These are the virtual presentations, plus an online drop-in, that Ontario Ancestors’ branches and a special interest group will host this week. As usual, they are free and open to all who register.
The following times are in Eastern time.
Tuesday, April 22, 2:00 p.m. — Sudbury District Branch
WikiTree by Mags Gaulden
WikiTree is a free, shared, worldwide family tree. The recently redesigned website allows users to research and contribute to the tree at wikitree.com. Register to watch online.
Tuesday, April 22, 7:00 p.m. — Wellington Branch
The Mystery of Funeral Records by Scott Young
Scott Young will delve into the key documents used to record and manage end-of-life matters, including the Medical Certificate of Death and the Funeral Director’s Statement of Death. He will share insights into how records are maintained and shared, and explore the changes reshaping how we honor and remember loved ones. From the transformation of obituaries in the digital age to the financial and sustainability challenges facing cemeteries, Scott will provide a thoughtful perspective on the evolving landscape. Looking ahead, he will also offer intriguing predictions, such as the potential of plot rentals and other innovative practices. Register to watch online.
Thursday, April 24, 11:00 a.m. — Durham Region Branch
Virtual Drop-In Hour
Bored with just sitting in a branch Zoom meeting without having a coffee break or having a chat with your neighbour, even to just say “hello and how’s your research going?” Come and join us at our virtual social gathering, via Zoom, at 11 am ET on the 4th Thursday of each month from September 2024 to June 2025 (except December). Bring your coffee, tea, favourite beverage and spend some time with like minded individuals! Anything goes! It’s an informal gathering and you can share your successes, ask questions or even see if we can look something up in our library. Register to attend online.
Thursday, April 24, 1:00 p.m. — British Home Children SIG
Getting Started with BHC Research by Gloria Tubman
Thursday, April 24, 7:00 p.m. — Ottawa Branch
The Peter Robinson’s Settlers DNA Project by Matt Barry
This year marks the bicentennial anniversary of the second wave of Ontario settlers arriving from Ireland by way of the Peter Robinson scheme. Owing to a flurry of planned commemoration events there is renewed interest in establishing genealogical connections to the immigrant families. The 1823 and 1825 sailings in most cases preceded the Tithe Applotment surveys which today are among the few surviving records for the time period. While records of families upon arrival in Ontario are fairly good, document records of the families leaving Ireland are rather poor. Nevertheless, these immigrant families are well within the reach of autosomal DNA matching among today’s living descendants. The Peter Robinson’s Settlers DNA project was established to use both autosomal and Y chromosome DNA to improve our understanding of the origins and histories of the families in Ireland. Register to watch online.
Friday, April 25, 7:00 p.m. — Niagara Peninsula Branch
10 Years of Niagara Branch Research Problem Solving with Bill Young
Bill Young has been the research contact for the Niagara Peninsula Branch of Ontario Ancestors for the last ten years. He has helped hundreds of families with their research, providing him with a vast array of family history challenges, which has led him to explore many varied approaches and research connections. He will share some of his experiences tracing families from Europe and the United States to Canada and family movements within Ontario and Canada. He will highlight several areas of research from queries over the years, outlining valuable website links that may help you discover more information about your ancestors. A syllabus outlining these helpful research links will be provided. Register to watch online.
Sunday, April 27, 2:00 p.m. — Halton-Peel Branch
Introduction to Forensic Genetic Genealogy by Dr. Penny Walters
An unexpected use of the data from DNA testing is the emerging practice of using genetic information for identifying suspect of victims in criminal cases. This method of super-sleuthing familial relationships and apprehending a suspect divided the genealogy community because of the invasion of privacy and confidentiality. Do the ends justify the means? Register to watch online.
