In this post I share my thoughts on some confusing concepts in genealogy - original and derivative records; negative evidence; primary, secondary, and indeterminable information - all by looking at one original record from the BC archives. Genealogy Search - BC Archives Those of us fortunate to research in British Columbia rely on the Royal… Continue reading How to read an original record for evidence
Author: wanderernolonger
Accredited Genealogist® professional in the region of Canada Western Provinces (BC, AB, SK, MB). I love sharing what I've learned through blogging and public speaking. Member of genealogy societies across the country. My specialities are Western Canada and Chinese Canadian genealogy, and I have a deep interest in SOE F136.
Over 5K new Chinese Canadian records are now online at Héritage Canadiana
In this post I will discuss the new release of digitized records at Héritage Canadiana, show you how to access them and then share some thoughts about what the aggregated collection can teach us. What is a C.I.9? A Chinese Immigration Certificate no. 9 is a Canadian reentry certificate. They were official government documents issued… Continue reading Over 5K new Chinese Canadian records are now online at Héritage Canadiana
Wing Sang: a house of memory
The committee chose Wing Sang at 51 E Pender Street to be the new museum. This iconic building, the first of its kind in Chinatown, the mythical touchstone of dreams for so many immigrants, and my family's historic home, will now be the house of our collective memories.
Celebrating Chinese New Year with Po Po’s Famous Pork Belly, Potato and Taro Dish
Now we can order wo tao kow yuk any day of the week, but this New Year's dish made from a pig's belly was meant to be a once-a-year treat: the ultimate marriage of layers and layers of pig fat with two starches to soak up all the yummy goodness.
Gong Hey Fat Choi, Year of the Tiger (恭喜发财 虎年吉祥)
Very happy Year of the Tiger to everyone! Join me as I talk about the new edition of my book, Getting Started in Chinese Genealogy while snacking on some delicious New Year delicacies.
Past-Presence roundup: what’s new?
It's an exciting time to be a Chinese genealogist. In this post I'll share five quick stories about what's new in the run up to Chinese New Year on Tuesday. New edition of Getting Started in Chinese Genealogy New and improved: Tools for PC loversWhat are jiapus and how to find them onlineExpanded section for… Continue reading Past-Presence roundup: what’s new?
The holiday read: “Finding Mr. Wong” by Susan Crean
In Finding Mr. Wong, Susan Crean (b. 1945; Toronto, Ontario, Canada) weaves together the histories of two significant men in her life: her grandfather Adam Gordon Campbell Crean, a second-generation Irishman from County Roscommon; and Gordon's cook-cum-consigliere (see below), Wong Dong Wong (黃宗旺) (pinyin: Huang Zong Wang) (1895-1970), a first-generation Chinese from Taishan County. Their… Continue reading The holiday read: “Finding Mr. Wong” by Susan Crean
First and Second World War Files at LAC and Ancestry
On Remembrance Day I share my two most recent posts on the World Wars, PLUS Ancestry's free military collection offer, good to Nov 12th.
Requesting Second World War Files from LAC in Oct 2021: what you need to know now
In this post I share my experience in a recent application for a Second World War military service file, and then look at the surprising depth of military files online at Library and Archives Canada
Exploring First World War Files online at LAC: A Top 10 List
In this two part series, I begin exploring military files at Library and Archives Canada, beginning with the First World War.