Monday, May 12, 2014

Canadian Week in Review 12 May 2014




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

Canada in History

Here are some moments in our countries history which may interest you –

May 5, 1814 - During the War of 1812 to 1814, a small British and Canadian fleet destroyed the United States naval base at Oswego, New York. The victory re-established British control of Lake Ontario for the remainder of the War of 1812.
You can read more about this battle at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Oswego_(1814)

In 1900, Pte. Richard R. Thompson of Ottawa was awarded the Queen's Scarf for gallantry during the Boer War. The scarf was knitted by Queen Victoria and was awarded only seven times. Thompson, who died in 1908, served with the 2nd Special Service Battalion. His scarf is on permanent loan to the National War Museum.
You may read about it at http://www.angloboerwar.com/other-information/16-other-information/1852-queens-scarf

In 1882, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Assiniboia and Athabaska were formed as districts of the Northwest Territories.
You may read about it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Districts_of_the_Northwest_Territories

In 1987, Ottawa unveiled the $1 coin, nicknamed the "Loonie" because a loon was engraved on its flip side. It is made of nickel, copper and recycled tin.
You can read more about the Loonie at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loonie

And here is something we can think about as we enjoy our summer ice cream - In 2008, Irvine Robbins, a Canadian-born visionary who helped bring Rocky Road, Pralines ‘n Cream, and other exotic ice-creams to Canada and United States, died in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at age 90. He, along with his brother-in-law, helped to found the Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream parlor stores in 1945.
You can read more about him at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irv_Robbins

Websites

Cemeteries and Headstones in Canada (The ROE Family)
Some cemeteries in Canada were the Roe family is buried.
http://roefamilytree.info/headstones.php?country=CANADA&tree=roe

Social Media

Lynn Palermo
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/114977011024441632198
Lynn has added a Google+ community site called FamilyHistory Writers along with her blog, The Armchair Genealogist.

Ruth Blair - The Passionate Genealogist
http://blog.familyhistorysearches.com
Ruth had been at the National Genealogical Society (NGS) conference in Richmond, Virginia this past week, and has been blogging about it from a Canadian point of view. 

The blog posts are -
  • National Genealogical Society Conference in Richmond Virginia. Are you ready? #NGS2014gen
  • NGS Conference Richmond Virginia – Day 1 – #NGS2014gen
  • NGS Conference Richmond Virginia – Day 2 #NGS2014gen
  • NGS Conference Richmond Virginia – Day 3 #NGS2014gen

News Articles

Québec reaches for record
http://www.cruiseandferry.net/article/News/001401/Qu%C3%A9bec-reaches-for-record
For the first time in Quebec City’s history, six cruise shipswill be docking in the city harbour on 3 October 2014.

History come alive in Shelburne
http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/1206484-history-comes-alive-in-shelburne
Lou Gossett Jr., who won an Emmy for his role as Fiddler in the 1977 miniseries Roots, has been in Shelburne, Nova Scotia filming Book of Negroes.

Canada Post releases stamp on Komagata Maru http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Chandigarh/Canada-Post-releases-stamp-on-Komagata-Maru/articleshow/34895536.cms
It will be the 100th anniversary of Komagata Maru incident on May 23rd. Canada Post has issued a special stamp in memory of the ship that carried 376 Indians to Canada, and although it embarked at Vancouver they were not allowed to leave the ship. It returned to India and British troops had gunned down several of the occupants at Baj Baj, near Calcutta 

Manitoba Museum to honour vets 
http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/2014/05/08/manitoba-museum-to-honour-vets
In order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War and the 75th anniversary of the Second World War, the Manitoba Agricultural Museum will exhibit the country’s military heritage at this year’s Threshermen’s Reunion and Stampede.

1947-1980 history of oil
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/1947+1980+history/9819438/story.html
This article gives a timeline of oil discoveries in Alberta.

Kingston Region
http://www.kingstonregion.com/news-story/4508361-there-really-is-something-about-a-lighthouse
Prince Edward County's Marc Seguin, a founding member of the Organization "Save our Lighthouses," has had a life long interest in Canadian history and has a passion for Canada's built heritage – lighthouses.

Nova Scotia students submit dozens of possible names for February holiday http://www.timescolonist.com/nova-scotia-students-submit-dozens-of-possible-names-for-february-holiday-1.1025747#sthash.Dlbeo0AC.dpuf
Students from across Nova Scotia have submitted 75 suggestions on what to name the province's new holiday in February.

Change Street Naming policy http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Change+street+naming+policy/9817995/story.html
Saskatoon city council was told that they should establish a blue-ribbon committee of historical, cultural, social and demographic experts public before a public street is named, or the street name is changed.

South Asian Heritage Month features the big three: colour, culture and contribution
http://www.mississauga.com/community-story/4502760-south-asian-heritage-month-features-the-big-three-colour-culture-and-contribution/
May provides an opportunity to learn about the history of people from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka during South Asian Heritage Month.

School trip to Quebec aims to inspire
http://www.cloverdalereporter.com/community/258151851.html
Students in Grades 6 and 7 at the George Greenaway Elementary School in Cloverdale, Surrey, British Columbia will be visiting the province Quebec next week to take part in the culture and language of the area. 

Historic milestones usher new release of Royal Canadian Mint collector coins http://www.menafn.com/7191df7c-e082-4cdd-8253-5d6cb9a9dc70/Historic-milestones-usher-new-release-of-Royal-Canadian-Mint-collector-coins?src=main
The 75th anniversary of the first Royal visit to Canada and the centennial of the sinking of R.M.S. Empress of Ireland among latest national story-telling themes of the Royal Canadian Mint.

Holocaust education in Canada uneven at best
http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?q=node/124759
Now that the Holocaust Remembrance Day has passed for another year, Naomi Azrieli says that we needs to take stock of the state of Holocaust education in Canada and ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust go beyond commemoration one day a year. 

Tour the province this summer 
http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/2014/05/05/tour-the-province-this-summer
An annual Experience Alberta History Pass offers unlimited access to Alberta’s provincial historic sites, interpretive centres and museums. 

Manitoba Book Awards handed out on April 27
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/aboriginal-lawyer-takes-home-book-award-1.2624484
Aboriginal issues were front and centre at the 2013 Manitoba Book Awards. Thirteen awards were given out at an event at the West End Cultural Centre on April 27


Long-form census: Internal survey blasts feds for missing database 
Some of the databases are missing!

Story of the Week

Social Media


Two conferences in two weeks – the OGS in Canada and the NGS in the States - means that there was a lot of social media going on - Tweets, Blogs, Facebook, and now Dear Myrt’s AmbushCAM https://plus.google.com/communities/104382659430904043232 interviews with everyone from the latest news on software, to the people in the know like Dick Eastman, and ordinary people at the NGS. It was something like the “Man in the Street” interviews of the Steve Allen days on TV.

It was really neat. She would have 2-3 minute interviews with the Conference participants by using her camera and putting them on Goggle+ Hangouts On Air, and it worked very well. There didn’t seem to be any glitches, the picture qualify was god, and the audio was excellent.

Just like at the OGS last week, there was an ambitious Live Streaming programme that certain speakers took apart in and gave special lectures. And it worked for the people who could not go to the Conference and people who actually went, because now they will be able to view the Live Streaming after they get home.

So where does this leave Canadian genealogy?

Is Canada keeping up-to-date with Social Media? We are great Facebook users, but are we taking advantage of Live Streaming and Google+ Hangout On Air as much as we should?

For example, Australia has a number of Hangouts On Air now on a regular basis, and also there are a number of Genealogy Podcasts being produced ‘down under’, so if they can do it - why can’t we?

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! The next post will be on May 17, 2014.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Canadian Week in Review

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

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

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

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

Happy Mother's Day!





Saturday, May 10, 2014

The Ottawa Genealogist April-June 2014


   
                                     
First of all, congratulations to Edward Kipp, editor of the The Ottawa Genealogist, the newsletter of the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, for they won this year’s Dr. Don Brearley Newsletter Award. It was announced at the OGS conference held in Brock University in St. Catharines this year.

 Since I live in the Ottawa area, it is my ‘home’ newsletter, and I particularly like the articles in it each issue. I never miss the genealogical travels that Edward and Elizabeth Kipp make to Salt Lake City, down to New York State, and other places because I enjoy them so much. Well done!

In this issue, some of the articles are –

Merrill Allan Clay A Veteran of World War I and World War II by Marilyn Adair. She tells of her father’s service in the First World War as a Sapper with the Canadian Division , Corps of Engineers, Signal Company in France, and Belgium.

The Rathbun Family and the Town of Deseronto by Joyce Fingland where she writes about the Rathbun Company in Deseronto, a company that built its fortune on prepared lumber for the American and overseas market, the railway which ran through the town, and the Portland cement company.

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2014 by Ellen Paul. Ellen tells of her experience at the Salt Lake City Institute and how the instructor helped her along the path of trying to breaking down her brick walls.

Ottawa Heritage Day Celebration 2014 was well-attended, and received a good review in this issue, and there is the Early Bytown Settlers Index as well in this issue which covers surnames beginning with N, O, P, and Q.

Plus, there are many more news items to read. There is the library branch news, special interest group news, historic plaques, and a message from the Chair.

In order to receive this newsletter, you must be a member of the Ontario Genealogical Society, and the Ottawa Branch of the OGS.

They have a special right now where you can join for half of the year for $35.00. Go http://www.ogs.on.ca/membership.php for more information.

The local Ottawa Genealogical society site is http://ogsottawa.on.ca

Friday, May 9, 2014

69th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands

Patric Allard, Taken May 2006 at Hog's Back, Ottawa.

Monday was the 69th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands, which was led by the Canadians in the Second World War.

After the war, the Netherlands wanted to say Thank You to Canada for its war service, and it gave the country, and Ottawa in particular, tulip bulbs. Ottawa adopted the tulip as its official flower.

In 1953, Ottawa started the Tulip Festival, and this year, it runs from May the 9th to the 19th, with fireworks, musical shows, Cirque de Liberation, and the International Pavilion.

The festival claims to be the world's largest tulip festival. There are over one million tulips planted all over the city, and there are over 500,000 visitors each year. It is quite a show!

This year, the festival will honour artist Silvia Pecota. She will be in attendance May 9th, 17th & 18th from 2 pm to 4 pm at Queen Juliana Park (by Dow’s Lake – a man-made lake in the center of the city) and you will be able to view some of the photos she took of the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan (2001-2014).

She is presently working on an art book that incorporates her poetry. It covers the War of 1812 (Bicentennial), WWI (Centennial) and the Closure of the Afghan Mission (2014).

For more information, visit her website at www.silviapecota.com.

To read about Canada’s role in the liberation of the Netherland, go to http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/canada-netherlands

To read about the Tulip Festival, see http://tulipfestival.ca/site/home/en

Thursday, May 8, 2014

The United Empire Loyalists – Finding their Records

The statue of UEL in Hamilton, Ontario

The Library and Archives of Canada has prepared the following material on the United Empire Loyalists records which the LAC holds - 

The term “United Empire Loyalists” (often referred to as UEL) refers to the American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution, and many of which fought for Britain during that conflict. They fled the United States and settled in what are now the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Ontario. All the archives in these provinces hold records relating to Loyalists, some of which are searchable online.

Here are the records held at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) - 

Loyalists in the Maritimes – Ward Chipman Muster Master’s Office 1777-1785 
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/loyalists/loyalists-ward-chipman/Pages/loyalist-maritimes-ward-chipman.aspx
These references include business records and papers relating to the Loyalists and to boundary commissions.

Land Records
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/land/Pages/land-records.aspx
Many Loyalists and their descendants submitted petitions for land for their service in the war or as compensation for lands lost during the American Revolution. Databases on this subject:

· Land Petitions of Upper Canada, 1763-1865

· Land Boards of Upper Canada, 1765-1804

Sir Frederick Haldimand Fonds
http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c1475/1?r=0&s=1
The collection contains some provision lists and muster rolls relating mostly to Loyalists, disbanded soldiers and their families in the province of Quebec. It includes a nominal index.

Black Loyalist Refugees, 1782-1807 - Port Roseway Associates
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/loyalists/loyalist-port-roseway/Pages/port-roseway-associates-loyalists.aspx
Many black Loyalists served and were affected by the evacuation of New York which led to their resettlement in the Port Roseway, now Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

British Headquarters papers
http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayItem&lang=eng&rec_nbr=105117
The records known as the Carleton Papers or the American Manuscripts contain lists of refugees in New York, lists of persons who were evacuated from New York, lists of refugees from Massachusetts and Rhode Island who were evacuated through the port of New York and numerous references to Port Roseway in Nova Scotia.

British military and naval series
http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayItem&lang=eng&rec_nbr=105012
These records cover the period from the American Revolution to the mid-1800s. Thenominal/subject card index (provide a brief description of the document, date, C Series volume number and a page number)

Also discover-

· Fort Howe (Flickr Album)

Lieutenant Governor's Historical Preservation and Promotion Award

  

Standard of the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  

The Lieutenant Governor's Historical Preservation and Promotion Award was established in 2010 by the Honourable Philip S. Lee, and it consists of five awards which will presented today to people who have “rendered prolonged, meritorious service in the preservation and promotion of Manitoba's history and heritage”. 

The five people who will receive the award are –

Ernest Braun from Niverville 

Diane Haglund from Winnipeg

Frieda Jorheim from Inwood 

John Francis Mavins from Springfield 

and Gary Wowchuk from Swan River 

In a press release, Lt.-Gov. Lee said “Manitobans care greatly about their history. For proof of that, consider the more than 150 museums, located in communities from the 49th parallel to the Hudson Bay, and more than 2,000 community history books covering cities, towns, villages and rural municipalities." 

Congratulations to everyone! 

The website is http://www.manitobalg.ca