Tuesday, May 20, 2014

First Annual Unreadables Tombstone Challenge

Here is a project started by Canada GenWeb that we can all help with -

Canada GenWeb is looking for people to help decipher tombstones that have been photographed but are unreadable due to being weathered, for example.

And unfortunately there are many photos that are unsearchable because they are difficult, or impossible, to decipher. That means that those named on the stone cannot be found.

To change that,Canada GenWeb are starting the First Annual Unreadables Challenge! The goal is to decipher as many headstones as possible. And they are all across Canada.

Can you help put a name to some of our unreadable stones and possibly help someone find their long-lost relation?

Go to http://geneofun.on.ca/query/?table=NAMES&template=query_challenge&search=FIRST&search=SURNAME&find=(u&smode=S&sort=ASSIGNED,SURNAME,FIRST to see the unreadable tombstones. 

To see what is needed in the way of volunteers, go to http://cemetery.canadagenweb.org/volunteer/index.html

Monday, May 19, 2014

Canadian Week in Review 19 May 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.

History

On May 11, 1833, the brig, The Lady of the Lake, struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland enroute to Quebec City from Belfast, Ireland. It is estimated that 265 passengers and crew were lost. Survivors spent more than three days in an open boat in frigid temperatures before being rescued by the ship Amazon.
To read more about the brig, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_of_the_Lake_(brig)

In May 1756, the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) began when Britain declared war on France. In 1758, the British captured Louisbourg, then Quebec City in 1759, and Montreal in 1760. The Treaty of Paris (1768) ended the war, and France formally ceded Canada to the British.

To read more about the Seven Years' War, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Years'_War

In May 1878, Canada's governor general and his wife, Lord and Lady Dufferin, were treated to a demonstration of Thomas Edison's recent invention, the phonograph, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

Read more about The Virtual Gramophone at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/gramophone/028011-3005-e.html

Social Media


Heritage Fair features family, provincial, hockey history
More than 150 students from 29 schools in Prince Edward Island recently took part in the provincial Heritage Fair at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown.

News Articles


Canada’s youth ambassadors for D-Day
http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/4526209-canada-s-youth-ambassadors-for-d-day
Centre Dufferin District High School (CDDHS) students Rebecca Janke and Jeff Allen have been chosen to be the official representatives for Canada’s youth during the 70th anniversary of D-Day at Juno Beach in France on June 6.

The Greek Canadian History Project’s (GCHP) exhibition, Memory and Migration: A History of Greek Immigrants in Toronto, 1864-2014 is now on display at Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W. in the Rotunda. It kicks off Greek Heritage Week in Toronto.

Western Evangeline
http://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/2014/05/16/western-evangeline
Read about how the government took land from the people of Bingville just northeast of Medicine Hat, Alberta for a military base in the Second World War.

Local students wins Provincial Genealogical Essay Award
http://windsorite.ca/2014/05/local-student-wins-provincial-genealogy-essay-award
Learn how University of Windsor student Chelsea Meloche begin looking into her family history, and subsequently wrote this year’s award-winning essay for the Ontario Genealogical Society's (OGS), making her the proud recipient of the Mike Brede Genealogical Essay Prize.

Shine Bright Like A Lighthouse. A Love Affair With Maritime History
https://www.yahoo.com/travel/the-fascinating-fate-of-north-americas-lighthouses-85824127957.html
Read John Sylvester's article about saving Atlantic Canada’s lighthouses.

Canadian War Museum to commemorate Canada's military past, not the Canadian Museum of History, as reported
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1924012#ixzz324ZyZZ5T
All of the exhibitions and programs commemorating the First and Second World Wars are taking place at the Canadian War Museum, and not at the Canadian Museum of History, as has been reported by The Canadian Press.

Trees cut down for Colonial Building renovations
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/trees-cut-down-for-colonial-building-reno-1.2644390
The trees have been down as part of a multi-million dollar restoration of the Colonial Building and its surrounding grounds.

Canada Post to celebrate UNESCO World Heritage sites with breathtaking stamps
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1920448#ixzz31u16o7Ve
Canada Post will issue five stamps celebrating Canadian UNESCO World Heritage sites. The five stamps feature Old Town Lunenburg, Nova Scotia; SGang Gwaay, British Columbia; the Rideau Canal in Ontario; the Landscape of Grand Pré, Nova Scotia; and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Alberta.

Elevators fade in the light of changing economics
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/History+1993+Elevators+fade+light+changing+economics/9847624/story.html
Alberta Wheat Pool plans to reduce its elevators by 60 per cent, to 102 from 257 in the next 10 to 20 years.

‘Remington of the Canadian West’ given $10,000 to paint B.C.'s history
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/THIS+WEEK+HISTORY+1924+Remington+Canadian+West+given+paint/9848627/story.html#ixzz324exZBnu
John Innes was considered one of Canada’s most important historical and western painters, referred to as the “Remington of the Canadian West”.

Minister Denis Lebel announces financial support for Rendez-vous naval de Quebec
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/15/idUSnMKW9q6yQa+1c2+MKW20140515
Rendez-vous naval de Quebec will mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War and the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings this summer in Quebec City.

Column: The Chicago swindler and Pinehurst
http://www.novanewsnow.com/Opinion/Columnists/2014-05-14/article-3724547/Column%3A-The-Chicago-swindler-and-Pinehurst/1
Read how a real-life Chicago swindler used to own a resort in Southwestern Nova Scotia.

Collecting history across the province
http://www.thelabradorian.ca/News/Local/2014-05-13/article-3723584/Collecting-history-across-the-province/1
The First World War Road Show and Tell is making its way through Newfoundland collecting stories, artifacts, and memorabilia from the Great War (WWI).

Happy Birthday, Manitoba — Province Turns 144
http://www.chrisd.ca/2014/05/12/manitoba-day-birthday-144-years-old-celebrations/#.U3INzIFdXKo
Manitoba celebrated its 144 birthday on the 12 of May.

Exhibition gets federal funding
http://www.thevanguard.ca/News/2014-05-12/article-3721624/Exhibition-gets-federal-funding/1
This year’s Western Nova Scotia Exhibition is scheduled for July 29 to Aug. 2nd, and it will be the 155th year for the exhibition.

Doors Open across Quinte
http://www.intelligencer.ca/2014/05/12/doors-open-across-quinte
The first province-wide event of its kind in Canada. Since 2002, more than five million visits have been made to heritage sites in the Doors Open Ontario.
The theme suggested by Ontario Heritage Trust for this year is the First World War.

Vote on proposal to rename park postponed
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Proposal-to-rename-park-postponed-258938751.html
The proposal calling for the renaming of Machray Park—supposedly named for Robert Machray, the first archbishop of the Anglican diocese of Rupert’s Land, to one honouring Harry Lazarenko, a city councillor for 30 years who was forced to retire in 2010 because of illness—has been put on hold until the June meeting of Winnipeg City Council.

Manitoba Archives exhibit showcases First World War
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-archives-exhibit-showcases-first-world-war-1.2639933
On the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War, the Archives of Manitoba is offering people a chance to learn more about the province's role, and to get a glimpse at what life was like between 1914 and 1918.

Pride in language, culture comes into full flower in Cape Breton
http://herald.ca/novascotia/1206802-pride-in-language-culture-comes-into-full-flower-in-cape-breton
Read how the Scottish language and culture plays a role in everyday life of the people in Cape Breton. (Special to the CWR by Gail Dever, of Genealogy à la carte fame).

Lakeview's rich war history remembered with community mural
http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news-story/4513014-lakeview-s-rich-war-history-remembered-with-community-mural
In front of Lakeview's Small Arms building in Mississauga, next to Toronto, a three-panel commemorative mural was unveiled Saturday morning.

Story of the Week


Victoria Day in Canada (National Patriots' Day in Quebec)

Victoria Day (National Patriots' Day in Quebec) is celebrated on the Monday closest to the May 24th, and this year it is May 19th.

In Canada, it is considered the first holiday of summer, and people are outdoors, putting in their flower gardens, raking their lawns, and have a nice relaxing long weekend topped off with fireworks at night.

In 1901, the year of Queen Victoria's death, the holiday officially became known as Victoria Day. Since that time, Victoria Day has commemorated two royal birthdays - the birthday of Queen Victoria, and that of Queen Elizabeth, the current monarch.

To read more about Victoria Day, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Day

In Quebec, the same day used to be called Fête de Dollard, but in 2003, the name was changed to National Patriots' Day (Fête des patriotes).

The name change took place because it was to recognize the importance of the struggle of the patriot’s of the Rebellion of 1837-1838, which was fought so that the people of Quebec could obtain political liberty and obtain a democratic system of government.

For more on the Lower Canada Rebellion, go http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Canada_Rebellion.

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 26, 2014.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Canadian Week in Review


Check the Canadian Week in Review tomorrow morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. 

It has the latest news covered in New/Updated Websites, History, Social Media, and Newspaper Articles. 

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! 

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since April 23, 2012.


The Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia is planning a bus trip to the New England Regional Genealogical Conference in April 2015. The theme of the 2015 conference is Navigating the Past: Sailing into the Future. 

The bus will leave Halifax and will make several stops in NS and NB to pick up participants. The cost of the trip will be approximately $975.00. This will include accommodation, breakfast and transportation. What is not included is the fee to register for the conference and meals.

Those who wish to register send an email to info@novascotiaancestors.ca to let them know that they are interested and ready to commit to a $200.00 deposit so that they can estimate the interest and begin planning. 

Trip Itinerary

56 passenger bus would leave Halifax, and possible pick-up spots, Dartmouth, Airport, Truro, , Amherst in Nova Scotia, Aulac, Moncton, St John , Fredericton in New Brunswick

April 13: Travel to Bangor, Maine. Over-night at the Fireside Inn & Suites in downtown Bangor. It is next to the Casino and across the street from the new Bangor Civic Center. Dinner on their own.

April 14: Following an included hot breakfast, we travel to Boston and visit the NEHGS at 99-101 Newbury Street - a research visit. We over-night at Woburn dinner on their own.

April 15: Following our included breakfast, we travel to Providence, Rhode Island. Register at the Conference. On to our hotel ( Comfort Inn @ Atlantic Beach, Middleton RI -- 45 minutes from conference site - we stay here four nights: April 15, 16, 17, 18 -- Breakfast daily

Conference: travel back and forth from hotel daily as required - other meals as per your conference package and/or on your own.

April 19: Following breakfast and conference wind-up activities, we depart for Bangor. We'll have time for a side trip to Freeport Maine ( LL Bean et all ). Bangor hotel will be the Fireside Inn & Suites

April 20: Following breakfast and check out ( maybe a quickie shopping stop ) we head for home - Halifax

To make this trip possible, please let us know if you are interested in this exciting opportunity.

The website of GANS is http://www.novascotiaancestors.ca

The website of the NERGC is http://www.nergc.org/Conference-Home-Page.html

Friday, May 16, 2014

Theatre to present Canadian plays

  

The 4th Line Theatre, an outdoor located at Winslow Farm at Millbrook, Ontario is presenting two plays this summer - Doctor Barnardo’s Children from July 1-26, and Wounded Soldiers, August 5-30, 2014. 

4th Line Theatre is committed to “the development and presentation of original Canadian theatre at the Winslow Farm, the family farm of Founding Artistic Director Robert Winslow, in Millbrook, Ontario. Idyllic, rural, and quintessentially Canadian, 4th Line Theatre presents Canadian plays, written by and about Canadians, from small town stories to broad national sagas.” 

For more information, go to http://4thlinetheatre.on.ca. Phone the Box Office at 705. 932.4445 for tickets.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Alberta Quilt Project


The Alberta Quilt Project will be coming to Pincher Creek’s Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village at the end of May and the start of June. 

The project will index all the quilts either made in Alberta or brought there by the immigration process from the 1800s to the 1960s. On Saturday (May 31st), the first local day of the event, the quilts held by the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village will be indexed for the project. 

The following day, Sunday 01st June, quilts owned by individuals can be brought into the museum and be inventoried – please phone ahead to book your spot. They will also are looking for four to six volunteers to help with the quilt inventory, volunteers who would be available for days. 

Histories of the quilts will be researched and written in addition to the items being photographed. The data will be compiled in a province wide index accessed at www.quiltindex.com.

If you would like to participate, contact Trisha Carleton at 403. 627.3684 or email her at mail.kbpv@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Building Personal Archives

The Quinte Branch of the OGS will hold their monthly meeting on Saturday May 17, 2014 at 1 pm at the Quinte West Library, 7 Creswell Dr, Trenton.

Entitled Building Personal Archives, the presentation will be given by guest Stephanie Wright. She will show what can be done with the ephemera left behind, why it’s important to keep these things from both a research and a emotional perspective, and why it’s important to consider how to preserve these items. Stephanie will explain in detail what might be necessary to create a step-by-step plan for building our personal archives, including our unique items.

To find out more information, go to ww.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canqbogs

Their email is quinebranch@ogs.on.ca