Join the Durham Region OGS Branch's 2012 Executive Team

The 2012 Durham Region OGS Branch elections will be held at the AGM at the November 1 Branch meeting.
The term for Executive positions is from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012.
Nominations open at the 4 October Branch meeting and will remain open until the AGM election, 1 Nov 2011.
All nominees must consent orally if present or by signed consent.
A Branch officer shall be an Individual, Family, or Honourary Life Member of the Society and the Branch. 
At our October 4th Branch meeting nominations will be accepted in writing or from the floor for the following positions on the 2012 Executive Committee:

•   Chair 
•   1st Vice Chair 
•   2nd Vice Chair  
•   Treasurer 
•   Recording Secretary 

Anyone wishing further information about the election process may  view the Branch Bylaws at:  http://www.durham.ogs.on.ca/membership/bylaws.htm


Bring your energy and ideas to our Branch projects - get nominated.

Preserving and Digitizing Your Family Records

A City of Toronto Archives fall workshop. 
Preserving and Digitizing Your Family Records 
Saturday 1 October (between 10 and 3) 
It will offer participants an opportunity to spend time behind the scenes with the Archives' Conservator and Digital Photographer, who will demonstrate techniques for handling and conserving old photographs and documents, as well as options for digitizing and sharing family photographs and other treasures online.
A detailed flyer about the workshop program and how to register is available on the Archives website - http://www.toronto.ca/archives.
Questions should be directed to Paul Sharkey (psharke@toronto.ca) at the City of Toronto Archives.

Keffer Essay Writing Contest

Just in from Elizabeth Lapointe, Editor of Families.
Any current member of the OGS, excluding members of the Judges' Panel, may submit a paper for consideration.
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@rogers.com before midnight, November 1st, 2011. 
The November 1st deadline is fast approaching for entering the 2011 edition of the Annual Keffer Writing Contest. 
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://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!

Ted Barris - Breaking the Silence

Ted Barris speaking at the Durham Branch OGS Meeting - Sept 6, 2011

 

Ted Barris talks to rank and file individuals in the Canadian military who have experienced conflict in the field. His presentation to our audience, on September 6, was fascinating and captivating, highlighting selected vet experiences in modern war. He somehow got the "real" stories from those who could/would not talk before. His latest, among well over a dozen books, is "Breaking the Silence" (a best seller). 
[Ted Tags: dynamic speaker, storyteller, educator, researcher, author, commentator, investigator, entertainer, wordsmith, journalist, workaholic,...]

Toronto Branch Fall Courses

The Toronto Branch runs a regular program of courses (4 to 8 weekly sessions) in a wide variety of subjects for genealogists at all levels of expertise.  Co-sponsored by the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library and the Toronto Reference Library.

1. Biographical Research for Ontario Genealogists
2. Basic Genealogy and Family History
3. Using the Results of the New Tests for Genealogy
4. Maps and Mapping for Genealogists
http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/courses.html

Thank you Lynn Heale (Quinte Branch) for the heads up, GL

NORFOLKLORE XXXV

NORFOLKLORE XXXV features exhibitors from across southern Ontario who set up displays and sales tables to assist the avid family historian.  This year’s event will take place on   Saturday September 24^th between 10am and 4pm.

The main event takes place at the Simcoe Seniors Centre, 89 Pond Street in Simcoe, but the nearby Eva Brook Donly Museum and Archives is also open for the day to researchers. Admission to both locations for the day is a single payment of $5/person (a $5 savings off of regular research admission).  www.norfolklore.com

1871 Canada Census

LAC Press Release. 

Launch of "Census of Canada, 1871"

Ottawa, August 30, 2011— The 1871 census marked the first regularly scheduled collection of national statistics, and Library and Archives Canada is now pleased to make its results available online. Researchers can access digitized images of original census returns featuring the name, age, country or province of birth, nationality, religion, and occupation of Canada's residents at the time.

The information covers the four provinces that were part of the Dominion of Canada in 1871: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.

Access to the digitized images of the 1871 census is available online in two different ways:

• Through a database that is searchable by nominal information such as Name, Given Name (s) and Age, and/or geographical information such as Province, District Name, District Number,and Sub-district Number. The database is available at:www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1871/index-e.html

• Through the "microform digitization” research tool, you can browse the microfilm reels page by page. The tool is available at:www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-110.02-e.php?&q2=26&interval=30&sk=0&&PHPSESSID=f0v3thhcgqvau3vslaruumn2a7

For more information, please contact webservices@lac-bac.gc.ca.