22 May 2013

Ottawa Branch Meeting - Saturday, May 25th

13:00 – 15:00
City of Ottawa Archives, 100 Tallwood Drive, Room 115
Arrive by 1:00 p.m. for Coffee, tea, cookies and networking.
Please sign in at the security desk when you arrive.


The life of Jack Couture
Presented by Michael MacDonald, author of "The Eye that Never Closes" (a look at the life of Joseph Roney of Aylmer who worked as a private investigator in the region for over 40 years) and "Poolroom and Politics: Aylmer History through the Lens and Pencil of Jack.

Couture was a journalist, activist, storyteller and poolroom operator. He was a unique mid-twentieth century resident of Aylmer, Quebec who originally hailed from Deseronto, Ontario. Like many such newly sprung industrial towns of the mid to late 1800s, it was populated by an imported French Canadian labour force. Couture was of this stock. The presentation will trace his poverty stricken beginnings and concentrate mostly on his colourful contributions to life in Aylmer, Quebec including his many contributions to the Ottawa daily newspapers in the 1940s to 1950s, most especially in his role as president and founder of the Aylmer Cow Watchers' Society. The Cow Watchers was an invention of his which provided a satirical vehicle through which he commented on events of the day.


This meeting will be simulcast for members who can't join us in person. To join the meeting, go to: http://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/ottawaogs/
If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before: Test your connection: http://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html

12 May 2013

Bicentennial Commemoration Skirmish at Hoople's Creek - June 30, 2013

Here is some info on a great event for people of all ages - The event is free to the public, donations cheerfully and with thanks accepted at the event.  If you are interested in attending the dinner at 4 (which I believe will be a fitting end to an event filled day), please contact me for tickets as we have to let the caterer know the number of attendees.  There is a limited number for sale, so don't delay, get in touch with me today!

On June 30, 2013, the Lost Villages Historical Society is holding a “Bicentennial Commemoration of the Skirmish at Hoople’s Creek” at the Lost Villages Museum on County Road #2 near Long Sault, Ontario at Ault Park.  This event, a fundraiser for the planned Gazebo on the museum grounds, is sure to be a day filled with fun, information and entertainment.  Beginning with a commemorative church service in the Sandtown Advent Christian Church at 10 am, followed by a Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on the museum grounds, there will be pre-Tattoo entertainment featuring local singers, a Settlers Market with a variety of goods available for purchase and displays located in the various buildings on the museum grounds.  The highlight of the day will be a “Tattoo at Two” which will feature local musicians and artists including the SD&G Pipe Band, Cadet Bands, Brockville Pipe Band, the 1st Grenville 1812 militia.  This jam packed day concludes at 4pm with a dinner and show at Ault Park.  The Beef on a bun with all the trimmings is catered by the St. Andrew’s Knights of Columbus #10416 with entertainment provided by Rev & The Choir Boys, all inclusive for $12.00, advance ticket purchase only please.  For more information on this event, please feel free to contact the Lost Villages Historical Society at info@lostvillages.ca or carol.goddard@sympatico.ca.  

A Sincere thank you to all our sponsors including Canadian Heritage, Ontario Power Generation, Township of South Stormont, Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, Parks of the St. Lawrence and David Brown Environmental.  The support shown by performers, volunteers and others is most appreciated.

Carol Goddard 
carolyn goddard <carol.goddard@sympatico.ca>

Feb 22 2013 - Bicentennial of the Battle of Ogdensburg

06 May 2013

Future of Region 8

The recommendations of the OGS Governance Review include doing away with the Regional Directors and replacing them with province-wide directors with certain skills. If this change is made, what happens to regions? Do we need to keep them, perhaps adjusted in size and content? Would this benefit the branches/SIGs by allowing better relationships between them. Or do we just leave it and allow branches/SIGs to "affiliate" with however they like, if any? What's the advantage to keeping the regions or is there a better way to do things?

Here in Region 8, I believe we have a strong organization and we communicate regularly with those other genealogical groups that are interested: LCGS, BIFHSGO and UOVGG. What do you think of the practice of including these groups and should this level of cooperation spread across the province?

Ottawa Genealogy 2013



Thanks to all who came out on a beautiful May day to make the first Ottawa Genealogy Day such a success. We had 58 people register for the sessions along with fifteen groups, including Global Genealogy and Archive CD Books in the Marketplace area.

They heard a series of interesting talks including the latest on what is happeneing at Library and Archives Canada, Family Search and in the world of genetic genealogy.


If anybody would like to subscribe to the new OGS eWeekly update, let me know at conference@ogsottawa.on.ca and I will send you a recent copy for your review.

Thanks for joining us on Saturday and I hope that we will see you out at one of our events soon.

28 April 2013

Ontario Genealogical Society Governance Review



Shirley Sturdevant  – Ontario Genealogical Society President

As recently announced, the OGS Governance Review Committee completed its findings and the Board posted the report in our Members’ Only section of the website  www.ogs.on.ca . I asked Members to comment on the report and below are some of those received. I look forward to hearing from others as OGS moves forward in implementing th e recommendations within the report.

To that end, the Board formed a Governance Task Force to review the report in more depth and to plan for implementation. The draft implementation plan was presented at a Special Meeting of the Board of Directors on 16 April 2013. The plan dealt with:

·         Restructuring the Board and Its Processes which involves the makeup and conduct of the Board  including skill - based roles for Directors, more involvement of Branches/Special Interest Groups  (SIGs) and Members, improved communication and transparency, review of committees and projects,  possible affiliations, and related steps. This will require ongoing dialogue with our geographic and special interest groups since this affects our current regional structure.

·         Comprehensive Communications Plan to improve communication strategies and technologies within The Society between and among Members, Branches/SIGs, the Board and the Provincial Office as  well as with those outside The Society in efforts to learn from one another and strengthen  relationships including advocacy and marketing strategies.

·         Recruiting the Right People for the Right Jobs focuses on establishing the needs of The Society and defining the roles and terms of reference for Directors.

·         Strive for Greater Financial Sustainability involves establishing a strong OGS Finance Committee to  work with the VP - Finance to strengthen, monitor and evaluate financial processes and holdings;  assist in considering entrepreneurial activities and affiliations in which The Society might  involve itself;  and, strengthen financial reporting to the Membership.

Dialogue with Branches/SIGs and individual Members will be a large part of this process. If you have not already done so, please review the Governance Review Committee’s Report and send your thoughts now to president@ogs.on.ca or watch for other opportunities to be involved in relevant discussion.

Whatever decisions are finally made, many changes to the Society Bylaws will be required. None of these changes will happen without the work of many dedicated Members. A number are already involved but, please, watch the developments and find a spot where your skills and talents can assist in moving The Society forward.

Together we are OGS!  

24 April 2013

Bytown/Ottawa Settlers No. 3

Soldier/Settlers Goulbourn Twp and area.
The Richmond Military Settlement is the second [Perth is the first and Lanark is the third] of the Rideau Military Settlements. Settlement in Richmond Settlement started in the fall of 1818.
A good Ref to start researching for an ancestor is Volume 5 of 'Index To The Upper Canada Land Books' dated Jan 1821 to Dec 1826. The soldiers/settlers would have completed their settlement duties and received their Land Patent during this date range. This is a nine volume series and a copy is in the Ottawa Branch, OGS Library at Ottawa City Archives. Any and all genealogical data was extracted and is listed in this book for each settler. The period covered by these nine volumes is from 8 July 1792 until Feb 1841.

The Goulbourn Museum deals with all aspects of the 100th/99th Regiment and is located at Stanley's Corners, just south of Stittsville  www.goulbournmuseum.ca  

Goulbourn Historical Society has the soldiers/settlers family files/records, etc in the Stittsville Public Library.

I have a collection of personnel files [3 binders plus] and they are presently at Ottawa City Archives in Ottawa Branch, OGS area

NOTE. One must know the following when dealing with the military settlers of Goulbourn Twp.
The 100th Regiment was raised in Ireland in 1804 and sailed to Canada in 1805. They fought in the War of 1812. Follow along at http://walkingwithjim.blogspot.com  In 1816 they were renumbered to the 99th Regiment and disbanded in 1818, a large number of soldiers electing to settle in Goulbourn area.

Next post will deal with the Rideau Canal Settlement,  after which posts will deal with persons who may not be well known to researchers.

FYI, the War of 1814 continues until the peace treaty is signed on 24 Dec 1814
Also WW1 starts in the fall of 1914 so its centennial starts next year

22 April 2013

OGS Region VIII - Annual General Meeting and Genealogy Day - Saturday April 27

Saturday 27 April, 09:30 – 16:30

Beckwith Township Hall, 1702 9th Line Beckwith, Blacks Corners, Ontario (corner of Highway 15 and Beckwith Concession 9).

You are invited to attend the OGS Region VIII -  Annual General Meeting and Genealogy Day on April 27, 2013 (9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) hosted by the Lanark County Genealogical Society.

Speakers:   
David Murdoch, LCGS                             The First Nations and Lanark County
Irene Spence and Ron Shaw, LCGS         The Forgotten Hero, Col. Alexander Fraser
David Murdoch, LCGS                             Memory Trust – A Panel of “Old Timers”

Plus

Market Place

Pre-registratio​n: $25 including lunch. The deadline for Pre-registratio​n is April 17, 2013.

Registration at the door $15 (DOES NOT INCLUDE LUNCH)

Please make cheques payable to “Lanark County Genealogical Society”.

Please  mark your cheque/envelope “OGS Region VIII, Pre-registratio​n and send to:  Frances Rathwell, LCGS Treasurer, 68 Beckwith Street, Perth, Ontario  K7H 1C1
The Pre-resistratio​n form can be found on the LCGS website:  http://www.glob​algenealogy.com​/LCGS/Special%2​0Day.htm

Contact: Frances Rathwell  frathwell@cogeco.ca  or phone  613-267-3178.