April Family History Forum
Are you looking for family in the Canadian Prairie Provinces? Don’t miss our next free Family History Forum, Tuesday, April 28th, 6:30pm via Zoom!
Your Prairie Family Story: Research in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta
Many of us have Prairie roots. The records are there, but each province treats them differently. This presentation will provide an overview of where to find these vital records in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, and offer practical guidance on how to navigate the unique systems with confidence. In addition to vital statistics, there is a wide range of other valuable sources available to family historians, including church and cemetery records, land and homestead records, local history books, city and rural directories, and immigration and citizenship records. Participants will gain a better understanding of how these diverse resources work together to build a fuller picture of their ancestors’ lives.
About Mary Read: When Mary Read inherited her mother’s family research files in 1996, she didn’t expect genealogy to become a lifelong passion. That same year she joined the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society, where she now serves as a director, committee member, and editor of The Okanagan Researcher. She especially enjoys helping beginners get started. Raised on the Saskatchewan farm homesteaded by her great-grandparents, Mary maintains a strong connection to the Prairies. She shares her extensive collection of Saskatchewan local histories online for lookups and regularly posts on Facebook pages related to Saskatchewan history and genealogy. Helping others uncover their prairie connections remains one of her greatest rewards.
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 6:30pm PDT
Presenter: Mary Read
Location: via Zoom
REGISTRATION REQUIRED* through the Okanagan Regional Library’s Events: https://orl.libcal.com/calendar/kelowna/fhf
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 librarian, Evan Burgess (or another librarian). No FHF in July, August or December.
*Registration often surpasses our Zoom limit but we find that many who register do not log in; by the time we know there is room for more people to attend the presentation, it is too late to notify those on our Waiting List. Therefore, we will no longer limit registration but please be sure to log in early (the Zoom link will be activated at 6:15 PDT) or you may not be able to access the Zoom if 100 people have already logged in. Thank you for your understanding!
