For the second year in a row, the Ottawa Public Library at the Nepean Centrepoint branch will host Discover Your Roots Day, a free genealogy and local history fair for anyone interested in exploring their family history, from beginners to experienced.
On Saturday, April 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., members of the public can drop in to meet with one of several volunteer genealogists, attend one or all of the presentations, and browse almost 20 exhibits by Library and Archives Canada, local genealogical and historical societies, and museums. No registration required.
The event is organized by the Ottawa Public Library in partnership with the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO).
BIFHSGO Past-President Barbara Tose said, “It is completely drop in and out, but last year we found most people stayed the day and had a really fun time. The volunteers probably had the best time of all, sitting around brainstorming people’s problems.”
Presentations
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Research in Archives, Libraries, and Societies by Nicole Watier (Library and Archives Canada), Krista Woltman (Ottawa Public Library), and Marianne Rasmus (BIFHSGO).
Ms. Watier and Ms. Woltman will give general introductions to their websites and free resources for an audience just above beginner level.
Ms. Rasmus will share tips on why and how to use local historical and genealogical societies, as well as small community archives and museums for family history research in her presentation, Finding Answers Where They Lived – Using local resources in your family history research. She will share some of the resources available and concrete examples of how this often-over-looked resource can be used to flesh out ancestors’ stories and break down brick walls
Born and raised in Vancouver, Ms. Rasmus spent most of her life in BC, experiencing life on Vancouver Island, in BC’s north and in the Fraser Valley. But when the opportunity for a mid-life adventure came, Marianne and her husband, Bill, took the plunge and moved to Ottawa in 2013. After reluctantly taking Canadian History as a “filler” course in college, Marianne discovered an interest and passion for history she never expected. That interest took on new meaning, and some might say became an obsession, when she began her family history journey in 2008, and began to unearth long forgotten stories in both hers and her husband’s family trees.
11:00 a.m. – Noon
DNA: What do the matches mean? by Leanne Cooper
DNA tests are becoming more and more popular. While the ads focus on discovering your ethnic origins, when you receive your DNA results, you also get a list of matches. Who are these people, and how can you determine how you are related? This presentation will help you understand DNA matches and will introduce some basic tools and techniques for working with them. Whether you are an adoptee with no knowledge of your biological family or an experienced genealogist with an extensive family tree, DNA matches can provide valuable clues, if you know how to use them.
Ms. Cooper is a federal public servant who has worked at the Canadian International Development Agency, Global Affairs Canada, and now Parks Canada. She’s glad she likes her job, because it sure does cut into the genealogy time! Her roots are mostly in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, with English (and a few Scottish) ancestors. She is an active BIFHSGO member and blogs at leannecoopergenealogy.ca.
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Free Online Resources for the Frugal Genealogist by Gail Dever
Learn about some of the best free websites to explore your family history. This presentation will focus primarily on Canadian resources, such as censuses, birth, marriage and death records, military service, city directories, books, and newspapers. In addition, you will find out how to take advantage of social media to uncover even more free records and receive advice from experienced genealogists from around the world. Information on where to find online resources to research your ancestors who lived outside Canada will also be shared.
Ms. Dever is a genealogy news blogger on Genealogy à la carte where she writes daily about family history resources. Passionate about family history since her teenage years in Toronto, she lectures about genealogy research and social media. In 2017, she was inducted into the hall of fame at the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa where she managed the website for several years. A graduate of Université Laval, she now lives in Montreal.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
House History: Researching your Building or Property by Stuart Clarkson, community archivist, City of Ottawa Archives
Akin to genealogy, house history is a branch of historical research often undertaken by home and business owners who realize the importance of their building within their local communities and want to learn more about its story, its connections to physical and social environments. Join Mr. Clarkson for an introduction to the resources available for conducting house history research in Ottawa, including recent developments in accessing provincial land records.
Mr. Clarkson joined the City of Ottawa Archives ten years ago. As community archivist, he connects heritage groups and citizens interested in the documentary vestiges of Ottawa’s past with the resources that the City of Ottawa has to offer.
One-on-one consultations
Genealogy consultations are held in two locations and are on a first come, first served basis. No appointment required.
Genealogy specialty staff members will be available in the library’s genealogy centre to answer questions about library resources and to help people get started with their research.
A second group will be members of BIFHSGO in Room 1B (on the main level), answering people’s questions on various genealogy topics, including DNA. Some of the people who will be there are John D. Reid, Duncan Monkhouse, Lynn Willoughby, Ken McKinlay, Leanne Cooper, Marianne Rasmus, and Andrea Harding.
Exhibits
The exhibitors include Arnprior & McNab Braeside Archives, Black History Ottawa, BIFSHGO, Gloucester Historical Society, Historical Society of Ottawa, Library and Archives Canada, Osgoode Township Museum, Ottawa Jewish Archives, Ottawa Public Library, Ottawa Stake Family History Centre, and the Workers’ History Museum.
