Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta

Drake, Saskatchewan

Recently I mentioned Drake specifically in my blog posting.  What I did say is that they were a small place (Statistics Canada's population count in 2001 was 248, up from 247 in 1996) and that a researcher was looking for data regarding some (past or present?) residents.

What I didn't say is that there are a couple of surprisingly useful resource available online for Drake in the form of images from a recent community celebration.  I found the site through Sheila Hill's excellent site focussing on genealogy in Drake.

• Drake History Book Committee.  (1987).  Drake:  Past and Present. - local history book of over 450 pages, all online!
• Bouphaphanh, Chai.  (2006).  Photo gallery of Drake.  This site contains 210 photographs of the front yards of homes, with signs showing who has lived in that home! (signs vary, but may contain original resident and year built!)

Now ... don't you just want to find family members who lived in Drake so you can use these resources?  For other great online help organized geographically, consult MHSA's Mennonite Geneaology Data Index.

In kinship,
Judii Rempel

RAOGK Partners up with FamilyLink.com

I wrote about RAOGK lst week - the "Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness" wherein someone will  obtain a specific genelogical errand for you.

Well, it's partnered, not surprisingly, with a Networking site caled FamilyLink.com wherein (presently) 1,700 individuals 'advertise' their willingness to do research from a specific geographic base and sometimes mention their own genealogical research focus as well. 

It was only a couple of weeks ago that researcher visiting the MHSA really wanted to know something about Drake, Saskatchewan.  It's a very small place and she wanted to know about one surname/family that lived there.  With the right contact ... the question would probably have been resolved in a few minutes just from their personal knowledge.

Unfortunately for us, there are no network listings yet for Ukraine.  But, it's about giving too - not just receiving.

In Kinship,
Judii

Getting Help from RAOGK

We all need it from time to time.  Me too. 

My needs are to clarify the meaning of a German word (the dictionary definition simply isn't clear enough on "Feuerstelle" to help me understand BH Unruh's book that list Mennonites in the early years in Russia).  Sometimes I'd like a photograph of a cemetery stone and I don't want to wait until I can vacation to that spot to snap it myself.  Other times, it is about getting a vital record from the British Columbia Archives in Victoria - which I know is available for the price of a photocopy - but if I order it formally it will cost $20 (VitalChek: VitalChek).

but, another way is to get the help of someone just as interested in genealogy as me, who is near to the data source and is happy to do a favour - because they know "what comes around, goes around". 

This is where RAOGK comes in:  Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness.  "While the volunteers of RAOGK have agreed to donate their time for free, you MUST PAY the volunteer for his/her expenses in fulfilling your request (copies, printing fees, postage, film or video tape, parking fees, etc.)."  See more answers to questions at their FAQ page (which MUST be read before you ask for help).  Then, see these pages for volunteers in Mennonite-concentrated Canadian provinces.

• British Columbia - http://www.raogk.org/bcolumbia.htm
• Alberta - http://www.raogk.org/alberta.htm
• Saskatchewan - http://www.raogk.org/saskatchewan.htm
• Manitoba - http://www.raogk.org/manitoba.htm
• Ontario - http://www.raogk.org/ontario.htm

And, in light of my last posting ... very interesting how FEW Mennonites are apparently listed as volunteers.  In the old days - Mennonite were "Stille in Land" but known for their volunteer spirit (freiwilliges).

In kinship,
Judii

No Longer: Stille in Lande

My – how things have changed.  “Stille in Land” – that was a desired state for Mennonites for a very long time.

But, in the last 24 hours I’ve had the radio waking me, accompanying me on the short trip to/from work, and the TV’s been on in the background while I get to MHSA things in the evenings.  There appear to be Mennos everywhere – in far disproportionate numbers.  Somewhere between 1-3% of Canadians could be Mennonites. 

NEWS

News Anchors in Calgary are Doug Dirks and Darrel Janz.  Contributing to CFCN regularly now are Terry Vogt and Chris Epp .  On the other hand, the early morning CBC Radio show (hosted by Newfoundlander Jim Brown) features Chuck Regehr regarding business news regularly. 

Today, specifically, Scott Regehr (commentating for the World Cup) showed up on CBC in the morning, as did Ernie Regehr (Peace work in Ottawa for MCC).

ENTERTAINMENT

Susie Wall of Vancouver reports to E-Canada.  Greg Neufeld has been among the finalists for Canadian Idol.  Well, and it’s not current, but what are the odds of TWO Canadian Idolists coming from Mennonite roots; from Abbotsford even?  See Shane Wiebe from 2004. And, tonight, Nickelback made it to e-News where a fourth runner up to the American Idol show is said to be “opening” for them in an upcoming concert.  In this closeup of the band, their t-shirt commentary is particularly poignant: www.landmines.org/images/nickelback.jpg

MILITARY SERVICE
Then, of course, the disturbing news that another six Canadian soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan.  If I’m correct, it follows the three that just died last month.  Of those nine, two had Mennonite names:  Joel Wiebe (G# 677928) and now Cole Bartsch (G# 122485).  Apart from their deaths in a surprising military occupation, Joel and Cole have other things in common.  Both have great great grandfathers with their same surnames who immigrated to Canada in July 1875 – just 2 days apart. 

Cole, in fact, is also descended from Deputy Bartsch – so well known to those who peer into Mennonite history.  See: Neff, Christian. (1953). "Bartsch, Johann (1757-1821)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 5 July 2007 <www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/b37556.html>.

LINKS

• Doug Dirks: (CBC Radio: http://www.cbc.ca/newsatsixcalgary/)
• Darrel Janz: (CFCN TV: http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/HTMLTemplate?brand=generic&tf=/CFCNPlus/generic/hubs/anchorPage.html&cf=/CFCNPlus/generic/hubs/frontpage.cfg&nav=anchor&subnav=DarrelJanz)
• Terry Vogt:  (Lethbridge: www.flickr.com/photos/ross2010/17912138/)
• Chris Epp (Calgary: www.christianity.ca/entertainment/television/2004/10.000.html)
• Chuck Regehr (www.cbc.ca/biznet/)
• Scott Regehr (commentating for the World Cup: ww.cbc.ca/sports/worldcup2006/features/whatson.html)
• Ernie Regehr (Peace work in Ottawa: www.iansa.org/regions/namerica/ernie_regehr.htm). 
• Susie Wall (www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051103/bio_susie_wall_051103/20051103/)
• Greg Neufeld (www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050616/idolbio_GregNeufeld/20060619?s_name=idol2006)
• Shane Wiebe (2004 Canadian Idol Finalist:  www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/idol/CTVShows/20040714/CI2-Top10-profile-WiebeShane/20040714)
• Nickelback (featuring the Kroeger brothers: www.nickelback.com/)

In kinship,
Judii