This is the last week to take advantage of the early-bird registration rate for the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa’s (BIFHSGO) 23rd annual conference, taking place September 29 to October 1.
At every conference, BIFHSGO assembles a great list of speakers and topics. This year, speakers from Canada, England, and the United States will deliver presentations and workshops on two themes: English and Welsh family history research and genealogy skills and methodology.
More than 250 delegates from Canada and the United States are expected to attend.
BIFHSGO President Barbara Tose said, “Canada’s 150th anniversary is the perfect time for us to explore our roots and learn about our heritage. Every year, our volunteers devote hundreds of hours to organize an ambitious educational program for our conference.”
Don’t have English or Welsh ancestors? No worry. A friend of mine, who has only one ancestor who lived in England, will attend for the methodology presentations and an opportunity to browse the marketplace. She also likes spending the weekend with like-minded people who enjoy talking about genealogy research.
The speakers at this year’s conference are:
Celia Heritage — well-known figure on the UK genealogical lecturing circuit and author of Tracing Your Ancestors Through Death Records and Researching and Locating Your Ancestors.
Workshops: The Manorial System and How to Use Manorial Records.
Lectures: Beyond All Reasonable Doubt, Researching in English and Welsh Records Offices, Using Death Records to Break Down Brick Walls, and I’ve Lost My Ancestor Before 1837.
Paul Milner — internationally recognized speaker, specializing in British Isles research and author of Discover English Parish Records and Genealogy at a Glance: English Research.
Lectures: Buried Treasures: The Parish Chest, Occupation — the Guild-Freeman Records, Finding Your Pre-WWI Soldier, The English Probate System, and My God, Nobody Told Me!
James F.S. Thomson – well-known speaker from the Toronto area who has designed and taught more than a dozen advanced and expert-level family history courses.
Workshop: Maps and Mapping. Lecture: Genealogy and the Age of Shakespeare.
David Jeanes – president and board chair of Heritage Ottawa. He is a frequent speaker and tour guide on architectural and railway history topics and on modern public transportation.
Lecture: The Kemeys-Tynte Family of Cefn Mably.
Gillian Leitch – PhD in history and historical researcher.
Lecture: Working with Sources.
Ken McKinlay – local speaker on genealogy methodology and breaking down brick walls.
Workshop: Managing Your Genealogy Research Project.
Marnie McCall – historian, journalist, and lawyer.
Lecture: Copyright for Genealogists.
Glenn Wright – frequent speaker on genealogy and military research at conferences across Canada and author of Canadians at War 1914–1919, A Research Guide to World War One Service Records.
Lecture: Another Bloody Englishman! Britannia in Red Serge, 1873-1920.
Learn more about the presentations and online registration on the BIFHSGO website. Note that a couple of workshops have limited seating and may soon be sold out.
