September, 2006 News

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

Bonus Feature - Website Pick of the Month!
"Genealogy News"

Genealogical Society of Nova Scotia
    The office of the Genealogical Society of Nova Scotia (GANS) in Halifax moved to the north end of the city, to the corner of Isleviile and Stanley Streets, effective June 15, 2006.
    People at GANS say that the new place has a lot more room, a ramp for easy accessibility, and plenty of parking.
    The new civic address is 3258 Islewille Street, and the new mailing address is Suite 222, 3045 Robie Street, Halifax, NS B3K 4P6.

Family History Day 2006: Untangling Your Roots
    On September 9, 2006, the Macdonald Museum will present a genealogy day at the Cornwallis Hall, Cornwallis Park, NS. The topics which will be covered are:
    9:00 to 9:45 - Keynote speaker Dr. Allan Marble from Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia will speak on Cottage Hospitals and Poor Farms.
    10:00 to 11:00 - Mayflower Descendants by J. Gordon Wood OR What Archaeology Can Teach us About Our Acadian Ancestors by Dr. Marc Lavoie, Univerite St-Anne.
    11:00 to 12:00 - Planters and Pioneers by Brian Stakesbury, Curator, Kings County Historical Society OR How To Use A Public Library for Genealogy Research by Joanne McCarthy, Halifax Regional Library OR Tombstones (outside event) by Deborah Trask, Gravestone Preservation Advice.
    1:00 to 1:45 - Historic Places Initiative by Jill Scott, HPI Senior Register OR Black History Speaker, TBA
    1:45 to 2:30 - Internet Research Sites/Genealogy How To by Luella Marshall OR Genealogy in Tourism by Lisa MacIsacc, Nova Scotia Tourism Development Officer.
    2:30 to 3:30 - Loyalists, Speaker TBA OR Mi'Kmag by Judy Pearson from the Bear River First Nation.
    3:30 to 4:30 - Question and Answer Period with Dr. Terrance Punch.
    At dusk, there will be a Garrison Cemetery Tour in Annapolis Royal led by Alan Melanson, Historical Association of Annapolis Royal .
    There will be a $50.00 registration fee, payable to Macdonald Museum, P.O. Box 925, Middleton, NS B0S 1P0
    For more information, please contact the AHS Genealogy Centre at (902) 532-7754 or email <historic@ns.aliantzinc.ca>.

Archives of Quebec Releases Online Directories - (News Story)
    Le Bibliotheque et Archives nationales du Québec has released the Lovell Directories of Montreal and it's suburbs (1842-1999).

Libraries and Archives Canada Releases 1851 Census - (News Story)
    The 1851 Census of Canada covers the colonies of Canada East (present-day province of Quebec), Canada West (present-day province of Ontario), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

British Columbia Archives Releases Vital Statistics for 2006 - (News Story)
    As of January, 2006, birth registrations up to 1903 were added to the website, as were marriage registration up to 1930, and death registrations to 1985.

Ontario Archives Increases Public Access - (News Story)
    In the year 2000, the Archives of Ontario <www.archives.gov.on.ca> began a complete makeover.

Family Tree Ends Publication - (News Story)
    Family Tree finally ends publication after being published since 1990 at the Ellen Payne Odom Genealogy Library in Moultrie, Georgia.
"Heritage News"

Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre
    The Honourable Beverly J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, has announced that the government will be supporting the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre to digitize its military collection. It will be giving $20,300 to the museum.
    "The museum's holdings, including uniforms, medals, weapons, registration cards, battlefields maps, and soldier's personal letters, will now be made available to anyway seeking access to this unique and valuable collection," said Minister Oda.
    The Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre is located at <http://www.brucemuseum.ca>.

"History News"
Actor Seeks Vimy Ridge Documents
    R.H. Tompson, a Canadian actor, is looking for copies of journals, letters, and family accounts about soldiers who served at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, France, in 1917.
    The project is now advertising in the papers in order the reach the veteran's descendants. The project will be called "Words From Vimy", which will culminate in the 90th-anniversary of the Vimy monument in France next year.
    There are plans for a DVD, and Thonsom hopes that the material can be used in high schools and university history departments.
    The Canadians were successful in taking the ridge from the Germans. In four days, 3,600 Canadian soldiers lost their lives, and another 5,000 were injured.
    People interested in contributing to the project can e-mail him at <wordsfromvimy@gmail.com>, or they can write to: The     Words From Vimy Project, c/o The Arts & Letters Club, 14 Elm Street, Toronto, ON M5G 1G7.
    Please note that there isn't a webpage for this project yet.

Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons Partly Burns
    It happened on Tuesday, August 22nd, when the Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons—a historic site located in Midland, Ontario—partly burned down, closing it for a day.
    The fire destroyed 2 on-site buildings - the Blacksmith Shop and the Carpenter Shop. The nearby Chapel received damage, but it may be salvaged.
    Jan Gray, General Manager of Huronia Historical Parks, says that "the damaged buildings will be fenced off to ensure the safety of visitors. Other site attractions such as the museum, gift shop, and a full service restaurant will also be open to the public."
    The museum is open to the public seven days until October 8th, and Monday to Friday, October 9th to October 27th.
    Over 85,000 people visit annually.
    The website is <http://www.saintemarieamongthehurons.on.ca>.

Scottish Ancestor??
    If your ancestor was Scottish, then you should check on the <http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/index.htm> website to see if they are included in the list of at least 60 who emigrated to Canada.
    Some of the people include Sir Alexander Campbell, William Lyon Mackenzie, and John Stuart. There are biographies of these and many other Scots on the list.
    There are also books online, such as The Scot in British North America, The Scotsman in Canada, The Scot in New France and Books on Scots in Canada.

Canada Enters WW II
    Canada entered the Second World War on September 10th, 1939, sixty-seven years ago this year.
    Over one million fought in the war, with 45,000 being killed and 55,000 being injured.
    The war lasted from 1939 to 1945.
    For a good history of the war, go to <http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/secondwar/Canada2>

Website Pick of the Month!

Home Children
    Twenty-three of the Home Children who came to Ottawa—after being sent as improved children from England—were recognized by two headstones at the Notre Dame Cemetery on Montreal Road in Ottawa on August 12, 2006.
    Possibly, 100,000 children were sent to Canada, and the tombstones only represent a tiny faction of them. Over 70% of the children came to Ottawa and the surrounding Ottawa Valley.
    The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) has helped the Library and Archives Canada in indexing the names of Home Children from records held at the LAC. So far, they have indexed names from 1869 and 1949 (which was started in 1998), and children for the Middlemore Home Children who arrived in Canada between 1873 and 1933 (started in 2001).
    You are able to put the surname, given name, year of arrival, the ship, and keywords (such as a destination, or the sending organization) in the database to see what was indexed.
    To read more about the passenger lists, go to the LAC site and to check the name index, go online to <http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/02011001_e.html>, and to check the Middlemore Home Index, go to the BIFHSGO website at <http://www.bifhsgo.ca/home_children.htm>.
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