GATINEAU VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Please join the Gatineau Valley Historical Society for an evening of poetry, song and images celebrating the Gatineau River as Phil Jenkins talks and sings about The Babbling River: The Gatineau Valley in Verse and Song

Apart from spending his teenage years in Liverpool, England during Beatlemania, Phil has been thinking about Ottawa and the Gatineaus for more than 40 years. He has written for a variety of magazines and is weekly local history columnist for the

Ottawa Citizen. 

He is the author Fields of Vision and An Acre of Time: The Enduring Value of Place, as well as River Song: Sailing the History of the St. Lawrence, and Beneath My Feet: The Memoirs of George Mercer Dawson.

He is also a singer/songwriter who performs solo, or with the group "Riverbend." He currently lives in the Gatineau Hills. 

Everyone welcome, and there are refreshments!

The meeting will be held Monday, March 18, 7:30 pm, at the Wakefield Library, Wakefield Community Centre, 38 Valley Drive, La Pêche – just north of Ottawa.

The website of the GVHS is www.gvhs.ca

Digging for Gold in Toronto’s Libraries and Archives

On Saturday the 4 May 2013 from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, there will be a  Workshop given by various members of the Toronto Branch OGS at the North York Memorial Community Hall, 5110 Yonge St., Toronto entitled Digging for Gold in Toronto’s Libraries and Archives.

It will be a one-day workshop with sessions for all skill levels – full of great reasons to visit Toronto's wonderful cluster of archives and libraries in person.

For more information, contact info is available at www.torontofamilyhistory.org

For more information on libraries and archives, you can go to

Toronto Public Library www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

Archives of Ontario (located in Toronto) www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/index.aspx

New/Updated CANADIAN Websites, Blogs, Facebook, and Newspaper Articles - 11 March 2013

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

Websites

Atlantic Canada Genealogy Project http://chignecto.tribalpages.com This project, tracing people from Yorkshire, England in the late 1700s, to what is now Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada, is still collecting information. It has been on the Internet since 2010.

Blog

Ancestral Road: Sharing the journey to know our ancestors http://ancestralroad.blogspot.ca Join Gayle as she starts the journey to gather information on her and her husband’s ancestors. She is tracing them as they immigrated to Ontario, Canada at various times between 1842 and 1912 from the United Kingdom.

Facebook

Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society   www.facebook.com/TOFamilyHistory They have just recently started a Facebook page, and the 2013 events are posted there.

Video

Piece of Canadian history sent home from Kirriemuir (Scotland) www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/angus/video-piece-of-canadian-history-sent-home-from-kirriemuir-1.73447  Bowlby Bros tin, which had been filled with “choice winter apples” from Ontario has been returned home.  

Newspaper Articles

Annual French celebrations start this week www.journalpioneer.com/News/Local/2013-03-03/article-3191424/Annual-French-celebrations-start-this-week/1

Provincial French celebrations called the Rendez-vous de la francophonie will be taking place across Prince Edward Island starting this Friday and will continue until March 24.

Naval memorial in Halifax gets funding from Ottawa/Northumberland Fisheries Museum will also get funds www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/03/03/ns-naval-memorial-mackay.html  The federal government is making a financial contribution to preserve HMCS Sackville in Halifax as a naval memorial.

Government cancels public viewing of designs for War of 1812 monument

www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Government+cancels+public+viewing+designs+1812+monument/8065516/story.html The Department of Canadian Heritage abruptly cancelled a planned public unveiling of six competing designs for a prominent new monument to the War of 1812 on Parliament Hill – no reason as to why it was cancelled was given.

Genealogist looking for long-lost members of UK woman’s family in Oakville  www.insidehalton.com/news/article/1590374--genealogist-looking-for-long-lost-members-of-uk-woman-s-family-in-oakville  Keith Morris of the Genealogical & Local History Research Service Segontium Searchers, is tracing the history of two sisters from North Wales, who immigrated to Oakville , Ontario.

A life at sea can be smooth or choppy www.northumberlandtoday.com/2013/03/06/a-life-at-sea-can-be-smooth-or-choppy A life at sea was the life for two of the ancestors discussed at the recent Mystery Ancestor Night, held annually by the Lakeshore Genealogical Society.

Look for more articles next Monday March 18th. 

CANADIAN Newspaper Articles Every Monday

Don’t forget to check my blog every Monday morning for my New/Updated CANADIAN Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles.

I love to go across this grand county of ours and pick out the interesting things that have happened in the genealogy, history, and heritage world the previous week and bring them to you. 

I also check on the latest Canadian blogs, and websites to see what is new in them.his week, I also highlight a Video too!

So don’t miss the New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles blog on Monday March 11th.

It has been a regular blog since April 23, 2012.

Elizabeth

Discovery Saturday - Celtic Fest 2013

On Saturday March 16, 2013 at the Surrey Museum, 17710 - 56A Avenue, Surrey, BC,  from 1 – 4 pm, there will be an Experience all things Celtic at this Discovery Saturday Event !

Wear some green and join us at the Surrey Museum for captivating Celtic music and dancing, learn about Celtic history through local community groups, and get creative with Celtic crafts.

All ages are welcome. Donations are accepted.

To contact them, go to www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/12276.aspx

REMINDER: New/Updated CANADIAN Websites, Blogs, Facebook, and Newspaper Articles Blog

Don’t forget to check my blog every Monday morning for my New/Updated CANADIAN Genealogical, History and Heritage Websites, Blogs, Facebook, and Newspaper Articles.

There will be newspaper articles that will cover such stories as Library and Archives Canada deal with Ancestry.ca leaves personal information vulnerable, and government cancels public viewing of designs for War of 1812 monument plus Blogs, Facebook, and Websites – and even a Video about a piece of Canadian history sent home from Kirriemuir (Scotland).

There is something of interest for everyone!

Elizabeth

Dick Eastman’s Blog: Finding Acadian Resources in Books and Online

In Dick's blog this morning, there is news about a newspaper column written by Roxanne Moore Saucier in which she tells us about a great way to discover and read about our Acadian ancestors – through books and online.

As he says, “the term French Canadian describes those with Quebec ancestry, while Acadian refers to the French who occupied what is now Nova Scotia and parts of New Brunswick until the British deported them in Le Grand Derangement of 1755”.

You can read Dick’s full article at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2013/03/finding-acadian-resources-in-books-and-online.html

To read Roxanne Moore Saucier column, see the Living Section of the Bngor Daily News at http://bangordailynews.com/community/finding-acadian-resources-in-books-and-online

And don’t forget the more than 100 family reunions scheduled for Aug. 8-24, 2014, during the World Acadian Congress, visit http://cma2014.com/rencontres-de-familles-prog.

Atwater Library Luncheon Series Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day

On Friday, March 15 at 12:30 p.m, Dr. Dana Hearne presents readings from the best of Irish poetry and fiction, accompanied by the music magic of Andriu MacGabhann (Belfast Andi) and Patrick Hutchinson.

And on Thursday, March 21 at 12:30 p.m., there will be a talk On D'Arcy MCGee with David A. Wilson Professor of History at the University of Toronto.

Prof. Wilson will give a talk on D'Arcy McGee, based on his award-winning two-volume biography, Thomas D'Arcy McGee: Passion, Reason, and Politics, 1825–1857 and Thomas D'Arcy McGee: The Extreme Moderate, 1857-1868.

He will end his presentation by playing the Lament for the Death of the Hon. D'Arcy McGee, composed by James Stephens.

These talks will be presented at the Atwater Library and Computer Centre, 1200 Atwater Ave. at Ste-Catherine (métro Atwater), Montreal. With funding for the author from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Free admission; donations invited. Everyone is welcome.

The Atwater Library website is at www.atwaterlibrary.ca

Descendants of Francis Harris of Sandy Cove, Nova Scotia, United Empire Loyalist

Just received a note from Ross W. McCurdy in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, that he is putting together a companion piece to recently published Descendants of James & Anna (Rice) McDormand of Brier Island, Nova Scotia.

Francis was originally from Dutchess County, NY being baptized there 9 May 1740, s/o Joseph & Catharina (Hegeman) Harris. As may be expected, descendants are numerous and are spread over the U.S., Canada, and beyond.

He and fellow descendant, John Blythe Dobson, FASG, have been busy putting the compilation together, and they would like to hear from anyone who would have information on the Harris family.

Anyone with questions or wishing to contribute material may contact either party: Ross W. McCurdy at rwmccurdy@comcast.net or johnblythedobson@gmail.com

Cosy Homesteads: The Life and Lore of Traditional Irish Dwellings

The next monthly meeting will be held on Saturday March 9, 2013 at the Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa.

There will be a pre-meeting that will start at 9:00 to 9:30, and it will be a Before BIFHSGO Educational Talk on Tracing Your House History by Dr Bruce Elliott.

The Discovery Tables – Ireland will be open from 9:15 to 10:00 am, and Keith Hanton and the Irish Society of the National Capital Region will be there to answer your questions about Ireland, and the monthly meeting will take place at 10:00, and will end at 11:30.

The speaker will be Dr. Rhona Richman Kenneally, and she will talk about Cosy Homesteads: The Life and Lore of Traditional Irish Dwellings.

The aim of this presentation is to overlay the experience of the Irish “cottage” as a physical space, with the symbolic associations it has been granted over time.

Dr. Richman Kenneally talks about cozy cottages, architecture and food in an interview with Brian Glenn at www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=106

If you wish to go the website at BIFHSGO, you  may go to www.bifhsgo.ca

Family Tree is Live on FamilySearch.org for All Users

In a blog entitled Family Tree is Live on FamilySearch.org for All Users, Tara Bergeson wrote about the new Family Tree on FamilySearch.org.

She writes that “Much has been written about Family Tree, the first of several site enhancements for FamilySearch.org, and the replacement for new.familysearch.org. We’re happy to report that Family Tree is now live on FamilySearch.org and is available to all users. This opens up the contribution, collaboration, editing, and sourcing tools of Family Tree to researchers—including potential family members— around the world”.

You can

Connect and collaborate with others on shared family lines

Edit and delete incorrect data, including relationships

Provide sources and links to online information that shows where you found family information

Preserve family tree information for future generations

Use Family Tree on behalf of someone else (helper)

Print pedigree charts, family group records, and other reports

Go to the https://familysearch.org site and click on Family Tree at the top of the page. They also have a training website to view tutorials, and access a user guide that you can check.

Breaking the Silence –British Home Children in Canada

On Saturday April 6th 2013 from 1pm to 4pm there will be a special meeting in which the Ontario East British Home Child Family in cooperation with British Home Children Advocacy & Research Association, otherorganizations and individuals from across Ontario will be presenting information on British Home Children at the Ottawa Public Library.

They will provide assistance in finding the stories associated with the over 120,000 children, who came to Canada between the 1860s and the1940s as indentured servants.

Ranging in age from 1-16 years, these impoverished children from all parts of the British Isles came to our country in hopes of a chance at a better life. It was with these hopes that many philanthropic organizations working in tandem with the government to bring these children to Canada and other British Colonies.

Hear how their stories have lay hidden for decades due to the stigma attached to them. Only now many Canadians are learning that their family member was a British Home Child.

Join us as we give these children a voice and place in Canadian History.

If you suspect that your ancestor was a Home Child, this is a meeting that you should attend. Many people were Home Children, although their family never knew that they were – and there are such great resources that have been put on the Internet by genealogists from Ottawa.

Check out the Home Children website at www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=4

Toronto Tax Assessment Rolls for 1853

The Toronto Branch of the OGS has produced an indexed transcription of the Toronto tax assessment rolls for 1853. The original assessment rolls for 1853 are at the City of Toronto Archives.

There are two parts of the assessment rolls -

The first part of the project is a searchable online index available on this web site www.ontarioroots.com/ogs

The index (more than 9,000 names of owners and occupiers) and images is available free of charge to researchers around the world.

The second part of the project is a book and CD version of the index with lots more information for researchers with interests in mid-19th century Toronto.

There are maps and descriptions of the wards and streets, vital records, religious records and cemeteries, land records, immigration, directories, published sources and historical background.

You can order the book or CD version Toronto in the 1850s: A transcription of the 1853 tax assessment rolls and guide to family history research. The ordering instruction are on www.torontofamilyhistory.org/otherpubs.html#assessrolls