FAMILY HISTORY CONNECTIONS

Archives of Manitoba - Hudson's Bay Company Archives

https://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/archives/hbca/biographical/index.html

This is an excellent resource if you have any ancestors who worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Hudson’s Bay Company Archives (HBCA) is home to the archival records of Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), and is part of the Archives of Manitoba.

HBCA acquires and preserves archival records of HBC and other records related to HBC history, such as private records of individuals and subsidiary companies (including the North West Company), and encourages the use and understanding of these records.

Peter Gunn’s biographical record can be found here (along with any other relative who worked for the HBC during its long history).

Atlas of Alberta Railways – University of Alberta Library

http://railways.library.ualberta.ca/Maps-8-1-1/

This is an excellent site if you want to learn about the history of Alberta Railways. The history of Alberta and the history or its railways are inexorably connected.

Mount Bess

References to Mount Bess can be found at: https://www.spiralroad.com/mount-bess/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Bess
https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=66013
https://cdnrockiesdatabases.ca/peaks/117#undefined3

Bowles, G., Laurilla, R., & Putnam, W. (2006). Canadian mountain placenames – The Rockies and Columbia Mountains. [Electronic version].

Surrey: Rocky Mountain Books. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from

http://books.google.ca/books?id=5qVu36F64dYC&pg=PA42&lpg= PA42&dq=Mount+Bess,+Yates,+Canadian+Place+Names&source= bl&ots=EzSQqz7Rpp&sig=o1Amn9RGmzEmuofmQaD_X27XVxs &hl=en&ei=D3HSS_60MIL98Aah1LDsDw&sa=X&oi=book_result &ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CBIQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

Coleman, A.P. (2006). The Canadian Rockies: New and old trails. Surrey: Rocky Mountain Books, Ltd.

THE DARK ENCHANTED ISLE

The dark enchanted isle, by John Bremner is a book that any descendent from the residents of Rackwick should have. It is a family treasure.
It was published in 1997 by Kirkwall: Bellavista Publications. I found a used book online.

AS LONG AS THIS LAND SHALL LAST

This is an excellent resource if you wish to learn about the history of Treaty 8, for which Peter Gunn was an interpreter for two adhesions.
Fumoleau, Rene (2004). As long as this land shall last. A history of treaty 8 and treaty 11, 1870- 1939. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.

THE LANTERN ERA

This book provides family histories for those living in the Rochfort, Sangudo and Roydale region.
Holt, Vera E. (Ed.). (1979). The lantern era: A history of Cherhill, Rochfort Bridge, Sangudo and surrounding school districts. Winnipeg: InterCollegiate Press.
I have my family’s copy.

THE RAINBOW CHASERS

This narrative by Erwin MacDonald was a pleasure to read. His description of Lac Ste. Anne, a stop on his journey to the west, was exceptional.
MacDonald, Ervin Austin. (1982, 2005). The rainbow chasers. Surrey: TouchWood Editions.

THE KILDONAN CLEARANCES – THE ANCIENT HOME OF THE GUNN FAMILY

A detailed account of the Kildonan Clearances that resulted in the migration of the Gunn family north to Thurso Caithness, the Orkney Isles and the Nor’ West of Canada.

ORKNEYJAR – THE HERITAGE OF THE ORKNEY ISLANDS

An enormously valuable resource for anyone with Orkney ancestors.

Orkneyjar - The Heritage of the Orkney Islands

PEEL’s PRAIRIE PROVINCES

Peel Prairie Provinces - UofA Library

Peel's Prairie Provinces is a collection of digitized materials related to western Canada.
Originally hosted online through the University of Alberta Library, the collection is being migrated to the Internet Archive platform. Learn more aboutPeel's Prairie Provinces.

This was where I discovered numerous mentions of the Gunn family in the Edmonton bulletion from 1891 to 1924.

WHITTON and RITCH GENEALOGY

https://crwhitton.com/

This is likely the most extensive documentation of the ancestry of Mary Ann Ritch and all relatives. This link will take you to a treasure trove of history, relativies and connections to descendants of the Ritch family living throughout the world.

Mary Ann Ritch b. 20 Jan 1865 Winbreck, Rackwick, Hoy d. 5 May 1909 Canada buried Lac Ste Anne Community Cemetery: Our Family History

https://jis.athabascau.ca/index.php/jis/issue/view/3
https://jis.athabascau.ca/index.php/jis/article/view/26/15