Sunday, May 29, 2011

AutomatedGenealogy, a Canadian Genealogy Gem

Sometimes it seems we don't appear to truly appreciate things until they're broken...

AutomatedGenealogy, the free website with indexes and links to Canadian censuses, hasn't been working for a few days and there have been many comments on genealogy e-mail lists and queries about this.

There is a note on a couple of lists that Lindsay Patten, AutomatedGenealogy's owner, is away till mid-June. His mum's aware there's a problem with the site and has said he'll fix it when he's back. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nscumber/message/40006

When Lindsay returns, we should make sure he knows how much appreciated this free website is to all of us! Many volunteers contributed to the indexing, but Lindsay's the one responsible for initiating, developing, encouraging and maintaining these projects.

Automated Genealogy, 1852, 1901, 1906, 1911, Canadian censuses, 1851 New Brunswick and more: http://www.automatedgenealogy.com

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

DISCOVERING FIRST NATIONS HERITAGE - Vancouver - 24 May 2011

RESOURCES FOR DISCOVERING FIRST NATIONS HERITAGE

With Laurie J. Cooke, genealogy librarian, Cloverdale Branch, Surrey Public Library.

Another genealogy event at Vancouver Public Library, 24th May 2011, Tuesday, from 2-3:30 pm.
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Pick up tips and find out how Vancouver and Surrey Public Libraries' genealogy collections and services can help you on the path to finding out about your First Nations ancestors.

Seating limited. Free.
Alma VanDusen Room, Lower Level, Central Branch, Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia St., Vancouver.

VPL events: http://www.vpl.ca/events

Monday, May 09, 2011

Canadian War Bride talks - May 2011 Burnaby & Maple Ridge

Is there a World War I Canadian war bride in your family?

Thousands of brave young women crossed the Atlantic during and after WWI to start new lives as brides of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Soldiers. Annette Fulford will describe the life of her grandmother, Grace Clark, a war bride who sailed from England to Canada on the RMS Melita in 1919. Learn more about the war brides at Annette's website and blog: http://wwiwarbrides.shawwebspace.ca/blog

Annette Fulford, who's been researching war brides for some years now, will be speaking twice this month in the Lower Mainland. I'm looking forward to hearing her talk this week in Burnaby, and she'll be at the Maple Ridge Library, May 19th.

May 11th, 7:30-10 P.M. Sponsored by the British Columbia Genealogical Society: www.bcgs.ca
Edmonds Community Centre, 7282 Kingsway, Burnaby BC

May 19th, 2-3 P.M. Sponsored by the Maple Ridge Public Library: http://www.fvrl.bc.ca
130-22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC
This presentation is part of the library's Always Remember - Not Just in November series.

Sunday, May 08, 2011

History Away - BC Historical Federation conference


This weekend I've been attending the British Columbia Historical Federation (BCHF) conference in Powell River, BC, Canada. It's been a great few days for everyone with lots of tours exploring the history of this area, meeting up with old friends, and even relaxing a bit.

Last night's banquet was in the charming and spacious Dwight Hall, built by the Powell River Company in 1927, in the company townsite. Originally the dance floor was meant for 800 people! and a library and lodge rooms were below. The townsite itself is now designated as a Canadian National Historic District. Learn more about it from the Townsite Heritage Society of Powell River.

I can certainly recommend you visit the Laughing Oyster Restaurant, if you're up this way. Chef David Bowes gave us a fabulous banquet! We've had great food before at BCHF conferences, but this dinner will certainly stand out in our history.
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Thursday, May 05, 2011

Discovering First Nations Heritage - May 24, 2011 - Vancouver BC

This genealogy session should be of interest to many. I know Laurie Cooke and I'm sure this will be well worth going to. I hope to attend myself.

Resources for Discovering First Nations Heritage
Tuesday, May 24
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Free. Seating is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Alma VanDusen Room, Lower Level
Central Library
350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC

Finding out about your First Nations ancestors is not something covered in most genealogy books. Whether you are exploring your heritage, you need to prove your genealogy for First Nations status, or you are following up on an aboriginal ancestor in your family story, finding out about specialized resources can be a good first step. Pick up some tips and find out how Vancouver and Surrey Public Libraries' genealogy collections and services can help you on this path.

Laurie Cooke graduated from the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies at UBC 2004 and became a Librarian, at both SFU and Surrey Public Library. She found a permanent position in the Surrey Public Library's Cloverdale Genealogy department shortly afterwards and has never looked back.

Seating is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information please contact VPL - Fine Arts and History at 604-331-3716

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Vancouver, 1951 - After the Election - Ready for Work

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Well, it's the morning after....election day in Canada, that is, and it seems a great time to post this ROGERS family news clipping.

George Rogers (George William Rogers) ran as a member of the Vancouver Civic Non Partisan Association.

"Ready for Work is Vancouver School Board's only new member elected in last week's civic vote. George Rogers (centre) won't be officially installed until Jan. 7, but that didn't stop Chairman Mrs. H. N. [Jessie] Hollis and J. E. [Edwin] Eades from giving him some advance tips. " From The Vancouver Daily Province, British Columbia, Canada, Wednesday, 19 December 1951. No photographer's name given.

That particular Vancouver election marked a change in civic politics as on the ballot was a question on extending the vote to all Canadians over 21. That passed handily.

A plebiscite to allow Sunday entertainment in the city did not, but some quickly forcasted it would pass the next year when they 'young' would now be able to vote, not just Vancouver's property owners. I'll have to have a look to see if there's evidence that the next city elections did show a change. (See voting results,
The Vancouver Daily Province, 13 December, 1951, pp. 1-2).


Newspaper clippings, private collection. The Vancouver Daily Province clipping is posted with permission from The Vancouver Sun/The Province Library.

Monday, May 02, 2011

Tracing Your Ancestors in British Columbia - May 5th, 7pm, Vancouver Central Branch Library

The British Columbia Genealogical Society (BCGS) and the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) are co-sponsoring this free genealogy session.

Tracing Your Ancestors in British Columbia with M. Diane Rogers and Wendy Graham - Learn how to find your BC families in vital event records, obituaries, cemeteries, newspapers and more, using the many free resources available on the Internet and in local libraries and archives.

Thursday, May 5 at 7 pm, Peter Kaye Room, Lower Level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver. Free.

For more info, see the VPL event calendar: http://www.vpl.ca/cgi... or contact the BCGS by e-mail: bcgs @ bcgs.ca or call: 604 502 9119