Thanks to readers who recommended it, I picked up a copy of The Diary of Dukesang Wong at my favourite local book store, McNally Robinson. It's a slim volume and an easy read - no more than 115 pages not including bibliography. It is the only first-person account of the life of a Chinese railway… Continue reading The families of old Canada: Dukesang Wong, Chue Ah Louie and Yip Sang
Category: Canadian Genealogy
The prisoners of Kingston Pen, 1843-1890
I found a surprising cache of documents this week: historic prisoner records for Kingston Penitentiary. In this post, I'll share two finding techniques for prisoner records at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and at sister site Héritage Canadiana (Héritage). As noted in previous posts, the two sites share information, but I'm still working out their… Continue reading The prisoners of Kingston Pen, 1843-1890
Announcing: the Canadian Genealogical Virtual Research Institute (CGVRI): July 18-23, 2021
Big news: the brand new, all Canadian, virtual genealogy institute. Course 1: Immigration to Canada, coming July 18-23, 2021. Now open for registration.
100,000 thank yous – Past Presence celebrates a milestone
I celebrate my 100K visitor with a retrospective on Past Presence, with a look behind the curtains, some stats, and lots of thank yous.
The Saskatoon Fire Fighter Memorial
This is a post about the Fire Fighter Memorial, the men that are memorialized there, and the stories of those fires.
9 Reflections on 2020
I ask myself nine questions and reflect on 2020: the most memorable year of my life.
Do you have a Chinese Immigration certificate?
When I was young, I found my father's Chinese Immigration certificate in his desk. I was confused: I knew he was born in Vancouver, BC, Canada, but the document said Department of Immigration and Colonization. Was he an immigrant? Why was he an immigrant? For pity's sake, my grandfather was born in Vancouver too. If… Continue reading Do you have a Chinese Immigration certificate?
Disenfranchised: Having, losing, and regaining the vote, a quick look at the laws 1872-1948
Come with me as I look at the exact wording of the disenfranchising laws for the Chinese from 1872-1948, including 16 links to finding original Acts and legislation in Canada.
We shall never forget – 12 posts on war and family history
My collection of a dozen posts and stories for Remembrance Day
The cemeteries of New Westminster, BC, from the BC Pen to Woodlands, and the ones under the high school
This is a post about the various cemeteries serving historic New Westminster, including the ones under the high school, and those used by hospitals and prisons: Essondale, Woodlands, BC Pen, Oakalla.