Category: Events

March 2: Reconstructing Invisible Lives: A Genealogical Case Study in Evidence, Method, and Stubbornness
Reconstructing Invisible Lives is a one-hour case study on what to do when the records aren’t there. Using a central BC research problem, this talk shows how a woman who barely appears in traditional sources can be rediscovered through tax rolls, court files, and business records. It explores why women, especially racialized women, are often missing from the historical record, and how methods can turn absence into evidence. Attendees will see practical strategies for using local records, legal documents, and negative evidence to solve complex cases. The presentation offers fresh perspectives for experienced researchers and usable techniques for those still building their skills. If you’ve ever hit a brick wall and wondered where the women went, this case study shows how it could be done.
Date: Monday, March 2, 2025, 7pm
Presenter: Linda Yip
Location: via Zoom
Price: KDGS members Free; non-members $10; REGISTRATION REQIRED    REGISTER HERE
Bite-size: FamilySearch: Don’t miss these features!, with member, Claire Smith-Burns
Linda Yip (葉秀映) was born in Vancouver, BC. Her family’s historic home – the Wing Sang Company – is today the site of Canada’s national Chinese Canadian Museum. Linda is an Accredited Genealogist® professional in the region of Canada Western Provinces, encompassing BC, AB, SK, and MB. Linda specializes in researching families whose histories are difficult to trace due to migration, language barriers, or gaps in traditional records. By using a wide range of sources and careful analysis, she helps recover well-documented family stories that might otherwise remain hidden. Linda resides in Saskatoon with her husband.

March 2: Reconstructing Invisible Lives: A Genealogical Case Study in Evidence, Method, and Stubbornness presented by Linda Yip
Reconstructing Invisible Lives is a one-hour case study on what to do when the records aren’t there. Using a central BC research problem, this talk shows how a woman who barely appears in traditional sources can be rediscovered through tax rolls, court files, and business records. It explores why women, especially racialized women, are often missing from the historical record, and how methods can turn absence into evidence. Attendees will see practical strategies for using local records, legal documents, and negative evidence to solve complex cases. The presentation offers fresh perspectives for experienced researchers and usable techniques for those still building their skills. If you’ve ever hit a brick wall and wondered where the women went, this case study shows how it could be done.
April 13: All Kinds of Loyalists presented by Kathryn Lake Hogan
During the American Revolutionary War, approximately 35% of the population of the Thirteen colonies was loyal to King George III of Great Britain. Was your ancestor one of them? How do you know if your ancestor was a Loyalist? In this presentation, learn what to look for in documents and records to determine if your ancestor meets the qualifications of being a Loyalist.
May 4: Using AI to Research Documents & Letters presented by Mark Thompson
Do you have old family letters and documents waiting to be explored? In this beginner-friendly session, learn how artificial intelligence can assist you in analyzing and researching your family’s personal archives. From summarizing key points to quickly identifying names and relationships, AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude can help you speed up your research. You’ll also learn how to responsibly use some of the amazing, but riskier, aspects of AI like transcription and translation. Join Mark Thompson to learn how AI can lighten the load and help you reveal the rich history hidden in your family archive!

The Italians in World War II Canadian Internment Camps, by KDGS member, Gord Hotchkiss
On the 10th of June, 1940, Benito Mussolini declared war on Britain and France. Suddenly, almost half a world away, neighbours here in the Okanagan were at war with each other. For Italians here in Kelowna, it didn’t matter that you had lived here for a decade or more, had become a citizen or even had enlisted to fight for the Allies. You were still considered an enemy alien. Across Canada, over 700 Italians were gathered up and sent to internment camps. Here in BC, about 70 Italians were interned. But the Okanagan would prove to be unique in many ways. As you’ll see, the Italians of the Okanagan and their neighbours found a way to stay united as a community when the clouds of war rolled in. This talk looks at the internment in general, what lead to it and what happened here in our Valley.

Bite-size:  Using Libby – the Library App, presenter KDGS member, Beverley Brooks