Monday, January 12, 2015

Canadian Week in Review - 12 January 2015

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

In 1955, the opening of the Canadian Parliament was broadcast on television for the first time.
   To read about Canada’s form of government, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada

On 1805, the first issue of the Quebec Mercury was published.
    It is interesting to note that “The Quebec Mercury was to become a key political tool for the Tories, vigorously denouncing the initiatives of the Canadian Party”.
 
Social Media

Alex Inspired
http://alexandrafrankow.com/genealogy
   As is true with so many genealogies, you can trace ancestor’s from Canada to Minnesota, New York, California, and Ireland.

Curating Kin
   Follow Chriss as she traces her family from Ireland to Niagara Falls, Ontario.

A Parcel of Ribbons
http://aparcelofribbons.co.uk
   This blog concerns Joseph Scott, brother of John Scott, an émigré who first went from Ireland to the New World in the 1720s, then went to Canada, where he built himself a delightful manor house at Fort Sackville, Bedford, Nova Scotia on land that had belonged to his brother, George.

(Video) Louis Gossett Jr. ‘amazed’ by Canadian story in Book of Negroes
http://www.canada.com/entertainment/Louis+Gossett+amazed+Canadian+story+Book+Negroes+with+video/10702946/story.html
   An interview with Louis Gossett Jr. and his role on the Book of Negroes, partly filmed in Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

(Photos) Halifax bookbinders recreate The Book of Negroes
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-book-binders-recreate-the-book-of-negroes-1.2893857
   Joe Landry and Katherine Victoria Taylor spent weeks creating the prop for the miniseries.

Articles

Newfoundland

Newfoundland students part of Antarctic expedition
   On Friday the students and staff from the M/V Ushuaia landed by Zodiac at Danco Island, Neko Harbour, and Goudier Island along the Antarctic Peninsula.

Nova Scotia

It’s 2015, and a scalping law is still on the books
http://www.thecoast.ca/RealityBites/archives/2015/01/07/its-2015-and-a-scalping-law-is-still-on-the-books
    Britain’s colonial government issued three proclamations offering bounties on human beings. Two of those were formally repealed in 1752. The third, ordered in 1756 by Governor William Lawrence, remains. And nobody is sure that the law can be repealed.

From the shores of Nova Scotia, Israel’s first soldiers
http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01/05/rob-gordon-from-the-shores-of-nova-scotia-israels-first-soldiers
   During the summer of 1917, Windsor, Nova Scotia was home to some of Israel’s founding fathers, and there were hundreds of Jewish boys from New York, Montreal, Russia, and Palestine who were the first to put on a uniform of the Israeli Defence Force.


The Book of Negroes, shot in Nova Scotia, debuts on TV

   The majority of the film, The Book of Negroes, was shot in Shelburne, my hometown. It will air on CBC Television on Wednesdays until February 11th.

Book of Negroes tops ratings for its time slot
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/book-of-negroes-tops-ratings-for-its-time-slot-1.2895342
   1.7 million viewers tune in to  this adaption of Lawrence Hill's book.


Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown restoration reveals building’s heritage
http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/Projects/News/2015/1/Charlottetown-restoration-reveals-buildings-heritage-1004985W
   Read how Chris Tweel renovated an 1880s brick building in the heart of Charlottetown, P.E.I.


Ontario

Sir John A. Macdonald turns 200
http://o.canada.com/news/john-a-macdonald-572482
   Randy Boswell writes an excellent article on the supposed “birthdate” of Sir John A. Macdonald of Glasgow, Scotland.

(Photos) In a war-soaked world, Mennonites struggled for a peaceful response
   In the fall of 1917, as the carnage of the First World War seemed endless, a young Mennonite woman in Guelph wrote to her bishop for advice.

Historical protection of Windsor, Ont., street curbs halts driveway construction
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/historical-protection-of-windsor-ont-street-221033309.html
   In Windsor, Ontario, the presence of 130-year-old stone curbs is considered a matter of cultural heritage, and is being protected by the city.


George Daszkowski: Passionate protector of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame's archives
http://www.thestar.com/autos/autoracing_blog/2015/01/george_daszkowski__passionate_protector_of_the_canadian_motorsport_hall_of_fame_s_archives.html
   George Daszkowski, who recently passed away, believed in the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, particularly the archives. Although he was a walking encyclopedia of racing knowledge, he believed strongly in the storing, filing, and indexing/cross-referencing of photographs and documents in order to create and maintain a historical record of the sport.

 
Alberta

Delving into family history
http://www.highrivertimes.com/2015/01/06/delving-into-family-history
   For those who are curious to gain insight to their family history but don't know much about historical research, the High River Library is offering a beginner’s genealogy course in January and February.

Ukrainian Christmas festivities celebrate a rich heritage
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Ukrainian+Christmas+festivities+celebrate+rich+heritage/10706932/story.html
   Ukrainian Catholics and Orthodox Christians around the world follow the Julian calendar, and celebrate Christmas on January 7th.

Fort Calgary uncovers mummified rat, 1890s newspaper during Hunt House restoration
   Fort Calgary workers are uncovering a wide range of rare artifacts as they continue to restore the Hunt House in Inglewood.
   A mummified rat, a child's toy, and a 125-year-old newspaper are some of the items that have been discovered in the building, and buried beneath the structure.

British Columbia

Province commissions book commemorating history of Chinese Canadians
http://ubyssey.ca/news/province-makes-plans-to-publish-book-celebrating-the-history-of-chinese-canadians-in-bc-334
   The province of B.C. has set aside $100,000 for a book that celebrates the achievements of eminent Chinese Canadians.

B.C. whaling – an uncomfortable history
http://www.vicnews.com/opinion/287142931.html
   An Op-Ed piece by on the whaling industry by Kate Humble from British Columbia.

Events to salute Alberni maritime history
http://www.avtimes.net/news/local/events-to-salute-alberni-maritime-history-1.1705487
   The Port Alberni Maritime Heritage Society is kicking off its winter season with the first of three presentations.
 
Stories of the Week
 
 


 
Do you realize that one in four Canadians cannot identify Sir John A. Macdonald as the first prime minister of Canada?
 
This sad news is the result of a recent Ipsos Reid poll commissioned by Historica Canada.
 
Not shocking enough? Well, according to the poll, 28% of Canadians polled didn’t even know the year of Confederation!
 
For readers not familiar with the year Canada became a country—including the aforementioned 28% who missed this question—the answer is 1867.
 
How about this? Forty-four per cent of respondents didn’t know that Canada will turn 150 years old in 2017. This is also disturbing, for it means that either this group didn’t know the year of Confederation (essential to do the calculation), or they did know it, and in doing the math, failed basic addition (or subtraction, depending on one’s methodology in performing calculated date functions).
 
Either way, it shows that of the 44% who got the wrong answer, 100% of this group failed rudimentary Canadian history, and/or rudimentary math.
 
Oh, my!
 
I could go on and on...
 
Maybe we need more Heritage Minutes! (An excellent series of vignettes – well-worth a look).
 
The full results of the poll is found here - https://www.historicacanada.ca/node/5362
 
 
Canadian Recipients of the Victoria Cross Honoured through the "Toll of War," a project that tells the stories of the valour and sacrifice of Canadians in the World Wars.
 
The press release says that the “Funding for a unique visual and educational program that will inform Canadians about the wartime actions and sacrifices of Canadian soldiers during the World Wars was announced today by the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Member of Parliament (Fredericton), on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.”
 
The Victoria Cross was created by Queen Victoria in 1856, and was awarded to Canadians in all conflicts up to the end of the Second World War. The last Victoria Cross to be awarded to a Canadian was in 1945. There have been 98 Canadian recipients (Canadian-born, serving in the Canadian Army, or having a close link to Canada).
 
A new Canadian honour, the Canadian Victoria Cross—which retains the same design and the same awarding criteria as the British Victoria Cross—was unveiled by the Governor General on May 16, 2008. It joined a suite of Canadian Military Valour Decorations that include the Star of Military Valour and the Medal of Military Valour.
 
 
News has reached us that Tim Cook, adjunct research professor in the Department of History at Carleton University in Ottawa, has been named to the Order of Canada http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Canada
 
You will know this name because of Cook’s work at the Canadian War Museum and for his contributions to promoting Canada’s military history as an author, researcher, and curator.
 
He is the author of eight books, including Shock Troops: Canadians Fighting the Great War, 1917-1918, a winner of the Charles Taylor prize for literary non-fiction. His latest book, The Necessary War, was published this year, and is the first of two volumes on Canadians in the Second World War. The second volume, Fight to the Finish, will be published next fall.
 
The Order of Canada, one of our country’s highest civilian honours, was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation. Since then, more than 6,000 Canadians from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order.
 
 
Have you been following the Early Ontario Teachers & Pupil List 1838-1916 on the Olive Tree Blog at http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com?
 
Although I don’t have any ancestors in Ontario at that time, this list can be important to those people who do.
 
You might also want to get a copy of Education and Ontario Family History by Marian Press through the Ontario Genealogical Society’s online store at http://www.ogs.on.ca/ogsnewcart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=722
 
And that was the week in Canadian genealogy, history, and heritage news!
 
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 19 January 2015.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Kent Branch (OGS) Showcases New Records on YouTube

 

Yesterday morning, I listened to the Kent Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society on the YouTube Channel at http://youtu.be/UzNZo18W2C8. The Branch heard about new online genealogy records at the Chatham-Kent Library.
 
Last year, the library successfully secured a grant from the Ontario government, and published new records online at http://www.chatham-kent.ca/PUBLICLIBRARIES/GENEALOGY/Pages/Genealogy.aspx.
 
These records include -
  • 75 local directories published between 1875 and 2007
  • almanacs published by Soutar’s, a publishing company, between 1881 and 1890
  • municipal documents
  • Kent Historical Society publications
  • books by local authors
So visit the Library online to view these records, and see if your ancestor is there.
 
If you haven’t done so already, remember to check the Canadian Week in Review on Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.
 
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!
 
It has been a regular post every Monday morning since April 23, 2012.

Canada’s first prime minister records


It has been 200 years since the birth of Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, and our interest in him and his life has never diminished. And since we are now celebrating the 200th anniversary of his birth on January 11th, the interest is higher than normal.
The Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has an extensive and varied collection of records related to him, including a virtual exhibition that includes personal papers, photos, artwork, and publications. Within the LAC’s holdings are over 100,000 letters to and from family and close friends, which gives researchers a rare glimpse into his personal life.
You can listen to a podcast Let us be Canadians: Sir John A. Macdonald at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/news/podcasts/Pages/sir-john-macdonald.aspx, or you can go to the fonds at http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayItem&lang=eng&rec_nbr=104008.

If you haven’t done so already, remember to check the Canadian Week in Review Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/canadian-week-in-review-05-january-2015.html 


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

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Provincial Archives of New Brunswick birth, marriage and death records



I have done quite a bit of work through the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick website http://archives.gnb.ca/Archives/?culture=en-CA over the past years, and one thing that I recommend if you are researching the births, marriages, and deaths records (BMD) is that you read the Finiding Aid at http://archives.gnb.ca/Documents/FindingAids/GovernmentRecords/RS141-EN.pdf and the Information page at http://archives.gnb.ca/Search/VISSE/Introduction.aspx?culture=en-CA.

They have added the 1919 birth and death records to the search engine in November and December of last year, and have added digitized images of the originals for that year, as well.

So good luck in researching, and let me know how you have done using theses records.

If you haven’t done so already, remember to check the Canadian Week in Review Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/canadian-week-in-review-05-january-2015.html

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

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

The Archives Association of Ontario offers online courses




The Archives Association of Ontario (AAO) is an organization that supports archival associations, those working in archives, as well as users and supporters of archives. It is made up of 300 members from across the province. It involves itself in a network of archives and archivists providing programs, education, and advocacy. 
 
They are offering online courses, some of which may interest you.
 
The courses are -
 
Caring for Paper-Based Collections
January 20


Creating Access to Your Collections
January 27


Exhibiting Your Collections
February 10


Caring for Oversize Paper Artifacts
February 17


Caring for Scrapbooks
February 24


Writing Your NEH Preservation Assistance Grant (Free)
February 25
 
Spring sessions include new webinars on digital topics as well as caring for photographs, and emergency preparedness.
 

Friday, January 9, 2015

National Genealogy Conference in Canada



A travel agency from Guelph, Ontario is where you will register if you want to go to the National Genealogy Conference in Canada at Historic Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 17 - 19, 2015.

The registration fee of $895.00 (Canadian Funds) per person includes the following -
  • All taxes
  • Full conference program with exceptional genealogy keynote and workshop speakers
  • All food and beverage within the conference schedule
  • The opportunity to submit personal information to have The Scotiabank Family History Centre research immigration information for your family prior to arriving at the conference.
  • Guided tour plus additional on-own time at the Canadian Museum of  Immigration at Pier 21, immigration portal of Canada from 1928 - 1971
  • A professionally guided tour of Halifax, including a visit to the Titanic Graveyard. Experts will be on hand to enhance your experience. Following the tour will be dinner at the Five Fishermen Restaurant, housed in a historic building with ties to the Titanic story.
  • Networking opportunities and information sharing with genealogy enthusiasts from near and far.
Of course, your registration fee does not include the airfare to Halifax, or accommodation.

I am interested to know if any of my readers are going. What is your opinion on the cost of the conference? Is this a reasonable price to pay for a genealogical conference in Canada?

To register, go to http://www.visiontravel.ca/heidiwilker

If you haven’t done so already, remember to check the Canadian Week in Review Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/canadian-week-in-review-05-january-2015.html

It’s the
ONLY
news blog of its kind in Canada!
It has been a regular post every Monday morning since April 23, 2012.


new.FamilySearch.org Will Be Turned Off on 01 February 2015


WARNING! This does not mean that FamilySearch.org is closing down!

I think there has been confusion over the closing of new.FamilySearch.org as has been evident of Thomas MacEntee's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tmacentee?fref=ufi&pnref=story. Only this site will be disabled and closed down. FamilySearch.org will remain open. This is planned to take place on 01 February, 2015. 

As the website says, “On February 1, all public APIs (application programming interfaces) will be turned off, as will be the ability to access the program. This step is necessary as we enter the final phase, which is to transfer and synchronize all of the remaining data from new.FamilySearch.org to FamilySearch Family Tree. It is anticipated that this final phase of data testing, transfer, and retesting will require a year to complete. Once this phase is completed in early 2016, new.FamilySearch.org will be completely shut down”.

To read the rest of the press release, go to https://new.familysearch.org/

If you haven’t done so already, remember to check the Canadian Week in Review Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/canadian-week-in-review-05-january-2015.html


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

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