Monday, December 28, 2015

Canadian Week in Review 28 December 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

First Message transmitted by radio

In 1900, "One Two Three Four -- is it snowing where you are Mr. Thiessen? If it is, telegraph back to me." 

This was the massage sent to Canadian Reginald Fessenden, as they were the first words ever transmitted by radio from a site on Cobb Island in the middle of the Potomac River, near Washington. 

It was six years later, after much fine-tuning, that radio's potential was demonstrated. Fessenden presented radio's first program on Christmas Eve 1906, from Boston.

For more information, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Fessenden

Youngest Man to receive Victoria Cross

In 1918, Pte. Thomas Ricketts of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment became the youngest soldier ever to be awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in battle. The 17-year-old was decorated for running through enemy fire to get vital ammunition during the Allied advance through Belgium during the recently-ended First World War.

For more information, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Ricketts 

Social Media

(Photos) Hants History: Dec. 24, 2015 edition 


Here's a look at what was making the news 25 and 50 years ago in the Hants Journal.

(Video) Join David Farrell in a Journey to New Scotland on STV this January


Join David Farrell as he explores the special bond between our country and Nova Scotia in a Journey to New Scotland this January 3 on STV. 

(Photos) Tragic history of ‘Canada’s Titanic’ arises 


It is only a set of faded and stained mauve-striped men’s pyjamas. 

Displayed inside a glass case at Halifax’s Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, exactly as worn a century ago.

The clothes that represent the living — of which there were very few — on the foggy early morning of May 29, 1914.

Upcoming Canadian Events

Conferences

UNLOCKING THE PAST 2016

International Genealogy Conference UNLOCKING THE PAST 2016 will be held on 
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the The Beach Club Resort, Parksville, British Columbia of the Qualicum Beach Family History Society in British Columbia. 

The featured speakers will be Colleen Fitzpatrick and Chris Paton, and registration is now open at http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/international-genealogy-conference-unlocking-the-past-2016-tickets-18765135024. It includes an early bird price. 

The website is located at http://www.qbfhs.ca/ 

Genealogy on the Cutting Edge 2016

The Ontario Genealogical Society will be holding its annual conference from June 3rd to 5th at the Toronto’s International Plaza Hotel, Toronto. 

Speakers and agenda has been announced this past week. Registration will open in January. Keep up-to-date with the latest news by following their website at http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference/, or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/171812826485725/

Our Canada – Your Family: Building a Nation 2017

The Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will host the 2017 annual conference, and they have a call out for presentations. 

The conference will be held in Ottawa on June 16-18, 2017 at Algonquin College. The theme of the conference is Our Canada – Your Family: Building a Nation

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS IS FEBRUARY 15, 2016

To submit proposals or ask questions, please contact the Conference 2017 Program Committee at: program.conference2017@ogs.on.ca. For more information about OGS or Ottawa Branch respectively, please visit: www.ogs.on.ca or www.ogsottawa.on.ca.

Great Canadian Summit

The summit will be held in Brampton, Ontario from October 21 to the 23, 2016 at the
Courtyard Marriott. 

It will be three days of genealogy by speakers such as CHRISTINE WOODCOCK | Director, Genealogy Tours of Scotland, RUTH BLAIR, PLCGS | Professional Genealogist, KATHRYN LAKE HOGAN, UE, PLCGS | Professional Genealogist at Looking 4 Ancestors, and MIKE QUACKENBUSH | Professional Genealogist - Research Coach, to name a few.


Newspaper Articles

Prince Edward Island

RCMP Veterans' Association of P.E.I. locates graves of all deceased members 


A group of former Mounties on P.E.I. who take care of the gravesites of deceased members has now located the graves of all those who have died over the past century. 

The RCMP Veterans' Association of P.E.I. maintains 100 headstones in 45 graveyards across the province.

Nova Scotia

Roman Sword Found Near Oak Island, Nova Scotia May ‘Rewrite’ North American History [Updated] 


While it is has become more widely accepted that the Norse visited the North American continent about 1,000 years ago, according to Smithsonian Magazine, Johannessen and researcher J. Hutton Pulitzer believe that Romans may have visited even earlier. Pulitzer believes that a known, but unexplored, shipwreck near Oak Island has Roman origins. 

Christmas card makes 72nd trip between McGuire and Seller families 


A Christmas tradition involving two families, one Christmas card and 72 years of mail delivery shows no signs of stopping, at least for another generation. 

The 1917 explosion in Halifax that reverberated in Boston 


A massive explosion on the waterfront had rocked the city on December 6, 1917. The event is recorded in photographs, letters and documents at the Nova Scotia Archives.

Amherst gives extension to BMO building 


The town of Amherst has decided to delay the demolition of the former BMO building to give the Nova Scotia Heritage Trust time to come up with a sustainable plan. 

Ontario 

Emma, Liam top 2015 list of Canadian baby names 


Emma and Liam were the most popular names of 2015 chosen by Canadian parents, but names like Nova, Taylor, and even Legend are all gaining fast, according to a website that tracks baby names. 

After 127 years, St. Matthias Anglican parish prepares for final Christmas


An Anglican congregation that's called west Ottawa home for more than a century is celebrating its final Christmas this month.

St. Matthias Anglican Church on Parkdale Avenue is expected to close in February, as declining attendance numbers are forcing parishioners to merge with another Anglican church in Westboro.

Manitoba

Centennial gala to mark momentous occasion


A momentous Canadian human rights milestone will take place on Jan. 28, 2016: 100 years ago on that day, Manitoba women were the first in Canada and the British Commonwealth to be awarded the right to vote and to hold provincial office. 

Saskatchewan

Saskatoon Club steeped in history, focused on the future 


The names on the Saskatoon Club’s founding document — Sutherland, Clinkskill, Ashworth and others — are now familiar as streets and avenues rather than people. But the 108-year-old club they built remains. 

A history worthy of preservation 


To preserve our heritage, we must first know what we have that’s worth preserving.

That’s the basic concept behind Saskatoon’s Register of Historic Places, a list constructed over the course of three years and formalized by city council in October. 

Alberta 

History: New Road to an Old Fort 


From the latter part of the seventeenth century, the Peace River has been known as a wide and kind waterway. Alexander MacKenzie wintered just above the present town of Peace River, and in the following May of 1793, pushed his birch bark canoes up the Peace and across the divide until he discovered Canada’s Pacific Coast. 

British Columbia 

Seaforth cadets recreate Ortona Christmas meal 


Each December, the 2277 Seaforth Highlanders Army Cadets Corps re-enacts the famous Seaforth Regiment Christmas meal enjoyed by Canadian soldiers in Italy during the Second World War, as a fierce battle waged all around them.

Citizen's historical record nearly complete 


The Prince George Citizen is looking to 2016 to finish the newspaper's digitization project current, which was started in 2007 by the Prince George Public Library. Right now, the online accessible digital archive on the library's website covers the paper from 1916 to 1991.

Canadian Stories this Week 

Happy New Year!

It has been our please to bring to you the stories which have made genealogy, heritage and history news in Canada every Monday morning with the Canadian Week in Review (CWR) since April 2012. 

And, we will celebrate the 8th blogiversary of our blog on January the 2nd, and it has been a busy, but rewarding time.

So as we count our blessing for 2015, we hope that 2016 will be a happy, healthy time for everyone, and that your interest in the news will continue to be as exciting as it has been for us. 

And that was the week in Canadian news!