If you are unable to attend at the given times, please email: Librarian@kdgs.ca
Come to the Library to chat with genealogists from the Kelowna and District Genealogical Society. Learn how to find more on your family tree, or ask about your next steps if you’ve hit a wall in your research.
There is no charge for this service.
Genealogist in Residence Schedule
Downtown Library / ORL Branch (1380 Ellis Street)
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 1 to 3 pm
Westbank Library / ORL Branch (2484 Main Street, Unit 31)
GIRs are in attendance from 2 to 4 pm on the last Wednesday of the month.
Drop-in programs, no registration required.
Family History Forums
Note: Family History Forums are now via Zoom. Please see below for instructions on how to sign-up.
Family History Forums are a partnership presentation series of the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society and the Okanagan Regional Library. The topics vary but are typically at the beginner’s level in Family History research. All are welcome to these FREE Zoom presentations, but pre-registration is required through the ORL’s Events Calendar, https://orl.evanced.info/signup/Calendar – scroll down to the fourth Tuesday of the month (no FHF in Dec, July or August), 6:30pm and find, “Online Family History Forum.” Click on the event in the Calendar and follow the instructions. Be sure to enter your email address correctly and watch for the email from the ORL to confirm your registration and the Zoom link.
Oct 24, 2023, 6:30-8:00pm: Topic: Putting the flesh on your ancestor’s bones, presented by Claire Smith-Burns of the KDGS. Names, dates and places are the skeleton outline of your ancestors’ lives but what we really want to know is, “Who were these people?” This workshop will survey many different sources that may hold biographical information on your ancestors, helping you to understand the lives and personalities of your ancestors.
Nov 28, 2023, 6:30-8:00pm: Topic: Research in the Prairie Provinces – Finding Your Family Story, presented by Mary Read. Were you born in one of the prairie provinces? Did your ancestors immigrate to take out a homestead? Did they own a business in a small prairie town? If your ancestors spent time in Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba, join us for a look at how to find the records and sources to document your family’s unique story.
Jan 23, 2024, 6:30-8:00pm: Topic: Digging into the BC Archives for Genealogical Research, presented by BC Archivist
Feb 27, 2024, 6:30-8:00pm: Topic: Genealogy Gold at the Vancouver Public Library, presented by Grace Hama, VPL Genealogy Librarian
Mar 26, 2024, 6:30-8:00pm: Topic: Finding Records for English Family History, presented by Teresa Smith
*Apr 23, 2024, 6:30-8:00pm: Topic: Finding Your Family at FindMyPast, presented by FMP team-member [tentative]
May 28, 2024, 6:30-8:00pm: Topic: Exploring Ontario Land Records, presenter Claire Smith-Burns, KDGS
Jun 25, 2024, 6:30-8:00pm: TBA
* The talk by FMP is tentative and may be re-scheduled for May or June.
The titles for the above talks may change (but not the topics). I will send over the descriptions and final titles for each talk as I receive them.