huguenots Database at
http://pages.infinit.net/barbeaum/fichier, where he has identified 321 Huguenotswho emigrated to New France and established residence in New France from 1604 to 1763.

Thank you, Gail.

Mapping Surnames of Immigrants

The FamilySearch blog on Genealogy Resources has a post about using the surname of your immigrant through the use of surname distribution maps to discover where they may have originated.

The blog says that “These maps graphically display locations where surnames occurred at different periods in time. This strategy provides genealogists with a starting point for research in the birth country, when that information cannot be discovered through sources recorded in the new country of settlement. It works particularly well for less-common surnames and among families that have stayed in the same European locations for centuries”. 

They have a list of countries, with links to maps, including Canada, and a world-wide map. So give it a try. 

Did it work for you?

The website is https://familysearch.org/blog/en/map-surname