Monday, January 11, 2016

Canadian Week in Review 11 January 2016




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

This Week in Canadian History

Sir John A. Macdonald birthday today

It is our first prime minister's birthday today (11 January), and there are many events which are taking place in Canada to celebrate the event.

For more information, go to http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1363182861019/1363182934447 

Last year, when the 200th birthday was celebrated, the article was published called 6 Sir John A. Macdonald facts to mark his 200th birthday at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/6-sir-john-a-macdonald-facts-to-mark-his-200th-birthday-1.2895312



Muggins, the Red Cross Dog 

A small white dog called Muggins raised money for the Red Cross in Victoria, British Columbia, during the First World War. The dog collected a remarkable $21,000 in donations during the war.

For more information, go to http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/cseh-twih/index_e.asp

 Social Media 

(Photos) Manitoba photographer captures province's remaining grain elevators 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-photographer-captures-province-s-remaining-grain-elevators-1.3392241

McManus, a retired Winnipeg nurse, set out with her camera in June 2014 to take one nice photo of an old grain elevator for a photo contest she wanted to enter.

Upcoming Canadian Events 

Conferences 

NEW! 32nd Gene-O-Rama of the Ottawa Genealogical Society 

The conference will be held from April 1 – 2, 2016 at the Confederation Education Centre, 1645 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario which is at the corner of Hunt Club & Woodroffe Streets.

The program is at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/GOR16Brochure.pdf

Registration is at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/GOR-2016-Fee-Calculator.pdf

If you need further information, go to http://ogsottawa.on.ca/Gene-O-Rama/

UNLOCKING THE PAST 2016 

International Genealogy Conference UNLOCKING THE PAST 2016 will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the The Beach Club Resort, Parksville, British Columbia of the Qualicum Beach Family History Society in British Columbia.

The featured speakers will be Colleen Fitzpatrick and Chris Paton, and registration is now open at http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/international-genealogy-conference-unlocking-the-past-2016-tickets-18765135024. It includes an early bird price.

The website is located at http://www.qbfhs.ca/

Genealogy on the Cutting Edge 2016 

The Ontario Genealogical Society will be holding its annual conference from June 3rd to 5th at the Toronto’s International Plaza Hotel, Toronto.

Speakers and agenda has been announced this past week. Registration will open in January. Keep up-to-date with the latest news by following their website at http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference/, or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/171812826485725/

Our Canada – Your Family: Building a Nation 2017 

The Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will host the 2017 annual conference, and they have a call out for presentations.

The conference will be held in Ottawa on June 16-18, 2017 at Algonquin College. The theme of the conference is Our Canada – Your Family: Building a Nation.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS IS FEBRUARY 15, 2016

To submit proposals or ask questions, please contact the Conference 2017 Program Committee at: program.conference2017@ogs.on.ca. For more information about OGS or Ottawa Branch respectively, please visit: www.ogs.on.ca or www.ogsottawa.on.ca.

Great Canadian Summit 

The summit will be held in Brampton, Ontario from October 21 to the 23, 2016 at the Courtyard Marriott.

It will be three days of genealogy by speakers such as CHRISTINE WOODCOCK | Director, Genealogy Tours of Scotland; RUTH BLAIR, PLCGS | Professional Genealogist; KATHRYN LAKE HOGAN, UE, PLCGS | Professional Genealogist at Looking 4 Ancestors; and MIKE QUACKENBUSH | Professional Genealogist - Research Coach, to name a few.

Registration has opened at http://www.cangensummit.ca/product/full-weekend-registration/

Newspaper Articles 

Nova Scotia 

Heritage trust trying to save BMO building 

http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/News/Local/2016-01-07/article-4396846/Heritage-trust-trying-to-save-BMO-building/1

Members of the heritage trust appeared before council in October asking for several months so it could raise the money and in-kind donations required to restore the building that has been left to the elements over 20 years.

The Buckley tradition: A family history in photos 

http://www.guysboroughjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80:the-buckley-tradition-a-family-history-in-photos&catid=42:front-page-stories 

It is rare these days to find a family continuing in the same line of business as their forefathers. There are the occasional merchants that pass down the family business but with the wide world calling, most families spread out and away from traditional occupations. But that is not the case for the Buckley – Corkum line with roots here in Guysborough.

'Birthplace of hockey' trademark holder reaches deal with Windsor, N.S. 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/windsor-rebrand-birthplace-of-hockey-1.3390616

A small town in Nova Scotia has come to an agreement over a dispute with the Windsor Hockey Heritage Society, which owns the copyright to the phrase "birthplace of hockey."

Quebec

Inside the vault: Quebec's hidden artifacts

http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/inside-the-vault-quebec-s-hidden-artifacts-1.2726220

One of the largest and diverse collection of artifacts in the country is stored in a warehouse in an industrial park in Quebec City.

It's home to everything from relics of Montreal's former wax museum, to old snowmobiles.

Lost in Quebec City 

http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/lost-in-quebec-city/

Narrow cobblestone streets stuffed with charming vendors, galleries, sidewalk cafes, picturesque churches, historic inns and wonderful restaurants, have helped Quebec City earn the moniker, “Paris without the jetlag.”

Ontario 

Ottawa historian seeks proper burials for Canadians killed at Vimy Ridge 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ottawa-historian-seeks-proper-burials-for-canadians-killed-at-vimy-ridge/article28050411/

An Ottawa historian has undertaken a mission to give proper burials to more than 40 Canadian soldiers killed at Vimy Ridge.

Norm Christie, an author and History Television host, says that on April 9, 1917, a unit of the Canadian Scottish regiment attacked across a field in northern France.

Brigid's Well pub opens in former Lowertown church basement 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/brigids-well-pub-in-old-church-basement-1.3393110

If you're looking for a drinking hole that feels like a cave, the new pub in the basement of the former Saint Brigid's church might be your kind of setting. The pub is located next to the Byward Market in Ottawa.

MLSE lets heritage sculptures crumble at Air Canada Centre, artist charges 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mlse-acc-art-temporale-heritage-1.3395714

Louis Temporale runs his hand over a striking Art Deco scene carved into the south side of the Air Canada Centre. He's enraged as pebbles rain down.

Manitoba 

Manitoba marks 100-year anniversary of women’s suffrage 

http://mytoba.ca/news/manitoba-marks-100-year-anniversary-of-women-voting/

The Manitoba government is marking the 100th anniversary of voting and political milestones for women with a series of special events and initiatives in January.

Women missing on bank notes 

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/Women-missing-on-bank-notes-364533151.html

Apparently the Royal Canadian Mint wishes to produce a one dollar coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of female suffrage in Canada and it has been recently authorized by the Governor General.

Time may get better for Times Change(d) club 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/time-may-get-better-for-times-change-d-club-1.3392812

An effort to save an iconic Winnipeg cultural space and a building some say is loaded with historical significance now has a serious financial backer.

Alberta

Local sign shop restoring piece of Alberta history

http://www.drumhellermail.com/news/27912-local-sign-shop-restoring-piece-of-alberta-history

Fred Makowecki has been handed a piece of Alberta history, to mold, restore and be a part of.

Handed might not be the best description, as the sign on the Fairmont Palliser in downtown Calgary measures more than seven feet and weighs hundreds of pounds.

Preserving history in Stony Plain

http://www.stonyplainreporter.com/2016/01/08/preserving-history-in-stony-plain

The Heritage Agricultural Society in Stony Plain has received a grant that will play a big part in getting restoration work started on the Multicultural Heritage Centre.

British Columbia

Cranbook clock tower parts in good hands with history society

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cranbrook-clock-tower-parts-1.3394691

The Cranbrook History Centre is thrilled about the latest addition to their collection: the gears from the clock in downtown Cranbrook.

According to volunteer Dave Humphrey, the clock parts have quite a bit of history behind them.

Canadian Stories this Week 

Whose family history is it anyway?

If you don't read anythimg else in the newspaper, you have to read this article in the Globe and Mail - Kate Taylor: In copyright law, who owns a family’s history? 

In the article, she gives the short history of copyright infrigment in Canada, and its narrow interpution be the surpreme court in other cases, and it will remains to be seen if it will apply in this case.

The story behind the story is that the book, My Mother’s Secret, encroached on the story told in the documentary by American-Israeli journalist Judy Maltz, in which it documentated a family’s escape from the Nazis in the Second World War, called No. 4 Street of Our Lady.

So is the the book, written by Canadian author, Jenny Witterick, and her publisher - Penguin Random House Canada – which Maltz says have some parts of its plot and its central characters from the documentary a copyright infringement?

It is interestimg to note that Witterick self-published the book first as a fiction novel, and then Penguin Random House Canada published it as a non-fiction book under another title.

So the court case asks that question – is this a new and original book that has been “inspired by a story that is a matter of historical record”?

So what do you think? Is what happened to your family a matter of historical fact, or private events that just happened in their lives? What if you publish it? Does it become “historical fact?”

To read the whole article, go to http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/kate-taylor-when-it-comes-to-copyright-law-who-owns-a-familys-history/article28080773/

Ramp-up Family History

And we are starting to ramp up Family history in view that 2017 will be the 150th birthday of Canada.

And we see that other people are starting to get into the swing of things this year, like the Yorkton branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society will be holding their next meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 7:00 PM at the Yorkton Public Library.

In a program called Fast Forward to the Past - Discover the joy of geneology this year, the yorktown branch is willing and able to help you start your genealogy, and make 2016 the year of discovery for your family!

If you want more information as to how to start your own genealogy, go to https://sgsyorktonchapter.wordpress.com/

And that was the week in Canadian news!