Obituaries are definitely one of the records genealogists seek out. We are pleased to have Xenia Stanford tell us about what we can learn from an Obituary at our May 26th FREE Family History Forum!
What You Can Learn from an Obituary 
“Contrary to what you might believe, the obits page is full of life.” — Catherine Garcia, The Week. An obituary is more than a final notice; it’s a cultural time capsule. Whether you are tracing a family tree or uncovering a city’s past, these records are the ultimate key to unlocking a community’s history. In this talk, we go beyond the ink to find the “hidden” stories waiting in any archive. Using local examples—from a 1904 infant to a nearly 110-year-old matriarch—we will demonstrate women were once “invisible” hidden behind a husband’s initials, bridge the generations by turning every notice into a roadmap for your family tree, and discover the incredible stories of how people lived and died. Join us to learn how to look past the paper to find the person. Because when we give a name back to the nameless, we don’t just record history—we restore it. “They say you die twice. Once when you stop breathing, and the last time somebody says your name.” – Banksy. We give life to them once more.
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 6:30pm
Presenter: Xenia Stanford
Location: via Zoom
About Xenia Stanford
A researcher for over 60 years, Xenia Stanford has always been drawn to the documents that define us. At one family reunion, when Xenia went missing, her sister knew exactly where to look: “Oh, she’s probably at the cemetery.” She was right—but for Xenia, there is a vital difference between a headstone and an obituary. While one marks a death, the other celebrates a life. As Chair of the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society’s Obituary Committee and leader of the Central Okanagan Obituaries Project, Xenia has reviewed thousands of the 25,000+ records in the database, ensuring that every photo and detail serves its true purpose: to show exactly who these people were in life.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED through the Okanagan Regional Library’s Events Calendar, https://orl.libcal.com/event/3988571.

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.