Meeting Archives

Our May Kelowna & District Genealogical Society General Meeting – Three stories of Genealogical Discoveries by 3 KDGS Members

Hidden in Plain Sight, by Steve Hall:  A few months ago I decided to purge all my duplicates and redundant paper copies of family information.  On close examination, a rough family tree that I had written out at least 15 years ago had one word beside one ancestor that opened the door to discovering more of my wife Lynn’s Kelowna heritage.

Shea Cousins Project: Bringing Maurice Patrick Shea Back to Life, by Xenia Stanford. This is a real-world case study in how extended family collaboration can restore the past story and glory of a forgotten soldier, Maurice Patrick SHEA (1794-1892), for our future generations to remember and honour.

Astonishing Discovery on my Courtney Family, by Claire Smith-Burns: My 4^th Great-grandfather, John Baptiste COURTNEY,  settled in an unsurveyed area of Ontario with no churches, schools or local government. A lucky dip uncovered an eye-witness report of a day in his life in 1821. Following a hunch, led me to the greatest discovery yet in my family history.

Bite-size: Using Post Office Records, by member Marlene Crane

March 3: Researching Genealogy at the National Archives Records Administration (NARA), USA: More than just the Census! Do you have ancestors who lived in the USA? This talk will outline what records NARA maintains with an overview of some of the unique record groups we specifically hold at the National Archives in Seattle. Also, how and which materials can be requested online or via email. Presented by Eric Flores and Michelle Criner.

Bite-size: Research in the Cemetery, presenter KDGS member, Heather Clifton.

Note: The video presentation, Photographs to take in the Cemetery, by Lisa Lisson is available on YouTube.

February 3: AI & Genealogy: Trouble Ahead, presenter Thomas MacEntee

While AI (artificial intelligence) might be the current “hot” buzz word, the fact is that many genealogy vendors and even genealogists have already been using this technology for years. The AI industry is at a crossroads and within the next five years, it will permeate almost every aspect of business and society. Learn how AI is currently being used to improve the genealogy experience, and whether or not you should seek out other uses of artificial intelligence for your own genealogy research.

Bite-size: My DNA Story, presenter, KDGS member, Elaine Malcolm

Organize Like an Archivist: presenter Nancy Loe – this recording is no longer available.

Bite-size: Adobe Express for Genealogy, presenter Gord Hotchkiss

Accessing Ancestry: The Roots, The Branches, and The Trees – Cyndi Ingle presenter is no longer available

Bite-size: Internet Archives and the Wayback Machine, presenter, KDGS member, Xenia Stanford

The War of 1812-1815: Essential Sources for Family History Research – recording no longer available.

Bite-size:  How the 3rd Battalion of the Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada shop holes through My Brick Wall, presenter KDGS member, Steve Hall

Presentation: Pre-confederation research in Ontario, Canada West and Upper Canada

We are sorry, but this recording is no longer available.

Genealogy and Family History at Library and Archives Canada: this video is no longer available

Bite-Size Genealogy: Special Interest Groups – Review and New

“Bite-size” talk: Genealogy Societies around the World, presented by Heather Clifton – Genealogy societies are a great resource for anyone interested in family history research, as they offer access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise, as well as opportunities for networking and collaboration with other genealogists.  There are many genealogy societies around the world, each with its own unique focus and resources and Heather will be identifying some of those that are popular.