Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Canada Day at the Museum


Today is Canada's 148th birthday!

If you want to do something different this year to celebrate Canada's birthday, how about going to the events being held at the Canadian Museum of History today, located right across the river from Parliament Hill in Ottawa?

They are planning a whole day of FREE activities from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Family Fun with Music
At 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6 p.m. in the Grand Hall

Family Fun with Crafts
From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Canadian Children’s Museum

Adventures with Odysseus
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the exhibition, The Greeks – Agamemnon to Alexander the Great

The website is http://www.historymuseum.ca/event/canada-day-at-the-museum/

And right cross from the museum is Jacques Cartier Park, where you can also take part in Canada Day activities http://canadaday.gc.ca/eng/1399923093900/1399923177644

Enjoy yourself, and above all – Have fun!

Canada Day Contest

This year, for the annual Canada Day Contest sponsored by the Canadian Week in Review, the skill-testing question is -

This year, Canadians celebrate the birthday of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The question is - When was his birthday, and where was he born? Hint: Like a true immigrant, he wasn't born in Canada!

One winner will be drawn from the correct entries.

The lucky contestant will get a free consultation with me in which they will be told of some of the places they can look to hopefully discover the year in which their Canadian ancestor immigrated to Canada, or some other detail.

The contest will close at the end of Canada History Week at midnight on Wednesday, 07 July 2015.

Place 'Canada Day Contest" in the subject of the email to genealogyreserch@aol.com

Good luck to all, and Happy Canada Day!

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Annual Seminar 2015 in Victoria, British Columbia


Merv Scott, the Project Director of the Victoria Genealogical Society (the one in British Columbia, Canada) writes to tell me that they have finalized their program for their Annual Seminar, and registration is now open at http://www.victoriags.org/seminar.php

The date of the seminar is October 24, 2015 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and it will be held at St. Aidan’s Church Hall, 3703 St Aidan's Street, Victoria, BC.

They will have an impressive lineup of speakers to address this year's theme - Creating Connections Through DNA: Genetic Genealogy in the Digital Age.

Some of the speakers will be -

Barbara Johnson has a degree in Medical Microbiology, and has taught science both at elementary school and with Pacific Science Center

Wedlidi Speck, a hereditary chief of the Namgis First Nation, is Director of Aboriginal Service Change with the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Stuart Rennie is a Lawyer, Records and Information Management and Information Governance consultant as well as an Adjunct Professor at UBC in the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies.

Merv says that “Some of your followers might like the idea of enjoying our beautiful fall weather. Combining a trip to Victoria and all it has to offer with a day of genealogy with like minded people - what could be better"?

The website is www.victoriags.org

The Seminar website is http://www.victoriags.org/seminar.php

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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 last week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-22-june-2015.html

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

More Vital Statistics added to Nova Scotia Archives database



 An additional 26,625 historical vital statistics have been added at www.novascotiagenealogy.com

These records were released on 31 December 2014 and they have been digitized, fully indexed and checked for quality control.

This year's posting include 15,123 births (1914), 5,086 marriages (1939) and 6,416 deaths (1964).

As usual, the birth records include some 'delayed' entries for individuals born in 1914 (or earlier) but not registered until a later date.

Meanwhile, FamilySearch has added more Nova Scotia indexed records, such as -

Nova Scotia Deaths, 1864-1871

27,717 images organized by county (Annapolis, Antigonish, Cape Breton, Colchester, Cumberland, Digby, Guysborough, Halifax, Hants, Inverness, Kings, Lunenburg, Pictou, Queens, Richmond, Shelburne, Victoria, Yarmouth) and year range.

The site is at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2242825

Nova Scotia Marriage, 1864-1918

21,950 images organized in the same way as above.

The site is at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2242886

Nova Scotia Births, 1864-1877

35,025 images organized in the same way.

The site is at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2243378

If you are looking for an Nova Scotian ancestor, I would advise you to look through the entire section, because I have found births, marriages and deaths on each roll of microfilm, regardless if it says, for instance, Nova Scotia Deaths. Although, through FamilySearch, you do have direct access to the records, that may not be available elsewhere.

 Happy Researching!

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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 http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-29-june-2015.html

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

Monday, June 29, 2015

Ancestry.ca is FREE!

 

It is Canada's birthday on July 1st, and Ancestry.ca will be FREE until Midnight July 1st ET. 

And that is FREE access to all Canadian records.

You will need to register for free with Ancestry.ca with your name and email address.

Once registered a user name and password will be sent by email.

After July 1, 2015, you will only be able to view these records using an Ancestry.ca paid membership.

Go to http://home.ancestry.ca/

Happy Researching!

===================================================================

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/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-29-june-2015.html

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

Canadian Week in Review (CWR) - 29 June 2015



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


In 1774, the "Quebec Act" was passed by the British Parliament, establishing French civil law and the British system of criminal law in Quebec. As well, Roman Catholics were to have religious freedom. It also enlarged the province's borders to include Newfoundland and territory south of the Great Lakes.

For more information, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Quebec_Act



In 1955, the laying of a transatlantic telephone cable began at Clarenville, Newfoundland.

For more information, go to http://strowger-net.telefoniemuseum.nl/tel_hist_tat1.html




In 1534, French explorer Jacques Cartier discovered Prince Edward Island

For information, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Jacques_Cartier





Social Media

(Video) Timber! Crowd gathers to watch old mill implode in Saskatoon
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/timber-crowd-gathers-to-watch-old-mill-implode-in-saskatoon-1.3121465
   It woke up the neighbourhood, if you were not already up to watch.
   This morning, at least 100 people gathered on Saskatoon's west side to watch the 105-year-old Parrish & Heimbecker mill's demolition.

Articles

Newfoundland

Website reveals Newfoundland's best-kept secrets
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/website-reveals-newfoundland-s-best-kept-secrets-1.3120632
   Local adventurers have a new source of inspiration for their expeditions. A new website called Hidden Newfoundland is dedicated to revealing unknown and forgotten locations across the island for people to explore.
   The website called Hidden Newfoundland is at http://www.hiddennewfoundland.ca/

Quebec

NCC to preserve iconic Gatineau Strutt House as public pavilion
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ncc-to-preserve-iconic-gatineau-strutt-house-as-public-pavilion
   Gatineau’s iconic Strutt House, lauded by National Capital Commission CEO Mark Kristmanson as “a unique 20th century architectural treasure in the national capital,” will be preserved, rehabilitated, and opened as a public pavilion in time for Canada’s 150th birthday celebration in 2017.

Ontario

Champlain's legacy endures: Sudbury historian
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/06/22/champlains-legacy-enduresn-history-his-influence-on-canada-is-still-presentonepla

   This series has examined the life of Samuel de Champlain, his accomplishments and the mysteries surrounding him. This final part looks at how we relate to him and what we can learn from his life.

Is it too late to save Canada’s national horse?
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/19/is-it-too-late-to-save-canadas-national-horse.html
   There’s a common saying in the horse world: “A dog may be man’s best friend, but the horse wrote history.”
   In the case of Canada’s national horse, this saying couldn’t be more true.
   Yet as “le Cheval Canadien” celebrates its 350th anniversary this year, it’s pacing on the verge of extinction.

Manitoba

Gridiron Greats Exhibit Opens At Manitoba Sports Hall Of Fame
http://www.cjob.com/2015/06/23/gridiron-greats-exhibit/
   Tuesday marked the start of a brand new display at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, as “Gridiron Greats” opened through until November 22nd on the main floor of the Canada Games Sport For Life Centre at 145 Pacific Avenue.

Saskatchewan 

Possible changes to iconic traffic bridge concerns heritage advocate
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Possible+changes+iconic+traffic+bridge+concerns+heritage+advocate/11155185/story.htmlChanging
   The distinctive look and design of the Traffic Bridge replacement would represent a “tremendous loss” for Saskatoon, a heritage advocate says.

Alberta

Heritage quilts documented at guild anniversary
http://www.wetaskiwintimes.com/2015/06/23/heritage-quilts-documented-at-guild-anniversary
This initiative focuses on quilts made before 1970 to preserve a little bit of history of the trade and Canadians. The documentation ran alongside the Millet Arts and Crafts Guild’s 35th Anniversary, whose members also participated in the documentation process

British Columbia

Footprints found on a remote B.C. island could be 13,000 years old — the oldest in North America
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/footprints-found-on-a-remote-b-c-island-could-be-13000-years-old-the-oldest-in-north-america
   Evidence of what could be the oldest footprints in North America has been discovered below the shoreline of a remote British Columbia island.

The Stories This Week

Are people using the DNA correctly? 

I hear that it has become quite a concern to some genealogists that people are expecting their DNA test to tell them exactly where their ancestors are from, without verifying it with their paper records – a family tree. In fact, some people who have DNA done, don't even have a family tree. This is amazing, since the information sent with the DNA kit, tells you to consult and make a family tree!

They don’t ask - are my ancestors really from “x” place in England, for example. And in fact, some of these people don’t and will never make their paper records which would show them where their peoplr are from. They don’t see a need for it, now that DNA can answer all questions exactly who their ancestors were.

And then, to make it worse for themselves, they tell other people whose tree they may have seen on FamilySearch or at Ancestry, that they are their 5th cousin – only to find that they are in effect barking up the wrong tree.

It harkens back to the day, when people hooked themselves on to other people's tree if they thought they had the correct tree without doing the research.

So it all goes back to the old axiom, you must do your paper or computer family tree first, so that you can be sure that your ancestors are correct. Then, you can have your DNA done, and then proceed from there.



Cyndi's List is 20 years old this year! Congratulations, Cyndi Ingles!

What would we do without Cyndi's List? How many time have I use it – too many times to count. If you are looking for places to research, it should be your first place to stop on the Internet.

For the Canadians site, go to http://www.cyndislist.com/canada/

For a while , I was using the Canadian version of Cyndi\s List, the Canadian Genealogy & History Links at http://www.islandnet.com/~cghl/index.php. It's has been almost 8 years since anything has been done to the list, but I still check it, especially the personal websites that are there.



And this week, we will celebrate the 148th birthday of Canada on July 1 and the National History Week from July 1st to July 7th. 

Canada’s historical organizations, including museums, historical societies, and festivals, will be hosting activities during this week to get their communities involved in learning about our past.

The page is at http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1403094611161


  

I am taking the week off to go to Cornwall and Hawkesbury in eastern Ontario to do client research. All of my research notes are in order, the appointments have been made, the vet has been called, and the dog will be at “camp” that week while we are away. My husband and I will be in 'genealogist heaven' for the time that we are there!






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




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/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-22-june-2015.html

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

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Scottish SIG Symposium



Scottish SIG Symposium this year will be held on August 21st from 8 am to 4:30 pm at the Courtyard by Marriott Brampton at 90 Biscayne Cres, Brampton, Ontario. 

It will be a full day of learning about Scottish genealogy.

There will be the following speakers -

Dave Naylor - will talk about DNA

 Melissa McAfee - Scottish Special Collections, University of Guelph

James Fraser - Chair, Scottish Studies, University of Guelph

Christine Woodcock - Dinnae Waste Yer Credits, Then - helping increase your success and reduce your wasted credits on the ScotlandsPeople Website

And Global Genealogy will be in the marketplace

Registration fees include continental breakfast and lunch.

You can register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/scottish-sig-symposium-tickets-15845340841

==================================================================

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/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-22-june-2015.html

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

Friday, June 26, 2015

Rendez-vous 2017


The government announced yesterday that in connection with the lead-up to the 150th celebration of Canada's birthday in 2017, there will be a journey of tall ships that will cover Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

It will take place from June 29 to August 20, 2017, and you are encouraged to go and see them and take in the activities that will take place where they are in port.

 “The site of this magnificent regatta of ships along the shores of the St. Lawrence will no doubt remind Canadians of the golden years of sailing ships and our deep ties to the waterways of the land.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper

The website is http://rendezvous2017.com/

  ==================================================================

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/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-22-june-2015.html

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