Friday, August 8, 2014

Cats/Chats


Do you have cats?

The people at the Library and Archives Canada say that there are about 4.8 million domestic cats in Canada, averaging 2.4 per cat-owning households.

They have put some photos on Flickr called Cats/Chats.

My two favorite cats - Bella (age 5) and Charlie (age 2) agree that its a lovely display of photos!

Loyalist Resources on Ancestry

Ancestry.com has put on Loyalist Resources, written, it looks likefrom the American point of view. 

They have a short introduction, a list of records and publications at the UK and Canada, and a list of US records and publications.  

Although it was just put on 06 August 2014, they have put on the old address for Library and Archives Canada at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/022/022-909.003-e.html and not the new address at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/Pages/military-heritage.aspx

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Nova Scotia Paving Programme


Starting in 1934 and completed in 1938, the Nova Scotia Department of Highways undertook a major highway reconstruction project known as the Paving Programme. And I know this for a fact, that my father and his brothers* worked on this project as it made its way through the Shelburne-Jordan Falls, Shelburne County area, on the southwestern shore of Nova Scotia. 

When I took a look at the photos at the Nova Scotia Archives site, I even recognized some of the areas that they worked on, and where the paving plant was located in Jordan Falls. 

As you leaf through the scrapbook, do you also recognize the places today? Nothing has changed too much. The highways are wider than they used to be, and there are more houses. From what I understood, it was messy, hot work during that that summer of 1938, but they were happy to get the work. 

Now, nearly eighty years later, those albums have been digitized and are displayed here for Internet visitors to explore. There are 350 black-and-white images to be seen. 

The website is at http://novascotia.ca/archives/virtual/highways/


*My father was Harold Arthur Barclay, and his brothers were Perley and John Barclay of Jordan Falls, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Historical officer rank insignia reinstated

During a reception at the Canadian War Museum on August 4th, which marked the 100th anniversary of Canada’s entry into the First World War, the unveiling of the historical officer rank insignia took place. 

“The restoration of the Canadian Army’s historical identity reinforces the ties between present-day soldiers and previous generations of warriors, while celebrating our proud Army heritage. Canadian Army officers will wear these insignia knowing that they carry on a strong legacy of service, while standing strong, proud and ready for the future,” said Lieutenant-General Marquis Hainse, Commander of the Canadian Army. 

You can read about the Canadian Army at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Army

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Community. Education. Advocacy.


The Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) recently adopted these three core beliefs – Community. Education. Advocacy. 

The organization is a community of over 3,000 like-minded genealogists who believe in helping people who want assistance in finding their Ontario ancestors. 

They have 33 branches and SIGs throughout the province, and they have a top-notch website, with The Ontario Name Index (TONI), which is free to everyone to use at http://www.ogs.on.ca/toni.php.

The organization believes in education. Each branch holds free meetings you are encouraged to attend. The OGS hold an annual spring conference at various points in the province at a very reasonable price, and they offer courses through the National Institute for Genealogical Studies at a reduced rate if you are a member of the OGS. 

Over the past, the OGS has advocated the Library and Archives Canada on our behalf for the release of the 1921 Census, and the Ontario government for the restoration and registering of cemeteries within the province. Without this action, neither one would have received as much support as they did from members of the public. 

Every day, members are busy gathering information, indexing records, and planning the next conference. Editors are reading another paper to be placed in Families, keeping track of noteworthy news from all over the province to be placed in the various publications, and using these resources, another genealogical puzzle has been solved by a person who just wanted to find their Ontario ancestor. The OGS can help. 

If you have a chance, go to the OGS blog, and take a minute to view two videos that were recently taped. 

The first one is by Alan Campbell, the president of the OGS, and the second one was recorded at this year’s conference in Niagara. 

Monday, August 4, 2014

Today Canada joined in the start of the First World War


The 4th Canadian Division in France, September 1918

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. Canada joined Britain and the rest of the Commonwealth  Nations in sending our men and women overseas, and unfortunately 66,000 of them lost their lives. 

In part, Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement - 

"Today, Canadians join the international community in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, which engulfed Europe in conflict from 1914 to 1918 and killed at least ten million combatants and millions more civilians. 

“It is a time to remember and honour the sacrifices and tremendous achievements of the more than 650,000 brave Canadians and Newfoundlanders who left their families and the comfort of their homes to serve their King and country, as well as to preserve the universal values of freedom, peace and democracy that we hold most dear. 

“It is a time to remember the more than 66,000 of our selfless men and women who gave their lives during the First World War, and the estimated 172,000 more who were wounded. 

“It is a source of deep national pride that the bravery and courage of our service members helped ensure Allied victories in important battles at places like Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele and Amiens. These efforts played a vital role in finally bringing about the negotiation and conclusion of the Armistice, which ended the First World War at precisely 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918.

“The dedication, courage and determination demonstrated by our brave soldiers, sailors and airmen, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with like-minded allies to fight for what they believed in, resulted in Canada emerging as a proud, victorious nation with new found standing in the world". 

Canadian Week in Review 04 August 2014




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

History Week in Canada

In 1793, Gen. John Graves Simcoe, lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, began clearing the site for the city of York, which today is known as Toronto, the fourth-largest city in North America, and the capital of Ontario.

Previous to this, the capital had been in Newark (now known as Niagara), but Simcoe thought it was too close to the Americans, and fearing invasion, had it moved it to York.

To read more about Toronto, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto
==================================================
On July 31, 1957, the Distant Early Warning Line defence system officially went into operation in northern Canada. 

It was set up to detect incoming Soviet bombers during the Cold War, and provide the early warning system of any sea-and-land invasion. 

To learn more about the system, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distant_Early_Warning_Line 

Here is a list of DEW Line Sites at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DEW_Line_Sites 
==================================================On July 24, 1947 a school principal is demoted over Daylight time dispute in Alberta. 

Social Media

Local links to The Great War (Video)
A cemetery, a stadium and a golf course - what is the link between these Regina landmarks and the First World War? Reporter and history buff Will Chabun talks about these strange connections in this video.

The CBC: Your Community Blog
How does your community commemorate the First World War? 

War monuments of southern Alberta are reminders of soldiers who didn’t come home (Video) 
Postmedia has done another great job in covering War Memorials in southern Alberta to soldiers who never came home. 

Newfoundland

Former Newfoundland legislature gets $22M facelift
The building was opened in 1850, and now is being restored to its former glory as Newfoundland's former legislature. 

Nova Scotia

Shubenacadie band changes name to traditional Sipekne'katik 
The Shubenacadie band, Nova Scotia's second largest First Nations group, located in central part of the province, has restored the traditional spelling and pronunciation of its name and will now be known as Sipekne'katik.

New Brunswick

No news this week. 

Prince Edward Island 

Rare Summerside Bank note selling for $54,000
This bank note was issued by The Summerside Bank of Prince Edward Island in 1872. 

Celebrating our heritage farms 
The P.E.I. Agricultural Awareness Committee has teamed up with P.E.I. Mutual Insurance Company to recognize and celebrate farms that have been in operation at least 150 years. 

Quebec 

Little fanfare for Quebec Confederation parlay 
Sir John A. Macdonald and others also held the Quebec Conference in 1850 which built on the Charlottetown Conference a few weeks earlier. Could Quebec and Ontario be forged together within Canada as had the Maritime colonies been discussed in Charlottetown?

Ontario 

The Colonization of Canada and Anishnawbek History 
Clyde Moonias gives a revealing history of how colonization affected the Anishnawbek people of northwestern Ontario.

Viceregal wife impresses with song penned by husband David Onley 
Ruth Ann Onley, the wife of Ontario Lieutenant-Governor David Onley, sang the song penned by her husband, to a packed stadium at a First World War 100th anniversary celebration Thursday. 

Canadian History for Kids: Trans Canada Highway 
On July 31st, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker opened up the Trans Canada Highway – Canada’s national highway! 

The eager doomed: The story of Canada’s original WWI recruits 
The First World War put in historical context by historian Time Cook. 

‘What a sight it must have been to behold’: Memorial, re-enactment recalls Battle of Lundy’s Lane 
Two hundred years ago on July 25, 1814, the Battle of Lundy’s Lane was fought between the American’s and the British, and it was remembered in a memorial re-enactment.

Beauty As Duty? That Really Happened 
The magazine the Worm has an article called Beauty as Duty. It was a propaganda campaign launched in 1939 and it aimed to make women believe that wearing makeup and looking polished was their patriotic duty! 

Manitoba

A new name for Civic Holiday? 
Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger suggests other provinces may want to follow his lead and change the name of the August Civic Holiday to Terry Fox Day.

Pioneer church has history behind its beauty 
St. Michael's remains a centrepiece for city's Ukrainian Orthodox community

Saskatchewan

No news this week.

Alberta

Saving Alberta’s farming icons 
Grain elevator enthusiasts promote history and preservation of historic structures 

Alberta Aviation Museum to honour WWI veterans 
A new exhibit at the Alberta Aviation Museum this weekend will shed light on the history of Albertans who served in the Royal Flying Corp

Heritage Festival gives offenders chance to repay their debt
Tom Wimbs is a probation officer with the community corrections and release program with the Solicitor General of Alberta, and his crew of adult offenders were on hand at the Heritage Festival Friday, helping set up event tents at Hawrelak Park.

British Columbia

Canadian documentary series features SFU professor 

Professor Rudy Reimer has just returned from Whitehorse in the Yukon, where he filmed Wild Archaeology, an exploration of the history of First Nations across Canada.

Story of the Week


Parliament Hill: Sound and Light Show



You still got time to see the Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill, and what a show it is – it is spectacular!

We went to see two years ago, and sat there in awe as the history of the county passed in front of our eyes, to be sitting there in the dusk of a summer’s evening on Parliament Hill was just breathtaking. 

If you have a chance to come to Ottawa this summer, the show is on until September the 6th, and it’s free. But be sure to get there in plenty of time because the seats fill up early. And talk to the people. They are there from everywhere – from right here in Ottawa, to places overseas. 

All of them had said that they had never seen anything like this before. 

And then as we left Parliament Hill, we stopped across the street to watch a fellow who was playing a set of drums made from plastic buckets, and learned that he travelled across the country playing the drums in the summer time.

A very enjoyable evening!

To check when the Sound and Light Show is held, go to http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1379439870049 or to the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mosaika.en

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in the country! 

The next post will be on August 11, 2014.