Friday, November 30, 2012

Update on Ontario Cemeteries Act Petitions


We have not received an update on the what happened to the Cemeteries Act Petitions in May 2011 when the Ontario Legislature was prorogued.

But we are told today that The Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS), and The Ontario Historical Society (OHS) received a life line from Jim Brownell, then retiring Member of Provincial Parliament for Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry. He arranged for the committee to meet John Gerretsen, then Minister of Business Services – the ministry in charge of cemeteries registration.

A list of more than 1500 unregistered cemeteries across the province was presented to Mr. Gerretsen and the committee had a first hand opportunity to tell the minister about the lack of protection and high risk of removal for unregistered cemeteries.

The joint OGS and OHS Cemetery Registration Committee has been resuscitated and, with assistance from many hardworking branch cemeteries committees, is working to compile the necessary information and send it to the Registrar.

To date the data for four counties – Algoma, Brant, Bruce and Carleton – have been forwarded to the Registrar of Cemeteries. Any new information for these counties will be also forwarded as it is discovered.

The committee asks anyone with cemetery information, particularly little known or abandoned cemeteries to contact them.

You can go to www.ogs.on.ca/home/advocacy.php#cemeteries and read about Bill 126, Inactive Cemeteries Protection Act, 2010.

A Heritage Certificate For Christmas

This a great idea for Ontario Genealogical Society members –

If you're a member of the Ontario Genealogical Society Centenary Club and you're looking for a last minute holiday gift (or just starting your shopping like some of us), consider a supplemental Centenary Club certificate for your relatives. They can be members of the Centenary Club because you've already proved that you are.

Supplemental certificates are only $10 each for OGS Members ($20 for non members) and make a great stocking stuffer.

To purchase one, simply download the application form and fill out Section 1 indicating your name and contact information, the number of certificates you are ordering and the names of the relatives you are buying for. No need to provide evidence, it is already on file here.

Please make sure your request reaches us by December 7th so that we can make sure your certificates reach you in time for the 25th.

Questions? Contact membership@ogs.on.ca or call Provincial Office.

The website of the OGS Heritage Certificate is www.ogs.on.ca/home/heritage_societies.php

A membership to the society is $60.00 CDN per year, and the membership is at www.ogs.on.ca/membership.php

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Images of Historical Birth, Marriage and Death Records

Just received this press release from the British Columbia Archives -

Victoria, BC – People worldwide will now have easier research access to images of the original historical records of births, marriages and deaths in British Columbia.

A partnership between the BC Archives and the Vital Statistics Agency, as well as an in-kind donation by FamilySearch International, has resulted in original records being scanned, indexed and now available from anywhere in the world for printing – free of charge – through the Royal BC Museum/BC Archives website.

“Open, free access to public records of an historic nature will help researchers and writers tell the story of British Columbia and assist citizens interested in genealogy or local history,” said Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Bill Bennett. “Congratulations to the partnership responsible for making this data available digitally online.”

“Easy access to government services and data is central to our Open Government policy. Having these records online benefits our citizens and people around the world; anyone who has roots in this province can now explore their B.C. heritage.” said Minister of Citizens’ Services and Open Government Ben Stewart.

Since 1997 the Vital Statistics Agency has provided the BC Archives with annually updated indexes to publicly releasable vital event information. The BC Archives is allowed to release personal information about deaths that occurred at least 20 years ago, marriages that took place at least 75 years ago, and births registered at least 120 years ago. In the past, the photographed images of actual documents were only available on microfilm at the BC Archives reading room, at a FamilySearch International centre or through a number of libraries across the province.

“This free access to digital images of historical vital event records is long overdue,” said Kathryn Bridge, Manager of Centralized Access, Royal BC Museum. “The upload of more than 700,000 scanned and indexed documents in the first few months of test operation is unique in Canada, no other province has made this much rich data available online.”

Provincial registration of births, marriages and deaths began the year after British Columbia joined Confederation in 1871. The registration records contain information that can be used to trace a family tree, determine medical history, reveal the history of a community or patterns of illness over time. Birth registrations include name, date and place of birth, parents’ names, and the mother’s maiden name. Marriage registrations include the name, age, birth place and marital status of the bride and groom, the date and place of the ceremony, names of the couple’s parents, names of witnesses and the person who performed the ceremony. Death registrations include the name and birth date of the deceased person as well as the date, place and cause of death.

Phase 1 of this data upload is substantially complete. Phase 2, now underway, will add more images and indexed information, including pre-1872 records, deaths that occurred overseas during the Second World War, between 1939 and 1945. More than 200,000 images of death records from 1985 to 1991 and approximately 19,000 images of marriage records from 1933 to 1936 will also be added. Phase 2 is scheduled for completion by the end of the year and will bring the number of scanned records to the one million mark. Each year more vital event records images will be scanned and uploaded as they become available through annual scheduled releases by the Vital Statistics Agency.

To access the images of historical birth, marriage and death records go to http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/BasicSearch

About the BC Archives

The BC Archives is the oldest archival institution in Canada west of the Great Lakes. In 2003 it joined the Royal BC Museum. The BC Archives acquires, preserves and makes accessible the documentary heritage of British Columbia for its citizens and researchers around the world. Its archivists are stewards of our province’s personal, corporate and social memory.

Postal Museum Closed

Just read the Ottawa Citizen newspaper where the Canadian Postal Museum at the Canadian Museum of Civilization is closed in preparation for the change over to the new Canadian Museum of History to be opened in 2017.

The Postal Museum had been formed in 1971 by Canada Post, and had received various kudos for it’s completeness, but now it will be broken up into various travelling exhibits, with some of it staying behind in Ottawa at the new museum.

If you want to see if your ancestor was a postmaster at Canada Post, go to Post Offices and Postmasters list at the Library and Archives Canada www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/post-offices/001001-100.01-e.php

The Post Office was created as a federal department in 1867, and in early 1950s, cards were prepared by the Public Affairs Unit using the files and letter books on file. They were eventually turned over to the Library and Archives Canada, and put online so that we could use them today as a research tool. The records for the 1875-1902 have not survived.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Saskatoon Church is on CyArk Digital World Heritage Database

CTV News in Saskatoon reports that the Third Avenue United Church is the first Canadian building being added to the CyArk digital world heritage database.

Read the report at http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/church-finds-spot-in-world-heritage-database-1.1055333#ixzz2DYrwcPHX

History of the church is at www.thirdavenueunitedchurch.org/church_history.php

New National Historic Sites, Persons, and Events in Canada


The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry and Minister of State for Agriculture, announced the designation of new national historic sites, persons and events in Canada that define significant moments in Canada’s history.

The announcement commemorates Frederick Cleveland Morgan whose passion for culture and the arts helped establish the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and Marc-Aurèle Fortin, the talented painter whose landscapes capture a way of life in Quebec that has now disappeared.

The announcement also include the historic significance of the former Lamaque mine and Bourlamaque Mining Village in Abitibi, a rare and well preserved example of a closed mining town. Also recognized is the historic district of Arvida, known as the “City Built in 135 days,” which is an outstanding, well -preserved example of a Canadian single-industry town and a testimony to the growth and development related to the country’s aluminum industry.

The other designations are the Sainte-Croix de Tadoussac Mission Church, the oldest wooden church in Canada and an important mission base for Jesuits and the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Inuit co-operative movement, which began in 1959 and supported the development of Inuit art while giving Inuit communities and individuals the power to participate effectively in the management of their local economy and fostered new skills.

FREE Shipping Until Nov 29th!


To those people who missed my post on Sunday, Family Roots Publishing writes to say that they are offering FREE U.S.A. shipping on all orders totaling $25 or more at their website over the Black Friday – Cyber Monday weekend – and that includes my two resource booklets – The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

The site now boasts thousands of genealogy books, maps and supplies, with new items being posted daily. Everything from genealogy dictionaries to Flip-Pal mobile scanners are now available for immediate shipment. The FREE U.S.A. SHIPPING promotion runs through midnight, MST Thursday, November 29, 2012.

It sounds like a good deal to me! While you shop at the store, say “Hello!” to my friend, Leland.

The website is at www.familyrootspublishing.com

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Latest Update on Domaine d’été des Pères Sainte-Croix

On Nov 20th of this year, I posted about an «ONLINE PETITION! Domaine d’été des Pères Sainte-Croix» in which I said that “The Outaouais Heritage WebMagazine of the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network has an online petition to help save a beautiful and unique piece of Quebec’s religious heritage.

The Domaine d’été des Pères Sainte-Croix located at 1565 chemin des Pères, Lac-Simon, is currently threatened by developers.”

I just received a note from Chantal Crête, saying that the “Municipality of Lac-Simon will have a public consultation on the subject on December 8th 2012 from 9AM-noon. It will be an important day to voice our opinions on the importance to protect this important piece of our heritage.

She is encouraging everyone to please SIGN the petition and make sure to SHARE the link with friends and family.

She can be reached at ccretcha@sympatico.ca

The website is at http://outaouais.quebecheritageweb.com/news/save-lac-simons-domaine-d%E2%80%99ete-des-peres-sainte-croix-sign-online-petition

Library 2.0


Here is another new idea about libraries that has been brought to life by people from the north end part of the city of Vancouver! Could it be used for history and genealogical books?

The story is covered by Layne Christensen in the North Shore News in www.nsnews.com/news/Library+balancing+books+bytes/7607005/story.html   

Monday, November 26, 2012

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Articles – 26 November 2012

Here are some websites, blogs, and articles that I have come across the past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too –

Family History Facilitated http://familyhistoryfacilitated.ca Wayne Shepheard at Family History Facilitated can help you trace your family’s history. He has experience with records of England and Scotland, and Canada. This is a pay site.

Our Ontario www.ourontario.ca/demo/News.html There are over 200 historical newspapers online at this site!

Raised Icelandic www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/raised-icelandic-180668621.html The Winnipeg Free Press has an article on Icelanders and Canadians of Icelandic descent who want to know each other's genealogy and where they are from in Iceland.

Library and archives interlibrary loans soon eliminated www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2012/11/06/ottawa-library-and-archives-canada-interlibrary-loans-cancelled.html The CBC has another news report on the Library and Archives Canada stopping interlibrary loans on December 11th. Special Note: Read the first two comments at the end of the report.

Still seeking lost at sea names www.thevanguard.ca/Arts/Cultural-activities/2012-11-18/article-3122683/Still-seeking-lost-at-sea-names/1 The Yarmouth County Vanguard reports that the town is constructing a memorial wall to those people who have lost at sea.

Plotting history’s future www.nelsonstar.com/community/177975161.html Anne DeGrace has a column in The Nelson Star on the Library and Archive Canada where she writes about the 'not so accessible records', for example.

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Sunday, November 25, 2012

FREE Shipping On My Booklets Until Nov 29th!


Keeping History Alive

The Herald News has an interesting story this morning in the online paper that could be of interest to genealogical societies across the country..

John Ashton, a historian, has helped to design a number of kiosks in Pictou County (Nova Scotia). They have been placed in the rural parts of the county, and they tell the stories of the communities from the time they were founded to times that are more recent.

To read more about keeping their history alive at http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/193540-kiosks-help-keep-past-alive

Saturday, November 24, 2012

The Man Behind the Grey Cup

The annual Grey Cup Football Trophy will be played for between the Western Davison Champions, the Calgary Stampeders, and the Eastern Division Champions, the Toronto Argonauts, on Sunday in Toronto.

The trophy is 100 years old this year. It was Earl Grey, who served as Governor General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, who commissioned and donated the trophy, which bears his name. 

In the spirit of promoting Canadian sports and culture, Lord Grey first intended to donate a trophy for the senior amateur hockey championship in Canada. But Sir Hugh Andrew Montagu Allan beat him to it, and today the Allan Cup continues to serve that role. Not to be deterred from making a name for himself in Canadian sports, Lord Grey donated the Grey Cup as an annual award for the senior amateur football champions, in 1909.

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) holds many resources relating to the history of the Grey Cup. To learn more about the life and activities of Grey himself, you can consult the Albert Henry George Grey, 4th Earl Grey fonds.

LAC is also pleased to feature footage of the first Grey Cup game in 1909 between two Toronto teams, the 1931 final; and the legendary “Mud Bowl” from 1950, on its YouTube channel.

Don’t forget to browse LAC’s football Flickr set at www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157631613788649

You can visit the Canadian Hall of Fame and Museum at http://www.cfhof.ca

While there, you can visit the following websites –

Football Hall of Famers www.cfhof.ca/page/players

Grey Cup Winners www.cfhof.ca/page/grey_cup_winners

Research at the Museum www.cfhof.ca/page/researchrequest

Friday, November 23, 2012

Irish Protestant Benevolent Society


The 5th Annual Lecture of the Irish Protestant Benevolent Society will take place on Friday, January 18, 7:00 p.m.at the Hall Building, 1455 de Maisonneuve W., Room 1001.01 (10th floor) in Montreal.

The speaker will be Professor Donald Akenson, Queen's University, Kingston, and he will talk about “Wicklow Protestants and the World of Evangelicalism”.

Dr. Donald Akenson is an internationally acclaimed scholar and author who is considered the world's foremost authority on the Irish Diaspora. Akenson received his B.A. from Yale University and his doctorate from Harvard University. He is Professor of History at Queen's University Kingston, Ontario and Beamish Research Professor at the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool, and Senior Editor of the McGill-Queen's University Press.

As of 2007 his work included eighteen non-fiction books, including more than a dozen about Irish history, and five novels. Akenson won the Grawemeyer Award for God's Peoples (1992) and the Trillium Book Award for Conor: The Biography of Conor Cruise O'Brien (1994). His book on the Bible, Surpassing Wonder (1998), was short-listed for the 1999 Governor General's Award for nonfiction. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and of the Royal Historical Society (UK).

This event is FREE and open to the public.

The webpage is www.irishpbs.ca

New Resorces At Our Ontario


Jess Posgate has sent this news to us, and I thought that you may wish to know about it -

Newmarket Public Library has completed digitizing their newspaper collection, making 125 years of The Era available online with highlighted keyword searching, and it’s available at http://news.ourontario.ca/newmarket
Whitby Public Library digitized an index of vital statistics and have linked them to page images from 140 years of various newspaper titles from the Whitby area. The OCR full text search will be available before the end of the year at http://vitacollections.ca/whitbynews

Further to these, the City of Kawartha Lakes Public Library digitized a catalogue of WWII records, including clippings, photos and vital statistics, and have launched that collection online as well at http://vitacollections.ca/ckl-digitalcollection

The Multicultural History Society of Ontario (MHSO) is at the first stages of a major digitization project and marked the first year by launching a large portion of their oral history collection, including more than 100 interviews with Canadians from a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds, with ongoing transcription underway for full text searches.

The MHSO is working toward digitizing more oral histories as well as hundreds--even thousands--of photographs over the next year is available at http://vitacollections.ca/mhso

You an contact them at http://ourdigitalworld.org

Thursday, November 22, 2012

CAUT Launches Canada’s Past Matters Campaign

For immediate release

(Ottawa: November 22, 2012) The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) has unveiled a national campaign exposing the threats to Canada’s cultural institutions and historic sites and proposing what must be done to reverse the damage.

The “Canada’s Past Matters” campaign will highlight how federal funding cuts and policy changes are putting the survival of libraries, archives, museums and historical sites across the country at risk.

“Our ability as Canadians to know, understand and appreciate our past is at stake because of the federal government’s short-sighted cuts and ill-advised changes to historical programs and services,” CAUT executive director James L. Turk said at a news conference in Ottawa today.

“We’ve launched this campaign because the changes we’re seeing affect not just our members, but all Canadians in very damaging ways,” added Turk. “We cannot chart our future properly unless we know and understand our past. Until government policy is changed, that will be less and less possible for our children and future generations.”

Turk said the five aspects of the campaign are:

Save Library & Archives Canada The federal institution responsible for preserving Canada’s history and cultural heritage is seriously threatened by major budget cuts, service reductions, and a narrowing of its mandate.

Preserve Canada’s Historical Sites A $29 million reduction in the budget for Parks Canada is threatening the future of Canada’s 167 historic and archaeological sites.

Protect Canada’s Public Libraries The inter-library loan program between Library & Archives Canada and regional public libraries is being eliminated along with public internet access in local libraries, making it more difficult for Canadians to access information and knowledge.

Restore Canada’s Local Archives The elimination of the National Archival Development Program has put at risk regional archives and their projects across Canada.

Retain the Canadian Museum of Civilization The government plans to end Canada’s largest and most popular museum – the only museum committed to promoting knowledge and critical understanding of, and appreciation and respect for, human cultural achievements and human behaviour.

For more information about the “Canada’s Past Matters” campaign, visit www.canadaspastmatters.ca


The Canadian Association of University Teachers is the national voice of more than 68,000 academic and general staff at 120 universities and colleges across the country.

You may contact Angela Regnier, Communications Officer at 613.726.5186 (o) or 613-601-6304 (cell), or by email at  regnier@caut.ca

Canadian Premiere at the Morrin Centre, Quebec City

On Sunday, November 25 at 2:00 p.m. at the Morrin Centre, 44, Chaussée des Écossais, Quebec City, the centre will host the Canadian premiere of the documentary “From the Morrin with Love: Canadian Premiere of Everything or Nothing ”. Hilary Saltzman, daughter of the Canadian producer who helped bring Ian Fleming’s secret agent to the silver screen, will answer questions afterwards.

In addition, they will be giving away two pairs of tickets to the movie Skyfall, the 23rd in the James Bond series, showing at the IMAX theatre in Quebec City.

Many more James Bond related surprises await you at this premiere.

The fee is $10.00 per person,and the seats are limited, so reserve yours today!

For more information or to reserve your tickets, visit www.morrin.org, or call 418.694.9147.

The fall season continues to offer a huge selection of activities at the Morrin Centre. Upcoming events include a talk on a love affair that could have changed the course of our city’s history, a presentation on preserving family history through scrapbooking, and a series of interactive readings for children.

To learn more about the inspiration for James Bond, here are two sites which may interest you -

Inspirations for James Bond http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspirations_for_James_Bond

Harry the Spy: The Secret Pre-History of a James Bond Producer www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/09/harry-saltzman-bond-secret-spy-life#slide=1 The story of Harry Saltzman and the James Bond movies.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Corktown Christmas Forest

Alison Little tells us of the Corktown Christmas Forest which will be held at the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse at 106 Trinity Street, Toronto on Sunday December 2, 2011. The Schoolhouse will open its doors to families, friends and newcomers for our third-annual “Corktown Christmas Forest” event from 11 am to 5 pm.

They are excited to present the “Forest” in our West Hall – Christmas trees decorated in hand-made Victorian ornaments. Each tree will be sponsored by a local business or group, and donated to the Salvation Army Local 614 of Regent Park following the event.

The schedule will include:

• 12 p.m. Reading of “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” by our own ballerina – Katherine Belrose!

• 1 p.m. Performance by members of the Corktown Chamber Orchestra

• 2 p.m. Reading of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Stuart Hughes of Soulpepper Theatre Company

• 3 p.m. Performance by the St. Paul’s Toronto School of Irish Music

• 4 p.m. Reading of “The Steadfast Tin Soldier”

• All day -  Victorian ornament-making demonstrations - try your hand at scrapwork balls, paper fans, cornucopias, sugarplums, stars and pomanders! Cider, coffee, tea and treats for all, and cupcakes baked by Pretty & Sweet will be on offer. Tours of the Schoolhouse will be available all day.

Admission is pay-what-you-can, with children under 10 admitted for free.

For more information, please call 416-327-6997 or email enochturner@heritagetrust.on.ca.

The website is at www.enochturnerschoolhouse.ca

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved




How Did Ontario’s Early Settlers Celebrate Christmas?

Ever wondered how Ontario’s early settlers celebrated Christmas?

Drop by the Haldimand County Museum & Archives at 8 Echo St., Cayuga, Ontario on Saturday, December 1st from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, and enjoy some tea and a lecture on how settlers from 1812 celebrated the festive season.

You can contact them at 905.772.5880, or by email at museum.archives@haldimandcounty.on.ca

Go to their website at http://www.haldimandcounty.on.ca/residents.aspx?id=150 where you can see what they have to offer the genealogy researcher.

They have extensive collection of family histories, local histories, newspapers, church records, cemetery transcripts, census records, some birth, marriage and death records.

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

SCHOOL OF CANADIAN IRISH STUDIES

On Friday, November 23, 7:00 p.m. at the Concordia University, School of Canadian Irish Studies located at the Hall Building, 1455 de Maisonneuve W., Room 1070 (10th floor). Montreal, they will be holding the 7th Annual St. Patrick’s Society Lecture .

The topic of the lecture will be “The Irish Decade of Commemorations: Some Reflections” and the speaker will be Catriona Crowe, National Archives of Ireland.

Catriona Crowe is Head of Special Projects at the National Archives of Ireland. She is Manager of the Irish Census Online Project, which has placed the 1901 and 1911 censuses online free of charge over the last 4 years. She is an Editor of Documents on Irish Foreign Policy, which published its seventh volume, covering the period 1941-45, in November 2010. She is editor of Dublin 1911, published by the Royal Irish Academy in late 2011.

She is Vice-President of the Irish Labour History Society, and a former President of the Women’s History Association. She is Chairperson of the Irish Theatre Institute, which promotes and supports Irish theatre and has created an award-winning website of Irish theatre productions.

I have heard her speak on many occasions and she has a dedication to her subject that is commendable. So if you are near Montreal, and have Irish ancestors, this is a lecture your should not miss. .

The website of the School of Canadian Irish Studies is http://cdnirish.concordia.ca

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Plaque stolen from Gatineau family cemetery


This story just came into the office that the memorial plaque at the Edey Family Cemetery, Gatineau, Quebec has been reported stolen, and the story is on the Ottawa Sun site at
www.ottawasun.com/2012/11/20/thieves-nab-memorial-plaque-in-gatineau

You can go to the Edey Family Cemetery at www.gravemarkers.ca/quebec/gatineau/aylmer/edey/index.htm, and you can see photos of the grave makers in the cemetery.

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

The Oakville Historical Society

The Oakville Historical Society is holding its last Public Speaker Night of the year this Wednesday. The topic for this final event is, “Alice’s Journey – A Personal Story of One Girl’s Journey from the Dr. Barnardo’s Homes to Canada,” as told by Alice’s daughter, Elaine Guther:

“The S.S. Scandinavian, with her precious cargo – Britain’s young children from the DR. BARNARDO’S HOMES cross the Atlantic on their way to Canada….. ALICE was on her way …..but would it be to “Wonderland”? “

The date of the lecture is Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm, and the location is at St. John’s United Church, Dunn & Randall St., Oakville, Ontario.

The admission is Free. Refreshments Served

You may contact The Oakville Historical Society at 905.844.2695 or go to their website at www.oakvillehistory.org

For more information on the Home Children, go to

Home Children http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Children

Young Immigrants to Canada: Barnardo Homes http://jubilation.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/children/Organizations/barnardo.html

Read about this latest news on the Home Children at the Library and Archives Canada Blog at http://thediscoverblog.com/2012/11/20/home-children-introduction

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

ONLINE PETITION! Domaine d’été des Pères Sainte-Croix

The Outaouais Heritage WebMagazine of the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network has an online petition to help save a beautiful and unique piece of Quebec’s religious heritage.

The Domaine d’été des Pères Sainte-Croix located at 1565 chemin des Pères, Lac-Simon, is currently threatened by developers. Dating to the 1930s, this retreat was built to resemble a steamship on a majestic 45-acre property overlooking Lac-Simon, in the Outaouais region of Quebec, northeast of Ottawa.

Please sign the online petition calling upon the municipality of Lac-Simon to protect this building in its entirety. The petition is on
http://lacsimon.blogspot.ca/2012/10/sauvons-le-patrimoine-du-domaine-des.html

The website is at http://outaouais.quebecheritageweb.com/news/save-lac-simons-domaine-d%E2%80%99ete-des-peres-sainte-croix-sign-online-petition

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Monday, November 19, 2012

FREE Public Lecture - Institut généalogique Drouin

On Saturday, December 8th, there will be a FREE public lecture on “An Insider's View of the Institut généalogique Drouin” which will be given by Sébastien Robert, vice-president at the Institut généalogique Drouin.

He will provide a unique opportunity to learn from an insider what the Drouin records offer family historians.

The lecture will be from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm at the Briarwood Presbyterian Church Hall, 70 Beaconsfield Blvd., Beaconsfield, QC H9W 3Z3, and is sponsored by the Quebec Family History Society.

Members and non-members are invited to attend and stay afterward for refreshments and conversation

You can visit the website by going to www.qfhs.ca

You can also visit the Institut généalogique Drouin at www.drouininstitute.com It is both in French and English.

And, of course, www.Ancestry.ca has the complete Drouin Collection on their searchable database.

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Articles – 19 November 2012


Here are some websites, blogs, and articles that I have come across the past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too –

Cemeteries webproxy.edmonton.ca/external/cemeteries/default.aspx There are over 60,000 people interred in Edmonton Municipal Cemeteries which can be searched online. It has the name of the cemetery, the burial date and the lot, plot and block of the plot.

Rice Genealogy www.ricegenealogy.com This appears to be a new site, but it does give the names of some of the churches in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.

This old house www.theguardian.pe.ca/Arts/Entertainment/2012-11-17/article-3122265This-old-house/1 The Guardian, a newspaper in Price Edward Island, has a story about Tony Gallant, a photographer from Brockton in West Prince, Prince Edward Island, who is taking pictures of abandoned houses, outbuildings and other structures on the Island. He is putting them on his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abandoned-Properties-on-PEI/351704324856663

Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame http://motorcyclehalloffame.ca If you know that your relative is/was involved with motorcycles, here is a site which you can check through the Hall of Fame for the years 2006 up to 2010 to see a picture of each member of the Hall of Fame, and a biography.

Jordan tree on its way to Boston for Christmas www.thecoastguard.ca/News/2012-11-13/article-3119643/Cutting-of-the-Boston-Christmas-tree-in-Jordon/1 This year , Nova Scotia has chosen a tree from a village close to Shelburne (my home town) to send to Boston as the provinces Christmas Tree reports the local newspaper - The Shelburne County Coast Guard.

Vandalizing war memorials won’t be tolerated: Feds www.ottawasun.com/2012/11/13/vandalizing-war-memorials-wont-be-tolerated-feds-2 The Ottawa Sun is reporting that the government is about to toughen the laws which guards against defacing war memorials and cenotaphs in Canada.

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Call for Presentations for the BIFHSGO Conference 2013


Ken McKinlay of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) has just sent me this call for proposals -

"The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) is seeking proposals for presentations at its 19th annual conference, September 20-22, 2013 to be held in Ottawa at Library and Archives Canada.

The focus this year will be on Ireland.

Proposals for other presentations besides those on Ireland are also invited as well as proposals for workshops or seminars on the Friday (September 20, 2013).

Details on writing the proposals can be found at www.bifhsgo.ca under the Conference heading. Please send your proposals to
conference@bifhsgo.ca before January 31, 2013."

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Carleton Place, Ontario


Carleton Place, incorporated as a town since 1890, has a population of about 9,800 inhabitants, and is located about 30 minutes west of Ottawa. The town contains three museums, and they are -

Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum www.cpbheritagemuseum.com This museum's collection includes archival papers of all kinds - land deeds, directories, maps, newspaper clippings, and genealogical materials. 

Please contact Jennifer at 613.253.7013 to arrange a research visit.

They also have a very active Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Carleton-Place-and-Beckwith-Heritage-Museum/173158069407762 

Canadian Veteran’s Hall of Valour www.canadaveteranshallofvalour.com Check out the portraits and mini-biographies of over 1,140 Canadian veterans.

The Moore House – Roy Brown Museum They have formed the Roy Brown Society and are establishing an avionics museum in Carleton Place. The facility will honour Capt Brown and 14 other Great War airmen from Carleton Place, showcasing the town’s considerable involvement in the history of Canadian flight.

World War I flying ace Roy Brown to be honoured in his hometown of Carleton Place http://millstonenews.com/2012/11/world-war-i-flying-ace-roy-brown-to-be-honoured-in-his-hometown-of-carleton-place.html Read about how Roy Brown shot down the infamous “Red Baron” (Manfred von Richthofen), and how a mural has been painted in his honour.

Roy Brown Mural in Carleton Place http://www.cbc.ca/intownandout/2012/11/10/roy-brown-mural-in-carleton-place See the photos of the mural and hear an interview on the CBC website.

For more on Carleton Place, visit Mayor Wendy LeBlanc's website, http://wendyleblanc.ca.

Friday, November 16, 2012

PEI Genealogical Society Meeting


The PEI Genealogical Society will hold its next general meeting on Saturday November 17 at 2:00 pm at Beaconsfield's Carriage House, located at the corner of Kent and West Streets in Charlottetown. The general public is invited and admission is free.

Guest speakers Mary Jeanette Gallant and Aggi-Rose Reddin of the PEI Scottish Settlers Historical Society Inc. will present an overview of the importance of the Glenaladale Estate to the history and heritage of PEI. Through the use of visuals and artifacts they will provide insights into the lives and activities of Captain John MacDonald and his family. The presentation will also provide a background to the current campaign to preserve the estate for the people of Prince Edward Island.

For anyone wishing to renew or signup for the first time, memberships for 2013 will be available. There will be a brief business meeting as well as featured guest speakers. Please email PEIGS president at fredchorne@gmail.com if you have any questions.

PEI Genealogical Society http://www.peigs.ca

Scottish www.edu.pe.ca/eastwiltshire/grass01/phys10d.htm Read a short history of the Scottish people in PEI

Island Magazine Digitized


In partnership with the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, the Robertson Library has digitized the complete Island Magazine collection.

The Island Magazine is being made available on-line for the sole purpose of private research and study. Questions regarding rights and permissions for any other re-use or re-production of magazine content should be directed to the editorial offices of The Island Magazine.

For more information, please go to http://vre2.upei.ca/islandmagazine

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Celebrating Our Military Roots Day

Gail from Montreal has just sent me this news about a meeting to be held at the Quebec Family History Society, and the McGill University in Montreal digitization project of the Second World War Records.

Quebec Family History Society

Join us at the QFHS Heritage Centre and Library for “Celebrating Our Military Roots Day”, the first in a series of monthly “Celebrating Our Roots Days”.

On Wednesday, December 5th, drop by between 1:00 and 4:30 pm and/or between 6:30 and 9:30 pm for coffee, tea and informal conversation. Share your research and learn from others how they learned about their ancestors who served in the military. Bring your favourite military books to show others. On display we will feature our members' memorabilia and books from the QFHS military collection.

Joining us in the afternoon will be Earl John Chapman, author of several military history books, including Canada's Black Watch: Legacies of Gallantry and Service.

So, bring along a friend, coffee mug, copies of your military letters, photos, service records, and medals, or just bring yourself.

Open to our members and the public.

For more information, please go to http://www.qfhs.ca

McGill University War Records Digitized

Family historians can now search the McGill University War Records www.archives.mcgill.ca/public/exhibits/mcgillremembers/warrecords.htm by name or browse the alphabetical list. The collection contains 6,617 index cards and more than 3,000 files containing newspaper clippings, correspondence and about 700 photos, documenting the involvement of McGill faculty, students, alumni, and staff during WWII.

British Columbia Voter’s List

The voter’s lists of 1875 and 1898 were taken from the Sessional Papers of the British Columbia Government, and they were extracted by Hugh Armstrong.

Voter’s lists are known as “census substitutes”, because they can be used to locate a person in a non-census year.

British Columbia only has census in the years 1881, 1891, 1901, and 1911 which is a nominal list, and the 1891 Victoria City Census which is a head of household list, so the voter’s list can help in this instance.

The 1875 list has the person’s name, their residence, and profession or trade.

For example, there is Bagnalle, John from Fort St, a music seller, and his residence was VicC (Victoria City).

And the 1898 voter’s list has the same information as the 1875 voter’s list. An example is Sabald, John, 208 Yates St, Plumber, VicC (Victoris City).

There are also directories, newspapers, strays, government sources (including public schools reports, unclaimed letters), petitions, stories and pictures on this site.

You can see all these records online (FREE) at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canbc/bc.htm
© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Winners Are Announced

The following are people who won the booklet The War of 1812: Canada and the United States by answering The Questionth of the Day during Veteran’s Week Nov 5th to 11th on my blog -

Nov 5th - Lisa M. Layton, U.S.

Nov 6th – Phyllis M. Vancouver, CAN

Nov 7th and Nov 8th – Brooke S. Waterloo, CAN

Nov 9th – Gail D. Montreal, CDN

Nov 10th – Jackie C. Winnipeg, CDN

Congratulate to everyone who entered, and to each of the winners.

The next contest will he held on Jan 2 2013 when my blog GenealogyCanada will be five years old! On that date, five booklets Migration: Between Canada and the United States will be given away by answering a question about my blog.

Good Luck!

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Anishinaabe First Nations in the War of 1812


Alan Ojiig Corbiere, former Executive Director of the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation in M’Chigeng, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, comes to Toronto to detail his research, including interviews with elders, to uncover the names and experiences of Anishinaabe combatants in the War of 1812 – often left nameless in historical records.

The date of the talk will be Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

And the location is Native Canadian Centre, 16 Spadina Road (west side, north of Bloor), Toronto.

To learn more about the Anishinaabe people , you can go to

Anishinaabe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anishinaabe The meaning of Anishnaabeg is 'First' or 'Original Peoples' or good people - those people who are on the right road/path given to them by the Creator or Gichi-Manidoo (Great Spirit).

Anishinaabe outfit collected by Andrew Foster http://nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/infinityofnations/woodlands/242000.html There is a photo of the clothing that was worn about 1790 by the Anishinaabe.

Monday, November 12, 2012

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Articles – 12 November 2012

Here are some websites, blogs and articles that I have come across this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too –

Latest news about the Library and Archives Canada The LAC is going ahead with the cancellation of the inter-librarian program next month, not in February 2013, as was reported earlier this year. Budget cuts has forced the change, and what used to be borrowed by inter-library loans (microfilm/books, for example) will now be digitized. There is no word on the indexing of the material, although.

Read about the change in the inter-library loan system at
Library and archives interlibrary loans soon eliminated: Loan requests dropped 75 per cent in last 12 years, according to library officials www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2012/11/06/ottawa-library-and-archives-canada-interlibrary-loans-cancelled.html

Federal government to honour workers who died building Rideau Canal
http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/11/02/federal-government-to-honour-workers-who-died-building-rideau-canal Jessica Beddaoui of the Ottawa Sun writes that the federal government will commemorate the construction workers (primarily Irish immigrants and French-Canadians), who built the Rideau Canal between 1826 and 1832 by putting a plaque beside the canal.

Your thoughts needed on Canadian History Museum: Staffers are in Vancouver for your suggestions www.news1130.com/news/local/article/420874--your-thoughts-needed-on-new-canadian-history-museum They are starting to travel across the country to hear what Canadians want to see in the Canadian History Museum (it will replace the Museum of Civilization) when it debuts in 2017.

Acadianeire's Heritage: Discovering my Cape Breton and County Down ancestors through sepia photographs, anecdotes and poetry http://acadianeire.blogspot.com Kat Mortensen has a really nice blog, showing pictures of her family, and putting comments on the website about the photos.

Conference Keeper http://conferencekeeper.weebly.com Jen Baldwin, genealogist and family historian, and owner of Ancestral Journeys in Breckenridge, Colorado, will post your conference - free of charge. Quite an interesting site!

Historic Lectures Given in PEI www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/pe/pei-ipe/activ/activ10/activ10i.aspx Prince Edward Island is celebrating 75 years of its national park, and they are having free lectures.

On November 20th, there will be a lecture by Dr. Claire Campbell, and she will talk on the subject “From Sea to Sea to Sea: National Parks and the Story of Canada” , and another lecture on the 27th which will feature Barbara MacDonald, and she will talk on “The Colorful History of Green Gables”.

For more information, visit www.upei.ca/history. For more information about this lecture series or Parks Canada on PEI, call us at 902.566.7050 or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PEInationalpark.

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Remembrance Day: Who are you remembering?



Your Community Blog, found on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) website, www.cbc.ca/news/yourcommunityis asking you to send in a remembrance of a person and a photo to the  blog on this Remembrance Day.

The blog asks - "Is it a grandparent who served in World War I? Or a brother or cousin who served in Afghanistan? Share your memories in three to four lines, if possible - along with a picture of the person you'll be thinking of”.

CBC Remembrance Day Program GuideTune to CBC for full television, radio, and online coverage of Remembrance Day services in Canada www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/11/07/f-remembrance-day-program-guide.html

Question of the Day: The series of Question of the Day for Remembrance Week has ended for this year. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to send in their answers, and I hope that you have enjoyed the posts. The list of the winners will be posted on Monday.

Please take the time to thank a veteran for his or her service, even if they are not yet familiar. You never know - they may be someone who can illuminate a part of your family history research, or they may even be one of my own relatives (both blood and in-laws) who—along with countless other Canadian military members and their families—had, or have, spread themselves across the country and overseas in their dedicated and selfless service to Canada and her allies.

Lest We Forget ...

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Saturday, November 10, 2012

"For King and Country" Project in Toronto

Gwyneth Pearce, of the Toronto Family History Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, has just sent me the following press release -

“I am writing to share some news from the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society that I hope will be of interest…

The Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has added 3,000 more names and ten more schools to its on-line database of school memorials commemorating Toronto students and staff who volunteered for active service in the two World Wars and other military conflicts.

The newest schools in the For King and Country database are Brock Avenue, Hodgson, Jesse Ketchum, King George, Lambton Park, Long Branch Continuation, Oriole Park, Plains Road, R.H. McGregor and Sackville Street. The latest additions bring the total number of names in the database to just under 30,000. But that’s not all – the database also includes transcriptions and photographs of school war memorials, as well as information about the history of the schools themselves and links to other useful school and community websites.

As we all pause to mark Remembrance Day, take a few moments to explore this growing collection at www.torontofamilyhistory.org/kingandcountry

To find out more about the For King and Country project, and how you can help, contact co-ordinator Martha Jackson at kingandcountry@torontofamilyhistory.org

I first heard about this site at the OGS Conference in Toronto in 2010, and it was just starting, and they encouraged every one to go and take a look. You may discover your ancestor there.

War of 1812 Issue of OGS' Families

Cover page from the November 2012 issue of Families, the journal of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) www.ogs.on.ca
As most of you know, this year is the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, which involved British, Canadian, American, Black, and Aboriginal forces, as well as both Army and Navy personnel, in both Canada and the United States.

The papers in this issue include –

  • Six Degrees of Separation from the War of 1812 by Fred Blair
  • QMSSgt Joseph Legare/Legary: War of 1812 Veteran by Bill Amell
  • The War of 1812 and Its Influence of North Simcoe County by Gwen Patterson 

In fact, Fred Blair of the OGS has a resource on the Resources webpage of the OGS website at www.ogs.on.ca/services/1812-militia.php. Here, he talks about “Ontario Records and Resources - War of 1812 Documents”, and has published such transcriptions as the 2nd Regiment of York Militia – Payroll, and the 2nd Regiment of York Militia and 5th Regiment of Lincoln Militia - Flank Companies and Others.

You may contact him at fredblairorillia@hotmail.com

You can also check the name of your War of 1812 ancestor on The Ontario Name Index (TONI) of the OGS. It is upgraded monthly, and may reach as high as fifty million entries when it is finished. Note that this is an index – it does not contain the information; it just tells you where to find the information.


The Borrow/Buy button on the website may take you to a screen which gives you purchase options - to buy the whole book of cemetery transcripts through the e-Store, or to buy that particular tombstone transcription  through Pay-Per-View (PPV).  

Question of the Day: The York Regiment recruited young men of a certain age to be in the regiment. Between what ages were the recruits mustered? Send your answer to Elizabeth at genealogycanada@aol.com by midnight, Eastern Standard Time. Please put “booklet” in the title, and remember to submit your full name and postal address. A winner will be chosen by random draw from every eligible entry received.

For details on the contest and the booklet prize—a research guide on both sides of the War of 1812 entitled The War of 1812: Canada and the United States—please visit http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/11/one-booklet-to-be-won-every-day-during.html

Good luck with the draw, and happy researching!

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Friday, November 9, 2012

Animals in War


Animals—such as mules who carried artillery; carrier pigeons who delivered messages; horses who hauled field guns; and dogs who worked as medical assistants, mine detectors, and in search and rescue—have always served in wars, and they had a monument dedicated to them on November 3rd in Confederation Park in Ottawa, Ontario. Dogs are still used today by the Canadian Armed Forces.

For more information, please go to the Animals in War Dedication Project website at http://aiwdedication.ca. Laureen Harper, wife of the Canadian prime minister, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, is the Project's Honourary Patron. Both Mr. and Mrs. Harper are well-known animal lovers.

New Monument Honours War Contributions of Animals - http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/new-monument-honours-war-contributions-of-animals-1.1023339 CTV Ottawa’s Natalie Duddridge covered the dedication on Nov 3rd.

Mascots and Pets - www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/guerre/mascots-pets-e.aspx The Canadian War Museum has a short history on mascots and pets that Canadian soldiers had in the wars that they fought.

At the end of Valiant, an animated family movie about carrier pigeons in the Second World War, a list of recipients of animals who have won a Dickin Medal for wartime service is shown. Essentially, the Dickin Medal is the equivalent of the Victoria Cross Medal, but for animals, and it has been awarded to pigeons, horses, dogs, and a cat.

There is a Canadian connection to one of the recipients, and it refers to a pigeon named Beach Comber (Pigeon - NPS.41.NS.4230, Date of Award: 6 March 1944) “For bringing the first news to this country of the landing at Dieppe, under hazardous conditions in September, 1942, while serving with the Canadian Army.”

For more on the Dickin Medals, including a list of the animals and their citations for bravery, please visit www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/animal-bravery-awards. A civilian equivalent, the PDSA Gold Medal, is also available.

Question of the Day: Winnie the Pooh, one of the most famous of animal mascots, was a young Canadian black bear cub that travelled overseas with an army unit in the First World War. What was his real name? Send your answer to Elizabeth at genealogycanada@aol.com by midnight, Eastern Standard Time. Please put “booklet” in the title, and remember to submit your full name and postal address. A winner will be chosen by random draw from every eligible entry received.

For details on the contest and the booklet prize—a research guide on both sides of the War of 1812 entitled The War of 1812: Canada and the United States—please visit http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/11/one-booklet-to-be-won-every-day-during.html.

Good luck with the draw, and happy researching!

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Article for Veterans' Week on Geneabloggers



If you have Canadian or American ancestors, you will be interested in my article on GeneaBloggers called “Canadians in the American Civil War" at www.geneabloggers.com/canadians-american-civil-war.

In part, I discuss lists of people who  went to the United States to fight on both sides of the war – with the Union and Confederate troops.

I hope to write an article every two weeks, concentrating on Canadian genealogy and the cross-migration between Canada and the United States.

Library and Archives Canada has published a blog post, “From Enlistment to Burial Records: The Canadian Expeditionary Force in the First World War”, and in it, they discuss how to use their finding aids, and offer research tips. For example, you can find how to access attestation (enlistment) papers, war diaries, service files, and published histories.

A new LAC Podcast Episode called, “Lest We Forget: Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the CEF”, is now available online at http://thediscoverblog.com/2012/11/06/from-enlistment-to-burial-records-the-canadian-expeditionary-force-in-the-first-world-war.


Question of the Day: How many Canadian received the American Medal of Honor? Send your answer to Elizabeth at genealogycanada@aol.com by midnight, Eastern Standard Time. Please put “booklet” in the title, and remember to submit your full name and postal address. A winner will be chosen by random draw from every eligible entry received.

For details on the contest and the booklet prize—a research guide on both sides of the War of 1812 entitled The War of 1812: Canada and the United States—please visit http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/11/one-booklet-to-be-won-every-day-during.html.

Good luck with the draw, and happy researching!


© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Canadian Museum of War Finally Has Victoria Cross Medals



(Source: Photo taken by Gabriel Hurley (Munchkinguy) on 11 November, 2011). 

Valour Road (a west-end street in Winnipeg, Manitoba) was originally known as Pine Street, and three men from the 700 block of the street—Corporal Leo Clarke, Sergeant-Major Frederick William Hall, and Lieutenant Robert Shankland—all received Victoria Cross Medals as a result of the First World War.

Recently, the Canadian War Museum received all three medals, and they are on display at the museum. They will be on loan to Manitoba in 2014 when Canada commemorates the 100th  Anniversary of the beginning of the First World War.

The Valour Road Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valour_Road gives a short history of Valour Road.

Valour Road Victoria Cross Medals Find New Home at War Museum - www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Valour-Road-Victoria-Cross-medals-find-new-home-at-war-museum-177329951.html The online edition of the Winnipeg Free Press reports that the collection was completed with the recent acquisition of the medal awarded in 1915 to Company Sergeant-Major Frederick William Hall.

War Brides of the First World War - Annette Fulford has a very good blog on the Canadian War Brides of the First World War at ww1warbrides.blogspot.com. As she says, “This web page was created to promote and preserve the history of the war brides who made Canada their home during this era”.

By reading the information, I learned where many English women came to Canada after the First World War, which I never knew about before seeing this website.

Question of the Day: In what year was the name of Valour Road given to Pine Street in Winnipeg? Send your answer to Elizabeth at genealogycanada@aol.com by midnight, Eastern Standard Time. Please put “booklet” in the title, and remember to submit your full name and postal address. A winner will be chosen by random draw from every eligible entry received.

For details on the contest and the booklet prize—a research guide on both sides of the War of 1812 entitled The War of 1812: Canada and the United States—please visit http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/11/one-booklet-to-be-won-every-day-during.html.

Good luck with the draw, and happy researching!

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

The Great War Album


http://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/6813487822/in/set-72157629317219955
Canadians searching captured German trenches for hiding Germans at Vimy Ridge, during the Battle of Vimy Ridge (Source: William Ivor Castle. Canada. Dept. of National Defence. Library and Archives Canada, PA-001129)

Help Canada's History Magazine ensure that Canada's First World War generation is never forgotten, Send in scanned copies of photos, letters. or other ephemera from the period of 1914 to 1918. If you cannot scan the photos, letters, or other documents, then prints of original photos, or good quality photocopies of letters and ephemera, will suffice.

They are planning to publish a book in 2014 called The Great War Album, and they will accept submissions until August 2013.

Images that are not included in the book will be published online at CanadasHistory.ca. All of those who contributed to the book will have their name entered into a draw for a free, signed copy of The Great War Album, and there will be three winners.

To read about the project, go to
www.canadashistory.ca/Magazine/The-Great-War-Album.aspx

The homepage of the Canada History Magazine is at www.canadashistory.ca/Magazine.aspx

Question of the Day: In 2010, Canada’s History Magazine underwent a name change. What was its former name?

Send your answer to Elizabeth at genealogycanada@aol.com by midnight, Eastern Standard Time. Please put “booklet” in the title, and remember to submit your full name and postal address. A winner of the will be chosen by random draw from every eligible entry received.

For details on the contest and the booklet prize—a research guide on both sides of the War of 1812 entitled The War of 1812: Canada and the United States—please visit http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/11/one-booklet-to-be-won-every-day-during.html

Good luck with the draw, and happy researching!

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Monday, November 5, 2012

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles – 05 November 2012

In keeping with Veterans’ Week 2012, here are some military websites, blogs, and newspaper articles that I have come across that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too –

New Historical Records Offer Glimpse Into The Lives Of Canada’s Military Heroes Ancestry.ca
      A press release received by GenealogyCanada says, “Ancestry.ca announces more than 1.5 million new historical Canadian military records spanning more than 100 years.
      “Remembrance Day is such an emotional time for Canadians to reflect on the people who made the brave and often ultimate sacrifice for this nation and its ideals,” says Lesley Anderson, a genealogist and Content Manager at Ancestry.ca. “We are so happy and proud to be able to provide a forum for Canadians to discover more details about their military ancestors and the lives they lived through the preservation and digitization of these rare historical records.”
      The collections, which launched on November 1, 2012, include -
      Canada, Military Honours and Award Citation Cards, 1900-1961 contains almost 70,000 records documenting awards and honours received by Canadian service personnel, both men and women. Some records include valuable and rare information on the soldier’s next of kin, a physical description, their home address, and a description of the meritorious action.
      Canada, Nominal Rolls and Paylists for the Volunteer Militia, 1857-1922 contains more than one million records that provide detailed information about a soldier’s everyday life, including payroll. The records also include travelling expenses, battalion or regiment, rank, pay for the use of a horse, and signature of the member for received pay. These small details can help paint a richer picture of the day-to-day routine of Canada’s servicemen and women.
      UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 & 1939-1947 contains more than 500,000 records and includes information from both World Wars. The records list names of gravesites and memorials maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and document who is buried in a cemetery and where, names of people with no known grave, next-of-kin, and a history of military action in the area. The collection includes burial and memorial sites in about 150 different countries.
      Canada, War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Casualty, 1914-1948 contains almost 30,000 new records added to the existing collection already available on Ancestry.ca. The collection includes military burial documents from Canada, as well as casualty records from the U.S., prisoners of war and members of the Australian Air Force, Polish Air Force, and Royal New Zealand Air Force.
      Ancestry.ca is also providing FREE access to select military records from some of the most popular collections, from November 8th to November 12th at www.ancestry.ca/11remembrance, including records covering Soldiers of the First World War, the Rebellion of 1837, and the War of 1812.”

Last Post: Death Notices www.legionmagazine.com/en/lastpost The Royal Canadian Legion has over 190,000 deaths of veterans listed on its website, giving their rank, their first and last name, their unit, plus other information, if known.

Welcome to the Maple Leaf Legacy Project www.mapleleaflegacy.ca/wp The Maple Leaf Legacy Project is a volunteer project aiming to photograph every Canadian War Grave from the South African War (1899-1902), World War 1 (1914-18), World War II (1939-45), Korean War (1950-52), all United Nations Peacekeeping Missions, and to the conflict in Afghanistan, in which 157 Canadians died.

Learn about Canada’s History from The War Amps Military Heritage Series http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/10/31/77852 Jenny Fredenburgh tells us about The War Amps Military Heritage Series. More information is available at www.waramps.ca

Question of the Day: In what year did the Legion Magazine of the Royal Canadian Legion first honour those members with military backgrounds, Canadian war veterans, and Legion members with police service who had died with short death notices in a special column known as the “Last Post”?

Send your answer to Elizabeth at genealogycanada@aol.com by midnight, Eastern Standard Time. Please put “booklet” in the title, and remember to submit your full name and postal address. A winner will be chosen by random draw from every eligible entry received.

Good luck, and happy researching!

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved