I had hopes that the new Muppet Show would bring me back to happier times. It didn't disappoint. I was laughing throughout the show, something I haven't done in ages. Thank you to all involved in bringing this back to life. #muppets

It's January 23rd, so happy National Pie Day! Yes, I know this is a US marketing "holiday". And yes, March 14 (3.14) is the real pi/pie day. Yet any excuse to have pie is a good one. Don't forget to celebrate pi approximation day on July 22 (7/22) by baking a cake or some tarts.

Hey @octranspo.com and @helps.octranspo.com, remind the operators of the 11 that McEwan/Ambleside/New Orchard is open. It's been more than a week and still drivers are bypassing those stops by using the Richmond Road bypass. This time 3 passengers were left stranded with 30 min before the next 11!

Using @octranspo.com on a daily or weekly basis is like going out on a blind date. You have to dress appropriately and show up a bit early in the hope your date will show up — or at least not be too late. #Ottawa

Hey @octranspo.com and @helps.octranspo.com , please remind the operators of the 11 that Ambleside has reopened. Several drivers are still using the Richmond Road temporary bypass instead of McEwan/Ambleside/New Orchard. Quite annoying as a customer!

This "next arriving" schedule for the Eastbound parkway stop at 6 pm on a week night at Lincoln Fields station in Ottawa is just indicative of the lousy scheduling folk have to deal with when it comes to @octranspo.com

On 19 October, Nathan Dylan Goodwin will present “Finding Henry” at 3:45 p.m. Nathan will explain the range of genealogical methodology approaches, archives and DNA testing used to discover the identity of an illegitimate child's biological father. More detail: bit.ly/3Vd7NMS #genealogy

On 19 October Sarah Wise will present “The Undesirables (Mental Institutions)” at 9 a.m. Sarah will tell us how the British government put thousands of ordinary working-class people into “mental deficiency” institutions; and offer examples of those affected. More detail: bit.ly/3Vd7NMS #genealogy

Canada's National Registration File of 1940 microfilms have finally been sent to Library and Archives Canada. But they aren't in great shape, so it will likely be a while before they're digitized. I write about this #genealogy gem in my blog post at familytreeknots.blogspot.com/2025/08/news...

What was life really like for those admitted to the workhouse? At 12:30 on 18 October, Dr. Mark Carroll will try to answer this question with information from institutions in London, Essex and Sussex, and show sources available for this challenge. More detail: bit.ly/3Vd7NMS #genealogy

Happy Saturday!

I love coming across curious items in archival collections that has nothing to do with my #genealogy research. In this case, the PIAT Firing Competition target was "One slightly used second-hand PANTHER tk [tank]." [LAC RG24-C-3, vol. 15073, File 1943 - H & PE 1944 War Diaries] #SWW #Canada #war

Check out the speakers and topics for BIFHSGO's virtual conference on 18 and 19 October! Registration opens on September 1. More detail on the conference website. www.bifhsgo.ca/2025-confere... #genealogy

I love when I come across an interesting cause of death in my #genealogy research. In this case, John C. Wildman's primary cause of death was "bodily degeneration" with an immediate cause being "worn away". He was 80 years of age at the time of death and farmed for most of his life.

@octranspo.com, in case no one has reported it, the transit map in the shelter at stop 5245 (south side Carling near Kempster) is upsidedown.

If you find kin listed in a cemetery interment register, make sure to cross-reference the burial location in the plot/lair books. You might just find other relatives buried in that lot you didn't even know about. That's happen twice to me in the past 3 days. #genealogy

When we can't find #genealogy records in collections, and we "know" they should be there, start asking yourself "Why?" Was there an event that destroyed the documents, or could they have been misfiled? Sometimes we need to research the research to continue our family history journey.

If your British #military kin were in #Canada between 1757-1899, then the LAC RG 8, "C" series of records might be of interest. I write about accessing those records in "Revisit - Library and Archives Canada RG 8, C Series How-To" at familytreeknots.blogspot.com/2025/06/revi.... #genealogy

If you get a "403 access forbidden" message when visiting Library and Archives Canada website, it is a "not you, it's them" sort of problem. They replied "...are experiencing technical difficulties due to additional pressure on LAC’s servers that power Collection and Census search" #genealogy

I wonder if Library and Archives Canada is getting tired of my feedback. Over the past two weeks, as I've been reviewing the site for my upcoming Legacy Family Tree Webinars talk on the LAC website, I've submitted 5 items. It's nice that they generally respond within 2 business days. #genealogy

What a way to wrap up our 30th Anniversary year! We have received an Award of Merit from the National Genealogical Society to recognize exceptional contributions to the field of genealogy over a period of five or more years. More info here: bit.ly/4jdY2Yp #genealogy

Happy Saturday!

Newspaper updates for March/April Chronicling America - buff.ly/MNisMq8 Advantage Archives - 0 Veridian - buff.ly/TblYVVn Newspapers dot com - buff.ly/35xZLQa GenealogyBank - 0 NewspaperARCHIVE - buff.ly/hJ0QBub British Newspaper Archive - buff.ly/2qt8flf Find My Past - buff.ly/qDSdMbP #genealogy

Hey #Ottawa #genealogists! Want some help with your family history research? Ottawa Branch experts are available at OPL Centrepointe Branch every second Tuesday, 2-3 pm, to answer your questions. Next session is tomorrow Apr 8. All welcome! Info: ottawa.ogs.on.ca/events/

At 9 a.m. EDT Sheila Faure and Nigel Lloyd will present “An Introduction to No. 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station Project”. They will present the background and approach to researching and writing biographies of the 879 soldiers who died at the No. 1 CCCS. [Photo LAC]

I just received the Second World War service file of a distant cousin from Library and Archives Canada that I submitted in 2021 as an informal (free) request. Glancing at it I noticed that he survived Operation Jubilee, AKA Dieppe Raid, with multiple injuries. #Canada #ww2 #military #genealogy

Happy Saturday! genealogyalacarte.ca?p=45082

This is addressed to those wonderful archives who have made digitized material available online: When updating the design of your site, please talk to #genealogy and #FamilyHistory researchers early on as part of the process. We use your sites a lot and we have feedback for you!

Every 2 weeks the Ottawa Public Library and @ottawaogs.bsky.social hold an in-person #genealogy drop-in at the Nepean-Centrepointe site. This week was a really good session since we helped a patron breakthrough a brick wall and also pointed her to a whole bunch of records to read.

Great #genealogy reading.

At 9 a.m. EST Ken McKinlay will present "Exploring the Official Government Newspapers: the Gazettes of the UK". Ken’s presentation will explore government gazettes in England, Scotland, and Ireland, showing how to search them online for valuable family history insights. #genealogy

If you are impatiently waiting for a Second World War service file from Library and Archives Canada that you requested (before or during the pandemic) via a free informal ATIP request, they are getting to them. I just received one I requested in Jul 2021. #genealogy #canada #military #LAC

If you have a burning mystery in your family tree, or a mystery match you’ve been wondering about, you might find WATO helpful. What are the Odds? (WATO) and the newer WATO plus were designed to help you tackle these types of challenges. You can read more in my latest blog post.

REMINDER: BIFHSGO’s monthly meeting on Saturday, February 8 will be online only. 9 am EST: Paul Cripwell – “Excel and Family History: How they can work together” 10:00 am EST: Dawn Kelly – “E.F. Kelly and The Champagne of Ginger Ales” #genealogy

Lots of good reading in these #genealogy blog posts. genealogyalacarte.ca?p=44757

We often don't realize how government acts affect our #genealogy research and records used. I share the resources I use when looking to find those #Ontario, #Canada acts that have impacted my research in "Legislative Acts and Ontario Genealogy" (familytreeknots.blogspot.com/2025/01/legi...).

Did you know Ottawa Branch Library ottawa.ogs.on.ca/library/ has over 13,000 #genealogy books & journals, focusing on Canada and British Isles, PLUS genealogy volunteers to help you find stuff? We’re at 100 Tallwood Dr., inside the Ottawa Archives reference room. Come visit!

Do you use Library & Archives Canada? They are conducting a survey which will pop up when you visit their website. Genealogists need to let their opinions be heard so that we can get improved access & services. They won't know if we don't tell them! #CanadianGenealogy #Genealogy #FamilyHistory