FREE Access to Ancestry.ca and FindMyPast

Recently, Ancestry.ca took a survey, with the results showing that 36% of Canadians didn’t know if they had ancestors who fought in either the First or Second World War.

In an effort to help rectify this, from November 8 to 11, Ancestry is giving Canadians the chance to discover the military heroes in their family by providing free access to more than 3.6 million online military records at http://www.ancestry.ca/cs/ca/world-war-1?o_iid=63120&o_lid=63120&o_sch=Web+Property.

This year, Remembrance Day is especially poignant for those with ancestors who fought during the First World War, as 2014 marks the 100th Anniversary of the start of the conflict.

And if your Canadian ancestor was from Britain, which many were, FindMyPast is also offering free access to you this weekend.

“To commemorate Veterans weekend, from today until 7am on Monday (EST) our records are FREE to access. If you’ve already got a World subscription, we’ll credit your account with 3 extra days. 

There’s never been a better time to explore your family history and bring your past to life.”

The link is at www.findmypast.com/freeweekend

Postscript:  Wayne Macvicar from Cape Breton has written to say that he has just completed an update to his Cape Bretoners in World War One website at https://sites.google.com/site/cbinww1/.

“The site now includes enlistments to the end of 1915. It contains an additional 557 individuals for a total of 2732. The time between updates this time has been exceptionally long due to the increasing amount of information going online, in particular Library and Archives Canada, which I am trying to include in my database. Hopefully the next update will come much sooner. The website is still limited to a nominal roll and chronology but in time I hope to include as much detail as I can find on each individual. I invite everyone to have a look at my site and if they have any information they would like to share to fill out the form I have provided on my general Cape Bretoners at War site <https://sites.google.com/site/cbatwar/>.”

If you have additional information, you can write to Wayne at cbww2@seaside.ns.ca

Reminder: Each year, GenealogyCanada sponsors a contest, and this year in honour of the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the question is – Which province in Canada sent the largest number of men and women to fight in the First World War?

Send your answer to genealogyresearch@aol.com

Hint: You will find the answer in this week’s Canadian Week in Review post at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2014/11/canadian-week-in-review-03-november-2014.html

I am offering the winner of the contest a detailed research consultation report on an ancestor who fought for Canada in the Great War, or who was involved in the war effort.

The winner will be announced November 12th.

OGS First World War Heritage Society

Credit: Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1983-28-826

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, OGS has launched a new Heritage Society. The First World War Society is a lineage Society open to anyone who can show direct descent from a person who served in a documented capacity on the Allied side of the First World War.

To qualify for this Society, your research must show that your named ancestor(s) fits in the category above, and then show the line of descent from that ancestor(s) to you or the person you wish named on the certificate.

For more information and an application form, visit the Heritage Societies area on the OGS website http://www.ogs.on.ca/heritage_societies.php#WW1

And here is a heartwarming story —

It is how social media is being used so that Canadian flags can be placed on soldier’s graves in Italy.

Read about it at http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/11/social-media-helped-place-flags-on-canadian-soldiers-graves-in-italy.html

And they have a Facebook page called Flag from Home at

https://www.facebook.com/flagsfromhome?fref=photo

Reminder: Each year, GenealogyCanada sponsors a contest, and this year in honour of the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the question is – Which province in Canada sent the largest number of men and women to fight in the First World War?

Send your answer to genealogyresearch@aol.com

Hint: You will find the answer in this week’s Canadian Week in Review http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2014/11/canadian-week-in-review-03-november-2014.html

I am offering the winner of the contest a detailed research consultation report on an ancestor who fought for Canada in the Great War, or who was involved in the war effort.

The winner will be announced November 12th.

Canada - Strong, Proud and Free!

From November 5 to November 11th, and for the fourth year running, GenealogyCanada is showcasing Veterans’ Week.

It is an opportunity for all Canadians to recognize the contribution that our veterans have made, and to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of Canada.

Here are some ways to mark your remembrance -

• You can buy and wear a poppy
• You can attend a local Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11th
• You can talk to a friend or relative who served with the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan or in other areas of conflict.

You can watch the Heroes Remember videos and listen to veterans talk about their experiences at http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/those-who-served/heroes-remember

Each year, GenealogyCanada sponsors a contest, and this year in honour of the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the question is – Which province in Canada sent the largest number of men and women to fight in the First World War?

Hint: You will find the answer in this week’s Canadian Week in Review http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2014/11/canadian-week-in-review-03-november-2014.html

I am offering the winner of the contest a detailed research consultation report on an ancestor who fought for Canada in the Great War, or who was involved in the war effort.

The winner will be announced November 12th.

Good luck to all!

Canadian Week in Review - 03 November 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 Week in Canada (October 28 – November 03, 2014)

In 1899, the first 1,300 Canadian troops left Quebec City to fight with the British in the Boer War in South Africa.

To read about Canada in the Boer War, see http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/boer/boerwarhistory_e.shtml

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In 1915, Sir Charles Tupper, the last surviving Father of Confederation, died in England at age 94. He took part in the Charlottetown, Quebec, and London conferences, and was prime minister for a short period in 1896.

To read a short history of Charles Tupper, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Tupper

Nova Scotia

WWI propaganda posters on display at Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/1246895-wwi-propaganda-posters-on-display-at-art-gallery-of-nova-scotia

Vivid, colourful posters urged Canadians to enlist or put money into victory bonds.

New Brunswick

Hope Restored announced as theme for Heritage Week 2015

http://www.sackvilletribunepost.com/News/2014-10-31/article-3923363/Hope-Restored-announced-as-theme-for-Heritage-Week-2015/1

The theme for Heritage Week 2015 will be Hope Restored, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Canada’s national flag, as well as the 50th anniversary of New Brunswick’s provincial flag.

Quebec

(Press Release) Gilmour Hill to Be Open Year-Round

http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/gilmour-hill-to-be-open-year-round-1963240.htm

Gilmour Hill is a 1.1-kilometre steeply sloped path running through Battlefields Park between Champlain Boulevard and Québec's Upper Town. Built around 1910, the road was not designed for winter travel.

Ontario

Shaw Media to Honour Canada's Veterans

http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/news/shaw-media-to-honour-canadas-veterans/1003327251/?&er=NA

This November, Shaw Media commemorates 100 Years of Remembrance with a commercial-free hour-long live Global News special on Remembrance Day, and four days of special programming on the HISTORY Channel.

C.P. Champion: How the Crimean War of 1853 helped shaped the Canada of today

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/10/28/c-p-champion-how-the-crimean-war-of-1853-helped-shaped-the-canada-of-today/

It was the world’s first “media war,” with extensive reporting on the battles, and therefore quite interesting to follow in the newspapers. Thousands of Canadians did exactly that.

Stratford, Ontario cenotaph gets security cameras to curb vandalism

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2014/10/20141028-090506.html

City officials have installed three security cameras at the cenotaph in this southern Ontario town to help curb vandalism at the site.

Manitoba


Students learn about Canada's history, people at city cemetery

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/stories-in-the-stones-281037472.html?cx_navSource=d-tiles-2

Go along with the students of Iyvan Michalchyshynès social studies class as they tour a cemetery in the city.

Ancient Thule site in northern Manitoba still used by Kivalliq Inuit

http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674ancient_thule_site_in_northern_manitoba_still_used_by_kivalliq_inuit/

Because of the abundance of animals, Hubbard Point, as it’s known in English, is a popular hunting ground and stopping point for Inuit on the west coast of Hudson Bay, an eight-hour boat ride south of Arviat, and just north of Churchill, in northern Manitoba.

Saskatchewan

Remembering WW II: new television series about Sask. vets premieres

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/remembering-ww-ii-new-television-series-about-sask-vets-premieres-1.2816067

World War II veterans gathered at the provincial legislature on Tuesday for the premiere of a video series documenting a special part of Saskatchewan and Canadian history.

Walking With Our Sisters installation opening in Saskatoon

http://ckom.com/story/walking-our-sisters-installation-opening-saskatoon/437535

More than 1,700 beaded moccasin tops representing missing and murdered indigenous women at Wanuskewin Heritage Park.

Top 10 historic Canadian moments
http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/News/Local/2014-10-26/article-3916768/Top-10-historic-Canadian-moments/1Canada has had its fair share of attention-grabbing moments, with many of them etched into the memories of Canadians far beyond when they occurred.

New memorial near Saskatoon honours First World War internees

http://ww1.canada.com/after-the-war/new-memorial-honours-first-world-war-internees

On Tuesday, that daughter, 69-year-old Pat Mialkowsky, helped helped unveil a plaque at the Saskatchewan Railway Museum commemorating the 8,579 Western Canadians of Eastern European and German descent who were interned during and after the First World War. A larger concrete memorial will replace it in the spring.

Alberta

11 Days of Remembrance: Citizens of Burdett fought hard in First World War

http://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2014/10/31/citizens-of-burdett-fought-hard-in-first-world-war 

When the call came to fight for King and Country, small rural communities in Alberta were on side, perhaps accounting for proportionately more soldiers than larger towns and cities, because of their close ties to Britain, says a historian.

British Columbia


Spy who intercepted Nazi communications retired to Saltspring Island

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/spy-who-intercepted-nazi-communications-retired-to-saltspring-island/article21356839/ 

Records released by the British National Archives reveal the identity of the spy code-named Jack King as Eric Roberts, an unassuming banker who retired and came to Canada in 1956. He died on the island in 1972 at the age of 65.

Story of the Week

Veterans' Week

Just a reminder that I will be featuring Veterans' Week (November 5 to November 11th) on the blog from November 5 to November 11^th, as I have done for the past three years.

Please use the blog archives link on the right side of this blog - choose the year, month, and day you wish to view the post. Here are links to a few of the archived postings -

• Veterans' Week 2011 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2011/11/canadas-veterans-week.html and http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2011/11/blogger-showcases-canadas-veterans-week.html

• Veterans' Week 2012 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/11/animals-in-war.html

• Veterans' Week 2013 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2013/11/contribution-of-aboriginal-peoples-in.html

This year is special since it honours the men and women who served in the First World War.

To get us started, I will be offering a contest which will involve your direct line Canadian ancestor who was involved in the First World War.

You will, of course, have to answer a skill-testing question which will appear November 5^th.

For more on Veterans' Week in Canada, please visit http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance and http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/get-involved/remembrance-day

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 the country!

The next post will be on 10 November 2014.

2015 membership drive has begun

 
November is the beginning of the 2015 membership season for the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS), and it is time every year when I take a look at my genealogical needs and budget for the next year.

There is no question that I will continue my membership at the OGS, but I think that I will expand my membership to include a number of branches that I have not previously belonged to – at least three more branches that I am considerating.

To learn more about the benefits of membership, go to http://www.ogs.on.ca/joinogs.php

Your membership is valid until December 2015. New members take advantage of a bonus two months of membership by joining now and activating your membership immediately.

And there is news for renewing members who renew before Dec. 31, 2014 . They will be entered into a draw for $900 worth of courses from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies at http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/

You can join online by going to http://www.ogs.on.ca/integrated/integrated_account_new_step1.php or you can mail in your membership by downloading the membership form at http://www.ogs.on.ca/integrated/integrated_account_new_step1.php 

I will also renew my membership in the British Isles Family History Society of Great Ottawa (BISFHGO) at http://www.bifhsgo.ca/, the National Genealogical Society (NGS) http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/, the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia (GANS) http://www.novascotiaancestors.ca/, and I already belong to the Quebec Family History Society (QFHS) http://www.qfhs.ca/. 

To what societies are you planning to join.  

Genealogy Workshop

There will be a starter genealogy workshop at The Grange called Beginning Genealogy will be presented by the Halton-Peel Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society and Heritage Mississauga on Thursday, November 6th, 2014 from 10 am to 3 pm. 

The workshop leader will be professional genealogist and lecturer Ruth Blair 

The cost is $25.00, and register early because space is limited. 

The Heritage Mississauga website is at http://www.heritagemississauga.com/ 

The Halton-Peel Branch OGS is at http://www.haltonpeel.ogs.on.ca/ 

The Halton-Peel Branch OGS Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/HaltonPeelBranchOGS

Meanwhile, I am attending the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research for the next two Saturday's where I will take the four-course session Writing Logical Proof Arguments with Michael Hait, CG.

The website of the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research is http://vigrgenealogy.com/

Happy Halloween!

One of the first places I visited after moving to Ottawa in the 1980s was Watson’s Mills in Manotick. The mill is where the ghost of Ann Crosby Currier, the second wife of Joseph Currier, co-owner of the mill, supposedly haunts it to this day. 

Here are a couple of sites which tells the story about Watson’s Mill 

The Ghost of Watson's Mill 

http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/tales/ghost-watsons.html

Watson’s Mill

http://www.watsonsmill.com/Home.html

New post about the Archives of Ontario (AO)

Have you ever read Jane MacNamara’s blog Where the story takes me:Tales of family and local history research and folk I meet along the way?

If it isn’t on your reading list, maybe it should be, because she always has subjects that are interesting to genealogists.

Her latest post is worth reading if you have Ontario ancestors – because it is a post about the Archives of Ontario (AO).

In the post, she explains what the AO holds, and what you can find within the different archival material – and there is tons of material for you to research.

Let me say that the AO does live up to Jane’s review. I found it very centrally located to where I was staying, had good access for parking, excellent facility to eat your lunch or to just take a break away from researching. There is a very good a shopping centre which is a short distance from the archives.

There is one thing that I would add, and that is, be sure to read the information first onsite at the archives website before going there. Become familiar with the holdings, and it will be so helpful when you start researching. I printed the material off before I went there, and had it in a folder for easy reference. And if it is the first time that you will be there, be sure to register to your pass online, and then pick it up at the front desk once you get there.

Jane’s blog is at http://wherethestorytakesme.ca/

The website for the Archives of Ontario is Tracing your ancestry at the Archives of Ontario at http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/tracing/index.aspx

Joint presentation this Sunday in Ottawa

UK Rockstar Genealogist Kirsty Gray will give two lectures in Ottawa on Sunday November 2nd from 2 – 4 pm at the Woodroffe United Church, Banquet Hall, 207 Woodroffe Ave.

The two lecture will be -

1. Searching for Names: Challenges, Pitfalls and the Downright Ridiculous

2. Solving Problems Through Family Reconstruction

Admission is $10 per person at the door. A break with light refreshments will be held between the two lectures.

The Ottawa Genealogical Society (OGS) is at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/

British Isles Family History Society of Greater
Ottawa (BIFHSGO)is at http://www.bifhsgo.ca/

The Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/pages/British-Isles-Family-History-Society-of-Greater-Ottawa/149788348437126

The lectures will be sponsored by the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society and the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO).

GANS to host meeting tonight

There will be a meeting of the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia tonight at the Akins A/V Room, Nova Scotia Archives, 6016 University Avenue, Halifax, NS at 7:30 when Irene Schofield, GANS Programme Convener, will talk about the Canadian Census and The 1940 National Registration. 

She will show us samples of the information that can be found for your ancestors.

Everyone is welcome. Light refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there!

The website is at http://www.novascotiaancestors.ca 

The Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/NovaScotiaAncestors

Family History Library Announces Free Classes

We received this email this morning –

The Family History Library Announces Free Classes for November 2014

Nov. 1 Recursos en linea adema̍s de FamilySearch is a class for Spanish-speaking guests and starts at 1:00 p.m. 

Nov. 5-26 Russian Print and Handwriting Series. There are 4 parts to this series of classes, taught every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. 

Nov. 8 Norway Research Series. The classes include “How to Use Church Records in Norway,” “How to Search Death Notices in Norway,” and “Exploring Probate Records in Norway.” These classes run from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. 

Nov. 8 American Indian Series. Classes include: “American Indian Research and the FamilySearch Wiki,” and “American Indian Case Study.” Classes are held at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. 

Nov. 15 Boy Scout Genealogy Merit Badge Workshop. This workshop begins at 10:00 a.m. Register for this 90-minute class at least one week prior to the workshop to find out which requirements should be completed before attending. Email FHLClassReg@familysearch.org 

Nov. 15 ¿Mis antepasados vinieron de . . . ? This class is for Spanish-speaking guests and starts at 1:00 p.m. 

Nov. 15 Reading Spanish Handwriting will be taught at 3:00 p.m. 

*Registration is required for classes with an asterisk. 

Register by 9:00 p.m. the Thursday before the class date by sending an email to FHLClassReg@familysearch.org or calling 1-801-240-4950.

Go to https://familysearch.org/locations/saltlakecity-library for additional information. 

Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/familysearch

Canadian Week in Review - 27 October 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 Week in Canada (October 20 – October 27, 2014) 

Did you know that in 1864, a group of Confederate soldiers based in Canada attacked the town of St. Alban's, Vermont? The soldiers robbed a bank of $200,000 and killed one man in their escape. The incident strained Canadian-American relations already weakened by the events of the American Civil War.

You can read about the robbery at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_in_the_American_Civil_War

=============================================

In 1818, Canada and the U.S. signed the Convention of London. The treaty established the 49th Parallel as the boundary from Rainy River, Ontario to the Rockies.

To read further on the subject, you can go to http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3406400208.html

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What an interesting history Canada has had in its moving from Niagara to Quebec to Toronto and finally to Ottawa in search of a place to seat the Canadian government. In 1855, it was moved to Toronto from Quebec City.

To read more, please go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_Assembly_of_the_Province_of_Canada

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In 1876, the first shipment of wheat from Western Canada to Ontario left Winnipeg, and this blog posted the story of Peel's Prairie Province releasing Grain Elevators in Canada books online.

To read more about the grain elevators, go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2014/10/peels-prairie-province-releases-grain.html
=============================================
In 1926, magician Harry Houdini—appearing at the Princess Theatre in Montreal—received a fatal blow to the stomach. When a McGill University student asked him if he could shrug off blows to the body; Houdini said “Yes”, but before he could brace himself, the blow was dealt. He died of a ruptured appendix 10 days later in Detroit.

To read more about this story, go to http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/houdini.asp

Social Media

(Video) Iconic Saskatoon hotel general manager set to retire

http://globalnews.ca/news/1630167/iconic-saskatoon-hotel-general-manager-set-to-retire
The Delta Bessborough is an iconic building in Saskatoon, and its general manger, Andrew Turnbull, will retire at the end of the month.

=============================================

(Video) The First World War: Excerpts from the diary of Woodman Leonard
http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/10/23/the-first-world-war-excerpts-from-the-diary-of-woodman-leonard
Read about Lt. Col. Leonard's observations during the week of March 20th.

=============================================

French In Name Only

http://www.frenchino.com/

This new blog explores the family history of the surname of French/ffrench and the surname of Grace. It also demonstrates, through family stories, the close connections between Canada and the United States.

Nova Scotia

Demolition crews dig up piece of naval history in Halifax
http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/1188486/anchor-a-wow-demolition-crews-dig-up-piece-of-naval-history-in-halifax-2/
The discovery of an anchor in Halifax’s dockyards believed to have belonged to Canada’s first naval warship. The director of the Naval Museum of Halifax said he’s “85 to 90 per cent certain” it belonged to HMCS Niobe, the first Canadian warship to enter the country’s territorial waters, on Oct. 21, 1910.

RBC Black History Month Student Essay Competition continues to grow in its sixth year
http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1430406/rbc-black-history-month-student-essay-competition-continues-to-grow-in-its-sixth-year/
Students can now earn one of 20 scholarships, up from three, including grand prizes of up to $5,000 that will help make their someday a reality. The competition gives students an opportunity to learn about the contribution black people have made to Canadian history.

Windsor’s Hockey Heritage Museum shoots for expanded hours
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1244887-windsor-s-hockey-heritage-museum-shoots-for-expanded-hours
The museum season now runs from June 15 to October 05, but during the pumpkin regatta, held Thanksgiving weekend, the tourist bureau in Windsor gets hundreds of inquiries about the hockey museum.

Maritime voyage: Halifax to Prince Edward Island
http://www.jpost.com/Not-Just-News/Maritime-voyage-Halifax-to-Prince-Edward-Island-379142
Read a Jerusalem Post writer’s travels from Nova Scotia to Prince Edward Island.

Ontario

Genealogical journey yields results
http://www.orilliapacket.com/2014/10/17/genealogical-journey-yields-results
For Orillia resident Phil Jenkinson, his work following his genealogy led to the realization one of his relatives played a role in the First World War.

Union Gas donation will help with historic chapel restoration
http://www.napaneeguide.com/2014/10/23/union-gas-donation-will-help-with-historic-chapel-restoration
Union Gas presented a cheque for $20,000 to the committee that is fundraising to restore Her Majesty’s Royal Chapel of The Mohawks, located on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.

Royal Canadian Air Force squadron returns to RAF Leeming to take part in exercise for first time since it was based there in WWII

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11545048.Royal_Canadian_Air_Force_squadron_returns_to_RAF_Leeming_to_take_part_in_exercise_for_first_time_since_it_was_based_there_in_WWII/

A Royal Canadian Air Force squadron has returned to RAF Leeming more than 70 years after using it as a base during World War Two.

Manitoba

Park to celebrate Upper Fort Garry: A Significant part of Manitoba's history

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/park-to-celebrate-upper-fort-garry-279699702.html
Friends of Upper Fort Garry unveiled the first of a three-phase development that will celebrate the fort's singular significance in the province's history.

Alberta

Local honoured by Alberta Historical Resources Foundation
http://www.camrosecanadian.com/2014/10/23/local-honoured-by-alberta-historical-resources-foundation
The outstanding efforts of Alberta’s “heritage heroes” and the work of local organizations to preserve the province’s rich history were recognized October 16 with the announcement of the 2014 Alberta Historical Resources Foundation Heritage Awards.

Story of the Week

Canadian Library Month 

In October, the inspiration created in and by libraries is celebrated during Canadian Library Month with the theme “Libraries Inspire!”.

Did you know that “over 21-million Canadians hold a public library card, making public libraries the most popular cultural institution in the country? Over 97 percent of Canadians live in communities served by a public library, and the library adds to the vitality of every one of these communities.”

And don’t forget genealogical libraries!

In Ottawa, we are fortunate to have many genealogical libraries in the city, and we should take advantage of them.

They hold maps, directories, books, and those ever so important family files that may hold clues to our ancestors, census, and cemetery records.

For more information Library Month, go to http://librarymonth.ca/

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 03 November 2014.

Canada's First History Youth Forum in Ottawa

Twenty-two students from communities all across Canada have earned themselves a trip to Ottawa later this month during the first Canada's History Youth Forum.

The students were selected following their regional heritage fairs, and tasked with making a short video that demonstrated the historical significance of their topic. 

The videos were all posted online and a public vote encouraged Canadians to watch and support their favourite student flicks. After a combined total of over 34,000 votes, a panel of judges selected twenty-two winners for this year's program. 

The recipients of the 2014 Young Citizens program are: 

Abby Peterson, Rocky Mountain House, AB — Canada & Titanic
Dominic Shoop, Okotoks, AB —The Flintlock Pistol
Dylan Lee, Vancouver, BC — The Chinese Head Tax
Alexandra Mines, Vancouver, BC — Les Réfugiés Indésirables du Canada
Jenna Allison, Winnipeg, MB — Nellie McClung
Rachel Teller, Winnipeg, MB — Sir Frederick Banting
Maude Couturier, Fredericton, NB — Les infirmières militaires canadiennes
Emma Morehouse, Lincoln, NB — Patrick Owens Covered Bridge
Jasmine Rahman, St. John's, NL—The Newfoundland Conscience: A History of Giving
Jack Goldsworthy, Torbay, NL —Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The Original Way of Life
Ben Strickland, Bridgewater, NS —The Mosquito
Sam Rogers, Lower Onslow, NS — The Black Devil's Brigade
Eastyn Klages, Chatsworth, ON — A Little Taste of Home
Paris Snake, Rama, ON — Residential Schools: The Intergenerational Impacts
Karla McCallum, Charlottetown, PEI —The Journey of the Potato
Harrison Duffy, Kinkora, PEI — History Of the PEI Railway
Élodie Chamberland, Sainte-Hélène-de-Kamouraska, QC — La Seconde Guerre mondiale
Andréanne Girard-Lemieux, Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce, QC — Reproduction de mocassins amérindiens
Dylan Donald, Regina, SK — Chuckwagon Racing
Ella Forrest, Regina, SK — My Oma's Story
Duncan Snooks, Whitehorse, YT— Jacques Cartier
Maximilian Wanner, Whitehorse, YT — North West Mounted Police 

Honourable mentions include: 

Cauren Bale. De Winton, AB — The Evolution Of Canadian Figure Skating

Amina Guo. Vancouver, BC — Japanese Canadian internment
Olivia Richards. Vancouver, BC — 1961 train smoke eaters
Siya Johal. Delta, BC — My Sikh Family History
Luke Harris. North Vancouver, BC — Vimy Ridge
Jacob Grant, Winnipeg, MB — Andrew Charles Mynarski
Luke Battcock, Paradise. NL — Gros Morne
Griffin Fancy, Bridgewater. NS — Prestigious Provo
Julia McNeaney. ON — Ridley College
Turner Clarke, Port Colborne. ON — The Wainfleet Bog
Clara Sismondo. Kingston, ON — KCVI : a history
Lise Charles, Charlottetown. PEI — Un pėcheur madelinot
Karine Champagne, Saint-Honoré-de-Shenley. QC — Le patrimoine des Jésuites en Nouvelle-France
Makayla Kaye. Whitehorse, YT — Yukon First nation 

To see more about the Young Citizens Program, visit their website at www.YoungCitizens.ca

Two virtual exhibits at the Toronto Public Library

The Toronto Public Library has two new digital exhibits, and the first one is called Frozen Ocean which is on until December 31, 2014, and the second exhibit is called Toronto: A Place of Meeting.

Frozen Oceans tells the story about the North-west Passage and how it became for many an obsession. Browse colourful maps, beautiful illustrations, posters and books in this online exhibit. And having viewed the exhibits myself, I can say that the maps and illustrations are simply beautiful, and compelling.

To view the exhibit, go to http://ve.torontopubliclibrary.ca/frozen_ocean/index.htm 

Toronto: A Place of Meeting will be of particular interest to people who have ancestors who lived in Toronto. It covers the history of the city in a timeline of five distinct eras, beginning with the first human presence in the city 8000 BC and ending in 2003.

To view the exhibit, go to http://ve.torontopubliclibrary.ca/TPM/index.html 

Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/torontopubliclibrary

Peel's Prairie Province releases Grain Elevators in Canada books online

Peel's Prairie Provinces, in partnership with the University of Alberta Libraries, has put online the data on grain elevators in Canada collected by the Canadian Grain Commission. The data, beginning in 1912 and ending in 1998, is now freely available online. 

These records contain lists of licensed elevators, their locations and capacity in western and eastern Canada. 

Peel's Prairie Provinces website is dedicated to preserving western Canadian history and Canadian prairie culture. One can find historical newspapers, bibliography of books, directories, and pamphlets online.  

The website is at http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/geic.html

Library and Archives Canada: Announces two new guide

The following is the notice that I received from the Library and Archives this morning –

“Canada is pleased to announce the launch of two new guides: Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia, 1855–1988 and Guide to Sources Relating to Canadian Naval Vessels, 1909–1983. The guides were originally compiled over many years by the late Barbara Wilson (1931–2014), an archivist with the former National Archives of Canada, now Library and Archives Canada. 

Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia, 1855–1988 

This guide is an indispensable starting point for researching the records that document Canadian militia units. It is a unique finding aid that brings together, by militia unit name, references to records and files scattered throughout several different archival fonds held at Library and Archives Canada.

The website is located at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/Pages/guide-sources-canadian-militia.aspx 

Guide to Sources Relating to Canadian Naval Vessels, 1909–1983

This guide is an indispensable starting point for researching the records documenting Canadian naval vessels that served with the Royal Canadian Navy. It is a unique finding aid that brings together—by ship’s name—references to records and files scattered throughout several different volumes of archival fonds of the Department of National Defence."

The Website is located at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/Pages/guide-sources-canadian-naval-vessels.aspx 

Extreme Explorers – Sea to Space

The Canadian Museum of History has a special exhibit on Canada’s leading-edge science and exploration over the years called Extreme Explorers – Sea to Space.

An interesting part of the exhibit will the Arctic Medal 1818–1855. Authorized by Queen Victoria in 1857, it was awarded to individuals around the world who participated ― during the years 1818 to 1855 ― in discovery missions to find the North Pole or the Northwest Passage, or in search expeditions to locate Sir John Franklin’s missing ships.

This exhibit will be from the present to January 4, 2015, and you can read more about the exhibit at http://www.historymuseum.ca/event/extreme-explorers-sea-to-space/?cm_mid=4030473&cm_crmid=76c38def-186a-e211-9333-005056a35e1c&cm_medium=email 

The Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/museumofcivilization?ref=hl&cm_mid=4030473&cm_crmid=76c38def-186a-e211-9333-005056a35e1c&cm_medium=email 

Ancestry.ca offers FREE access

Ancestry.ca has released the results of a survey which shows a puzzling result – while 94% Canadians feels that knowing their family history is important, only 42% know where their grandparents were born. In light of this, Ancestry is offering free access to Canadian Passenger Lists until 11:59 October 23, 2014. 

That causes genealogist to think, doesn’t it? Maybe it is part of the answer as to why there isn’t a great ground swell for Family History Month that I wrote about in last week’s Canadian Week in Review (CWR). If you haven’t my editorial yet, you can go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2014/10/canadian-week-in-review-13-october-2014.html

Meanwhile, Ancestry.ca says - 

Canada may pride itself on being a nation built on immigration but according to a new survey from Ancestry, the world’s largest online family history resource, some of us know very little about our own family history – including where our ancestors originated from and when they first came to Canada. 

In a survey of 1,025 Canadians*, Ancestry discovered that 47 per cent don’t know when their ancestors first arrived in Canada. This is despite the fact that 94 per cent feel that knowing one’s family history is important. 

Additionally, the research revealed that 42 per cent of Canadians don’t know where their own grandparents were born. 

“Immigration is one of the foundations of Canada, so it is surprising how many Canadians don’t know where their ancestors came from, or when they first arrived in the country,” said Lesley Anderson, family historian for Ancestry. “There are so many wonderful historical records available for people to discover their ancestors’ immigration stories, such as Passenger Lists or border crossings, that give you clues as to why your ancestors may have left their homelands or how they came to Canada. The stories you can discover about your forebears are often fascinating and can help to inform your own sense of identity.” 

Ancestry is currently offering free access to its collection of global immigration records including the Canadian Passenger Lists, a collection of more than 7 million records detailing the people who came to Canada by ship between the years of 1865 and 1935, the key growth period in immigration to Canada. The free access lasts until 11:59 on October 23, 2014. 

* Conducted in June 2014

Fall workshop in Toronto

Gwyneth Pearce, Secretary of the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has sent us a reminder from the Branch that their fall workshop, "Industrial England", is coming up in less than two weeks - on Saturday 1 November.

This full-day workshop, co-sponsored with the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library, will explore the social, economic and cultural effects of the Industrial Revolutions on the lives of English people from 1750 to 1900. Author and professional genealogist Kirsty Gray will be our keynote speaker.

Spaces are still available, but we encourage you to sign up soon to ensure a spot. OGS members are eligible for a fee discount.

Full details about the program, speakers and how to register, are available on our Branch website at http://torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/workshops/industrial-england-workshop/.

Their Facebook page is on https://www.facebook.com/TOFamilyHistory