Finding Home Sweet Home ~ When You Never Knew Where It Was

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 13 (HOME SWEET HOME)

I was an adult before I found out my grandfather was born on the homestead in Saskatchewan.

Once I heard I became obsessed with finding out what I could about where my family settled when they immigrated from Ukraine in 1909.

My family's homestead:
SW, Section: 1, Township: 48, Range: 17, Meridian: W2.

This homestead is located in Saskatchewan.

This is what remains of the original cabin where my grandfather was born.

This is where my family's Canadian roots began.

After leaving Ukraine in 1909 my great grandparents chose Saskatchewan, Canada as their new home.

My grandfather was the first child born on that homestead.

On Google Maps I found these visuals for Home Sweet Home!

Google Clip

1

2

I definitely want to visit in real life, but for now am grateful for the virtual visits available with current technology.

Photos, letting you see the old family homestead!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1 Section 1, Township 48, Range 17, West of the 2nd Meridian. Retrieved March 25th 2025 from
http://www.legallandconverter.com/cgi-bin/shopats201703.cgi?cmd=forward&quarter=&section=1&township=48&range=17&meridian=W2&prg=Calc

2 Google Streetview Clip. Retrieved March 25th 2025 from
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1036565,-104.3433058,3a,90y,37.23h,80.91t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saABij26X4Tf0a-uje6ppGg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D9.090000000000003%26panoid%3DaABij26X4Tf0a-uje6ppGg%26yaw%3D37.23!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMyNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Sources:

Section 1, Township 48, Range 17, West of the 2nd Meridian. Retrieved March 25th 2025 from
http://www.legallandconverter.com/cgi-bin/shopats201703.cgi?cmd=forward&quarter=&section=1&township=48&range=17&meridian=W2&prg=Calc

Homestead. Alexr Pelyck. Library & Archives Canada. Retrieved March 25th 2025 from
https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/land/land-grants-western-canada-1870-1930/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=87918&

Photos:

Google screen clips, Retrieved March 25th 2025

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

This Family's Historic Event ~ Arrival In Canada

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 12 (HISTORIC EVENT)

1850, at age 30, Martha (nee Wolfenden) Aspden got on a ship with 4 children (Joseph age 6, Rachael age 4, Jonothan age 2, John infant), traveling from Liverpool England going to Canada.

They had a stop at Ellis Island September 18th 1850. 

It was this record I  found confirming their trip from England to Canada.

We know they traveled via ship to Canada because infant John died at sea somewhere between New York & Montreal. 

I haven't found that ship's manifest yet.

I have not found the record for husband John's arrival.

I have found  them together in Canada for the 1951 census in Norfolk County, Canada West (Ontario), Canada. 

Left buried in England were three babies: Alice, George, and Ann

Martha was pregnant while she traveled by ship from England with her small children.

What a trip that must have been for her.

Traveling alone with small children & pregnant while going to a new country.  

The 1951 census also revealed John was an Engineer, and the family  belonged to the Methodist Church.

Chris' 3rd great grandparents: John & Martha (nee Wolfenden) Aspden.

John Aspden
Birth 20 AUG 1819 • Brooks Bottoms, Bury, Lancashire, England
Death 7 MAR 1906 • Houghton Township, Norfolk County, Canada
and
Martha Wolfenden
Birth 10 OCT 1819 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Death 21 OCT 1888 • Houghton Township, Norfolk County, Canada

and their children:
Alice Aspden
Birth 1 DEC 1840 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Death 8 JAN 1845 • England
George Aspden (twin to Joseph)
Birth 22 AUG 1842 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Death 22 AUG 1842 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Joseph Aspden (twin to George)
Birth 22 AUG 1842 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Death OCT 1906 • Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Ann Aspden
Birth 10 FEB 1844 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Death 8 JUL 1846 • Brooksbottom, Walmersley, Lancashire, England
Rachael Aspden
Birth 3 JAN 1846 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Death 29 JUN 1891 • Waterford, Ontario, Canada
Jonathan Aspden
Birth 20 NOV 1847 • Brooksbottom, Walmersley, Bury, Lancashire, England
Death 26 SEP 1904 • Tay Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada
John Aspden
Birth 13 DEC 1849 • England
Death SEP-OCT 1850 • At Sea (between New York City and Montreal)
Thomas Aspden
Birth 27 JAN 1851 • Norfolk County, Townsend Township, Ontario, Canada
Death 7 OCT 1918 • Burford Tp., Brant Co., Ontario, Canada
Michael Aspden (X2 Great Grandfather)
Birth 8 DEC 1853 • Norfolk Co., Canada West
Death 25 JAN 1905 • Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
Sarah Jane (Jennie) Aspden
Birth 10 NOV 1854 • Houghton, Norfolk, Canada West, Canada
Death 3 OCT 1931 • Oakland, Brant, Ontario, Canada
Elsirana (Elsie Rena) Aspden
Birth 15 AUG 1857 • Vienna, Ontario, Canada
Death 12 SEP 1920 • Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.A.
Samuel Carlus Aspden
Birth 21 AUG 1859 • Townsend Township, Canada West
Death 4 APR 1922 • Tillsonburg, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
George M Aspden
Birth 6 AUG 1861 • Canada West, Canada
Death 26 DEC 1932 • Houghton, Norfolk, Canada
Martha Ann Aspden
Birth 16 MAY 1863 • Canada West, Canada
Death 16 JUL 1866 • Canada West, Canada

I don't know what caused this family to leave England for Canada. 
I don't know when X3 great grandfather John arrived.
What we do know is without that journey Chris and I would never have met, and our children never born. 

A historic event for this family was the arrival in Canada of Chris' 3rd great grandparents!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Pellack Family In Ukraine ~ My Brick Wall Still Stands

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 11 (BRICK WALL)

I first started researching to figure out where I fit into my own genealogical story when I discovered my Scottish grandfather didn't exist, and was instead Ukrainian. 

After almost 30 years of searching this mystery line remains a mystery.

DNA confirmed Clyde Robertson & Max Pellack were the same person, but this brick wall still stands firmly in place.

My father's paternal line is the one line I have made little progress on over the many years of searching.

Great Grandpa was born April 17th 1873 in Ukraine, but those facts are only found on Canadian documents created by the family. 

In the book, Our Courageous Pioneers, the journey was described by a family member when the book was published in 1991.

" ... The family departed by train from Skoroki to the port of Bremen, There, a wait of several days ensued while sufficient cargo of livestock and people were assembled to make the voyage profitable. Livestock were placed in the bottom and people were placed in the middle deck. Sometime in May, 1909, the leaky ship set out to sea With numerous stops for additional cargo and delays caused by traffic and icebergs, the voyage took some sixteen days.

Quebec felt cold. From the large gathering hall which was the dispersal point for all immigrants, the family was shuffled onto a train bound for Winnipeg and eventually to Star City.  Alexander's brother, Makita who immigrated to Canada two years earlier, met them at the train with a cart and oxen which he had hired from a neighbour. It was a long trip from Star City to the homestead east of Gronlid. Imagine bumping down cut lines, over stumps through sloughs. It was an unforgettable experience, a dark rainy night, with their first encounter with mosquitoes! ..." 1

I have been unable to find any documents from Ukraine.

I know they got on a ship in Bremen because I found the ship's manifest held by Library & Archives Canada.

My great grandparents
Alexander & Mary (nee Maximiw) Pellack 
and their 3 oldest children 2

According to the ship's manifest:
Ship: WILLEHAD 
Shipping Line: Canada Steamship Lines 
Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany Hamburg, Germany Bremerhaven, Germany Rotterdam, Netherlands 
Date of Departure: 1909-06-02
Date of Arrival: 1909-06-19

Alexander (Alex) Pellack
Birth 17 APR 1873 • Skoryky, Скорики, Ternopil's'ka Oblast, Ukraine
Death 22 OCT 1955 • Gronlid, Saskatchewan, Canada
traveled with wife (great grandma)
Marya (Maria) (Mary) (Marinka) Maximiw
Birth 24 DEC 1875 • Ukraine/Galicia/Austria - Unknown
Death 12 AUG 1946 • Gronlid, Saskatchewan, Canada
and their children
Eugenia (Johanna) Pellack
Birth 28 AUGUST 1898 • Skoriki, Ternopil, Ternopilska, Ukraine
Death 10 SEP 1990 • Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
Hryc (Harry) Pellack
Birth 16 JUL 1903 • Skoryky, Скорики, Ternopil's'ka, oblast, Ukraine
Death 12 MAR 1980 • Warren, Macomb, Michigan, USA
Steneine (Stephania) (Stefania) (Stella) (Esther) Pellack
Birth 9 FEB 1906 • Skoryky, Скорики, Ternopil's'ka, oblast, Ukraine
Death 9 JAN 1972 • Gronlid, Saskatchewan, Canada
my grandpa was the first born in Canada on the homestead

Prior to getting on the ship in Bremen heading to Canada I have found no records.

My grandfather - 1st child born in Canada
Max Pellack aka Clyde Robertson (assumed no record of name change)
Birth 10 MAY 1910 • homestead, SW, Section: 1, Township: 48, Range: 17, Meridian: W2, (Gronlid, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Clyde claimed San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA (Vancouver on his WW2 attestation papers).
Death 11 JUL 1986 • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

We are awaiting my father's yDNA results with the hopes this brick wall will finally be broken down

Still searching!

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Sources:

1 Pellack Family Origin Story. Our Courageous Pioneers : History of Gronlid and Surrounding Districts of Argus, Athol, Edenbridge, Freedom, Maryville, Murphy Creek, Sandhill Creek, Taelman, Taras, Teddington,." (Melfort Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishers , 1991), 188

2 Ship's Manifest. Library & Archives Canada, Immigration, Passenger Lists, Page 16, Retrieved March 6th 2020 from
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/immigration-records/passenger-lists/passenger-lists-1865-1922/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=5121&fbclid=IwAR0bFKIO58BlaeooRHtWlgBb6yrB7Ii6RlXBMf3dzADF_YdBLfITZJzNJtw

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

2 Brothers Came To Canada ~ Siblings Left Behind In Ukraine

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 10 (SIBLINGS)

In 1909 my great grandparents, Alexander & Mary (nee Maximiw) Pellack, immigrated to Canada from Ukraine.

They joined Alexander's brother Mikita who had immigrated 2 years earlier with their mother.

Left behind in Ukraine was the rest of the family.

I am unsure if I have the correct names/details for the siblings left behind.

This is what I have for the family

Parents:

Their children:

Mikita (Makita) (Myketa) Pellack
Birth FEB 1869 • Skoryky, Скорики, Ternopil's'ka Oblast, Ukraine
Death 1957 • Brooksby, Melfort Census Division, Saskatchewan, Canada

Alexander (Alex) Pellack (my great grandfather)
Birth 17 APR 1873 • Skoryky, Скорики, Ternopil's'ka Oblast, Ukraine
Death 22 OCT 1955 • Gronlid, Saskatchewan, Canada

Wolka Pellack

Birth Ukraine

Death Ukraine

Theodora Pellack

Birth Ukraine

Death Ukraine

Prokit Pellack

Birth Ukraine

Death Ukraine

AND half sibling (born to Mikihor after Mary went to Canada):
Netalie Pellack
Birth Ukraine
Death Ukraine
mother unknown

What I have recorded above comes from a cousin who visited Ukraine. 

I have not found any records for anyone except Alexander (my great grandfather) & his brother Mikita. 

All of the records I have found are Canadian.

I have found no actual proof from Ukraine

To assist in finding out more we are awaiting my dad's yDNA results.

When you aren't convinced you have found the facts!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Santa ~ Wears Birkenstocks

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 9 (FAMILY SECRET)

When I first thought about Family Secret I was thinking about historical scandals. 

When the email prompt arrived from Amy telling of her grandfather secretly playing Santa I decided to share our family's Secret Santa story.

Christmas 2024 Chris was asked to be Santa for his workplace's Christmas Party . 

This was the first time he had ever been asked.

During that party he held 2 roles. 

He was the cook for the pancake breakfast doing all the prep in the morning and cooking at the event, and clean up after.

Once most of the party goers had eaten he slipped away to get Santa ready. 

He was snuck out the backdoor by his secret service entourage.

His driver drove around the block so he could make a grand entrance from the front.

As they pulled into the front driveway 'Here Comes Santa Claus" began announcing his arrival.

The moment he got out of the car the crowd erupted with excitement.

Those kids did not see Chris - they only saw Santa.

Each of the children had a chance to visit with Santa who magically knew details about their lives that convinced them he was the real Santa.

He decided to use the vinyl boot covers that sat on top of his signature Birkenstock sandals he wears all year round.

One child asked him when the vinyl slipped to reveal the sandal, and Santa replied that normally he's in the North Pole so finds the weather in Canada too warm for boots.

I had wondered if any of them might recognize him as the person who jovially handed them their pancakes earlier.

As I listened to the chatter happening all over not one child said anything suggesting he wasn't the real Santa.

In fact I heard some talking about him being the real Santa because of what he knew when talking to them. 

One of the children asked if they could do a Christmas Train, and Santa wholeheartedly agreed.

It was so much fun to watch the kids and Santa traveling all over with the train of kids while the parents snapped photos.

When it was my turn to sit on Santa's knee he whispered in my ear "When I walked into the crowd of kids even I believed Santa had arrived".

The magic of Santa was enchanting.

As they were leaving many of the children stopped to say goodbye to Santa. 

One youngster had tears in his eyes as he hugged Santa.

Chris was honestly the best Santa.

He was jovial, fun, and believable even if he was wearing Birkenstock sandals.

 When someone you love is magical!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Oh Canada, Our Home and Native Land ~ That Only Us Command

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 8 (MIGRATION)

When I first started thinking about the prompt migration I immediately thought about birds.

Maybe I was thinking about spring at the time. 

We live on the WEsT COAST, and our winters are very mild with little snow.

For something different this year February was very cold so the little bit of snow we got stayed quite a while.

In looking at the beautiful snowy mountains surrounding us I wondered if Spring would arrive anytime soon. 

Just before the cold snap our tulips & daffodils had emerged, and I was worried they might not survive even though we added a layer of wood chips to protect them.

I love snow and the sun that shined during our cold snap.

It was a welcome change from the soggy mess we usually get in February.

I took this photo last week:

I was struck by how beautiful the mountain looked with the snow, and the symbolism of the Canadian Flag. 

"O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee." 1

We aren't really known as a patriotic country, but recently pride in all things Canadian has surged.

"Watch the moment singer Chantal Kreviazuk changed a lyric in 'O Canada' as a response to U.S. President Trump's 51st state comments at the 4 Nations final." 2

The lyric she changed was that only us command instead of in all of us command in response to the current political climate between the 2 countries.

"Tensions have risen between the neighbours and longtime allies over the past several weeks as Trump since being inaugurated has suggested multiple times that Canada become the 51st U.S. state, in relation to a trade dispute, and threatened a series of tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that will never happen.

The subject of Canada becoming the 51st state was brought up Thursday during a news conference with David McGuinty, Canada’s Public Safety Minister.

“Sounds like President Trump is worried about the outcome of the hockey game,” McGuinty said. “Canada is a sovereign and independent country. It has been for over 150 years and will remain so. This discussion of 51st state is a non-starter.” " 3

This was the first hockey game I have watched in a very long time. It was an amazing game. The players were well matched. 

Canada winning in overtime definitely felt like more than a hockey game.

Not for a minute have I ever wanted to live anywhere except Canada.

I take pride in being Canadian. 

My roots are pretty shallow on 3 of my family lines.

My maternal grandmother's paternal line has been in Canada since before Canada was Canada. 

Going back to my initial Bird & Spring thoughts about Migration I decided to share 11th great grandmother

Prudence Bird

Birth 1548 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England

Death 22 DEC 1606 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England
11th great grandfather John Merrill

Birth 1545 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England

Death ABT 1609 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England

Their son (10th great grandfather):

Nathaniell Merrill

Birth 1571 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England

Death 1626 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England
10th great grandmother Mary Blacksoll

Birth 1 MAY 1574 • Wherstead, Essex, Suffolk, England

Death 29 APR 1624 • Belstead, Babergh District, Suffolk, England

Their son (9th great grandfather, migrated England to America)

Nathaniel Merrill

Birth 1 MAY 1601 • Wherstead, Babergh District, Suffolk, England

Death 16 MAR 1655 • Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America 
9th great grandmother Susanna Wilterton

Birth 1610 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England

Death 25 JAN 1672 • Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America

Their son (8th great grandfather)

John Merrill (Deacon)

Birth 13 FEB 1636 • Lawford, Tendring District, Essex, England

Death 18 JUL 1712 • Hartford, Hartford Co, CT

8th great grandmother Sarah Margaret Watson

Birth 16 FEB 1636 • Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Death 23 NOV 1687 • Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America

Their son (7th great grandfather)

John Merrill

Birth 7 APR 1669 • Hartford, Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Death 9 MAY 1748 • West Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
7th great grandmother Sarah Marsh

Birth 16 FEB 1673 • Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Death 1748 • New Hartford, Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Their son (6th great grandfather)

Benjamin Merrill

Birth 1 JUN 1716 • West Hartford, Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Death 16 APR 1795 • West Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

6th great grandmother Mary Webster

Birth 10 DEC 1720 • Hartford, Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Death 1762 • Hartford, Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Their son (5th great grandfather, migrated America to Canada)

Roger Merrill

Birth 23 AUG 1755 • Hartford County, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Death APRIL 1851 • Northumberland County, Ontario, Upper Canada

5th great grandmother Chloe Ann Merry

Birth 1773 • New York, British Colonial America

Death 1841 • Percy Township, Ontario, Upper Canada

Their son (4th great grandfather, my 1st Ancestor born in Canada)

Samuel Merrill

Birth 7 FEB 1801 • Northumberland County, Ontario, Upper Canada

Death 13 JAN 1866 • Cramahe Hill, Ontario, Upper Canada

4th great grandmother Phoebe Ann Lothrup

Birth 19 NOV 1807 • New York, USA

Death 18 AUG 1896 • Breckenridge, Wilkin, Minnesota, USA
After the death of her husband Phoebe migrated to the United States to live with son John.

Their daughter (3rd great grandmother)

Artemissa (Artimissia) Merrill

Birth 1 JUN 1842 • Cramahe township, Ontario, Upper Canada

Death 14 NOV 1936 • Cambellford, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada
3rd great grandfather Solomon Bayes

Birth 31 AUG 1845 • Campbellford, Ontario, Upper Canada

Death 16 SEP 1907 • Campbellford Village, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada

In looking at this family line one different decision, and I wouldn't be claiming Canada as my home.

It turns out my Canadian roots are shallow on all 4 of my lines, but my pride in being Canadian is true north strong & free!!!

Now back to that hockey game - all of Canada cheered

"GOTTA SEE IT: Connor McDavid Wins 4 Nations Face-Off For Canada In Overtime" 4

"When they played “O Canada” for the second time, there were no American fans left in the arena to boo.

Instead, the Canadian team stood at the blue line, arm in arm, player and coach, wearing their championship hats while the maple leaf flag was lowered behind the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy and the national anthem reverberated across the Americans' home ice. The fans who remained, many of them in their red Team Canada jerseys, sang along.

Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday night as the North American rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into a geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy." 5

Hockey really is Canada's game. 

“You've got 40 million Canadians sitting at home, and you feel the energy.  Anytime you have the chance to play for our country or get to get the flag on our chest, it's a special, special feeling. It's hockey. That's what we do, right? It brings us together.” ” 6

Our tulips & daffodils survived the unexpected February cold snap.

Tracking the migratory route to PRIDE in Canada!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1  National anthem of Canada. Govrenment of Canada. Retrieved February 19th 2025 from 
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/anthem-canada.html

2 Watch the moment Chantal Kreviazuk changes 'O Canada' lyrics to protest Trump. CTV News. YouTube.  Retrieved February 19th 2025 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryo4rWNrWAc

3 Singer of Canadian anthem at 4 Nations Face-Off changes lyric to protest Trump's 51st state remarks. The Associated Press. CTV News. Originally published: February 20th 2025.  Updated February 21st 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/singer-of-canadian-anthem-at-4-nations-face-off-changes-lyric-to-protest-trumps-51st-state-remarks/

4 GOTTA SEE IT: Connor McDavid Wins 4 Nations Face-Off For Canada In Overtime.  Updated February 21st 2025. SportsNet. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGPdb7uOfow

5 Trudeau takes swipe at Trump after Canada’s 4 Nations victory over the U.S.. The Associated Press. CTV News. Originally published: February 20th 2025.  Updated February 21st 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/connor-mcdavid-scores-in-ot-to-give-canada-3-2-win-over-us-in-4-nations-face-off-final/

6 Team Canada delivers win for its country: 'That’s the Canadian way'. Engels, Eric Engels. SportsNet. Originally published February 22nd 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/team-canada-delivers-win-for-their-country-thats-the-canadian-way/

Sources:

A contribution to the genealogy of the Merrill family in America : being a particular record of the ancestry of Edward Henry Merrill / by his son, Cyrus Strong Merrill. HathiTrust. State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Original from the University of Wisconsin,. Digitized by Google. Retrieved February 20th 2025 from
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89061977419&view=1up&seq=1

GOTTA SEE IT: Connor McDavid Wins 4 Nations Face-Off For Canada In Overtime  Updated February 21st 2025. SportsNet. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGPdb7uOfow

'A madness in the air.' Trump's threats unleash patriotic wave among Canadians. The Canadian Press. CTV News. Originally published: February 5th 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/a-madness-in-the-air-trumps-threats-unleash-patriotic-wave-among-canadians/

National anthem of Canada. Govrenment of Canada. Retrieved February 19th 2025 from 
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/anthem-canada.html

Singer of Canadian anthem at 4 Nations Face-Off changes lyric to protest Trump's 51st state remarks. The Associated Press. CTV News. Originally published: February 20th 2025.  Updated February 21st 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/singer-of-canadian-anthem-at-4-nations-face-off-changes-lyric-to-protest-trumps-51st-state-remarks/

Team Canada delivers win for its country: 'That’s the Canadian way'. Engels, Eric Engels. SportsNet. Originally published February 22nd 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/team-canada-delivers-win-for-their-country-thats-the-canadian-way/

Trudeau takes swipe at Trump after Canada’s 4 Nations victory over the U.S.. The Associated Press. CTV News. Originally published: February 20th 2025.  Updated February 21st 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/connor-mcdavid-scores-in-ot-to-give-canada-3-2-win-over-us-in-4-nations-face-off-final/

Watch the moment Chantal Kreviazuk changes 'O Canada' lyrics to protest Trump. CTV News. YouTube.  Retrieved February 19th 2025 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryo4rWNrWAc

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Thomas Thomson ~ Letters Home From Kananaskis

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 7 (LETTERS & DIARIES)

My great grandfather Thomas Thomson was a guard at Camp 130 – Kananaskis/Seebe (Camp K) during World War 2.

These 2 letters (each have 4 pages) were sent home during that time.

In the Scottish fashion he called his wife mammy, and signed his letters daddy even when not writing to the children. 

The first letter is addressed to Thomas' wife, Elizabeth, and his daughter Mary & new husband Clyde (my grandparents).

This second letter is addressed only to Elizabeth.

It was written just 2 months before Thomas died at Kananaskis.

The author of the letters (my great grandfather)

Thomas Thomson

Birth 10 MAY 1880 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Death 19 NOV 1940 • Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada

The recipient of the letters 
great grandma: 

Elizabeth Young Slicer

Birth 4 AUG 1882 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Death 24 JUN 1958 • Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
grandma:

Mary Elizabeth Thomson

Birth 20 DEC 1915 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Death 3 AUG 2005 • Beausejour, Manitoba, Canada
grandpa:

Clyde Robertson (AKA Max Pellack)

Birth 10 MAY 1910 • San Francisco, California, USA (Clyde claimed)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Clyde's claimed on military records)
homestead, SW, Section: 1, Township: 48, Range: 17, Meridian: W2, Gronlid, Saskatchewan, Canada (Max's actual birth place)

Death 11 JUL 1986 • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Not included in the letters was Thomas' 1st born 

Marion Isabella (Maisie) Thomson

Birth 24 MAY 1914 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Death 14 SEP 1996 • Meadow Vista, Placer County, California, USA
married to

Wallace Mark (Wally) Reemelin

Birth 2 JUL 1918 • Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA

Death 29 DEC 2014 • Placer County, California, USA

Thomas & Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson had the 2 daughters noted above. They lost an infant (or stillborn) son in Scotland after the birth of 2nd daughter Mary who remembered the birth of her brother. There were no further children for this couple.

In reading the letters I began to wonder about Camp 130 – Kananaskis/Seebe (Camp K), and found this video

Holding onto the last words!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Sources:

Camp 130 – Kananaskis/Seebe (Camp K). POWs in Canada. Research by Michael O'Hagan, PhD. Retrieved February 11th 2025 from
https://powsincanada.ca/pows-in-canada/internment-camps/camp-130-kananaskis/

Internment in the Canadian Rockies | Camp 130. Retrieved February 11th 2025 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4ODHhRl-60

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________