Well, as many will know, the past months have all been very busy - and no time for blogging or my own genealogy. January was a bit of a blur too, but March seems to be brighter, maybe with the 'time change'.  Of course, I did attend RootsTech Conference last month, online, and that was fun. I'd surely like to attend in person one more time, so I should start saving my nickels. (No new pennies in Canada, and really not many nickels around every day either.)   If by any chance you didn't attend RootsTech, go now online. Lots there to learn and do. All you need is to register ..read more

Today is the end of our Baker's Dozen (13 Days) of Online Resources for Vancouver Genealogy Research. These are 'tried and true'. But, of course, you will find information on Vancouver city and people all over the Internet.  Here are just a few more examples. Hope one or them at least brings you new information! Library and Archives Canada Many of the LAC databases have info, for e.g. the World War I personnel files, the Immigrants from China, 1885-1949 database, the censuses, the book collection, and the maps. Not everything is digitized, but some are, for e.g., "Atlas of the city o ..read more

 Nearing the last of our Baker's Dozen of Vancouver Resources but never least - The City of Vancouver Archives - 90 years young this year - an essential source for Vancouver research. I like to point people to this page which has guides to research at the Vancouver Archives, including genealogy, house history and more: https://vancouver.ca/your-government/research-at-the-archives.aspx  The guides for genealogy include Directories (1882 to 1996; also some BC Directories), Mountain View Cemetery records, Voters' lists (1886 to 1992), News clippings, Private-sector records, Photogr ..read more

 So you've looked at some death records for Vancouverites. What did they leave behind, if anything? Do check to see if you can find if they left a will and/or an estate.   Start at the FamilySearch Wiki page which has links to information and indexes and images for British Columbia wills and probate files: https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/British_Columbia_Probate_Records I recommend you read the BC Archives guides first; links are on the above FamilySearch Wiki page.  British Columbia Archives Research Guide to Probated Wills" and ""British Columbia Archives Research Gu ..read more

To research people in Vancouver, it's best to know at least a little about its history, neighbourhoods and transportation.  And its place in what we often still call 'Greater Vancouver'.  Here are just a few online resources illustrating Vancouver's streetcar history.  Hastings Streetcar with ads, Route No 20, Vancouver 1944. Photograph courtesy of City of Vancouver Archives CVA 586-1874: Public Domain. Creators listed as Don Coltman, Howard King, Warner Williams and Donn B.A. Williams (also donor). https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/streetcar-ads-3 First, "Vancouver E ..read more

 Today's Vancouver resources are: The Vancouver Heritage Site Finder, an interactive map with photos and more: https://www.heritagesitefinder.ca/  Developed by the Vancouver Heritage Foundation. See the website for more articles, events, etc.: https://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/  and the City of Vancouver's Heritage Register - around 2,200 registered heritage buildings in Vancouver, and 138 parks and trees, as well as monuments and archaeological sites and 16 heritage streetscapes: https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/find-a-registered-heritage-build ..read more

 Another very useful database for Vancouver research is:  Heritage Vancouver's Vancouver Building Permits database  This includes information for -  City of Vancouver: Jan 1901 to Dec 1929 (see note for 1905-1908)* Transcription ongoing District of South Vancouver: November 1911 to December 1928. Corporation of Point Grey: May 1912 to December 1928. (Both South Vancouver and Point Grey joined Vancouver in 1929.) Search the database here: http://heritagevancouver.org/building-permits/  Follow the above link and search for this nice example - 2720 Yukon Stree ..read more

 Mountain View Cemetery is Vancouver's only cemetery, although early on there were burials at other sites. Often the death registration or a newspaper article will include a burial place. (After 1919, you may find some Vancouver residents buried in Burnaby at the Ocean View Cemetery which was perhaps seen as more modern. Or later yet in the Masonic Cemetery in Burnaby, now named the Pacific Heritage Cemetery.) Mountain View maintains records of burials and has an online database for those buried 20 or more years ago: https://vancouver.ca/your-government/mountain-view-cemetery.aspx  Y ..read more

Today's resource is one for British Columbia, but certainly is vital for those Vancouver records all genealogists look for  - Birth, Marriage & Death records.   https://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy Note: The Help button will take you to a guide with helpful information and search tips. (It's not quite up to date.)   Many of British Columbia's BMD records are online, free to download. There are, of course, some restrictions for privacy reasons. Currently these records are in this database - there should be an update soon, perhaps in May.  Bi ..read more

 Today I'm featuring the Vancouver School Boards Archives & Heritage website. https://blogs.vsb.bc.ca/heritage/ Search for a school name and see photos collected with usually a little information about the school.  (Rarely are pupils named.)  Most of the photos seem quite recent. I believe a good number of older photos were collected digitally and hope to see them added someday soon.  One area features 'Lost Schools' with information on schools no longer in operation, including some photographs.  One of the schools included in that section is the Vancouver Normal S ..read more