Category: News

March 2026 Family History Forum

Is there a brick wall in your family history? Employing the F.A.N. Club – Friends, Associates, Neighbours – could help you break through!   
     
March 24, 2026: A Person of Interest: leveraging the FAN Club to Reveal your Ancestor – a Case History
Researching the FAN Club (Friends, Associates, Neighbours) can unlock surprising information about your ancestors! This case study will describe how George RAMSAY, the 9th Earl of Dalhousie intersected with several of Claire Smith-Burns’ ancestors lives and led to some exciting discoveries.
Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2024, 6:30pm PDT
Presenter: Claire Smith-Burns
Location: via Zoom
REGISTRATION REQUIRED through the Okanagan Regional Library’s Events: https://orl.libcal.com/calendar/kelowna/fhf

April 2026 General Meeting

NOTE: Date & Time
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.
Date: Monday, April 13, 2026, 6:30pm PDT
Presenter: Kathryn Lake Hogan
Location: via Zoom
Price: KDGS members Free; non-members $10; REGISTRATION REQUIRED
REGISTER HERE
Bite-Size Genealogy: Techie Tips for Genealogists, presented by KDGS member, Rob Corbett
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.

March 2026 general meeting

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.

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2026 Upcoming Meeting Information

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...

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November 2024 General Meeting

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...

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KDGS is Celebrating its 40th Anniversary

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:...

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2024 Summer Holidays

We are taking a break over the summer. Our first meeting for our 2024-2025 year will be Monday, September 9, 7pm, via zoom. Family History Forums will commence Tuesday, September 24, 6:30 via Zoom. More information will be...

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Heritage Week 2024 – February 19 – 25

National Heritage Week runs from Feb. 19 through to Feb. 25. One of the events offered during the week will be a Zoom talk hosted by the Okanagan Regional Library and the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society: Claire...

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