INTRODUCTION

My name is Madelene Ferguson Allen, past owner and director of Camp Ouareau, a girls' summer camp in Quebec. I am also a writer, member of The Writers' Union of Canada and a historical researcher specializing in the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands.

I am an adopted person - and am fed up with politically correct terms - I have had it up to here with the whole thing. I searched for 7 years - I found my family 18 years ago and it is only very recently that the winds change have begun to blow in provincial laws.

If this site helps just one person - I shall be delighted.

There are hundreds of sites out there - varying from introduction stories - to well developed sites. Most are American, and there is a great deal of repetition of links and quite a number of "here is my friend's link", which has nothing whatsoever to do with adoption. You could waste a great deal of time.

Since most of you are deeply involved in a search, and mine is over - I am trying to work my way through these sites. I have personally checked every link and to avoid repetition a number of very good personal sites are not on ... what I have done is to categorize the information.

I am constantly updating the pages. Please let me know if you find a broken link and I will try to find it again. I am more than happy to have suggestions for new sites -

The criteria for inclusion:

• Sites which have material which directly helps an individual to search (not just link sites),

• Organizations or sites which do not ask for money.

• I do not put on sites of individual stories or poems.

If you get tired of searching - drop in to my home page - you might find yourself with me at an archaeological site on the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands! This was the ultimate "finding your roots!" My birth great-grandfather was one of the three survivors of the wreck of the ship Invercauld. He, with the mate and the skipper survived for 372 days before being rescued. I have told his story in Wake of the Invercauld (which, may I say humbly, was nominated for the Governor General's Award for non-fiction by McGill - Queen's University Press in 1997)

A favour to ask - if you find these pages helpful .. please visit Invercauld Publications , my book distribution company which has a number of books on adoptions. Some of those from Australia and New Zealand (including Keith Griffith's books) which are available no where else in North American. Also featuring books and videos from New Zealand and my books, Reunion, Search for My Birth Family and Wake of the Invercauld.{end of advertisement! :) }

I am now retired from Camp Ouareau, and we no longer can charge this site to business expenses! I am determined to keep it ad free - so please, drop into Invercauld Books to see if there is an adoption or New Zealand book or video which you might like to own.

DON'T GIVE UP - AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

'EVEN THE WOODPECKER OWES HIS SUCCESS TO THE FACT
THAT HE USES HIS HEAD AND KEEPS PECKING AWAY
UNTIL HE FINISHES THE JOB HE STARTS"
(Coleman Cox)

Good luck all .... Madelene aka "Ferg"

The compiler of this list may not be held responsible for any errors, or result of contact -
this is an index only which will be updated on a regular basis.
(You are more than welcome to copy and distribute - disclaimer must be printed on document.)
Copyright 2002

Author and Web master: Madelene Ferguson Allen