Monday, August 1, 2016

Canadian Week in Review 01 August 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 

War of 1812

In 1814, the bloodiest battle of the War of 1812 was fought at Lundy's Lane. The British suffered 878 casualties, with 84 killed. Although neither side (American/Canadian) could claim victory, the battle checked the advance of invading U.S. forces, and they withdrew to Fort Erie.




If you want to read more, go to http://www.eighteentwelve.ca/?q=eng/Topic/56

Chief Dan George 


In 1899, Oscar-nominated actor Chief Dan George was born on the Burrard Indian Reserve in B.C. He died in 1981.

If you would like to read more, go to http://www.canadaka.net/modules.php?name=Famous_Canadians&action=viewperson&person=401





Social Media 

(Audio) A century later, Great Matheson Fire of 1916 still deadliest in Canadian history 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/100-years-great-matheson-fire-1916-1.3689061

Nobody knows for sure how it started.

But the bush around Matheson, Ontario caught fire on July 29, 1916 and burned for days.

By the time the flames were extinguished, some 200 people had suffocated or burned to death, with coffins piled up on the railway tracks.

Whole communities were completely destroyed, including Matheson and Iroquois Falls.

(Video) Adoption in Alberta: No family history? No problem for these adoptive parents 

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/insight/adoption-in-alberta-no-family-history-no-problem-for-these-adoptive-parents

Three years ago, Brett Kerley and Shannon Qualie stood in an Ethiopian orphanage holding a tiny baby girl.

Their daughter. Nora.

(Video) Aviation History on Display in Brandon Manitoba 

http://www.netnewsledger.com/2016/07/25/aviation-history-display-brandon-manitoba/ 

19,000 airmen and women died during World War Two. Many of those individuals trained in Brandon, Manitoba as part of the Commonwealth Air Training Program. Bases like the Brandon training facility provided training for many of those pilots who fought during World War Two.

(Photos) Woodstock waiting for report on historic building's condition after fire 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/woodstock-fire-mayor-rose-building-heritage-1.3696918

The mayor of Woodstock hopes to salvage the facade of an historic building destroyed by fire and rebuild the downtown heritage area left gutted by the blaze.

(Photos) Birds eye view of the St-Isidore church fire 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/birds-eye-view-of-the-st-isidore-church-fire-1.3695610

Several hundred residents in the eastern Ontario town of St-Isidore were forced to flee their neighbourhood as a massive fire destroyed the community's Catholic church.

(Video/Photos) Open the 'doors' to Wawa's back roads

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/backroads-bill-wawa-doors-1.3697620

Doors are 'ways in' or 'ways out' of (or to) something.

We usually don't think about the door when we get to it — unless it is a particularly eye-catching one; and there are some artistic ones on the back roads in Northern Ontario.

Newspaper Articles  

Newfoundland 

Digging up the 17th century with MUN's archaeology summer field school 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/memorial-university-archeological-field-school-tors-cove-1.3691139

A group of Memorial University archaeology students has stepped outside the classroom for the summer, to dig up part of the province's history in Tors Cove, on the southern shore of the Avalon Peninsula.

Nova Scotia  

Halifax firm wins Visit Flanders contract 

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1383421-halifax-firm-wins-visit-flanders-contract

With renewed interest brought on by the First World War centenary, a Halifax company has won the contract to represent Visit Flanders, a Belgian tourist company.

Group ATN will partner with SGP Conferences and Events Ltd. in Toronto and the North American office of Visit Flanders, headquartered in New York.

Belgian tourism company opens in Halifax to attract Canadians to WW I sites 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/belgium-visit-flanders-halifax-office-1.3693033

An office for a Belgian tourism company has opened its doors in Halifax, to entice more Canadians to visit the battlefields of the First World War — and the site of the iconic In Flanders Fields poem.

Historic crazy quilts, embroidery tell a personal story from the past 

http://www.novanewsnow.com/Living/2016-07-24/article-4597079/Historic-crazy-quilts,-embroidery-tell-a-personal-story-from-the-past/1

Crazy quilts handed down through the generations often carry deep personal meaning and represent much more than scraps of old fabric sewn together.

Nova Scotia trips offer glimpses into 10,000-year history 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/5-stops-for-your-nova-scotia-magical-history-tour-1.3683997

With more than 10,000 years of human history, the land of Nova Scotia and the Mi'kmaq packs enough history to fill up your entire summer.

Prince Edward Island 

Summerside a step closer to ambitious library project 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/summerside-inspire-learning-1.3696661

The Summerside Rotary Club is moving to take the next step in building the Inspire Learning Centre, an ambitious library project based on similar ideas to the new library in Halifax.

Panmure Island Lighthouse gets make-over as community takes over 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-panmure-lighthouse-1.3697667

The red and white paint on the Panmure Island Lighthouse glistens in the summer sunshine as visitors and locals stop by to check out the lighthouse's fresh new look.

New Brunswick 

Highland Games celebrate Scottish culture in New Brunswick

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-highland-games-1.3692509

The sounds of bagpipes and drums are cutting through the hot, humid air in downtown Fredericton this weekend as New Brunswickers gather to celebrate Scottish culture.

McAdam seeks funds to repair historic railway station's damaged roof 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/mcadam-railway-station-roof-repair-1.3693487

McAdam is asking the federal and provincial governments to pitch in to fix the roof of the McAdam Railway Station that was damaged during a storm in March.

Frank Carroll, a former mayor of the southwestern village, said the roof on the heritage building was damaged during a powerful winter storm.

Quebec

Name of an unremarkable Rivière-des-Prairies street has a remarkable history 

http://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/second-draft-name-of-an-unremarkable-riviere-des-prairies-street-has-a-remarkable-history

Rue Panis-Charles, in Rivière des Prairies, is a short street of newish, two-storey dwellings in brick and stone. Pleasant though it is, little in its appearance distinguishes it from other streets nearby. Yet what a story lies behind its name.

Montreal Aviation Museum flying high as an attraction 

What was once the best kept secret on the West Island is getting a lot more attention these days.

The Montreal Aviation Museum, located in an old cow barn on McGill University’s McDonald campus, is a rebranding of the Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre.

Ontario 

Ottawa River finally gets heritage river designation — but just the Ontario part 

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-river-finally-gets-heritage-river-designation-but-just-the-ontario-part

Parks Canada is ending a decade-long campaign to win recognition for Canada’s “original trans-Canada highway” with the announcement Thursday morning that the federal and Ontario governments have designated the Ontario portion of the Ottawa River as a Canadian Heritage River.

Ontario government selling 3 heritage homes between Guelph and Kitchener 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/mto-guelph-heritage-homes-for-sale-1.3697707

A heritage home at a relatively cheap price might sound like a dream in the current real estate market, but it could be a reality for motivated buyers.

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has three stone farmhouses for sale on properties between Kitchener and Guelph, but there is a catch — you have to move them.

Tragedy of MS St. Louis remains a blot on Canada’s history 

https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2016/07/25/tragedy-of-ms-st-louis-remains-a-blot-on-canadas-history.html

In her book, “The Saddest Ship Afloat,” Allison Lawlor tells how Canada and other countries closed their doors to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939.

Westmount recognized for historic national significance by Canadian government 

http://globalnews.ca/news/2846710/westmount-recognized-for-historic-national-significance-by-canadian-government/

For Westmount Mayor Peter Trent, it was a moment 16 years in the making: the federal government recognized Westmount Monday with a plaque to commemorate the city’s historic national significance.

Toronto Public Library creating Chinese Canadian Archive 

http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2016/07/27/toronto-public-library-creating-chinese-canadian-archive.html

Toronto Public Library is looking for treasures from your grandma’s attic to build the city’s first Chinese Canadian Archive. It is expected to open this fall.

Manitoba 

Mural honours Manitoba suffragettes 

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/mural-honours-manitoba-suffragettes-388180442.html

The Manitoba women who fought for their right to vote are being recognized on the latest addition to Winnipeg's outdoor mural collection.

A Woman's Parliament, painted by local artist Mandy Van Leeuwen at 560 Sargent Ave., is being unveiled Tuesday morning by the West End BIZ.

Port of Churchill once looked forward to 'great fleets of the future'

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/history-of-port-of-churchill-1.3697864

In the fall of 1931, crowds gathered along the shores in northern Manitoba to watch two steamships pull into the Port of Churchill.

It was a historic moment for Canada's first deepwater arctic port.

Alberta 

Exploring women’s history in the Rockies 

http://www.fitzhugh.ca/exploring-womens-history-in-the-rockies/

University of Alberta professor Colleen Skidmore has spent most of her career researching the history of Canadian photography from the 19th and 20th century, with a particular interest in women’s photographic practices in front of and behind the camera’s lens.

British Columbia 

Lawsuits leave lodge in Glacier National Park derelict 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/glacier-park-lodge-derelict-1.3677278

When Alicia Fox drove through B.C.'s historic Rogers Pass this summer, she was amazed by the stunning mountains that frame the Trans-Canada Highway.

History of famous Vancouver Chinatown restaurant revealed through collected menus 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/history-of-famous-vancouver-chinatown-restaurant-revealed-through-collected-menus-1.3692214

The WK Gardens was once a popular Chinese restaurant in Vancouver's Chinatown that hosted special dinners for notable figures like former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson and was visited by stars like actor Gary Cooper and Frank Sinatra.

Canadian Stories this Week  

Heritage Day 


Today is a holiday in many provinces, including Ontario, and in Ottawa, it's Lt-Colonel By Day – the founder of the city – known as Bytown Days. He was the supervisor of the building of the Rideau Canal.

Celebrations will be held at the museum, where there will be “a heritage-themed events and entertainment, including blacksmithing, lace making, and musketry demonstrations, interactive tabletop exhibits, costumed characters, free admission to the Bytown Museum”

It's going to be a nice sunny day today, so get out and enjoy yourself at the museum.

If you can't go, visit the museum at http://www.bytowndays.ca/

Korean War


Prime Minster Justin Trudeau paid homage to the Korean War Veterans by saying that “On June 25, 1950, Communist armies from the North charged across the 38th Parallel and invaded South Korea. Over the next several years, more than 26,000 Canadians – many veterans of the Second World War, and some still teenagers – left behind their loved ones to defend a country half a world away”.

He pointed out that 516 Canadians made the ultimate sacrifice, and approximately 7,000 Canadians continued to serve in the tense theatre of operations between the signing of the Armistice and the end of 1955.

To read more about the Korean War, go to Korean War (1950 – 1953) at Veterans Affairs website,
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/korean-war and the

KOREA VETERANS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA INC at http://www.kvacanada.com/canadians_in_the_korean_war.htm

Library and Archives Canada


Some more news has come from the Library and Archives Canada concerning the 100th anniversary of the First World War. They have two initiatives, and they are -

100 Stories: Canadians who served in the First World War

This was a series of stories that was started last year with the debut of 11 stories on Remembrance Day, 2015.

The website is http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/100-stories/Pages/introduction.aspx

Citizen Archivists at LAC

The Friends of the Library and Archives Canada has started to work with the database of the First World War by adding their advanced search with the options such as the place of birth, place and date of enlistment.

The article says that 700 records have been enhanced already.

Their website is http://friendsoflibraryandarchivescanada.ca/en/home.php

Have you written your family history yet?


If you haven't yet, maybe you should read the information by fellow Canadian Lynn Palermo, The Armchair Genealogist, at www.thearmchairgenealogist.com

And don't forget, Lynn was interviewed by Marian Pierre-Louis of The Genealogy Professional Podcast earlier this summer. You can hear the podcast at http://www.thegenealogyprofessional.com/lynn-palermo/

As she says “Not only will a family history book preserve your family legacy but it will be your legacy”.

And that was the week in Canadian news!

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