British Columbia Genealogical Society
Sukunka River near Tumbler Ridge, BC
Photo Courtesy of Chris Albrecht
Welcome to the British Columbia Genealogical Society
We are a registered charitable organization with over 300 members from a variety of backgrounds and, like you, we all have an interest in researching our family history in British Columbia and beyond. We hope you will consider joining our Society.
BCGS Library and Research Centre is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 3pm
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BCGS Library and Research Centre is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 3pm 〰️
BCGS Activities & Highlights
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NewspaperArchive.com - now available at the BCGS Library or from home
We are delighted to offer our members a new member benefit - access to NewspaperArchive.com is now available to our members in our library or from your home.
Old newspapers hold secrets that are waiting to be discovered by you. NewspaperArchive has content from 16,160 publications and over 3,466 cities from all over the world—big cities, small towns, and everything in between.
Find your family’s story in old newspaper articles, save clippings, and pass on your family legacy.
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OPEN RESEARCH DAYS – 3rd Sunday in September, October & November
Join us for an Open Research Day at the Library on Sunday, September 22, October 20 and November 17. We have several new resources – maps, books, CD’s and databases for you to search. The library will be open from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. If you need to scan some larger documents, we’ll show you how to do that on our large flatbed scanner. Where to find the map index? We’ll show you that too. Our huge Clipping file has been indexed, and the notices scanned – perhaps you will find a notice or two in this collection. Burial records, church records, and much more. Remember, BCGS is an Affiliate of FamilySearch, so images you can’t view at home, may be available here. Parking is better on Sundays too. So bring your lunch and have your shopping list ready. See you there.
No registration is required.
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New Palaeography Coffee Chat - Coming this Fall!
Exciting News! A new monthly Coffee Chat is coming in September.
Want to practice reading old handwriting? Have a document that's driving you crazy? The only way to stay sharp or get better at palaeography is to practice. Kathie Ross will help you practice. The new Palaeography Coffee Chat will provide a place for members to practice reading those documents. Kathie will bring a document each month for practice transcription. In addition, members can bring their documents and we will crowd source the transcription.
The Palaeography Coffee Chat is scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month from noon to 1:00 pm on Zoom.
Calendar of Upcoming BCGS Local & Zoom Events
October 9, 2024
Members’ Meeting
Members Chat - 7:00 - 7:30 pm
Meeting Starts - 7:30 pm
Guest Speaker:
For a ZOOM invitation, please contact info@bcgs.ca.
“What’s Up” In Genealogy in BC and Beyond
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Consult with Library and Archives Canada
17 September 2024 10 am – 2 pm VPL - Kitsilano Branch, 2425 MacDonald St. Vancouver
25 September 2024 10 am - 2 pm VPL - Hastings Branch. 2674 East Hastings St. Vancouver
Interested in family history or archival research? Drop in and chat with LAC staff to help get you started. In a 30-minute, one-to-one session, learn where to find records and resources related to family history, Indigenous history, military history, immigration, and much more. Sessions are drop-in and first come, first served.
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Artificial Intelligence and Genealogy: Trouble Ahead?” a presentation by Thomas MacEntee
18 September 2024 7pm via Zoom Qualicum Beach Fam. Hist. Soc.
While AI might be the current “hot” buzz word, many genealogy vendors and even genealogists have been using this technology for years. Learn how AI is being used to improve the genealogy experience, and whether you should seek out other uses of AI for your own research. Free to attend but registration is required by 16 September 2024.
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Finding Your Indigenous Roots including Métis and First Nations, with Xenia Stanford
24 September at 6:30pm via Zoom Kelowna & District Genealogy Society
Stuck on finding your indigenous roots? We will cover the types of resources available and how to access and understand them. With these tools you can dig deeper into your ancestry to see where you came from and prove it. Registration is required.
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National British Home Child Day
Saturday, 28 September 28 2024 Beacons of Light Tribute
September 28th is National British Home Child Day in Canada, as proclaimed by the Government of Canada in 2017. Home Child Canada is seeking your participation in the
Beacons of Light has been held yearly since 2019 to honor the memory of Home Children. Communities illuminate memorials, monuments, buildings and/or host gatherings and educational events across Canada.
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"Making the Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana Your Research Assistant" with Curt Witcher, Director of the Allen County Genealogy Center
7 October 2024 6pm via Zoom Kelowna & Dist. Gen. Soc.
The presentation will cover how to explore the international holdings and datafiles of the Genealogy Center both to plan a research trip to Fort Wayne and, especially, to use the Genealogy Center remotely.
$10 for non-members of KDGS
Registration is required.
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British Institute 2024
October 14 - 18 Salt Lake City
Everyday Life in England: A Journey Through Social History for Genealogists, with Jen Baldwin / Quakers in America, Ireland, and Britain, with Annette Burke Lyttle, CG and Steven W. Morrison / Australian Genealogy Unleashed: Finding the Lost in Australia, with Helen Smith
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Be a Super Sleuth: Accessing Images in FamilySearch. Presented by Jill Morelli
16 October 2024 at 7:00 pm via Zoom Qualicum Beach Fam. Hist. Soc.
Did you know that FamilySearch was now putting their newly digitized records in Images and NOT in the Card Catalog? We will explore the access options Images to you and how to “read” the record for maximum efficiency. Also covered will be the new Beta Lab all-word document search. Free to attend but registration is required. by 14 October 2024.
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Teaghlach Gaelach: A Celebration of Irish Family History
26-27 October 2024 Virtual Conference - BIFHSGO
This Irish Gaelic phrase means "Irish Family". "Family" is at the heart of what we do as genealogists. The "Celebration" will echo BIFHSGO's 30th anniversary, and the exciting developments in Irish family history research. With so many new resources being made available online — that is cause for celebration as well.
Registeration fee $35 for members, $50 for non-members
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Fall Seminar with Diane Rogers
2 November 2024 9:30 am-12 Noon via Zoom. Campbell River Gen. Soc. & Qualicum Beach FHS
Diane Rogers will speak on Postcard Craze: Postcard, Postal History and Family History and GOONS: Why Study A Surname?
Free for members for CRGS and QBFHS / $10 for non-members.
Registration required.
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Canadian Letters and Images Project
Canadian Letters & Images Project - A digitization project for those who served Canada in conflict or war. Learn how you can contribute and what has already been digitized.
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ProQuest - Online Access to BC Newspapers
ProQuest provides free online access to past issues of the Vancouver Sun (1912-2010), Vancouver Province (1894-2010) and Victoria Times Colonist 1884-2010) for anyone in B.C. or the Yukon.
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Legacy Family Tree Webinars
The world’s most popular webinar website for genealogy and DNA testing, where you can enjoy a robust offering of live and recorded webinars presented by top speakers. Over 2000 webinars to choose from.
