Only 11 more days left to join Ontario Genealogical Society for ½ price!

Yes, that’s right – membership for half-price!

With the half-price fee, you will be entitled to a half-year membership at $35.70 CDN and you will receive all the benefits of Individual membership including their quarterly mailing for August and November – the journal Families, the newsletter Newsleaf, and e-Newsleaf, and weekly updates.

This offer is also available to those who have not been an OGS member since 2011 and would like to rejoin the OGS family. 

To take advantage of the half-year membership, please visit the OGS website at: http://www.ogs.on.ca/integrated/integrated_account_new_step1.php

Ottawa Branch of the OGS AGM

The Ottawa Branch will hold its AGM meeting this Saturday June 21st at 1 pm. and it will be at the City of Ottawa Archives, Room 115 located at 100 Tallwood Drive in Ottawa. 

Following the business of the AGM, outgoing OGS President Shirley Sturdevant and incoming President Alan Campbell will provide an update on OGS including: governance and structure, OGS Board and Provincial Office activities and plans for 2014. 

As usual, this meeting will be live streamed to members of the Ottawa Branch of the OGS. 

For more information, go to http://ogsottawa.on.ca 

LDS Update: Ontario Births 1869-1912

The LDS church is adding indexed records to their existing collection of birth registration. Birth registration came into effect on 01 July 1869 in Ontario.

On the typical birth record, you may find the following information -

Full name of child

When the child was born

Gender

Name and surname of the father

Name and maiden surname of the mother

Occupation of father

When registered

Name of accoucheur (doctor or midwife attending the birth)

Signature description and residence of the informant

Where the birth was registered

County where the record was created

The records are at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1784212

The Ryan Taylor/J. Brian Gilchrist Memorial Lecture

This office received this notice about The Ryan Taylor/J. Brian Gilchrist Memorial Lecture from Mike More, Past Chair, Ottawa Branch OGS - 

“In 2007, Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society established the annual Ryan Taylor Memorial Lecture to honour a Canadian genealogist who has enhanced our knowledge of this hobby. The first Lecture was given in October 2007 by Glenn Wright, former archivist with the federal government and a friend of Ryan’s. The second annual lecture was given by another of Ryan’s friends, Brian Gilchrist.

When Brian passed away in May 2014, Ottawa Branch decided to rename the lecture this year in honour of the two genealogists and friends: The Ryan Taylor/J. Brian Gilchrist Memorial Lecture. Both spoke extensively on genealogical topics and were several times in Ottawa, at Gene-O-Rama, OGS Seminar and BIFSGHO events. They were always willing to share their expertise and experience in our hobby.

The event will be held Saturday 25 Oct 2014 at 1:00 pm in the City of Ottawa Archives (James Bartleman Centre). 

The presentation this year is entitled: "A Research Journey into WWI, WWII, Medals, & eBay". Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon will describe how twists and turns in his family history research, beginning with ancestors enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, lead to the acquisition of long-lost military medals found on eBay, the story of the local ancestor to whom they were awarded in World War Two, and a moving graveside visit. A short video about this story will also be screened. Dr. Pilon is the Curator of Ontario Archaeology at the Canadian Museum of History and an Adjunct Professor at Carleton University. He studied Anthropology and Archaeology and obtained his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Toronto."

The website is at http://ogsottawa.on.ca. If you need further information, you can contact mike at pastchair@ogsottawa.on.ca

Special Membership Offer for New Members

A membership is now available for the period February 1, 2014 to July 31, 2014 for only $35.00. This membership will give you a copy of their Summer 2014 issue of Connections magazine and full access to their website. Also, you are welcomed to come to their Library to research their many books and use special genealogy searching programs.

After printing and completing the form, mail it to them along with a cheque or money order for $35.00.

Meanwhile, the library and office of the Quebec Family History Society will be closed on Sundays from now until after Labour Day.

Please refer to their web site for their complete Summer Schedule.

The website as at http://www.qfhs.ca

Canadian Week in Review 16 June 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

Niagara Historical Society
http://www.niagarahistorical.museum
Founded in 1895, this society is located at Niagara-on-the-Lake, which was the former capital of Upper Canada (Ontario), and the place where some of the battles of the War of 1812-1814 took place.

They sponsor Historical Walking Tours of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and there will be a A Garden Party on the Eve of the Great War: Commemorating the Declaration of the First World War, on Saturday, July 26, 2014.

This Week in History

In 1811, Thomas Douglas, the 5th Earl of Selkirk was granted 300,000 square kilometres of territory in an area now occupied by Manitoba, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Selkirk paid 10 shillings a year rent on the land.
To read more about the Earl of Selkirk, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Douglas,_5th_Earl_of_Selkirk

In 1925, the United Church of Canada held its inaugural service in Toronto. The united Church was formed by the merger of the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist Churches.
To read more about the union, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada 

In 1841, the first Canadian parliament opened in Kingston, Ontario. It was held there from 1841 to 1844.
To read the history of Canada, go to Parliament of Canada at http://archive.cityofkingston.ca/firstcapital/overview.asp

In 1886, fire razed the city of Vancouver. It started when flames from a brush-clearing fire blew into tinder-dry brush in the west of the city. It destroyed more than 1,000 wooden buildings, and it killed at least eight people, but as many as 28 may have died. 

To read more about the fire, go to Great Vancouver Fire at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Vancouver_Fire 

In 2008, the Ontario home where Lucy Maud Montgomery penned many of the books in her Anne of Green Gables series was named a national historic site.

To read more about the author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Maud_Montgomery

Social Media

No new blogs this week.

Newspaper Articles 

Privateer Days 2014 to Set Sail in Liverpool

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1987342#ixzz34cafB0ih
Liverpool, Nova Scotia, located on Nova Scotia’s southwestern shore, will host the 29th edition of Privateer Days from June 20 to 24 this year.

Liverpool was one of British North America's leading privateer ports, and activities for the 2014 edition of Privateer Days include a live encampment, battle re-enactments by the King's Orange Rangers, tours of the Old Burial Ground, and an artisan workshop.

Two curators losing jobs at Canadian Museum of History due to reorganization
http://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/two-curators-losing-jobs-at-canadian-museum-of-history-due-to-reorganization
One of the curators has 38 years of experience, and was involved with such exhibits as Heart and Soul (on Quebec folk art), and a virtual exhibition called Nettie Covey Sharpe House.

Fireworks festival will proceed even if trees remain at Museum of History site
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/fireworks-festival-will-proceed-even-if-trees-remain-at-museum-of-history-site
It looks like the National Capital Commission is not going to cut down trees by the Museum of History so that the firework festival can take place this year.

Princes bringing Canadian history to Mississippi River cruise

http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2014/06/13/princes-bringing-canadian-history-to-mississippi-river-cruise
Shannon and Bryan Prince from North Buxton, near Windsor, Ontario, will be featured on an "Authors and History'' Mississippi River cruise in the spring of 2015. The paddlewheeler will travel from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana.

Nova Centre could get design OK

http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1214137-nova-centre-could-get-design-ok 

But on the other hand ...

Halifax heritage group goes to court to challenge Nova Centre design 

http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/1064318/halifax-heritage-group-goes-to-court-to-challenge-nova-centre-design

Australian War Memorial signs deal with Canada to commemorate Allied history of World War I
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-10/australia-war-memorial-canada-deal-to-tell-world-war-one-history/5511424
The Australian prime minister made an announcement during his recent visit to Ottawa that a major touring exhibition is planning to come to Ottawa from Australia for the 2017-18 season. 

Human remains found under Ottawa's Queen Street headed to museum 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/human-remains-found-under-ottawa-s-queen-street-headed-to-museum-1.2674688  

The City of Ottawa are in talks with people of the Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian faiths to figure out what to do with the remains that workers uncovered while they were doing construction work at the Queen Street site earlier this year. 

Story of the Week

Source: Table of Description of Records, Heir and Devisee Commission, RG 1 L 5, p. 4 Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa  H-1133 reel 1(http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_h1133: accessed 15 June 2014)

Errors found in the Ontario Heir & Devisee Commission 1777-1854

Lorine McGinnis Schulze, the author of the Olive Tree Genealogy Blog at http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/can/ont/heir-devisee-commission.shtml, asks if anyone has come across the errors that have been found in the Ontario Heir & Devisee Commission 1777-1854 papers.

This digitized (but not indexed) collection of 21 microfilm reels, ranging from Volume 1 to Volume 104, at the www.Canadiana.org website, on the Heritage webpage, has noticeable errors.

What she has discovered is that Canadian.org has put the incorrect volume numbers to the wrong explanation of what is inside the volumes.

So, she has been writing about this since last year, and has started to placing the correct volume number in a number of blog posts, and they are - 

Heir & Devisee Commission 1797-1854 on Canadiana.org - Listing Errors and a Workaround (August 30, 2013)

http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/08/heir-devisee-commission-1777-1854-on.html 

Home District Land Certificates 1787 to 1795 (May 17, 2014)

http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/05/home-district-land-certificates-1787-to.html 

An index to Niagara area Loyalists and their Land Certificates (May 16, 2014)
http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/05/an-index-to-niagara-area-loyalists-and.html#ixzz34iuUGzlL

Home District Land Claims 1803 & 1804 - Corrections to Canadiana.org Faulty Content List (May 21, 2014)
http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/05/home-district-land-claims-1803-1804.html#ixzz34ivjh8wb

Home District Land Claims 1803 & 1804 - Corrections to Canadiana.org Faulty Content List Part 2 (June 14, 2014)
http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com/#ixzz34ivAoeET

If you are working in these files, it is advisable that you keep aware of the corrected list, and read her blogs, because it will save you time and confusion as you work through them.

As a researcher, I and others, say “Thank you” to Lorine and her series of posts on this error that she has found with regard to these papers.

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 June 23, 2014.

The “Human Library” returns to Ottawa

I received this press release yesterday -

“The popular Human Library returns to the Museum on June 21 and 22 with 15 new living books full of fascinating stories about conflict.

Human Libraries provide an exciting opportunity for members of the public to connect one-on-one with individuals willing to share their diverse life experiences, stories and knowledge. Visitors check out a selection, just like at a public library, and spend 20 minutes in conversation to learn more about that person’s particular experience. 

Meet Ted Zuber, a sniper who served in the Korean War and was a commissioned artist in the Gulf War. 

Ask spouses John and Raymonde Davidson about their very different perspectives on his service as a peacekeeper in the former Yugoslavia. 

Find out about the long and varied military career of Gordon Ohlke, who trained in intelligence analysis and psychological operations, and learned Russian along the way. 

Hear Major Jon Hamilton describe the day he led a group of 14 soldiers on an assault against 150–200 Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan in 2006. 

Discover from Laurent Beaulieu what it was like to live under the constant threat of violence during missions in Kuwait and Sudan. 

Learn why Rachel Collishaw, a history teacher at Glebe Collegiate, won the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching for her unique Second World War memorial project. 

And many more…!” 

For a full list of titles and more information about the living books in the Canadian War Museum’s Human Library, please visit www.warmuseum.ca.

Registration opens in the Museum Lobby at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22, 2014.