Ontario Ancestors, the largest genealogical society in Canada, is now accepting proposals for its monthly webinar series in 2025 and for some of its branches and special interest groups.
The deadline for submissions is September 18.
The live webinars will take place the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time, using the Zoom platform. Webinars for its branch and special interest group programming will generally take place on the 2nd and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. The centralized programming was initiated for certain branches and special interest groups that require some assistance to be able to put on webinars for their members. The society office will be assisting them.
Topics of Interest
Ontario Ancestors wants proposals on a wide range of topics, but the most popular topics for their members are:
1. Methods and Tools for Research — Where to Research — Archives, Digital Collections, Municipalities, Public Libraries, Universities, Organizing and Storing Digital and Physical Records, Research Methodology and Procedures (proof standards, citation, copyright, etc.), DNA/Genetic Genealogy – Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced, and Research Planning/Execution.
2. Preserving and Communicating Our Family History — Writing/Publishing Your Family History, Preserving Family Heirlooms & Photographs, Personal Legacy and Genealogy Will, Contributing to Your Genealogy Community (indexing, transcribing, donating, volunteering, mentoring, researching), Writing/Publishing Using Digital Media – Blogs, Social Media, Websites.
3. Records for Research — Land Records (Ontario and Canada), County-specific Research Resources, Immigration Records, Newspapers, Cemeteries, and Religious Records.
4. Researching Ethnic, Religious and Cultural Communities — Protestant Ancestors, Female Ancestors/Women’s History, Catholic Ancestors, Quaker Ancestors, and Indigenous Ancestors.
For webinars for some branches and special interest group, Ontario Ancestors invites proposals on several subjects, including local genealogy, history, immigration, county-specific research resources, newspapers, religious and cultural communities, and cemeteries, for the following areas of Ontario:
1. Bruce and Grey
2. Elgin County
3. Haldimand and Norfolk Counties
4. Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Municipality
5. Perth County
6 Sault Ste. Marie and the District of Algoma
They also request proposals on:
1. British Home Children
2. Ireland (excluding Irish-Palatine)
3. DNA/Genetic Genealogy
To learn more and for the form to submit your proposal, visit the Ontario Ancestors website.
For those planning to attend any or all of these webinars — the society’s monthly series and webinars for some branches — they will be free for Ontario Ancestors’ members. There will, however, be a $10 fee for non-members, which includes access to the recording for two weeks afterward. Those who purchase access to one of the webinars will also receive a $10-off coupon to apply to a society membership. In the case of some branches, the online live presentations will be free to all who register.
