Monday, April 21, 2014

Canadian Week in Review 21 April 2014

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. 

Social Media


Elgin County Ontario Canada and Talbot Times Genealogy Blog http://elgincountyogs.blogspot.com/2014_04_01_archive.html
If you have ancestors in Elgin County, this is a blog that you should put in your reader to keep abreast of the historical documents that are online.

The CRA and LAC
The Canadian Historical Association / La Société historique du Canada is pleased with the appointment of Dr. Guy Berthiaume as the new head of Library and Archives Canada.

News Articles 


St. James church building in Gatineau damaged by fire. Century-old building, being turned into furniture store, suffers only smoke damage.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/st-james-church-building-in-gatineau-damaged-by-fire-1.2608674
The 113-year-old building St. James Anglican Church in Gatineau was engulfed in flames, but the fire was contained to the church lobby.

The Story of Indian Immigration to Canada
This article gives a brief history of Indo-Canadian immigration to Canada which started in 1904 with a few immigrants landing ashore at Vancouver, British Columbia. 

Potato Month sales provides boost to Potato Museum
In February, Sobeys grocery stores in Atlantic Canada made a 25-cent contribution to the Potato Museum in Prince Edward Island for every specially marked 10-pound bag of Heritage Russet potatoes sold in Sobeys stores.
Visit the Canadian Potato Museum at http://www.peipotatomuseum.com

Karolyn Smardz Frost gave a talk to the Wolfville and Area Historical Society entitled Black Loyalists: the Early African Nova Scotia Experience in King's County. Between the founding of Halifax and the end of the American Revolutionary War, at least 600 people of African descent were brought to Nova Scotia.

Wolfville Historical Society
Their website is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfville_Historical_Society 

From Paris auction block to B.C. First Nation's museum, rare artifact comes home http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/From+Paris+auction+block+First+Nations+museum+rare+artifact/9719573/story.html
The Chilkat ceremonial blanket was recently discovered on the auction block in Paris and was purchased by the U'mista Cultural Society with a $27,368 grant from Canadian Heritage. Made some time between 1865 and 1871, the blanket is now on display at the U'mista Museum in Alert Bay, on the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

Canadian Sikh Billionaire Acquires Maharaja Ranjit’s Sword
In addition to the sword, Bob Dhillon, reportedly the first Sikh billionaire in Canada, has acquired a number of manuscripts, and miniature paintings.

Western Development Museum celebrates 65 years of living history. WDM uses modern methods to keep history alive.
What started off as a museum in a airport hanger has since grown to four locations in North Battleford, Saskatoon, Yorkton, and Moose Jaw.

Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada Burnt to Ashes, No Injury Reported 
http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/546844/20140407/ukraine-catholic-church-burnt-ontario-canada-toronto.htm
A Ukrainian church was burned to ashes due to a two-alarm fire in Ontario, Canada. The Catholic Church, which was completely destroyed due to the fire, was situated on Heritage Road north of Bovaird Drive West in Brampton, outside Toronto.

Everyone who has lived in Halifax has at one time or another has been in the Roy Building on Barrington Street, and now the 120-year old building is being town down to make way for a new condo.

What really happened to the Bell of Batoche 
Researchers at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) have uncovered the story of the real Bell of Batoche.

Visit Quebec City, Canada, on e of North America’s oldest cities http://www.perthnow.com.au/travel/world/visit-quebec-city-canada-one-of-north-americas-oldest-cities/story-fnjjva7e-1226881044655 
It is the only North American fortified city north of Mexico whose walls still exist.

Montrealer wants national day for Terry Fox on April 12. Eddy Nolan wants federal recognition for the day Fox launched his historic Marathon of Hope in 1980 http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/montreal/story/1.2608744
Do you realize that Terry Fox ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day for 143 days. He completed this before his cross-Canada trek was cut short by the return of his cancer near Thunder Bay, Ont. He died nine months later on June 28, 1981, at the age of 22. 

Story of the Week

World Book and Copyright Day

World Book and Copyright Day is an annual event, celebrated all around the world to promote reading and the cultural aspects of books. It is celebrated on April 23rd.

You would be well-advised to read Dr. Margaret Ann Wilkinson's (Canada’s answer to genealogy and the law) article, Recent Developments in Canadian Law Affecting Genealogists, in the May 2014 issue of Families, the journal of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS).

She gives a full explanation of Canadian law as it pertains to privacy and copyright for other people’s work, and for your own work, as you put family trees in software and on the Internet. 

If you are not a member of the OGS, you may be able to access this article at your local genealogical society library, or you can contact the OGS at https://www.ogs.on.ca/membership.php to see if a half-year membership could include this issue of Families.

Writers' Trust of Canada
Formed in 1976 by Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Graeme Gibson, Margaret Laurence, and David Young. its mission is to “advance, nurture, and celebrate Canadian writers and writing”. 

The International Edible Book Festival
Here is an interesting idea to try. Make a book and then eat it! You make a “book cake”, decorate it as you wish, and then celebrate Canada’s Book and Copyright day by toasting your accomplishment, and then eating a piece of cake. And, of course, read a good Canadian genealogy book that day!

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! The next post will be on April 28, 2014.