Held on the west coast: the history of Albert Head and William Head Quarantine Stations (1884-1958) In this post, I looked at the iterations of Canada's western quarantine stations, where medical inspectors inspected incoming immigrants to Canada for disease. As a genealogist, I want to fill in…

Don't waste a precious minute at the archives - use my tips to quickly pull all the vital records on your BC to do list.

I took a deep dive into genetic genealogy this weekend and you can too.

I love speaking with the BC Genealogical Society. They are such a generous, warm and friendly group. If you’re not yet a member come join us. It’s 40% off memberships to the end of 2025.

Finding Chinese Case Files at LAC just got simpler

If you've ever been baffled by researching 19th cent. criminal court cases in Canada, this is for you. And future me.

A WWII story about a Chinese Canadian soldier? Sign me up.

As "Exclusion: Beyond the Silence" is making its way onto screens large and small, I seized the chance to speak with writer and director Keira Loughran, and Helen Lee, about their experiences during and after film making.

Okay fellow 🇨🇦. It’s time to get out the vote. The cohort of people who can vote but don’t are women 18-30. They think they don’t matter. In this election their votes could swing key ridings. I’m asking my friends with university age kids to go and TAKE THEIR FRIENDS. We can do this on Monday.

Is it better to order the WWII genealogy pack? I do a deep dive into this question by ordering the same file with different options.

We got our voter cards in the mail yesterday. If you haven’t got yours yet, make sure that you are registered. The election is on April 28.

We did this tour and it was fantastic. Pictured below (in a rare quirk of fate) is the house that my grandparents owned for 40 years, except dolled up and fancy.

It is dangerous to declare one side or another as winning before the votes are counted. Do your research. See what all the parties are saying. See who is going to the rallies. Canada is divided. Go vote on April 28.

We need to talk about @rachelgilmore.bsky.social Our democracy is not going to make it without strong journalists. Let me begin by stating the obvious: these thoughts are mine alone. They do not speak for my employers. They are personal and, at this moment, angry. #cdnmedia tinyurl.com/mwtpfbze

Nikola Tesla called. He wants his good name back.

His final days in office might be his very best.

Happy 141st birthday to the Toronto Public library. 🎉🎉 Check out (see what I did there 😄) the 1884 library card.

Louder for those in the back: what you wear doesn’t define you. Who you are does.

I did not have “agree with Doug Ford” on my 2025 bingo card.

Now’s a good time to support the smart ones who know what they’re doing.

He said it better.

Canadians use American records too. See FundNARA.com to see how you can support the effort to keep govt funding.

If you believe that knowledge is power then libraries are not some antiquated ideal but the very heart of power.

For my US friends, something for your priority to do list.

Good news for Albertans! Note that only indices are available online, but if you find a person of interest, copies are readily available from the archives for a small fee.

In examining the events surrounding Won Alexander Cumyow's rapid downfall from aspiring Chinese Interpreter to convicted felon in 1885, key questions arise.

I’m mad at you, Justin. You’ve disappointed me so many times and then you do a thing like this. Well done, sir.

In a world filled with terrible news I have to share this. We had things delivered, they were big, they sat on the front step for three hours, and they were still there when I got home. The end.

I’m late to the #BlackHistoryMonth party but let me share why Tina Turner is my muse. She was unstoppable. She came from nothing. She overcame abuse. And just when people thought she was washed up, she roared back and became the icon she was meant to be. She was 45. 🧵1

Happy dance for Sudbury area family historians

My favourite library is all of them. #genealogy #library #story

Honestly some folks are so fussy. Quiet seat mate. Doesn’t hog the armrest. Doesn’t put her feet on the armrest. Doesn’t snore. Doesn’t try to talk to you during the movie. 😄

I’ve had - count ‘em - not one but two measles/ mumps/ rubella (MMR) boosters and I’m good for life. Mebbe time for you to check your boosters. Just sayin’. What’s next ffs.

This one hurt. I believed in her. And the proof lay in the records of another country’s archives.

I’m a subscriber. As a former newspaper person, it is terrifying to see the rise of misinformation. I can’t afford to donate much, but I do support real journalism with $$$.

We did a private tour with Christine in January and it was fabulous. Highly recommended if you are curious about the history of the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood in Vancouver, BC. ❤️❤️❤️

For Family Day weekend, I took a deep dive into a 140 yr old mystery and learned things I never knew.

Just saw the first “SK Snow Snake” of the year. About two metres long, it was hanging off the hood of a late model dark SUV and sparking away. 😅 (It’s a block heater cord still attached.) I would have gotten a photo for all you fine folk but I was driving and that’s illegal, never mind unsafe.

I’m doing a deep dive research post. It’s day three. Took a break to do a little doomscrolling and no thank you world, I’m going back to my 140 yr old mystery for a while longer.

It’s always wonderful to be included in Gail’s genealogy à la carte. 😄

My TBR pile just got bigger. Adding this one to my list. 🤩

Entire cities are resolving their differences to work together. I wish we were anywhere other than where we are but there’s some comfort in seeing us all row in the same direction.

This essay about 🇨🇦 from the head of the Juno Beach Centre struck me deeply. Happy 60th to the 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦.

I’m spreading the word to my Canadian friends because while the Institute is in the US, it is virtual and it will include a presentation by a Japanese Canadian expert, Linda Kawamoto Reid. Linda’s impressive résumé includes a decade as the archive for the Nikkei Museum, BC. Book your spot now.

When they make the words that we use too hot for us to say, they silence us. And that, my friends, is the point.

How an Ottawa journalist found my lost family village It's been a revelatory couple of weeks. In this post, I'll share the story of how I learned that Ottawa journalist and jazz pianist Peter Hum is my cousin, and how he solved the mystery of my lost maternal family village.

This conversation between @sadiyaansari.bsky.social and @tanyatalaga.bsky.social is ruining my best efforts to get work done this morning. My new plan is to buy both their books and read voraciously.

Years ago when I was just starting, my client asked me to explain this baffling disease that her mom experienced in the Netherlands, post WWII. Traumatic. Terrifying. Life altering. Now, I am nostalgic for the days when we didn’t know that polio is sudden infantile paralysis.

I have been reading genealogy à la carte up for years. It’s always a “pinch me” moment when I’m in it. 🙏🙏🙏 Gail.

The last three books I bought were solely to support the indie bookstores I was in. The books I’m actually reading were from the library. Please tell me I’m not alone in this.