Candian Passenger Lists 1865 to 1935 FREE for 3 Days

From the June 29th Toronto Star (GTA p3).

Candian Passenger Lists 1865 to 1935 are FREE on Ancestry until July 3rd

www.ancestry.ca/star or call 1-800-442-9181

You need to register (for free) before you can use the records.

Also, there is a promo for 35% off Ancestry subscriptions.

www.ancestry.ca/promo or call 1-800-497-1252

($192 for World Deluxe or $54 for Ancestry.ca)

If you've recently renewed at the full price, let them know that you're aware of the special offer! It's a substantial discount.
Thank you to Rose Hately for passing on this information.
Enjoy researching Canada Day . . .
See Dick Eastman's Newsletter . .

Ancestry.ca - New Data Added

Ancestry has just added the Canadian Census records for 1861, 1871 and 1881. Though available before elsewhere, these are now more readily available through Ancestry.ca.
Remember that in most public libraries Ancestry (library edn) is available free.

Local Durham Region libraries with Ancestry:
. . Ajax Public Library
. .Brock Township Public Libraries
. .Clarington Public Library
. .Oshawa Public Libraries,
. .Pickering Public Library,
. .Whitby Public Libraries,

and nearby,
. .Barrie Public Library,
. .North Kawartha Public Library,
. .Toronto Public Libraries.

N.B. Call smaller branches to ensure they have Ancestry at that location, even when the main branch does.

Norfolklore Genealogy Fair

Norfolklore -- Ontario's oldest genealogy fair will be held at a new location in 2009. It will be at the Senior Citizen's Centre on Pond St. in the Town of Simcoe. It is only 2 blocks from the Norfolk Heritage Centre. The date is September 26th. Put it on your calendar and come and see us.
See website for more info.

Krista Jorgensen leaves Whitby Archives

Krista has done an excellent job adding thousands of Whitby images on the Whitby Library section of the OurOntario web site. Also Krista has presented at our Branch on two occasions in the past year enriching our knowledge of early photographic history and techniques and the value and extent of the OurOntario Image collection

Krista has accepted a position in the Town of Georgina as the Branch Librarian at the Peter Gzowski Library in Sutton. Brian Winter will miss her work at the archives and we hope that the library will find someone to replace her in order to continue the digitization project.

We thank her for her work at the archives in Whitby and for her presentations to our O.G.S. Branch. We wish her every success in her newest endeavour.

Krista began her new position on June 4th.

Show and Share - December 2009 Meeting

Durham Region Branch's December 1st meeting celebrates members' achievements along with the holiday season.

To this end we need members to step forward to tell of their successes. We expect no more than a 5-7 minute presentation per person.

We will assist presenters to have their notes put on PowerPoint for the audience to see (if desired), including a photograph or two.

We are looking for 7-10 individuals to participate.

Possible themes:
* an interesting document found amongst an ancestor's ephemera
* a unique solution to a brick wall
* a photograph that reveals important clues
* an amazing discovery from an unexpected source
* interesting features in your genealogy software
* a website more of us should know about
* ?

Email your suggestion and willingness to present.
durham@ogs.on.ca

15th Annual BIFHSGO Family History Conference

18 – 20 September 2009
Special Focus on SCOTLAND

Program Overview:
* Expert lecturers in family history research and genealogy
* Pre-Conference educational events
* Consultations with experienced researchers
* Research room with free access to CD and online genealogy databases
* Marketplace of family history and genealogy-related products and services

Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St., Ottawa

More info: www.bifhsgo.ca / email conference@bifhsgo.ca / call 613-234-2520

Durham Histor!ca Fair 2009 - O.G.S. Prize

During the first week of May the Durham Region Histor!ca Fair was held at Whitby Cullen Park and on May 7 the awards evening was at hosted at the DDSB Office on Taunton Rd. East in Whitby. Thirty two schools from both the Public and the Catholic boards had 2700 students participating in projects at the school level. The projects were part of the curriculum expectations and were graded accordingly. One hundred and seventy-two students were nominated to compete at the regional fair. Adjudicators selected students for over 25 awards, including one from O.G.S. O.G.S. awards prizes at Histor!ca Fairs across Ontario. In addition five projects were selected to participate at the Ontario Fair in late June and one project was selected to participate in the Canada Wide Fair in Ottawa in July.

The O.G.S. prize in Durham was awarded to a Grade Seven student from Kedron P.S. Her project was about 'Her Family Tree'. She was awarded a one year O.G.S. student membership and an O.G.S. published book, "The Beginner's Guide to Genealogy". The school's library also receives a copy of the same book.

The presentation was made by the Chair of the Durham Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society.

New Ontario Vital Statistics: New Registrations of Births, Marriages and Deaths Available

New Year of Vital Statistics Available. Indexes and registrations for 1912 births, 1927 marriages, and 1937 deaths are now available on microfilm. These records are available for consultation in our Reading Room at 134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario. They may also be borrowed through our Microfilm Interloan Service, consulted at a Family History Centre, or purchased from the Ontario Genealogical Society.

Former DRB Branch Member, Betty Louella Bonk, Dies at Port Perry Hospital

BONK, Betty Louella (nee Randall) - Peacefully at Lakeridge Port Perry Hospital on Tuesday May 19th, 2009 with her husband by her side. Betty in her 73rd year is survived by her loving husband Bill of 51 years. Beloved mother of Susan and her husband Andrew Plumridge, Debra and her husband John Dufresne, Donna Bonk, Carl Bonk and his wife Monique and cherished grandmother of April, Rebekah, Malcolm, Sarah, Karin, Sebastian, Elden and Ysabelle. Dear sister of Ken, Jim and Loreen. Betty will be sadly missed by all her family and friends. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the caring and compassionate nursing staff at Lakeridge Health, Port Perry Hospital. Friends may call at the W.C. TOWN FUNERAL CHAPEL, 110 Dundas Street East in Whitby (905-668-3410) on Thursday May 21st, from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Funeral service will be held at St. John's Anglican Church at Victoria and Brock Street South in Whitby on Friday at 11 A.M.. If desired, memorial donations may be made to Rheumatoid Arthritis Society.

DRB Office Open During the Summer

Our Office will be open the 2nd TUESDAY (7-10 p.m.) and the 3rd SATURDAY (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) of each month during the summer (June, July, Aug.). We have air conditioning!
Continue your research with the help of branch member volunteers.
See you at our next branch meeting - 8 September 2009.

Next Branch Meeting - 8 Sept. 2009

Last Night was the last Durham Region Branch (of OGS) meeting before the summer hiatus.
Our next meeting is in the fall, Tuesday, 8 September 2009.
Enjoy your summer . . .

Irish Ancestry Workshop

Saturday, August 8, 2009
Toronto Branch and The Canadiana Department of the North York Central Library present John Grenham, Richard 'Dick' M. Doherty and Nuala Farrell-Griffin in a one-day workshop.
More information and registration details:

North York Central Library Auditorium
5120 Yonge St, Toronto
sponsored by Toronto Branch OGS.

Cost $35 postmarked before Jul 10th if an OGS member $5 more if not a member.
$40 after Jul 10th if space allows.

Sessions 11:30 to 12:30, 2:15 to 3:15, and 3:30 to 4:30
Check for details on Toronto branches website http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/