Category: Events

Delving into Family History is a wonderful adventure! Here’s a great FREE presentation to get you started on your ancestral journey!

Curious about your ancestry or how to start tracing your family tree? Family History 101 is the perfect introduction. In this session, we’ll explore the value of family history, cover the basics of beginning your research, and introduce key records such as census data, vital statistics, and immigration documents. Special focus will be given to the unique resources available at the Cloverdale Branch of Surrey Libraries. By the end, you’ll be ready to begin your family history journey—no prior experience needed, just bring your curiosity!

Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 6:30pm
Presenter: Kay Burns, Manager Surrey Libraries Family History Department
Location: via Zoom
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Kay Burns (they/them) has been the Family History Librarian at the Cloverdale Branch of Surrey Libraries since September 2024 and has worked in public libraries since 2018. Before earning a Master of Information Studies from McGill University, Kay studied history at the University of British Columbia—an academic foundation that continues to inform their work and passion for uncovering the past. When not assisting others with their research or delving into their own family tree, Kay enjoys working with fiber arts, especially knitting and quilting.

Family History Forums (FHF) 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.libcal.com/event/3895581. When registering, be sure to enter your email address correctly and watch for the email from the ORL to confirm your registration. The Zoom link and handout will be emailed to you the day before the presentation by librarian, Evan Burgess (or another librarian). No FHF in July, August or December.

May 27: Wills & Probate Papers: an Underused Resource
Wills are one of my favourite records! We will learn some basic information about Wills, Administrations, Inventories and Probate, including terminology and interpreting common phraseology. We will also discover how to access wills with examples from Canada, the USA and the UK.

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.

Introduction to Scottish Genealogical Research with Claire Smith-Burns
Learn how to effectively begin researching your Scottish Ancestry: the idiosyncrasies and pitfalls. This talk will cover the major Scottish record groups and how best to access them. Plus, we will take a look at some great websites and resources for Scottish family history research.