February, 2006 News

(This news feature is divided into topics of Genealogy, Heritage, and History)

Bonus Feature - Website Pick of the Month!

Obituary - Sandra Devlin
(genealogy columnist)

Halifax Chronicle Herald
February 3, 2006

DEVLIN, Sandra - Passed away peacefully on February 1, 2006, in Moncton Hospital, Moncton, N.B., following a valiant struggle with cancer. Born in Saint John, N.B., on November 28, 1946, Sandra was the daughter of Ellen Eileen (Mills) Hosford and the late Harold Edwin Hosford (2004). Besides her mother, Sandra is survived by her daughter, Shonda Joy Secord and her husband Pierre Rondeau, Rosemere, Que.; son, Matthew Kenneth Secord and his wife Annette, Dartmouth. She is also survived by her loving and dedicated caregiver, Michael Harpell; grandchildren, Ariel Rebecca Rondeau, William Benjamin Rondeau and Lauren Paige Susan Secord; brother, Michael Hosford and his partner Betty Holt; nieces, Kelley and Jill Hosford, and her ex-husband, Donald Secord, Halifax. Besides her father, Sandra was predeceased by her second husband, Rodney V. Devlin, in 2003.

After over 25 years in print journalism with such papers as the Fredericton Daily Gleaner (New Brunswick), Guelph Daily Mercury (Ontario), New Glasgow Evening News (Nova Scotia), Truro Daily News (Nova Scotia) and Northern Daily News (Kirkland Lake, Ont.), Sandra launched a successful freelance career in 1996, the foundation of which was her self-syndicated genealogy newspaper column, Missing Links. Missing Links was published over the years in 17 newspapers in Atlantic Canada.

For nearly 11 years, Sandra also wrote a weekly opinion column, In Other Words, in The Guardian, Charlottetown. She was a contributor to many other publications and was honoured with multiple awards. In the early 1990s, she was a journalism instructor at Holland College, Charlottetown. From 2000 to 2003, she worked in community relations for Southeast Regional Health Care Authority. At the time of her death, Sandra was working on a true crime novel.

Visitation will be held in the Riverview Funeral Home on Sunday, February 5, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., where the funeral service will be held on Monday, February 6, at 2 p.m. Donations may be made to The Friends of The Moncton Hospital "Jim Clements Education Fund" or The Dr. Georges L. Dumont Hospital Oncology Department.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The Riverview Funeral Home, 214 Pine Glen Rd., Riverview, N.B.
(506) 857-9544 <www.tuttlefuneralhome.com>


"Genealogy News"

British, German and Loyalist Officers in The American Revolution
    The title of the book is the "A List of General and Staff Officers on the Establishment in North America, 1755-1782", published more than 200 years ago. It has been put on the web at <http://www.rootsweb.com/~canwgw/archives/brit_mil.txt>.
    It contains 2,500 names, and a microfilm of the book is available at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah and at local family history sites, which you should consult if you need more information.
    This list gives you the name, rank, military unit, and the page on which it appears in the book.

Online Resources of Saskatchewan Genealogical Society - (News Story)
    The Saskatchewan Genealogy Society has joined forces with the Saskatchewan Archives Board to present an online index to "open" records which can be accessed by the general public.

Is There A War Bride Or War Groom In Your Canadian Family?
    Do you have a war bride or a war groom in your Canadian family? War brides are celebrating the 60th anniversary of their arrival in Canada in "The Year of the War Bride" in 2006, and war grooms are being recognized by a Canadian teacher-librarian for their role in the Second World War and the marrying of young Canadian women.
    For more, please visit <http://www.genealogytoday.com/roots/xweb.mv?xc=Display&xo=rescms&xn=-1&xr=894&xz=>.
"Heritage News"

Rideau Canal Opens for Another Season
    The Rideau Canal is officially designed as a Guinness World Record holder for being the largest naturally-frozen ice rink. This news was announced by the National Capital Commission in Ottawa on August 4th, 2005.
    It is equal in size to 90 Olympic-sized rinks or 165,621 m2.
    The 7.8 km Rideau Canal Skateway opened this year on January 7th, and usually closes early in March. Each year, there are over 1 million visits to the skateway. It also becomes one of the official sites for North America's unique winter celebration, Winterlude, which will take place from February 3-19th, 2006.
    For more information on the skateway and Winterlude, please go to <http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca>.

 "Invitation: the Quilt of Belonging" on Cross-Canada Tour
    Celebrating Canada's ethnically diverse family, "Invitation: the Quilt of Belonging", is on a cross-country tour, beginning with an Arctic stop.
    The quilt, which is a needlework tapestry, began its life at the Museum of Civilization, Gatineau, Quebec on April 1, 2005. Following a 20 day exhibition, a four year cross-Canada tour will bring it to as many Canadians as possible.
    The quilt—which is 36 metres long and 3.5 metres wide (120 feet by 10 feet)—includes textile from all aboriginal  and world nationalities in Canada.
    For tour dates and to see the quilt, please visit <http://www.invitationproject.ca>.

Cultural Capitals of Canada
    Five communities have been named as Cultural Capitals for Canada for 2006, and they are -
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Saskatoon celebrates it's 100th anniversary this year, and celebrations will include a national symposium on Aboriginal performing arts, and a humorous look backward at the city's history.
    St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador - Establishment of "St. John's, Cultural Gateway to the Province," this project will see the expansion of noon-time concerts, stories and theatre with free admission.
    Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, Quebec - "The History of Entrepreneurship", where veteran craftspeople will pass on their know-how to art school students, with demonstrations.
    District of West Vancouver, British Columbia - This community will add new events to its calendar, which will include literacy activities for young people, and a music program which will recognize the various ethno-cultural groups.
    Wikwemikong, Ontario -This reserve, located on Manitoulin Island, will feature a fall fair, a cultural festival and aboriginal dance, and lodge construction.
    "The Government of Canada has made a commitment to give all Canadians access to the arts and culture, as well as to encourage creativity and excellence," said the former Minister of Canadian Heritage Liza Frulla. "The Cultural Capitals of Canada recognize and highlight the important role municipalities play in the arts and culture."
    The Department of Canadian Heritage launched the Cultural Capitals of Canada program on May 31, 2002.

Champlain Trail Will Target Francophone Demographic
    (Ontario Provincial) Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci is helping Northeastern Ontario grow and prosper by promoting French-Canadian heritage in that it is [providing $316,200 to Destination Nord for the development of Circuit Champlain (Champlain Trail), a heritage corridor retracing the steps of French explorer Samuel de Champlain.
    This initiative will promote linkages between the natural and cultural resources in communities such as Mattawa, North Bay, Sudbury, French River, Parry Sound, and Manitoulin Island.
    "The Francophone demographic is a largely untapped market for Northeastern Ontario's tourism sector,'' said Bartolucci. "This project will help attract new visitors from Ontario, Quebec, and abroad, and introduce them to the rich and storied heritage of our French-Canadian ancestry."
    One can visit the Champlain Trail Museum in Pembroke, Ontario and see a school house c1838, a pioneer home c1840, a church c1879, and farm work sheds.
    The museum is located at 1032 Pembroke Street E., and the phone number is (613) 735-0517. (There isn't a separate website for this museum.)

New Brunswick Libraries Have New Automated System
    The Unicorn automated library system was installed to greatly enhance library service and better serve patrons. The Unicorn system was set up between December 19, 2005 and January 2, 2006 and replaced the existing Inox automated system.
    Improvements include:
    - Advanced, faster and easier to use search tools
    - Increased hours of availability
    - Ability to browse alphabetically
    - Ability to e-mail search results
    Access to the new automated library system is available online at <http://vision.gnb.ca>.

First Parliament Site Saved for Future Generations - (News Story)
    The Ontario government—in partnership with the City of Toronto and with the support of local heritage groups—has acquired a significant part of the site of Upper Canada's first parliament, Cultural Minister Madeleine Meilleur announced on December 21, 2005.

"History News"
Ukrainian Canadian Archives/Museum Acquires New Home
    The Ukrainian Canadian Archives and the Museum of Alberta (UCAMA) announced on March 5, 2005 that the acquisition of the Lodge Hotel and the Brighton Block on Jasper Avenue, Edmonton will be the new home for the museum.
    Khrystyna Kohut, president of the UCAMA board of directors, said "I couldn't be more pleased with the prominent location of these buildings for our new home. I very much look forward to continuing to the revitalization of the Jasper East Block."
    The mayor of Edmonton, Mayor Stephen Mandal, has, on the budget of the city, a $3-million commitment to the Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museum in Jasper East Block.
    The Lodge Hotel, formerly the Pendennis Hotel, was first opened in 1904. The Lodge Hotel's sister, the Brighten Block, began construction seven years later in 1911-1912, and is one of Edmonton's most illustrious pre-World War I commercial buildings.
    The website is <http://www.ucama.com>.

Website Pick of the Month!

Black History Month
    Since February is Black History Month, we chose to celebrate it by noting the website of the North America Black Historical Museum, located in Amherstburg, Ontario. The museum is home to the Taylor Log Cabin (c1812) and the Nazrey African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church—itself a National Historic Site—and a cultural centre.
    Their logo is "The Black Thread in the Canadian Tapestry".
    It is located across from Detroit, a place where many of the people who used the Underground Railroad to flee slavery in the South ended their trip.
    The website is <http://www.blackhistoricalmuseum.com>, and they can be contacted at <nabhm@emporium.on.ca>. The phone number is 1-800-713-6336. The address is: The North America Black Historical Museum, 277 King Street, Amherstburg, ON N9V 2C7.

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