Category: Events

June 2026 Family History Forum

May 2026 | , ,

Don’t miss our last Family History Forum before the summer break! Claire Smith-Burns will share some great ideas for “Crowdsourcing” your genealogy brick-walls!

June 23: Generosity & Genealogy: Crowdsourcing Your Family History Research – Reach out for help on your Brick Walls!
The genealogy world is full of passionate family historians, archivists and librarians who love to share their knowledge and contribute to your success. We will explore many avenues (some surprising!) for crowdsourcing your family history to find the answers you are looking for!
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 6:30pm PDT
Presenter: Claire Smith-Burns
Location: via Zoom
REGISTRATION REQUIRED through the Okanagan Regional Library’s Events Calendar, https://orl.libcal.com/.

2026 Upcoming Meeting Information

Oct 2025 | , ,

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!

November 2024 General Meeting

Oct 2024 | , ,

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

 

KDGS is Celebrating its 40th Anniversary

Sep 2024 | ,

Founded in 1984, the KDGS is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year with a public celebration on Thursday, October 24th, 10-4pm, at the downtown Kelowna Library, 2nd Floor. Please drop by and join the festivities!

Schedule:
10:00am – 12:30pm: Several of our “Genealogists in Residence” will be on hand to assist you with your family history project
11:00am – 4:00pm: Enjoy an array of displays plus “Pin Your Family on the World Map” in the 2nd floor meeting room; there will also be some kid’s activity sheets. Be sure to put your name in the Prize Draw Box!
11:30am: Guided tour showing you all the great resources for Family and Local Historians that the downtown Kelowna Library has to offer – you will be amazed!
1:30pm: Formal program starts with a Welcome by the KDGS President Claire Smith-Burns, followed by Kelowna’s Mayor Tom Dyas bringing congratulations from the City of Kelowna and KDGS founding member, Sandra Sellick, telling us about the history, contributions and accomplishments of the KDGS.
2:30pm: Prize Draw for several great prizes, including: 2 Legacy webinar subscriptions; 3 DNA kits from FamilyTreeDNA (mtDNA, Y-DNA 37 and FamilyFinder); 2 FTM software packages; 1 MyHeritage complete subscription
2:45pm: Enjoy a piece of Cake and a beverage on us!

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  • Meetings

May 2026 Meeting

Apr 15, 2026 | ,

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is the latest power-tool in the Genealogists’ Toolbox! Join us for our May 4th General Meeting for the following presentation by Mark Thompson (one half of the Family History AI Show with Steve...

  • Family History Forums

June 2026 Family History Forum

May 31, 2026 | , ,

Don’t miss our last Family History Forum before the summer break! Claire Smith-Burns will share some great ideas for “Crowdsourcing” your genealogy brick-walls! June 23: Generosity & Genealogy: Crowdsourcing Your Family...