Thursday, June 4, 2015

Keffer Writing Contest Winners



At the Ontario Genealogical Society Conference (OGS) held in Barrie this year, the winners were annouced for the Keffer Writing Contest this year, and they are -

First prize - Joyce H. Munro for her essay How Ker-Burns-Weld- Thompson Got His Name.

Second prize - Stephen Young for his essay The Disguised Origin of George R. Young Jr.

Third prize - D. Russell Morton for his essay Fill in the Blank.

Fourth prize - James Bangtson for his essay The Loyalist Connection Revised.

These essays will be published in Families, the journal of the OGS.

The website of the OGS is https://www.ogs.on.ca/

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

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Another online resource in Canada


The McCulloch Heritage Centre in Pictou, Nova Scotia is starting to put their photographs and collections of historical significance to family history, with emphasis on the arrival of the Scots in 1773, online. The page is titled Find Your Scottish Roots

If you go to their site at http://www.mccullochcentre.ca/, and log in, you will see where they have started already to put on wills, photos, and there is lots more to come. Census records, diaries, photographs, wills, deeds and newspapers will be added in the future.

To go to the McCulloch Heritage Centre itself, their website is at https://mccullochhouse.novascotia.ca/about-mcculloch-house/mcculloch-heritage-centre

Happy Researching!

 

Canada Day lineup of performers



With the theme Strong. Proud. Free. Canadian Heritage will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Sir John A. Macdonald and the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag on Canada Day – July 1st.

There will also be nods to the "Year of Sport" in Canada and the Franklin expedition, which uncovered in the Arctic one of Sir John Franklin's lost ships from 1846.

Here is the Canada Day lineup so far-
  • Reggae-inspired band -- Magic!
  • Quebec pop singer and songwriter -- Marc Dupré
  • Country singer -- Gord Bamford
  • Rockers -- Jonas and the Massive Attraction
  • Pop up-and-comer -- Francesco Yates
  • Pop singer and Star Académie finalist -- Andee
  • Iqaluit alt-band -- The Jerry Cans
  • Elite high school marching band from Calgary -- The Bishop Grandin Marching Ghosts
  • Winnipeg singer/songwriter -- Cassidy Mann
  • Pop and hip-hop artist -- Karim Ouellet
There will also be programming at Major's Hill Park in Ottawa and Jacques-Cartier Park in gatineau right across the river.

The day ends with the traditional fireworks around 10 p.m. on Parliament Hill.

They say that 350,000 people take in the festivities on Canada Day and one third are tourists.

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Need help finding your ELUSIVE Canadian ancestors???
 
As a nod of the hat to the Ontario Genealogical Conference being held in Barrie, Ontario from May 29 to May 31, may we offer a month-long discount on our research and consultation services of 15% (ends 11 June at midnight).
 
Just go to Elizabeth Lapointe Research Services website at www.elrs.biz, or send an email with the subject "special" to genealogyresearch@aol.com to see how I can help you find that elusive Canadian ancestor!
 
Research Tip! While you are in Ottawa, if you have ancestors who lived here, a good place to check is the Ottawa Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/
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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

 

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Ancestry.com redesigns its site



Although they say in their opening letter, which explains the changes that they have made to their site, it is supposed to be only open to American subscribers, but I found it was open to me – a Canadian.
 
So I went to take a look.
 
And I really like it.
 
They have adjusted the color on the search page, made it more appealing, and it seems to be cleaner than the previous search landing page.
 
I would give them a passing grade on this.

Go to www.ancestry.com 

Apparently they will redesign the Canadian site at www.ancestry.ca in the near future. 

Women of Digby County, 1950


 
Nova Scotia is a province of many different faces, and the Women of Digby County, 1950 is a virtual exhibit presented by the Nova Scotis Archives. 
 
It was first developed as a traditional exhibit entitled Women: Their Lives in Rural Nova Scotia, 1950. Launched in Digby in October 2011, it travelled to various locations throughout southwestern Nova Scotia over the following year, including a month's detour to the Nova Scotia Archives in April 2012. 
 
The exhibit celebrated the work of John Collier Jr., an eminent American photographer who spent time in Digby County during 1950 and 1951, and whose photographic record of those years is now among the collections held by the Nova Scotia Archives. 
 
 
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Need help finding your ELUSIVE Canadian ancestors???
 
As a nod of the hat to the Ontario Genealogical Conference being held in Barrie, Ontario from May 29 to May 31, may we offer a month-long discount on our research and consultation services of 15% (ends 11 June at midnight).
 
Just go to Elizabeth Lapointe Research Services website at www.elrs.biz, or send an email with the subject "special" to genealogyresearch@aol.com to see how I can help you find that elusive Canadian ancestor!
 
Research Tip! The Nova Scotia Archives is a wonderful place to research your ancestors in person. Their latest fonds is the Annapolis Royal Registry of Deeds (1763-1980). It includes 185 land transaction registers (‘deed books’), 1763-1954; deed registry will books, 1878-1867 (kept at the registry); and land grant registration books, 1854-1963. Contct the Nova Scotia Archives at http://novascotia.ca/archives/newholdings.asp
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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!


 

British Home Children and Descendants Association Family Picnic



There will be a picnic on July 11th starting at 1:00 pm at Victoria Park, Truro, NS in honor of the British Home Children.
 
This will be an opportunity to meet other Home Child descendants in an informal setting. Maybe you will meet others who came over on the same ship or even long lost relatives. Bring your children and grandchildren, your parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins for a fun afternoon.
 
Take a walk along some of the trails, admire Joseph Howe Falls and the Gorge, climb the 175-step Jacob's Ladder, see the Bur Oak that was planted in memory of our BHC and have your picture taken sitting on the BHC memorial bench.
 
If you have questions, you can reach Catherine West at catherinebhcd@gmail.com or catherine.west@ns.sympatico.ca or 1-902-384-2097
 
The association will also be holding its 13th Annual Reunion on Saturday October 17th, 2015 at the Bible Hill Junior High School located at 741 Collage Road, Truru, Nova Scotia.
 
It will be an all-day affair from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and to pre-register or for information, please contact Catherine West at catherinebhcd@gmail.com or catherinewest@ns.sympatico.ca or 1-902-384-2097.
 
=========================================================================
Need help finding your ELUSIVE Canadian ancestors???
 
As a nod of the hat to the Ontario Genealogical Conference being held in Barrie, Ontario from May 29 to May 31, may we offer a month-long discount on our research and consultation services of 15% (ends 11 June at midnight).
 
Just go to Elizabeth Lapointe Research Services website at www.elrs.biz, or send an email with the subject "special" to genealogyresearch@aol.com to see how I can help you find that elusive Canadian ancestor!
 
Research Tip! If you researching Home Children, you can check the database at http://www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=4
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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

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

Monday, June 1, 2015

Canadian Week in Review (CWR) - 01 June 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 1887, the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was opened for public traffic. Trains had been running from Montreal to Vancouver for a year, but passengers now could ride all the way on 4,700 kilometres of CPR track.

To read more about the CPR, go to http://www.cpr.ca/en/about-cp/our-history







In 1906, the city of Saskatoon was incorporated.

The city was started in 1882, when the Toronto-based Temperance Colonization Society was granted 21 sections of land on both sides of the South Saskatchewan River, between what is now Warman and Dundurn.

The people wanted to set up a "dry" community in the Prairies.

To read more about Saskatoon, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon


In 1919, actor Jay Silverheels was born Harold J. Smith on the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario. Silverheels, who was also a star boxer and lacrosse player, is best known as The Lone Ranger's sidekick, "Tonto," on television and in movies during the 1950s.

He died on March 5, 1980.

To read more about Jay Silverheels, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Silverheels

"Lone Ranger and Tonto 1956" by ABC Television. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Social Media

(Video) Old ambulances roll back into action for salute to Alberta paramedics
http://globalnews.ca/news/2016877/old-ambulances-roll-back-into-action-for-salute-to-alberta-paramedics/
A Calgary collector is showing off his old ambulances as part of National Paramedic Services Week, which was held May 24 to May 30.
   Dr. Tim Prieur has six of the vintage vehicles dating back to 1952 — all still in working order.

(Video) Assumption Church named a Top 10 endangered place in Canada
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/assumption-church-named-top-10-endangered-place-in-Canada
It is the most recent structural incarnation of what started as a Jesuit mission on the southern shores of the Detroit River in 1747, on land donated by the Hurons. It is the oldest parish in Canada west of Montreal — and the forerunner of Assumption College, which became the University of Windsor.

(Video ) Singer Ian Tyson gets personal in Heritage Canada project on WW1 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/singer-ian-tyson-gets-personal-in-heritage-canada-project-on-ww1-1.3088933
Ian Tyson was the perfect candidate for a Heritage Canada project to pair iconic songs and military bands to honour Canada's First World War history.

(Video)Perkins House in Liverpool closed indefinitely after 249 years http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/perkins-house-in-liverpool-closed-indefinitely-after-249-years-1.3088577
Nova Scotia has closed the province's oldest museum indefinitely because of structural problems and museum officials are worried about its fate because a cash-strapped government has yet to commit to fix it.

Articles

Nova Scotia

Courcelette sacrifice: Nova Scotia’s first unit in action http://thechronicleherald.ca/thegreatwar/1288573-courcelette-sacrifice-nova-scotia%E2%80%99s-first-unit-in-action#.VWR6F3nD-aU 25th Battalion played significant role in this key Allied operation during the First World War.

Prince Edward Island

Churches not eligible for community infrastructure fund
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/churches-not-eligible-for-community-infrastructure-fund-1.3085997
A national heritage group is disappointed some churches are not eligible for money under the new Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, which is designed to help fix up community facilities across the country.

Rustico's Belcourt Centre makes top 10 endangered list
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/rustico-s-belcourt-centre-makes-top-10-endangered-list-1.3089243
The Belcourt Centre in Rustico on P.E.I.'s North Shore has been listed by the National Trust as one of the top 10 endangered heritage buildings in Canada.

Quebec

Quebec premier invites Pope Francis to Montreal for city's 375th birthday http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/quebec-premier-invites-pope-francis-to-montreal-for-city-s-375th-birthday-1.2393353
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard met briefly with Pope Francis on Wednesday and invited the pontiff to Montreal to attend the city's 375th-anniversary celebrations in 2017.

Ontario

The Amateur Genealogist: The importance of searching original records
http://www.mykawartha.com/opinion-story/5643169-the-amateur-genealogist-the-importance-of-searching-original-records/
One of the remarkable features of beginning genealogists is their startling reliance on data on the web.

Researchers hope public can shed light on Franklin Expedition http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/researchers-hope-public-can-shed-light-on-franklin-expedition/article24608579/
The discovery of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition has left much unanswered, researchers say, and they’re hoping the public and students can help solve the mystery.

70 years of tulips: Netherlands' King, Queen make first state visit to Canada http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/70-years-of-tulips-netherlands-king-queen-make-first-state-visit-to-canada-1.2393621
The Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arrived in Ottawa Wednesday to kick off a three-day state visit to Canada. The trip is another gesture of goodwill between the two countries that have been close friends since the Second World War.

Manitoba

Manitoba Day was heartily celebrated
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/herald/correspondent/Manitoba-Day-was-heartily-celebrated-304910121.html
The Province of Manitoba was created on May 12, 1870, when the Manitoba Act was passed by the Parliament of Canada and received royal assent. The act was subsequently proclaimed on July 15, 1870 when Manitoba entered into Confederation and became Canada’s fifth province.

Alberta

Alberta bridge among endangered historic sites
East Coulee resident's in Alberta don’t want to see their bridge disappear.
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/alberta-bridge-among-endangered-historic-site

British Columbia

Victoria Police bobbies put the ‘British’ in British Columbia
http://www.cheknews.ca/victoria-police-bobbies-99341
The Victoria Police Department is the oldest police force west of the Great Lakes, and these civilian volunteers, dressed in historically-inspired bobby uniforms, are another sign that Victoria is the capital of “British” Columbia.

Stories in the News

Aboriginal Awareness Week (AAW)

This past week was Aboriginal Awareness Week.

It was started in1992 with the purpose of increasing awareness of Aboriginal peoples within the federal public service.

But since then, it has evolved and grown into a government-wide celebration that gives federal public servants from across Canada the opportunity to participate in a week of interactive activities that honour the cultures and traditions of the Métis, Inuit, and First Nation peoples.

To go along with the idea on Aboriginal Awareness Week, the government has released a few statistics.

According to Statistic Canada there are a total of 1,172,790 people who identify as Aboriginal.

Making up this 1,172,790 are 53% registered Indians and 11% non-status Indians (698,025), 30% Métis (389,780), and 4% Inuit (50,480).

Throughout Canada, the people who self-identify as Aboriginal make up 4% of the Canadian population. There are approximately 370 million indigenous people internationally. Canada's Aboriginal population is growing faster than the general population, increasing by 20.1% from 2001 to 2006.

It is estimated that Aboriginal people could account for 4.1% of Canada's population by 2017, but this proportion would be significantly larger in Saskatchewan (20.8%) and Manitoba (18.4%).

You can view videos at http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/media/video/galerie-gallery.aspx?def=avideoType=45A3CBC1-4612-46FC-913B-CB09B1987316. These videos cover History and Culture, Travel and Recreation, and Nature and Science.


And Aboriginal Awareness Week morphs right into the Aboriginal Awareness Month, taking place this month all across the country.

The Canadian Museum of History has put together an virtual exhibit entitled First Peoples of Canada at http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/aborig/fp/fpint01e.shtml, which holds profiles some of the Aboriginals people in Canada.

An e-book is also available at http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1307460755710/1307460872523, which gives a brief history of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

So even if you cannot go to the different events which will be held this summer in communities across the country, there are plenty of activities online which may interest you.

And that was the Canadian genealogy, history, and heritage news in Canada this past week!


SPECIAL OFFER!!

Need help in finding your ELUSIVE Canadian ancestors?

As a nod of the hat to the Ontario Genealogical Conference being held in Barrie, Ontario from May 29 to May 31, may we take this opportunity to offer a month-long discount on our research and consultation services of 15% (ends 11 June at midnight).

Just go to Elizabeth Lapointe Research Services website at www.elrs.biz, or send an email with the subject "special" to genealogyresearch@aol.com to see how I can help you find that elusive Canadian ancestor!

Research Tip! Are you looking for maps? How about going to the Archives of Ontario and looking at the maps they have of Ontario at http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/explore/gallery/on_the_map.aspx?



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/2015/05/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-25-may-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.

The next issue will be 08 June 2015.