The Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS),has honoured one of its “early difference-makers,” Brenda Dougall Merriman, in the latest issue of its newsletter, Toronto Tree. Brenda is described as “the woman who literally wrote the book on researching Ontario ancestry.”
Until now, none of the early difference-makers has been formally honoured by the Toronto Branch, which initiated awards only in 2014.
The branch plans to change that by recognizing one or two significant contributors in each issue of its newsletter over the next couple of years.
Brenda joined the Toronto Branch about three years after it was founded by a small group of enthusiasts in a church basement in 1967. Over the next half-century, her research and publications “made life easier and more productive for generations of Ontario family historians.”
“She literally wrote the book on doing genealogy in the province through the many editions of Genealogy in Ontario: Searching the Records, published by OGS. She did the same for Loyalist ancestry in Upper Canada and for promoting genealogical standards of evidence.
“A board-certified genealogist since 1979, Brenda was awarded Emeritus status by the Board for Certification of Genealogists upon retirement from active research. She founded the Ontario Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (now the Canada Chapter), served as the original Canadian Director at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies (now the International Institute of Genealogical Studies), produced four personal family histories for her Scottish and Latvian ancestry, and worked on many OGS Seminars hosted over the years by Toronto Branch.”
Well-deserved recognition, Brenda! Thank you for all you’ve done for those of us researching our Ontario ancestors.
