Genealogy à la carte

Three branches of the Ontario Genealogical Society and one special interest group will each host a free virtual presentation this week. All are open to the public.

The following will take place in Eastern time.

Monday, May 11, 7:00 p.m. — Oxford County Branch
Researching at the United Church Archives by Kyle Pugh and Christopher Hogendoorn

An in-depth look at the United Church of Canada Archives, with a focus on how genealogists can locate, interpret, and access church records. Register to watch online.

Tuesday, May 12, 6:30 p.m. — Lambton County Branch
The Latest & Greatest from MyHeritage by Daniel Horowitz

Get a detailed walkthrough of the newest MyHeritage features, with expert tips on using them to enhance your genealogy research. Daniel will also share behind-the-scenes insights on how these tools were developed, giving you a unique glimpse into the innovation powering MyHeritage. Register to watch online.

Wednesday, May 13, 3:00 p.m. — British Home Children SIG
Finding the Children Who Went to Canada

A look at records in local Scottish archives that can lead  you to learn more about your Scottish British Home Child. Register to watch online.

Friday, May 15, 7:00 p.m. — Niagara Peninsula Branch
What’s New with Family Tree Maker by Mark Olsen

Mark will walk participants through new features of the latest version of Family Tree Maker, helpful tools, and practical tips to make the most of this powerful genealogy software. Whether you are new to Family Tree Maker or a long-time user, this session will offer valuable insights to support your research. Register to watch online.

The Ontario Genealogical Society and four of its branches will each host a free virtual presentation this week, including one that is also in person. All are open to the public.

The following take place in Eastern time.

Monday, May 4, 7:00 p.m. — Leeds & Grenville Branch
Navigating FultonHistory.com by Jeanette Sheliga

FultonHistory.com, or Old Fulton NY Postcards, is a free, historic newspaper website that contains archives of over 50 million pages of microfilmed newspaper images (mostly New York State newspapers, along with collections from other states and Canada). There are many articles and news items for Leeds & Grenville in some of the northern New York papers. This presentation will give an overview of the content and a variety of search strategies. Register to watch online.

Tuesday, May 5, 1:30 p.m. — Durham Region Branch
When the Old World Meets the New: The immigration experience at Pier 21 in the early 20th century by Pier 21 staff

We are booked for a virtual visit to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Two Permanent Heritage Interpreters will deliver a presentation that blends a concise history of Pier 21 with an overview of what the museum offers in terms of research and genealogy resources, including online tools that the team regularly uses. The presentation will also touch on the broader immigration journey from departure by ship to arrival at Pier 21 and the cross-Canada train routes to help situate the experience for members with early Ontario ancestors. Register to watch online.

Wednesday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. — Huron County Branch
Barn-Raising, Threshing, and Quilting Bees: The Stories Farm Diaries Tell by Catherine Wilson

Catherine Wilson shares her recent book, “Being Neighbours,” about barn raisings and quilting bees in Ontario, 1830-1960. Employing farm diaries, she takes the audience into families’ daily lives, the intricacies of the labour exchange, their workways, feasts, and hospitality to uncover the subtle social politics of mutual dependency, the expectations neighbours had of each other, their relationships, and ways of managing conflict and crisis. Register to watch online.

Thursday, May 7, 7:00 p.m. — Ontario Genealogical Society
Discovering Industrial Ancestors in Mills, Logging Camps, and Company Towns by Kathryn Lake Hogan

Canadian genealogy often focuses on farms and homesteads, but millions of ancestors lived in Canada’s industrial centres. From pulp and paper towns to coal mines, railways, steel plants, and hydro projects, industries left behind unique records of workers and their families. 

Explore labour archives, union records, accident claims, government reports, company magazines, and community voices preserved in newspapers. Learn how to combine these resources with maps, directories, and census data to uncover the overlooked stories of ancestors who laboured in Canada’s mills, factories, and company towns from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. Register to watch online.

Friday May 8, 7:00 p.m. — Kent Branch
Into the Light: The History and Legacy of a Black Canadian Community by Marie Carter

Dresden historian and author Marie Carter who will discuss the history and legacy of the Black community in and around Dresden, Ontario. 

This is a hybrid presentation co-hosted with the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society. You can attend in person at the McKinlay Reception Centre, 463 St. Clair St., Chatham, or register to watch online.

The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) will host a hybrid meeting and presentations on Saturday, May 9, starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time.

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Documenting Lives: A Spotlight on BIFHSGO’s Partnership with Library and Archives Canada from 1994 to 2026 and Beyond by Sue Lambeth and Nicole Watier

BIFHSGO Research and Projects Director Sue Lambeth, joined by Nicole Watier, Genealogy Consultant at Library and Archives Canada, will speak about the partnership between BIFHSGO and LAC that has spanned more than 31 years. They will highlight projects undertaken by BIFHSGO volunteers that document events in the lives of British home children. Sue and Nicole will also offer a look ahead, describing new initiatives planned for 2026 and beyond.

10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
A Good and Faithful Servant: the life of Henry Arrowsmith Brogdon (1812-1883) by Veronica Scrimger

In the 19th century, Methodism expanded greatly in the counties of Northumberland and Durham. Like many other lay preachers at this time, Veronica Scrimger’s 3x great-grandfather Henry Brogdon made a significant lifelong contribution to the spread of the word of God. He preached in over 165 cities, towns and villages in the northeast of England. His was a dual life; Henry worked a full-time job and spent his evenings and Sundays sharing the teachings of Jesus Christ. Henry witnessed the development of the railways and the expansion of coal mining in the Great Northern coalfield. His death in December 1883 left a huge void in his community of Willington, County Durham.

Attend in person at Knox Presbyterian Church (Lisgar & Elgin) in Geneva Hall. Use the Garden Entrance on Elgin Street. Limited free street parking is available on Saturdays, and the City Hall Parking Garage is available for $2.

Or join online by registering here. This registration covers both talks.

One of my favourite sales is on now. Until May 3, a one-year membership at Legacy Family Tree Webinars is 50 percent cent off.

Use the checkout coupon spring26 to register for a one-year membership that costs US$24.98 (about CDN$34) for a limited time.

Anyone without a current membership should be able to take advantage of this sale. Current members cannot use the coupon to extend their membership.