MyHeritage Ancient Origins
This feature, which complements MyHeritage DNA ethnicity reports, traces origins up to 10,000 years ago. You should receive the results in a day once you accept the terms. My results arrived as I was putting this post to bed. It compares your DNA to ancient DNA samples and populations. There are many different kinds of reports, including breakdowns from several different historical periods. Stay tuned.
LAC Co-Lab Update for February
There are currently 4,196 items in LAC’s Collection Search identified as Co-Lab-only contributions, the same as in December.
Here is the progress on the challenges since January. Two show progress.
Games of the XXI Olympiad, Montréal 1976 remains at 80.8% complete.
Treaty 9, with 27 images, lists 37% that need review.
Mary Ann Shadd Cary is 85.5% complete, up from 69.4%.
Expo67 remains 5.1% complete.
Summiting Mount Logan in 1925: Fred Lambart’s personal account of the treacherous climb and descent of the highest peak in Canada is 17.9% complete, up from 13.4%.
Women in the War remains 1.4% complete.
Arthur Lismer’s Children’s Art Classes remains <1% complete.
John Freemont Smith, RG10, Volume number: 4079 remains 88.5% complete.
Molly Lamb Bobak’s Second World War diary remains 95.1% complete.
Diary of François-Hyacinthe Séguin remains 99% complete.
George Mully: moments in Indigenous communities remains 0% complete.
Correspondence regarding First Nations veterans returning after the First World War remains 98.5% complete.
Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 remains 94.7% complete.
Legendary Train Robber and Prison Escapee Bill Miner remains 99.5% complete.
Japanese-Canadians: Second World War remains 2.8% complete.
Projects that remain 100% complete are no longer reported here.
LAC is replacing the search engine and improving the visual experience. Try the new version now.
StatsCan updates Death Stats
On Wednesday Statistics Canada released Fall and drug overdose deaths are main contributors as accidental deaths continue to increase, 2017 to 2022/. It included links to more extensive death statistics and notable revised data for deaths from 2017 to 2022 with previously unavailable data for Yukon.
Here are five significant recent trends:
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Overall Increase in Deaths (2019–2023)
The total number of deaths increased from 285,615 in 2019 to 326,215 in 2023, with a peak of 336,998 in 2022. This reflects an aging population, increased health challenges, and the impact of COVID-19. -
Impact of COVID-19 (2020–2023)
COVID-19 became a major cause of death in 2020, ranking 4th from 2020 to 2022, with deaths peaking at 19,906 in 2022 before dropping to 7,963 in 2023. This decline aligns with vaccination efforts and improved treatments. -
Cancer and Heart Disease Remain Leading Causes
Malignant neoplasms (cancer) and heart disease consistently ranked 1st and 2nd, with cancer deaths rising from 80,439 in 2019 to 84,629 in 2023, and heart disease deaths fluctuating but remaining above 53,000 annually. -
Increase in Accidental Deaths
Accidental deaths (unintentional injuries) ranked 3rd throughout, increasing from 15,698 in 2019 to 20,597 in 2023, with a peak of 21,087 in 2022. This could reflect more opioid overdoses, traffic incidents, or workplace accidents. -
Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease and Suicide Deaths
Deaths from Alzheimer’s disease fell from 6,185 in 2019 to 5,231 in 2023, while suicides decreased from 4,609 in 2019 to 3,811 in 2023. This may indicate better dementia care and mental health interventions, though long-term trends require further analysis.
Saturday 15 February