Brian Gilchrist, Ontario genealogist, passes away

It is with a heavy heart that I read this morning that Brian Gilchrist has passed away. His passing leaves a big void in Ontario genealogy.

He was the Reference Archivist at PAMA (Peel Art Gallery, Museum & Archives), and a founding member of Halton-Peel Branch, OGS.

I first met Brian in the early 1990s when I was starting out in genealogy, and he brought an energy and interest to the subject that I had to admire. I always went to his lectures, and always came away recommitted to the world of genealogy.

The last conversation I had with Brian was about a month ago when I was asking him about a family in Peel County, and he said that he had been sick, but things were looking up, and that he had returned to work. So the news this morning really caught me off guard.

His knowledge, and understanding on Ontario genealogy will be missed.

His funeral will be held at St. James Church in Toronto next week.   

The news is on Gail Dever’s Facebook page at Genealogy à la carte at http://genealogyalacarte.wordpress.com/2014/05/01/canadian-genealogist-j-brian-gilchrist-passes-away and on the Halton-Peel Branch of the OGS Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/HaltonPeelBranchOGS

British Columbia, Canada, Estate Files, 1859-1949

 Another case of the partnership between Ancestry and FamilySearch. 

Ancestry has the browsable images on their site, and you can browse by Judicial District/Locality, whereas FamilySearch has the background information that could help you to search estate files in British Columbia. plus browsable images.

So how is this system working? It brings the holdings of the FamilySearch site to a different audience, but Ancestry isn’t adding any new records by doing this. Are you satisfied with this change?

At one time apparently, Ancestry would only put on indexed records, now it appears that they have moved to include browsable images.

You can search the site at Ancestry http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=9806

You can read the information at FamilySearch at https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/British_Columbia_Estate_Files_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)

The images are at FamilySearch at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2014768

OGS new website

What do you think of the new website that the OGS has just put on the Internet?

For myself, I don’t know what to think.

It seems like they have lost their focus – Ontario genealogy.

And what do they mean by Help Save Library & Archives Canada? What do they mean? When you open the tab, it talks about Donations to the library at the OGS, not the LAC!

Could they have been too hasty in putting this on the Internet right now? Even the copyright for the website is for 2013 – it hasn’t been changed to 2014!

It is my feeling that the site needs some tweaking before it is put out to there for public consumption. What do you think?

The website is https://www.ogs.on.ca

RCMP obituary card index and notices, 1876-2007

Here is an instance which demonstrates the co-operative partnership that exists between Ancestry and Family Search these days with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) obituaries card and notices between 1876 and 2007. 

You can Browse this collection on Ancestry at http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=9930, while at FamilySearch, you can read the background information about the RCMP collection at https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Royal_Canadian_Mounted_Police_obituary_card_index_and_Notices_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)

Here’s your chance to participate!

You can ask a question to the Social Media panel at the Ontario Genealogical Society this weekend. All you have to do is to go to the website https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/cgkbikrmmec7hi1irnenf5jmqbc?cfem=1

To get you started, I have asked the first question, and I leave the other questions to you. 

And you can watch the Social Media panel (which will be comprises of Tony Bandy, Kirsty Gray, Daniel Horowitz, Chris Paton, Marian Press, and John D Reid) as it will be a Google Hangout On Air. It will start at 8:00 am Saturday morning on May 3rd. 

Let me know how you found it? Will you be watching any of the Live Streaming that they will be doing from the conference? Do you think that Social Media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ Hangouts On Air have any place in Canadian genealogy? 

Canadian Week in Review 28 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 

Toronto 1914 

https://toronto1914.wordpress.com

A new history blog put together by students in Dr. Jessica van Horssen’s History 4570 class at Toronto’s York University called Canada in War and Peace, 1911-1952. (Reported by CWR Special Correspondent, Gail Dever, of Genealogy à la carte blog fame - https://genealogyalacarte.wordpress.com)

Jeannie M. Martin

http://www.literatureandgenealogy.com

Jeannie M. Matine is “tracing genealogy in Canadian literature” on her new blog, and is doing a fine job. She evens cites the works that she writes about. Excellent blog! (Reported by Gail Dever)

The Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial

http://svwm.ca

Started in 2006, it is hoped that photographs of geo-memorial locations and/or plaques and grave location information will be added as well. The intent is to provide a rich source of information to honour our war dead.

Canadian War Museum completes collection of Saving Life at Sea medals awarded to Canadians in Halifax Explosion

http://ottawastart.com/story/23100.php

The Canadian War Museum is pleased to announce that it now possesses both Albert Medals for Saving Life at Sea awarded to Canadians in the Halifax Explosion of 1917. The medals testify to the devastation and consequent heroism that followed the wartime collision between the munitions carrier Mont-Blanc and the collier Imo in the city’s harbour.

News Articles

Counties council asked to back naming County Road 34 'British Home Children Commemorative Highway'

http://www.cornwallseawaynews.com/News/2014-04-25/article-3702205/Counties-council-asked-to-back-naming-County-Road-34-British-Home-Children-Commemorative-Highway/1

Jim Brownell who is the director of the Ontario East British Home Child Family (OEBHCF), wants to rename the roadway that goes through the towns of Lancaster, Green Valley, and Alexandria on County Road 34 as the ‘British Home Children Commemorative Highway.' (Reported by Gail Dever)

Rewriting the pages of history Shelburne student corrects foggy account of war crime
http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/4476061-rewriting-the-pages-of-history

Learn how a student changed history by researching a soldier in their Second World War and discovering the story of how he been executed with six other soldiers near the small town of Mouen, France.

Twin Towns History - Growth of Channel

http://www.gulfnews.ca/News/Local/2014-04-21/article-3693534/Twin-Towns-History---Growth-of-Channel/1
Read the development of the towns of Channel and Port aux Basques in the mid-to-late 1800s.

A historical mystery solved: Historical society owns site marking Acacia Villa School
http://www.novanewsnow.com/Living/2014-04-18/article-3691714/A-historical-mystery-solved%3A-Historical-society-owns-site-marking-Acacia-Villa-School/1

There was a question (now answered) of who owned the site on which stands a cairn marking the Acacia Villa School in Hortonville, Nova Scotia.

Bringing culture and history to life
http://www.theaurora.ca/News/Local/2014-04-18/article-3693969/Bringing-culture-and-history-to-life/1
Grade 8 students from Labrador City and Churchill Falls showed off their blasts from the past at Menihek High School’s annual heritage fair, which took place Tuesday, April 15.

New head faces challenges at Library and Archives Canada
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/head+appointed+Library+Archives+Canada/9752598/story.html
Do you think that the new head of the LAC faces challenges, or is it too soon to tell? He will take over in June of this year.

Fisheries museum in Lunenburg to reopen May 17
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1200484-fisheries-museum-in-lunenburg-to-reopen-may-17
The Fishery Museum had been closed so that the foundation on the west end of the building could be stabilized. It will reopen May 17.

Bay Roberts shows off its First World War connections http://www.cbncompass.ca/News/Local/2014-04-22/article-3697653/Bay-Roberts-shows-off-its-First-World-War-connections/1
The Royal Canadian Legion in Bay Roberts was where people around the Trinity-Conception-Placentia region brought in pieces of history from the First World War.

Expert pieces together the fabric of Canadian history through quilting http://www.bramptonguardian.com/community-story/4479612-expert-pieces-together-the-fabric-of-canadian-history-through-quilting
Pauline Grondin, a professional storyteller, historical interpreter, and heritage performer, shared stories and anecdotes about the history of quilting at the monthly meeting of the Brampton Historical Society (BHS).

Story of the Week

The Métis Flag was first used by Métis resistance fighters in Canada prior to the Battle of Seven Oakes in 1816. There are two versions of the flag - The blue flag is used to associate the Métis employees of the North West Company, while the red represents the Métis who worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. 

Court of Appeal upholds landmark ruling on rights of Métis

The Métis who are of mixed heritage, were among Canada’s First People. They were documented in the 1600s as children born of the union between a European fisherman and his Native wife.

But it was not until the French-Canadian fur traders moved out west in 1700s and 1800s to the land known today as the Prairies, that the people became known as Western Métis.

Today, there are around 400,000 Métis in Canada.

They have been trying for years to gain recognition in Canada as native people under the Constitution Act, and this week the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the decision – that they were “Indians” under a section of the Constitution Act.

On Thursday, the appeals court upheld part of the decision. It ruled that while Métis should remain Indians under the Constitution, extending that recognition to non-status Indians should be done on a case-by-case basis since it is a separate issue.

Canada’s First people
http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_metis/fp_metis1.html
This site provides a good, basic history of the Métis in Canada.

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 May 5, 2014.

GANS office in open this afternoon

Here is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon -

Genealogy is a great past time on a rainy day. Drop into the office this afternoon and work on your family tree.

Sunday, April 27
GANS Office Open
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm - 3258 Isleville Street, Halifax, NS

The Office is open to everyone. Stop by to chat, do some internet research, check out our library or buy a publication or membership. Bring a friend!

Web: http://www.NovaScotiaAncestors.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NovaScotiaAncestors

Twitter: @NSAncestors