Category: Events

Please join us for our September 23rd Family History Forum! All are welcome to this free event presented via Zoom.

September 23: Learn What School Records, including from Residential Schools, of Your Ancestors Can Teach You, presented by Xenia Stanford
Records from primary school to university can teach you much about your ancestors. Where were their schools, what years did they attend, who were their teachers, who were their classmates and even who were their parents and siblings are some of the questions that can be answered. How well they did in various subjects, what awards they may have acquired, what degrees or qualifications they achieved and even what they looked like in photographs that may be in yearbooks or files may also add to what you learn. The narratives of residential schools may help you understand your indigenous ancestors and their struggles and help towards healing. School records are an often overlooked resource but may be a way of adding more character to your relatives from times before.

Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 6:30pm
Presenter: Xenia Stanford
Location: via Zoom
REGISTRATION REQUIRED through the Okanagan Regional Library’s Events Calendar, https://orl.libcal.com/event/3895580
 
Xenia Stanford, born in Alberta, as a child, began tracing her family roots in Canada and Austria. Later when she was an adult, she started researching her mother’s Ukrainian roots. Meanwhile two brothers married Metis women and Xenia helped them research their indigenous roots. This experience led her to become a sought-after researcher for those wishing to prove their Metis or First Nations ancestry. Many also seek her expertise to uncover their past original people of this nation including her children who descend from the pre-colonization first people of Acadia. She makes no judgement as to your purpose or your politics. She just finds out your past and helps you reach your goals. A history buff and former schoolteacher, professional researcher, librarian, records manager and archivist, business leader and management consultant and award-winning writer, she assisted Glenbow indigenous researchers, and helped Metis organizations in several provinces expand their knowledge and documentation of their people. Currently, Xenia manages the Central Okanagan Obituary Project for the KDGS.

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. 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 an ORL 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.