Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Beginning Genealogy classes in Winnipeg start today


There will be a two part genealogy Beginning Genealogy class in Winnipeg, Manitoba during the month of April, and the classes will be given by Bill Curtis of the Manitoba Genealogical Society.

The first class will be tonight from 6-8 pm, and the second class will be Tuesday April 21 and it also be from 6-8 pm. Bill will introduce the basics of genealogical research.

In Part 1, you will be a family history detective and find clues in a case study. 

In Part 2, you will learn where to find personal information about individual ancestors both on and off the Internet.

These courses will be given at the HENDERSON LIBRARY in Winnipeg, and you can phone 204-986-4314 to register.

The webpage for the Manitoba Genealogical Society is at http://www.mbgenealogy.com/

Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Manitoba-Genealogical-Society-Inc/7054423205

And they are also thinking about doing a possible group trip to Salt Lake City.

Anyone who is reading this and are interested in a possible trip for the week of May 17 to 24, 2015, are asked to please email Jayne Paradis. Rooms are $85US single/double and $92US triple/quad.

Jayne is looking into the costs of bussing and flying. Please email jparadis@mts.net if you are interested or if you have any questions.



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

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/04/canadian-week-in-review-13-april-2015_13.html

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

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

Monday, April 13, 2015

Canadian Week in Review - 13 April 2015

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

This Week in Canadian History

In 1922, fire destroyed the great basilica of Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec. The shrine was built in 1658 by sailors who were saved from shipwreck.
   The website is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupr%C3%A9

In 1918, conscription riots broke out in Quebec.
   The website is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_Crisis_of_1917

In 1809, the Labrador Act gave Labrador to Newfoundland. This was later disputed by Quebec, and a final decision was not made until 1927.
   The website is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrador

Social Media

(Photos) Historic note
http://www.newsoptimist.ca/community/local-culture/historic-note-1.1812346
   The former Beth Israel Synagogue in North Battleford at the corner of 105th Street and 14th Avenue was renovated as a residence in the 1990s.

(Photos) Machine gun restoration project under way
http://www.insidebelleville.com/news-story/5533760-machine-gun-restoration-project-under-way/
   A pair of 100-year-old German guns, taken as souvenirs at the end of World War I, will be temporarily removed from the cenotaph on Highway 14 to be refurbished thanks to the efforts of the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Stirling-Rawdon Historical Society.

(Photos) An old bell’s real story may never ring out
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/5533473-an-old-bell-s-real-story-may-never-ring-out/
   In Bob Steward's Guelph living room is a storied relic from a disaster that occurred on the Irish Sea more than 130 years ago.
   It is also associated with a ship that played an important role in the history of Newfoundland. Stamped into the metal is the name "Solway" and "1881".

Articles

Nova Scotia

Celebrating Easter
http://halifaxbloggers.ca/noticedinnovascotia/2015/03/celebrating-easter/
    More Easter pictures!

Heritage Trust recognizes Corkum
http://www.kingscountynews.ca/News/Local/2015-03-29/article-4093986/Heritage-Trust-recognizes-Corkum/1
   Richard Corkum of Kings County has been congratulated by the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia for his commendable stewardship and understanding of the special needs of heritage buildings.

Breton students invited to take part in Heritage Day design contest
http://www.capebretonpost.com/Living/2015-03-30/article-4094969/Cape-Breton-students-invited-to-take-part-in-Heritage-Day-design-contest/1
   The Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage is looking for unique and original submissions. One or more designs could be used to inspire the creation of an official Nova Scotia Heritage Day flag. Designs may be subject to modifications and the final design will be revealed for Nova Scotia Heritage Day 2016.
   Deadline for submissions is June 1st.
   Guidelines, registration and consent forms are available at http://heritageday.novascotia.ca

Heritage Council approves heritage designation for Schmidtville
http://globalnews.ca/news/1917076/heritage-council-approves-heritage-designation-for-schmidtville/
   Heritage Council voted unanimously Wednesday to ask regional council to designate Schmidtville as a heritage conservation district.
   The area, which sits south of Spring Garden Road, is roughly bordered by Queen Street, Clyde Street, Dresdon Row, and Morris Street.

New Brunswick

Sackville residents worry church demolition will disturb graves
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sackville-residents-worry-church-demolition-will-disturb-graves-1.3015560
   Sackville Heritage board approved demolition of the United Church on Main Street.

Quebec

Vacation adventures
http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/2015/04/01/vacation-adventures
   After a week vacation visiting our eastern neighbour of QuĂ©bec, I’m back to cover all the news and events here in the Georgian Triangle.

Ontario

Courtroom artist David Louis Wall is in session
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/visualarts/2015/03/27/courtroom-artist-david-louis-wall-is-in-session.html
   For 13 years, David Louis Wall has painted in Toronto’s courthouses. Nearly everything he creates is donated to the Archives of Ontario. He earns no money for this work.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission: churches plan supportive events
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/dennis-gruending/2015/03/truth-and-reconciliation-commission-churches-plan-supportive
   On June 2, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) will release its report on the legacy of residential schools. The TRC was appointed by the federal government to examine the legacy of the schools back in 2008. It’s documented what happened there and held events at which survivors came forward to tell their stories.

Historic Mary Reid house to receive Ontario Heritage Act designation
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5534247-historic-mary-reid-house-to-receive-ontario-heritage-act-designation/
   Mary Reid House will be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
   Toronto City Council passed a motion on Tuesday, March 31 to designate the three-quarter-century-old property.

Exploring historical dresses and the women behind them
http://www.kingstonregion.com/news-story/5531542-exploring-historical-dresses-and-the-women-behind-them/
   It is possible to learn about a person’s personality and their history simply by analyzing a person’s garments. This is what dress historian Elaine MacKay and textile conservator Emma Neale learned a lot over the past three months.

BLACK IN TORONTO: Anderson Ruffin Abbott was the first Canadian-born black doctor
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5535574-black-in-toronto-anderson-ruffin-abbott-was-the-first-canadian-born-black-doctor/
   Born in Toronto, Abbott cared for dying President Abraham Lincoln in Washington.

Manitoba

Winnipeg artist brings his paintings of historic grain elevators to Neepawa
http://www.neepawapress.com/news/local-news/winnipeg-artist-brings-his-paintings-of-historic-grain-elevators-to-neepawa-1.1810735
   An artist born in rural Manitoba before moving to Winnipeg, Joel Bouchard travelled to Neepawa this past Friday to exhibit his collection of paintings of an important part of Manitoba's farming history during a gallery showing at the Viscount Cultural Centre.

Saskatchewan 

A bit o’ England on the Canadian prairie
http://www.leaderpost.com/England+Canadian+prairie/10932879/story.html
   But if one could magically go back in time, say, 125 years, the large house was impressive indeed. Twenty-two rooms, a colony of madcap expat Britons plus fox hunting, cricket and lawn parties.

Saskatoon's Broadway Theatre to undergo facelift
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-s-broadway-theatre-to-undergo-facelift-1.3018422
   The lobby of Saskatoon's Broadway Theatre is going back to its roots. The executive director of the theatre, Kirby Wirchenko, said the renovations will improve service and restore the lobby to its original look when it opened in 1946.

Alberta

Alberta government and City of Edmonton find money for the preservation of the McDougall United Church
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/04/01/alberta-government-and-city-of-edmonton-find-money-for-the-preservation-of-the-mcdougall-united-church
   The 105-year-old church, located on 101 Street just south of Jasper Avenue, served as the first seat of the provincial legislature and first home of Edmonton's symphony and opera, and more recently has fallen into disrepair.

News Stories of the Week

The Canadian nation celebrated Easter last weekend, but there were other celebrations taking place recently.

April 6th was Tartan Day

The Maple Leaf Tartan was created in 1964 by David Weiser in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of Canada's confederation in 1967.

As you can see by the photo, it is a very beautiful tartan as the colours of the maple leaf through the changing seasons became the basis for the design. The pattern incorporates the green of the leaves' summer foliage, the gold which first appears in the early autumn, the red which appears with the coming of the first frost, and the brown tones of the fallen leaves. It was made an official national symbol by ministerial declaration on March 9, 2011.

For more information on the Maple Leaf Tartan, please visit http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1363631111199

I can see why this design proved to be very popular throughout Canada.

To learn more about Canada's provincial and territorial tartans, visit http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1363695584755/1363695729960



If we ever needed anyone to show true Canadian grit it was Terry Fox, the young man who ran across Canada from Newfoundland to Ontario in the summer of 1980 - his leg having been amputated because of cancer. This year, the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa has an exhibit of him and his Marathon of Hope, entitled Running to the Heart of Canada, which will run until January 24, 2016.

The goal of the Marathon of Hope was to raise money for cancer research by running across Canada. He started by filling a jug with water from the Atlantic Ocean, near St. John’s, Newfoundland. He intended to dump it into the Pacific Ocean at the end of his journey, which was tragically cut short 143 days later in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The exhibition also features two of Terry’s prosthetic legs, the camper van that his used as his home as he ran across Canada, and a database containing the scans of some 60,000 cards and letters that supporters sent to Terry during his run, which visitors can search through. Isn’t that neat?

To read more about the exhibit, go to http://www.historymuseum.ca/terryfox/


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

If you missed last week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/03/canadian-week-in-review-30-march-2015.html

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

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



Need help in finding your Canadian ancestors?

Susan I. of Toronto, Ontario says –

"With her wonderful suggestions, including provincial and local archival holdings, books, and local church records, I was delighted to uncover a marriage certificate naming my paternal great, great grandparents and their original county in Ireland.

Elizabeth also mentored me regarding further educational opportunities. I was delighted with her services."

If you do, go to Elizabeth Lapointe Research Services and see how I can help you find that elusive Canadian ancestor.

The next Canadian Week in Review will be posted 20 April, 2015.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

BC Provincial Heritage Fair Society


The BC Heritage Fair Society is a non-profit organization that supports their Heritage Fairs Program throughout the province of British Columbia.

They hold 12 regional fairs per year, involving about 6000 young people.

The highlight of the Fair will be the showcase of student projects to the public at the Royal BC Museum on Sunday, July 5, from 12:00 to 3:00 pm

The website is at http://www.bcheritagefairs.ca/

Their facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/bcheritagefairs

The Story of Grosse ĂŽle – Canada’s Ellis Island


On Saturday, April 25, 2015, there will be a meeting of the Quebec Family History Society at the Briarwood Presbyterian Church Hall, 70 Beaconsfield Blvd, Montreal. Anne Renaud will present the Story of Grosse ĂŽle, and the lecture will start at 10:30 am.

From 1832 to 1937 more than four million people sailed across the Atlantic to the port of Quebec with the dream of creating better lives for themselves in the new world. During this period, a tiny island called Grosse ĂŽle, known also as the Irish Memorial National Historic Site, located fifty kilometers downstream from the port, served as a quarantine station, its mission was to prevent ship passengers from spreading diseases to the mainland. This is the story of the island, which served both as gateway and graveyard for thousands of people, and of the caring island workers who welcomed them to its shores.

The website of the Quebec Family History Society is at http://www.qfhs.ca/

 If you want to learn more about Grosse ĂŽle you can go to Immigrants at Grosse ĂŽle Quarantine Station, 1832-1937 at the Library and Archives Canada website at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/immigration-records/immigrants-grosse-ile-1832-1937/Pages/immigrants-grosse-ile.aspx.

You can slso check the database at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/immigration-records/immigrants-grosse-ile-1832-1937/Pages/search.aspx





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

If you missed the last edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/03/canadian-week-in-review-30-march-2015.html

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

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

Branching Out Spring Seminar at Campbell River


The Branching Out Spring Seminar of the Campbell River Genealogy Society of British Columbia will be held on Saturday 25th April at the CR Maritime Heritage Centre from 9:30-3:00 pm.

The speaker will be Dave Obee and he will present four seminars and they will be -

Travel Smart with Technology: Visiting an ancestral community is one of the greatest thrills. The presentation is designed to help travellers, both real and virtual, to maximize their research into family connections outside Canada.

Beyond the Online Basics: A genealogical guide to digital collections. This session provides ideas on how to find the documents that will help you learn more about your families, or the local histories of the areas where they lived.

A Fresh Light on old Newspapers: Thanks to the many digitization projects, there are millions of newspaper pages on the Internet. What are the pitfalls? This presentation takes you through the digitization process, from hard copy to your computer screen. It is designed to help you achieve the best results from your work.

Trinkets & Treasures: Things Your Ancestors left Behind - Items that your ancestors used or created will help you to gain a better understanding of the lives they lived and serve as a reminder of times past. Think of the stories they can tell.

The cost of the seminar is $50.00.

A Save-On bag lunch can be pre-ordered for an added fee. Refreshments will be available and there will be a draw for door prizes.

To register, contact Janice Wilkin before April 17 at wilkin1@telus.net or phone (250) 203-0585. A registration form can be downloaded from www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bccrgc/

Their website is at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bccrgc/

The Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/179838535426731/

Saturday, April 11, 2015

The Conference has been cancelled!



On the website of the National Genealogy Conference in Canada at http://www.visiontravel.ca/heidiwilker it says that the Conference has been CANCELLED!

They say that “Regretfully, we must cancel the National Genealogy Conference in Canada for July 17-19, 2015.

Many thanks to the planned speakers for their willingness to support an inaugural national genealogy conference in Canada, to the companies and organizations who were willing to support the conference through sponsorship, and to those who generously helped to spread the word to their network of genealogists”.

So the Conference saga has come to an end. It wasn’t unexpected. Because the cost was too high for most people, and having lived in Halifax for 20+ years, I would go for an outdoors vacation where I could visit the sights, rather than stay indoors at a conference.

So maybe they can come back to underwrite another Comference at some future date. We shall see.

Meanwhile, here are two blogs I wrote on the Conference -

January 9, 2015 National Genealogy Conference in Canada http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/national-genealogy-conference-in-canada.html

January 27, 2015 The conference lowers its price – sort of ... http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-conference-lowers-its-price-sort-of.html




Do you know that PEI has a surname list?



Prince Edward Island has a surname list at http://www.islandregister.com/surnames/surname.php?

The surname list has grown by leap and bounds since it was first started in 2002.

1516 surnames have been listed to date.

There is also a list of surname by lot (of land) at http://www.islandregister.com/surnamelist.html

Surnames submitted to the original Prince Edward Island Surname List are from Prince Edward Island Genealogical Society (1891 Census Index),  Lovell's Province of prince Edward Island Directory for 1871, and National Archives microfilm #M-896 (1841 P.E.I. Census for Lots 21, 22)

Both of these list are housed on Dave Hunter on his The Island Register site http://www.islandregister.com/