Linda Yip
@past-presence.bsky.social
Accredited Genealogist®️Canada Western Provinces. Things I love: Chinese Canadian 🇨🇦genealogy; military history; the Prairies. I blog at past-presence.com.
Don't waste a precious minute at the archives - use my tips to quickly pull all the vital records on your BC to do list.
How to decipher the secret codes to quickly find microfilmed vital records for B.C.
Despite pulling birth, marriage, and death records (BMDs) back in 2018, I'd forgotten this trick for reading registration codes.
past-presence.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Don't waste a precious minute at the archives - use my tips to quickly pull all the vital records on your BC to do list.
I took a deep dive into genetic genealogy this weekend and you can too.
Key Takeaways from the 2025 East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference
Every conference and institute I attend is memorable for different reasons. With the in person events, it's about the networks, people, and travel. And now with the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference, where I'll be madly applying new techniques and taking notes until they close the site and lock me out.
past-presence.com
September 15, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I took a deep dive into genetic genealogy this weekend and you can too.
I love speaking with the BC Genealogical Society. They are such a generous, warm and friendly group. If you’re not yet a member come join us. It’s 40% off memberships to the end of 2025.
The monthly #BCGS members meeting is this Wednesday September 10, 2025. Linda Yip (@past-presence.bsky.social) will speak about how researching a historic B.C. family made me an Accredited Genealogist® #genealogy #FamilyHistory
www.bcgs.ca/linda-yip-10...
www.bcgs.ca/linda-yip-10...
September 11, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I love speaking with the BC Genealogical Society. They are such a generous, warm and friendly group. If you’re not yet a member come join us. It’s 40% off memberships to the end of 2025.
Finding Chinese Case Files at LAC just got simpler
How to Access Chinese Case Files at LAC (2025)
The process for finding Chinese Case Files at Library and Archives Canada has changed considerably since I first wrote about the finding aids in 2020. Some individual Chinese Case file information is now findable through Collection Search. Use Advanced Search for searching by numbers.
past-presence.com
August 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Finding Chinese Case Files at LAC just got simpler
If you've ever been baffled by researching 19th cent. criminal court cases in Canada, this is for you. And future me.
Researching Supreme Court records at the BC Archives
Genealogists are interested in a wide variety of court records from adoption to wills. I don't know about you, but I learn best by doing. In this series, I'll share what I learned about researching Supreme Court records at the Royal British Columbia Museum and Archives, Victoria, in April, 2025. For the record - haha see what I did there? - I'll be discussing an 1885 criminal case, and then a 1955 probate search.
past-presence.com
June 1, 2025 at 2:26 PM
If you've ever been baffled by researching 19th cent. criminal court cases in Canada, this is for you. And future me.
A WWII story about a Chinese Canadian soldier? Sign me up.
Asian History Month – The Riveter by Jack Wang
I enjoyed The Riveter. It's rare to read fiction about the Second World War which centres an Asian Canadian perspective. A writer tackling that subject cannot avoid discussing heavy issues such as exclusion, history, and racism. These themes are the background noise to my work, and I appreciate every writer who tackles them in a story with universal themes of identity, love, and struggle.
past-presence.com
May 26, 2025 at 7:44 PM
A WWII story about a Chinese Canadian soldier? Sign me up.
As "Exclusion: Beyond the Silence" is making its way onto screens large and small, I seized the chance to speak with writer and director Keira Loughran, and Helen Lee, about their experiences during and after film making.
Exclusion: Beyond the Silence – a chat with Keira Loughran and Helen Lee
Each May in Canada and the U.S., it's Asian Heritage Month. I spent the first part of the month in Vancouver, where I had the distinct pleasure of seeing "Exclusion: Beyond the Silence," at the Cineplex Odeon Theatre, International Village, Vancouver. On 14 May 2025, I had a chat with writer and director Keira Loughran, and Helen Lee. Also joining us were producer Bradley Lee ("Operation Oblivion"), members of Genealogy for Asian Canadians, and the community.
past-presence.com
May 14, 2025 at 8:32 PM
As "Exclusion: Beyond the Silence" is making its way onto screens large and small, I seized the chance to speak with writer and director Keira Loughran, and Helen Lee, about their experiences during and after film making.
Okay fellow 🇨🇦. It’s time to get out the vote. The cohort of people who can vote but don’t are women 18-30. They think they don’t matter. In this election their votes could swing key ridings. I’m asking my friends with university age kids to go and TAKE THEIR FRIENDS. We can do this on Monday.
April 26, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Okay fellow 🇨🇦. It’s time to get out the vote. The cohort of people who can vote but don’t are women 18-30. They think they don’t matter. In this election their votes could swing key ridings. I’m asking my friends with university age kids to go and TAKE THEIR FRIENDS. We can do this on Monday.
Is it better to order the WWII genealogy pack? I do a deep dive into this question by ordering the same file with different options.
WWII: what is a genealogy pack?
In Canada, most Second World War military files are only available on request. In this blog, I'll explore the difference between ordering a complete file and a genealogy pack by looking at two requests for the same records for the same person. If you're new to Canadian military files, see my posts Exploring First World War Files online at LAC: A Top 10 List…
past-presence.com
April 13, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Is it better to order the WWII genealogy pack? I do a deep dive into this question by ordering the same file with different options.
We got our voter cards in the mail yesterday. If you haven’t got yours yet, make sure that you are registered. The election is on April 28.
It is dangerous to declare one side or another as winning before the votes are counted. Do your research. See what all the parties are saying. See who is going to the rallies. Canada is divided. Go vote on April 28.
April 10, 2025 at 7:49 PM
We got our voter cards in the mail yesterday. If you haven’t got yours yet, make sure that you are registered. The election is on April 28.
We did this tour and it was fantastic. Pictured below (in a rare quirk of fate) is the house that my grandparents owned for 40 years, except dolled up and fancy.
Join me on Sunday and explore the history of a part of Mount Pleasant you may not be familiar with. On this walk, we’ll explore the surprisingly rich history of this area and learn the stories of its people and its places.
Sign up here:
vanalogue.wordpress.com/mt-pleasant-...
Sign up here:
vanalogue.wordpress.com/mt-pleasant-...
April 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
We did this tour and it was fantastic. Pictured below (in a rare quirk of fate) is the house that my grandparents owned for 40 years, except dolled up and fancy.
It is dangerous to declare one side or another as winning before the votes are counted. Do your research. See what all the parties are saying. See who is going to the rallies. Canada is divided. Go vote on April 28.
April 8, 2025 at 9:22 PM
It is dangerous to declare one side or another as winning before the votes are counted. Do your research. See what all the parties are saying. See who is going to the rallies. Canada is divided. Go vote on April 28.
Reposted by Linda Yip
We need to talk about @rachelgilmore.bsky.social
Our democracy is not going to make it without strong journalists. Let me begin by stating the obvious: these thoughts are mine alone. They do not speak for my employers. They are personal and, at this moment, angry. #cdnmedia
tinyurl.com/mwtpfbze
Our democracy is not going to make it without strong journalists. Let me begin by stating the obvious: these thoughts are mine alone. They do not speak for my employers. They are personal and, at this moment, angry. #cdnmedia
tinyurl.com/mwtpfbze
We need to talk about Rachel
Because our democracy is not going to make it through the next years without strong journalists.
tinyurl.com
April 3, 2025 at 1:46 AM
We need to talk about @rachelgilmore.bsky.social
Our democracy is not going to make it without strong journalists. Let me begin by stating the obvious: these thoughts are mine alone. They do not speak for my employers. They are personal and, at this moment, angry. #cdnmedia
tinyurl.com/mwtpfbze
Our democracy is not going to make it without strong journalists. Let me begin by stating the obvious: these thoughts are mine alone. They do not speak for my employers. They are personal and, at this moment, angry. #cdnmedia
tinyurl.com/mwtpfbze
Nikola Tesla called.
He wants his good name back.
He wants his good name back.
March 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Nikola Tesla called.
He wants his good name back.
He wants his good name back.
His final days in office might be his very best.
Reporter:
"Your Foreign Affairs Minister yesterday called all of this a psychodrama. How do you characterize it?"
The PM:
"Thursday."
vm.tiktok.com/ZMBd3Setg/
"Your Foreign Affairs Minister yesterday called all of this a psychodrama. How do you characterize it?"
The PM:
"Thursday."
vm.tiktok.com/ZMBd3Setg/
March 6, 2025 at 9:07 PM
His final days in office might be his very best.
Happy 141st birthday to the Toronto Public library. 🎉🎉 Check out (see what I did there 😄) the 1884 library card.
March 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Happy 141st birthday to the Toronto Public library. 🎉🎉 Check out (see what I did there 😄) the 1884 library card.
Louder for those in the back: what you wear doesn’t define you. Who you are does.
I’ve been in some difficult mtgs in boardrooms full of “powerful” men in expensive 3pc suits. They had all the trappings of wealth, big titles giving them power over me and expected deferential treatment.
And they were absolute pieces of shit.
What you wear doesn’t define you.
Who you are does.
And they were absolute pieces of shit.
What you wear doesn’t define you.
Who you are does.
March 6, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Louder for those in the back: what you wear doesn’t define you. Who you are does.
I did not have “agree with Doug Ford” on my 2025 bingo card.
March 6, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I did not have “agree with Doug Ford” on my 2025 bingo card.
Now’s a good time to support the smart ones who know what they’re doing.
We read Project 2025.
We spent the last year preparing for this moment.
We're fighting back.
We spent the last year preparing for this moment.
We're fighting back.
Trump said he hadn’t read Project 2025 – but most of his early executive orders overlap with its proposals | CNN Politics
A CNN analysis of Trump’s first week in office found that two-thirds of his early executive orders and actions appear closely aligned with Project 2025’s plans.
www.cnn.com
March 4, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Now’s a good time to support the smart ones who know what they’re doing.
He said it better.
March 3, 2025 at 11:32 PM
He said it better.
Canadians use American records too. See FundNARA.com to see how you can support the effort to keep govt funding.
March 3, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Canadians use American records too. See FundNARA.com to see how you can support the effort to keep govt funding.
If you believe that knowledge is power then libraries are not some antiquated ideal but the very heart of power.
Today on CL: a digitized collection of British Columbia City Directories, 1860-1955. This is one example of how libraries and archives are bringing us valuable free sources for our research. What library collection online is your favorite? www.vpl.ca/digital-libr...
British Columbia City Directories | Vancouver Public Library
Vancouver Public Library's collection of digitized British Columbia city directories dating from 1860 to 1955. Directories contain detailed historical information about British Columbian communities, ...
www.vpl.ca
March 3, 2025 at 8:24 PM
If you believe that knowledge is power then libraries are not some antiquated ideal but the very heart of power.
For my US friends, something for your priority to do list.
#Genealogy I suggest getting key vital records sooner rather than later...Many US municipalities are hiking fees, limiting access, and/or have a huge backlog of orders. My experience with New York was 😡, experience with Ohio was 😀. #FamilyHistory climbingmyfamilytree.blogspot.com/2025/03/dont...
Don't Wait! Obtain Original Documents Sooner, Not Later
Genealogy research and commentary by Marian Burk Wood, speaker and author of "Planning a Future for Your Family's Past," available from Amazon.com.
climbingmyfamilytree.blogspot.com
March 3, 2025 at 2:35 PM
For my US friends, something for your priority to do list.
Good news for Albertans! Note that only indices are available online, but if you find a person of interest, copies are readily available from the archives for a small fee.
March 2, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Good news for Albertans! Note that only indices are available online, but if you find a person of interest, copies are readily available from the archives for a small fee.
In examining the events surrounding Won Alexander Cumyow's rapid downfall from aspiring Chinese Interpreter to convicted felon in 1885, key questions arise.
Was Won Alexander Cumyow framed? Researching a 140 yr old mystery, the conclusion
In examining the events surrounding Won Alexander Cumyow's rapid downfall from aspiring Chinese Interpreter to convicted felon in 1885, key questions arise regarding potential bias, the role of prominent figures like E.M. Johnson, and the peculiarities of a seemingly swift and prejudiced trial. Cumyow's eventual imprisonment highlights systemic challenges faced by the Chinese community in British Columbia.
past-presence.com
March 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
In examining the events surrounding Won Alexander Cumyow's rapid downfall from aspiring Chinese Interpreter to convicted felon in 1885, key questions arise.