Leaving Ontario, Resources for Tracking Ontario Migrants

Leaving Ontario, Resources for Tracking Ontario Migrants is Fawne Stratford-Devai's latest book, available for sale at Global Genealogy in Campbellville, ON. In it, she offers leads for those who have hit the proverbial genealogical "brick wall" for ancestors who have left the province of Ontario. The bonus, according to Rick Roberts, writing for the Global Gazette, is her transcription of one of the resources she consulted when preparing the book. To read more, please click here, and you will also be taken to her transcription of "'Go West' Horace Greely's Advice Taken by Many Canadians" from the The London Adviser published Wednesday April 7, 1880.

War Orphans from Poland (via Siberia and Africa) in Canada

I wasn't aware of the numbers of war orphans in Canada from Poland by way of Siberia and Africa. Their journey is one chronicled in the book, Stolen Childhood: A Saga of Polish War Children by Lucjan Krolikowski. These 123 children arrived in Montreal in 1949, though thousands more remained in Africa. To learn more, please visit the Montreal Gazette article by clicking here.

My thanks to my sister who saw this article and pointed it out to me.

Jewish Cemeteries in Toronto

Some time ago, the Toronto Star ran a great article on the first Jewish cemeteries founded in the City of Toronto. What is more important is the project of these cemeteries by volunteers of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto to take digital photos of each and every tombstone in each of these cemeteries. To read the article, please click here.

Writing a Narrative Family History Seminar

The Ontario Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists has teamed up with the Canadiana Department of the North York Central Library to offer this seminar with John Colletta on Saturday, September 27, 2008. The day promises to help you "learn how to turn your family research into readable stories." Registration is $20 for OCAPG members, $45 for non-members and space is limited, so be sure to register soon!

African Roots in Canada

This day-long summer workshop on Saturday, August 9 is presented by the Ontario Genealogical Society, Toronto Branch in conjunction with the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library (Toronto Public Library) and the Ontario Black History Society. There are seven speakers in addition to a lunchtime tour of the Canadiana Department and, my personal favourite, a question and answer session with the speakers/expert panel. Registration fees increase after July 15th, so be sure to register quickly!

IFLA Genealogy and Local History Section Newsletter

I've previously blogged about IFLA's Genealogy and Local History Section's Satellite Conference here which, I understand, is still accepting registrations.  It was only recently, however, that I joined the mailing list and learned that the Section publishes an online newsletter.  The newest edition of e-newsletter is now available and may be accessed by clicking here to be taken to the pdf. Though not everything is Canadian, the information that this publication contains demonstrates the diversity of Local History and Genealogy projects from around the world. It is published twice a year. I look forward to exploring it more in depth, and am very jealous of anyone heading on the Expedition to Grosse-Ile!

Oh my gosh...

I was reading through my personal email when I came across my subscription to RootsWeb Review. I haven't read it in a while. I started thinking that my spam mail filter must have grabbed it and tossed it before I got a chance to see it as it is an e-newsletter that is published regularly, but going to their website, I noticed that it did change to monthly publication from weekly, beginning in April 2008.

I really like the Review. It offers a lot of very helpful general genealogical research tips, like the article this issue entitled, "Research Clues from the Faith of Our Fathers" by Joan Young which looks at the significance of faith (religion) in research. Another piece on "International Genealogical Symbols" by Mary Harrell-Sesniak illustrates symbols used in describing relationships in a variety of resources from around the world.

What surprised me was not the quality of the newsletter, but the fact that this blog received a mention, and from the Editor's Desk at that! She writes:

Editor's Desk: News and Notes

Locating Free Canadian Resources

If you're looking for a blog that captures primarily free Canadian resources, be sure to take a look here.

Previously published in RootsWeb Review: 9 July 2008, Vol. 11, No. 17

Dick Eastman's blog, Cyndi's List, various library schools, and a few other places, now RootsWeb Review. I'm very flattered and extremely pleased that this blog is allowing me to "wander" farther and farther!

CanadaGenealogy, or, 'Jane's Your Aunt' Blog

CanadaGenealogy, or, 'Jane's Your Aunt' is a blog that is written to be about, "Canadian Genealogy & Women's History: Current Ideas, Information & Projects." It has some great things in it, including the announcement for the BC Genealogical Society's Annual Free Library Research Week, taking place July 21-26.
Many thanks to the blog's owner, M. Diane Rogers, for adding this blog to her blogroll for Canadian Genealogy. I've added her blog to my list as well!

Digital Books of Remembrance

From my colleague, Joanne McCarthy, at Halifax Public Libraries:

The Halifax Public Libraries (Nova Scotia, Canada) is pleased to announce the launching of the online Halifax County Books of Remembrance.  If you are searching for family members who died in World War 1, World War 2 or the Korean War, have a look at our online Books of Remembrance, a digital copy of the two handmade and hand illustrated lists commemorating those who lost their lives during the Wars.

It can be found at  http://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/content/view/197/397/

You can search by surname, rank, regiment or cause of death (for WW1). You can also print out a colour copy (if you have a colour printer) by clicking on the "print page" icon underneath the page display.