Category: Meeting Archives

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 Little) to learn how to harness this powerful new tool!  
Using AI to Research Documents and Letters 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!

About Mark Thompson:
Mark Thompson is a professional genealogist and public speaker specializing in the application of artificial intelligence to genealogy. As co-host of the Family History AI Show podcast alongside Steve Little, Mark helps genealogists bridge the gap between high technology and their family history research.
With a background in executive IT leadership, Mark brings a unique perspective to the rapidly evolving field of AI-assisted genealogy. He currently serves as President of the Victoria Genealogical Society and chairs their DNA Special Interest Group.
A member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, Mark is a frequent presenter on technology-centric genealogy topics including AI, Genetic Genealogy, and Family Archiving. When not exploring family histories, he enjoys photographing nature in his home province of British Columbia.
Contact: MarkThompson@MakingFamilyHistory.com  | www.makingfamilyhistory.com
Bite-size Presentation: Pre-1841 UK and Ireland Census, with KDGS member, Marlene Crane

April 13: All Kinds of Loyalists 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.

Kathryn Lake Hogan’s lineage includes a mixture of Canadian, Loyalist and New England branches and roots connecting her to England and Wales. But her passion doesn’t stop at her own genealogy; Kathryn’s mission is to help others discover their Canadian ancestral connections. Her dynamic presentations have earned her a reputation as one of the leading voices in Canadian genealogy. Whether you’ve attended one of her sessions or tuned into her “Genealogy with a Canadian Twist” webinars, you’ve likely felt the excitement of Kathryn’s dedication. Kathryn believes in nurturing and growing the genealogy community. Having served in leadership roles for notable organizations such as Ontario Ancestors, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada, she continues to champion greater accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity in family history. Kathryn lives in south-western Ontario.
Bite-Size Genealogy: Techie Tips for Genealogists, presented by KDGS member, Rob Corbett

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.

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.

February 2: Broad Context; How to Find it and Use it! presented by Jill Morelli – no longer available
By understanding the broad context of our geographic area and the era we can interpret the evidence more accurately and thereby understand the decision-making of our ancestors more clearly. We sometimes view context as just the historical events that affected our ancestor. We will broaden that definition and explain the difference between it and social history. Examples clarify meaning and illustrate how this is a project long process and not effort applied at the end.
Bite-size: Guild of One-Name Studies (GOONS), with KDGS member, Marlene Crane

January 5: Prison & Court Records  – this recording is no longer available – see below for the Bite-Size presentation
Prison and court records can tell you a lot about your ancestors and their lives. Whether documenting legal battles or criminal activity these records will provide a wide variety of color and detail. We will look at records on everything from petty theft to illegal poaching to declaring someone’s husband dead. The scope includes Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.
Bite-size: Don Rampone presenting Weird and Wonderful Obituaries