Wednesday, May 4, 2011

2011 Canadian Census

Shirley L. Sturdevant, Vice-President of the Ontario Genealogical Society, has just issued this statement concerning the 2011 Canadian Census -

"If you have not already completed your electronic census, please consider doing the following:

1. Print each page before you go to the next set of questions and store it with your family documents

2. Check 'yes' to the last question which will give permission to release your information in 92 years for the next set of family historians who might be looking for you. (If you say 'no', or leave it blank, your information will not be released.)

If you feel comfortable doing so, please forward this message to family and friends.

Thanks!"

Shirley can be reached at vp@ogs.on.ca.

British Home Child SIG – Organization Meeting

This is the latest news to come from the Ontario Genealogical Society -

"For those who are able to attend the upcoming Ontario Genealogical Society's Conference 2011 in Hamilton next week, there will be a meeting to discuss the organization of the British Home Child SIG. The objectives of this meeting are to solicit input into the formation of this group, establish an executive and to determine how many people intend to join. I have included a short presentation on finding my British Home Child ancestors.

NOTICE OF MEETING

Subject: British Home Child Special Interest Group – Organization Meeting
Date: Friday May 13, 2011
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Location: OGS Conference 2011, Hamilton Convention Centre, located in downtown Hamilton, Ontario (See http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2011/)

Room: Albion 'A'
Sign in sheet to be sent around room.

AGENDA:

1. Introductions (5 min.) – Shirley Sturdevant (Vice President, OGS) 2. Status of the SIG (10 min.) – (current number of potential members / executive positions etc.) – Shirley Sturdevant 3. Presentation (15 min.) – "In Search of My British Home Child Ancestors" – Phil Ellis 4. Open discussion (15 min.) 5. How/when to join – Shirley Sturdevant

UNABLE TO ATTEND?

If you are unable to attend the meeting and plan to join this special interest group, please send an email to Shirley Sturdevant, OGS Vice-president at vp@ogs.on.ca prior to the conference.

Hope to see you there".

Phil Ellis

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

FamilySearch Historical Collections Update

There have been two Canadian collections updated by the FamilySearch Historical Collection in April, and they are -

Ontario Census 1861

The 1861 Ontario Census has been updated, and there are 1,709,804 records now online.

It includes the population census as well as the agricultural censuses at the end of each county or township.

The website says that the information is "Arranged by census district (generally by county). Within each county, arrangement is usually alphabetical by name of township. Cities, towns and villages are often enumerated separately from the townships in which they are located".

It can be found at https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1460164

Quebec Notarial Records, 1800-1900

The second collection is the Quebec Notarial Records which contains images of notarial records arranged by locality, then notary, then time period.

They can be seen at https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1471015

Monday, May 2, 2011

Toronto OGS Courses

Here are a couple of courses that the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogy Society will put on for May -

Course # 1

"DATE: 3 May - 24 May 2011: 4 sessions, Tuesdays (6:30-8:30 p.m.)
COURSE: Toronto Branch OGS
LOCATION: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto (Room 2)
TITLE OF COURSE: "Palaeography for Family Historians"
NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: Cherryl Moote
BRIEF INFO: This course will help students decipher historical documents and gather information from them. Students are invited to bring in their own records for study".
CONTACT INFO: www.torontofamilyhistory.org

Course # 2

"DATE: 30 May 2011 (7:30 p.m.)
MEETING: Toronto Branch OGS
LOCATION: Burgundy Room, North York Memorial Community Hall, 5110 Yonge Street, Toronto
TITLE OF TALK: "Using Technology in Your Family History"
NAME OF SPEAKER: Carol Nichols
BRIEF INFO: A look at how computers and the internet can help you gather genealogical facts, photos and background information to fill in your stories, lead you in new directions, store and organize your genealogy, and link your family members to their history. Additional short presentation by Evelyn Kidd: "What you find when you aren't even looking". $5 charge for non-members of OGS".
CONTACT INFO: www.torontofamilyhistory.org

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Genealogy Genies!

Genealogy Genies! They're real! They're free!

"On Saturday, June 4, 2011, the Stratford-Perth Archives will partner with the Perth County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society to host 'Genealogy Genies', a Stratford Heritage Week-End event.

Ask the volunteer experts about anything, from explaining the mysteries of finding an Ontario vital statistic record to tips about researching overseas, making the best use of on-line sources, how to access records here that you may not have thought of using, what's the best software for genealogists, and, of course, swapping stories about family history research.

This free event will take place June 4, 2011 at the Stratford branch of the Archives at 24 St. Andrew St. from 8:30 – 4:30.

http://www.perthcounty.ca/page/stratford_perth_archives"

Genealogy Series

Lifetime Learning Centre presents "Your Genealogy Goals", the first of a series of four programs on genealogy by John Herl, on Wednesday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to noon at 32444 Seventh Ave., Mission. BC. Cost for the 4-part series is $25/members, $30/non-members.

Also, take a minute and look at the Virtual Quilt that is on their site at www.lifetimelearningcentre.org/oral-history.html.

The website says that "The virtual quilt is a multimedia format using the Internet and our website to access Mission history. By clicking on a photograph within the quilt you are accessing our collection of Mission histories.

To date we have collected more than 125 Oral Histories showcasing our diversity, distinctiveness, and determination as a community".

What an inventive program for every genealogical society to try to do!

If your society has done an oral history project like this one, contact me at genealogycanada@aol.com, and let me advertise it to the world that such a project exists.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Canada's Royal Wedding Gifts

Here is a press release from the Government of Canada concerning the country's wedding gifts to His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton.

April 28, 2011
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement to announce the Canadian wedding gifts for His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton:

“I am pleased to announce the Government of Canada will make a donation to the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary in honour of the marriage of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton. The Government of Canada will offer this wedding gift on behalf of all Canadians.

“The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary was chosen by Prince William and Miss Middleton to be the Canadian beneficiary of a special charitable fund that was set up to celebrate their wedding. The donation of $50,000 by the Government of Canada will allow the organization’s volunteers to carry out their mission, which is to offer—day and night—a permanent search and rescue program to meet the needs of Canada’s marine services, as well as to prevent injuries or loss of human life at sea. Through its search and rescue and nautical safety programs, this not-for-profit organization assists the Coast Guard and the Department of National Defence.

“Canada is proud to offer a wedding gift to a family member of our Head of State, Her Majesty The Queen. This gift was chosen specifically for the occasion and represents Canadians and the pride they have in their country.

“The selection of this worthy cause is symbolic of Canada’s affection for the Royal couple. Canadians are eager to welcome the Royal couple to Canada for their first Royal Tour as newlyweds and share the best of our great land.”

The Prime Minister and Mrs. Harper have also arranged for a personal gift of outdoor equipment for use when the Royal couple experience Canada's natural splendour later this year.

From June 30 to July 8, 2011, the newlyweds will undertake a Royal Tour of Canada, their first visit outside the United Kingdom as a married couple. They will visit Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and the National Capital Region. A detailed itinerary will be released at a later date.

For more information on the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit www.ccga-gcac.com.