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May 18th, 2012
Recently several cuts were announced by Library and Archives Canada (LAC). These cuts will affect the ability of LAC to provide a high level of service to researchers and will affect the public’s ability to access records housed at LAC. Additionally, LAC has announced cuts to programs that support archives throughout Canada, which will affect the ability of these organizations to continue to make Canada’s documentary history accessible.
What do these cuts mean?
Our access to Canada’s documentary history, as well as its continued preservation, has been put in jeopardy.
How will these cuts affect genealogical researchers?
1. LAC will be reducing their hours, restricting the public’s access to knowledgeable archivists and reference staff, and genealogical inquiries will require appointments.
2. The inter-library loan program will be cancelled as of February 2013. Previously researchers could request that documents be sent to their local library, free of charge. Examples of these documents included microfilms of passenger lists and census records, or published books held in the library collection. The cancellation of this program means that researchers must travel to Ottawa to view these records, or hire a researcher in the Ottawa area to access the records for them.
3. The number of staff employed at LAC is being reduced by approximately 20%. Not only does this mean a reduction in service to researchers, it will also affect LAC’s ability to catalogue books, describe archival collections, and digitize the collection.
4. LAC’s collection mandate is changing. Previously LAC’s role was to preserve Canada’s cultural and historical heritage, but now the focus has shifted to preserving the documents of the federal government. This means that private business records and the documentary history of ordinary Canadians are no longer being actively collected. Already several important pieces of Canada’s Aboriginal and military history have been acquired by private collectors both inside and outside of Canada.
5. Small and medium-sized archives throughout the country have been dependent upon funding administered through LAC. The elimination of this funding puts their ability to preserve their collections at risk. This funding, in the past, has allowed these institutions to properly describe archival records, digitize collections, create archival exhibitions, and hire new archival professionals.
If these changes concern you:
Write a letter to: your MP, the Minister of Canadian Heritage & Official Languages, the Prime Minister, and/or your local newspaper. Outline how these cuts will affect your ability to research and access Canada’s documentary history.
Members of Parliament:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?Language=E
Tags: archives, genealogy issues
Posted in General Posts, OGS Newsflash | No Comments »
April 9th, 2012
As sent to OGS Members April 4, 2012:
The Ontario Genealogical Society is pleased to announce that we have been granted funding by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to begin Phase 2 of our Keeping and Valuing Ontario’s Heritage Project. The funding consists of $156,000 over two years and will allow us to continue to assist Ontario heritage organizations in scanning their materials and making them available to researchers.
Phase 1 began in Fall 2008 with the aim to do the following:
- provide a digitized version of one-of-a-kind records, increasing security
- allow small organizations access to digitizing services they otherwise could not afford
- increase access to records significant to Ontario’s heritage
- allow an income stream to heritage organizations if they wish
Since then we have successfully joined with several Ontario heritage organizations to digitize their records and make them available online through a revenue generating program. We have launched a beta version of The Ontario Name Index (TONI) as the main access point to the Pay-Per-View database. The information available through Pay-Per-View allows access to the history of the people of this province.
Phase 2 seeks to continue to support the preservation of Ontario heritage materials through digitization by adding to the data available on this system and expanding our affiliations to include new heritage organizations. We will improve and expand on TONI while creating new indexing systems where necessary.
We will also create and launch a more user friendly search interface for TONI and Pay- Per-View to ensure that researchers can find and access their information with ease.
OGS gratefully acknowledges the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their strong support of this project and appreciates their ongoing efforts to support the growth and vitality of communities across the province of Ontario.
Tags: grants
Posted in OGS Newsflash | No Comments »
March 26th, 2012
In recognition of the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812, the Niagara Peninsula Branch is compiling a commemorative book of family stories about Ancestors who fought in or were affected by the War of 1812 (i.e. house burned, claim for losses, provided supplies to the army).
If you have an Ancestor who falls into this category and you would like their story to be
included in this book please go to the Branch Website (http://www.ogs.on.ca/niagara/) for
instructions.
All submissions must be received on or before midnight June 30, 2012.
Tags: niagara
Posted in Branch Activities, OGS Newsflash | No Comments »
February 13th, 2012
The Ontario Genealogical Society – Conference 2013
Hosted by: The Durham Region Branch
May 31 – June 2, 2013
Location:The University of Ontario Institute of Technology/ Durham College, Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario.
Deadline for Submissions – 31 July, 2012
Selected speakers will be notified in the late summer of 2012.
Syllabus material (PDF files), due in late 2012, is require for each lecture or workshop presentation.
Our Conference 2013 theme will be:
Pulling up Stakes – Putting Down Roots
We invite lecture submissions on topics about migration from all over the world to Canada – to Ontario specifically from early times to the present.
They should include: why the people left their homeland, the method of transportation used and why and where they settled. Topics could also include movement from Ontario to other parts of Canada and the USA.
We also invite submissions on general genealogical topics including methodology, skills building, record analysis and problem solving. Lectures should keep our theme in mind and focus on the use of technology for research.
Sessions are generally limited to fifty minutes plus a ten-minute question and answer session.
Guidelines
Proposals should include the following information:
- Speaker’s full name, address, telephone and fax numbers and email address
- Lecture title, not to exceed fourteen words, and a brief but comprehensive outline.
- Short summary of the lecture; word count not to exceed twenty-five words, which will be used in the program, if selected.
- Brief Speaker biography, not to exceed twenty-five words.
- Resume of recent lectures given by the speaker.
Speakers are to use an electronic presentation program and provide their own computers.
Individuals may submit any number of proposals. Complete proposals must be e-mailed to 2013progcom@gmail.com with the subject: 2013 OGS Conference – Call for Speakers.
Speakers whose sessions are not sponsored will receive a complimentary full conference registration with a digital syllabus
Besides remuneration, food and lodging will be based on the number of lectures given, and transportation expenses will depend upon the speaker’s home address.
Speakers who have their sessions sponsored will receive a complimentary one-day registration for the day of the presentation. Any additional expenses related to conference registration, compensation, food, lodging and transportation expenses are per the discretion of the sponsoring organization.
Organizations wishing to sponsor a lecture or track of lectures at the 2013 OGS conference in Oshawa, Ontario, can receive information by contacting 2013progcom@gmail.com
Questions?
Contact the Programme Chair at 2013progcom@gmail.com
Tags: call for speakers
Posted in Conference 2013 | No Comments »
November 7th, 2011
The Ontario Genealogical Society is looking for opportunities to publish books and other resources that meet the needs of our members, family and local historians, and the genealogical community.
We are looking particularly for “how-to” books that describe the methodology of undertaking family history research from Canada in other countries, such as Italy, Germany, and Scandinavia.
We are also interested in hearing of your ideas for publication, even if you are not an author yourself.
For details on how to submit a proposal, please visit http://www.ogs.on.ca/services/publishing.php or email the OGS Publishing Committee Chair at pacchair@ogs.on.ca
Tags: feedback, publishing
Posted in OGS projects | 2 Comments »
November 1st, 2011
November 1st of every year marks the start of the OGS membership season. As of today all OGS members and non members can take out a Membership for 2012 and instantly have access to the many online OGS benefits.
- Back issues of Families and eNewsleaf
- OGS member only Pedigree charts you can use in your genealogical research
- OGS Member message board where you can ask questions and share your knowledge with other members
- OGS Tech Support board where you can get all of your genealogical technical problems sorted out by speaking with knowledgeable volunteers
- Unique OGS databases such as the Strays database, The Wall of Ancestors, and the Empire Insurance Papers database
Also, for the first time this year, OGS members will receive special benefits as a result of our agreement with the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.
All OGS Members receive a 10% discount on Institute courses or packages.
OGS Members renewing before the end of January 2012 receive a free course:
Methodology-Part 1: Getting Started (see flyer in your November mailing for promotional code)
AND…
All OGS Members who renew their membership before December 31st, 2011 are automatically entered in a draw for a package of 9 courses in the stream of your choice: Canadian, American, English, Irish, Scottish, German, or Australian (Value approx. $900)
It’s never been a better time to 
Posted in General Posts | No Comments »
October 15th, 2011
Photo credit: priyanphoenix from morguefile.com
While we have been celebrating our 50th Anniversary all year, it’s worth sharing that today, October 15th , is the actual birthday of The Ontario Genealogical Society.
On October 15th 1961 The Ontario Genealogical Society was established in a meeting at the University of Waterloo. The fledgling Society was sponsored by the Pennsylvania German Folklore Society of Ontario and Dr. G.E. Reaman of Waterloo Ontario was made the first President.
Dr. Reaman’s first President’s Message is found on the front page of the very first Bulletin (now Families) which OGS members may view in the Members Only section of our website.
Through the hard work of enthusiastic genealogists across the province, we have changed and grown a great deal since that day in 1961.
Thank you to all members of The Ontario Genealogical Society for your tireless efforts and contributions over the years. Your dedication has made us who we are today.
Happy Birthday and welcome to our 51st year!
Tags: OGS news
Posted in 50th Anniversary | No Comments »
September 19th, 2011
OGS and Toronto Branch are sad to announce the passing of Sandra Moore.
Sandra passed away on Saturday September 17, 2011 after a long illness.
Sandra was one of the Top 50 in 50 which Toronto Branch and OGS recognized this year.
Sandra’s contributions to Toronto Branch extend back almost 30 years. She has served as Chair of Toronto Branch, co-author of the first edition of the Branch’s Policies & Procedures Manual and Branch librarian long before our collection had been subsumed by the OGS Library housed in the Canadiana Room at North York Central Library. She also worked extensively on various projects, including the Cemeteries Committee, for which she input the first Branch transcriptions into the computer.
Lately, Sandra has been known as the indefatigable leader of the Branch’s Places of Worship Committee. Through the dedication of Sandra, and other volunteers, the Places of Worship Committee has coordinated the transcribing and indexing of the many registers and records housed in the United Church Archives and in other churches and organizations.
Visitation and funeral arrangements are available here.
-contributed by Michael Ball of Toronto Branch
Tags: In memoriam
Posted in General Posts | No Comments »
September 13th, 2011
The November 1st deadline is fast approaching for entering the 2011 edition of the Annual Keffer Writing Contest.
So if you haven’t entered already, but have been thinking about it, please send your entry (with the subject line,“Keffer Writing Contest”) to gracejewell AT rogers.com before midnight, November 1st.
For the rules of entry into the contest, please refer to page 31 of the August 2011 edition of Families,or visit us online at http://www.ogs.on.ca/home/essay.php.
The three judges have been chosen, and are now awaiting your entries. The winners will be announced at Conference 2012 in Kingston.
The staff of Families would like to see as many members as possible enter the contest, so get that pen to paper, and let your writing talents show through!
Good Luck, and Happy Writing!
** please note that this entry has been changed to correct the email address for entries.**
Tags: Keffer Writing Contest
Posted in General Posts | No Comments »
September 2nd, 2011
The first ever British Home Child Day to be held at Upper Canada Village on Sept. 28, 2011
The “British Home Child Day Act” or Bill 185 received Royal Assent on June 1, 2011. Under this Private Members’ Bill, September 28 of each year is now designated as “British Home Child Day” in Ontario. From the 1860’s to the 1930’s over 100,000 children between infancy and 19 years were brought to Canada by various charitable institutions in hopes of securing a better life for these underprivileged boys and girls.
A group of volunteers, dedicated to recognizing and honouring the contribution of British Home Children to Ontario and Canada, are working with officials at the St. Lawrence Parks Commission in order to commemorate the first British Home Child Day on September 28 at Upper Canada Village.
Plans include the dedication of a maple tree at the Aultsville Station, donated by MPP Jim Brownell, a sponsor of Bill 185 and Home Child descendant; displays from various Home Children organizations; an opportunity for friends and descendants to tell the story of their home child; and a specially planned British Home Child Tour of Upper Canada Village.
The “Just Kidding” theatre group from Metcalfe will perform a sampling of their upcoming production based on a Home Child story, and throughout the day musicians will entertain guests. The day ends with a catered dinner at the Village’s Willard’s Hotel, with the purchase of advance tickets required.
For more information please consult www.uppercanadavillage.com by the beginning of September or e-mail Carolyn Goddard at carol.goddard AT sympatico.ca.
Carolyn Goddard, Chairperson
British Home Child Day Committee, SD&G
Tags: British Home Children, events
Posted in Genealogy Grab Bag | 1 Comment »
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