British Columbia Genealogical Society
Fall in the Forest near Williams Lake, 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.
The Library is OPEN Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am - 3pm. Drop in to check out our resources!
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The Library is OPEN Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am - 3pm. Drop in to check out our resources! 〰️
The BCGS would like to acknowledge the ceded and unceded Indigenous ancestral territories of BC and Canada. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn the history, culture and traditions of the First Nations Peoples, alongside our personal investigations of familial settler history and encourage everyone to reflect on the Indigenous history of the lands where they reside.
BCGS Activities and Highlights
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Genealogy for Beginners (via Zoom)
These virtual classes will cover research basics, software programs, online databases, online/offline resources, and common issues and problems. These are perfect for the beginning researcher but a great refresher for any level of genealogical experience. Why not join us and jumpstart your research?
Presented by Celia Lewis and Eunice Robinson, two genealogists from the British Columbia Genealogical Society.
The course includes Class outlines and handouts for each week.
Classes are FREE for BCGS members & Affiliate Society members, $40 for non-members.
Next Classes Begin: Jan 2027
Mondays, 7-9 pm (6:40-9:15 Zoom)
Jan 4, 11, 18, 25, Feb 1, 8.
To be placed on a waitlist for future classes, please email education@bcgs.ca. -
Researching in BC (Archives and More)
On one of our public pages we have compiled links to many British Columbia resource repositories. These include archives, museums, genealogical and historical groups and more. They cover many regions across the province.
Search the BC City Directories 1860-1955, the UBC Historical Map Collections, UBC Open Collections: BC Historical Newspapers all from this single page.
If you are looking for specific family details or just wish to obtain some provincial or historical background to what life was like for your ancestors this is a great place to start.
Many places listed also have a contact email if you have a specific question you wish to direct there.
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BCGS Coffee Chat Etiquette
BCGS Coffee Chats provide a wonderful opportunity to share our family history research, exchange ideas, and help one another overcome those frustrating brick walls. To help ensure everyone has an enjoyable and productive experience, we ask all participants to take a few minutes to review our Coffee Chat Zoom Etiquette before joining a session.
A successful Coffee Chat depends on everyone’s participation, consideration, and willingness to share. Thank you for helping make our Coffee Chats welcoming, supportive, and rewarding for all!
Calendar of Upcoming BCGS Local & Zoom Events
10 November 2026
BCGS Members’ Meeting
via Zoom
Speaker:
Members Chat - 7:00 - 7:30 pm
Meeting Starts - 7:30 pm
Members will receive a ZOOM invitation a few days ahead of the meeting. Non-members please contact info@bcgs.ca.
“What’s Up” In Genealogy in BC and Beyond
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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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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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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. -
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Flittin' Day: Forces that moved our Scottish Ancestors. Virtual Conference Oct. 17&18
Presented by BIFHSGO
Moved by economic hardship, social clearance, or the promise of new horizons, our ancestors' decisions to relocate shaped history and families across generations. This year’s conference dives deep into the forces behind Scottish migration and emigration, offering expert speakers with invaluable insights and practical strategies to help you trace your family line back to their homelands in Scotland.
$40 BIFHSGO members; $60 non-members
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN -
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Abbotsford Family History Day October 17th
The 2026 Abbotsford Family History Day is the perfect chance for beginners and for those with experience doing family history research to dive into your family story, meet fellow family history enthusiasts, and share tips and tricks. Whether you are a seasoned genealogy researcher or just curious, there’s something here for everyone.
There will be three blocks of eight concurrent workshops covering a wide range of topics.
When: Saturday October 17th 8:30am-12:30pm In Person
Cost: FREE! -
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KDGS November meeting: Second World War: Researching the Canadians Who Served
When: 2 November 2026 at 7 pm via Zoom
Presented by: Ken McKinlay, manager of the “Family Tree Knots” blog.
Price: KDGS members Free; non-members $10
This presentation delves into the wealth of records available for researching Canadians who served during the Second World War. We’ll explore both the poignant records of those who gave their lives in service to Canada and the rich archival resources that reveal the stories of those who survived. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. -
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Campbell River Genealogy Soc. Fall Seminar
November 14th @ 9:30 am via Zoom
Presenter: Kathryn Lake Hogan
Cost: $10
1. What’s in your Canadian genealogy Toolbox? Fill your toolbox with the best websites to get you researching.
2. All Kinds of Loyalists. Was your ancestor a Loyalist?Pre-registration required.
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Skagit Valley Genealogy Society: FamilySearch Unindexed Records and the Full Text Search
When: 14 November 2026 @ 1 pm
Presented by: Megan Clark Young
FamilySearch has billions of records and most of them are unindexed and cannot be located using a typical search. Learn how FamilySearch Full Text Search unlocks the secrets to millions of unindexed records. Can’t make it to the Burlington Library? Request a zoom link by emailing info@skagitvalleygenealogy.org.
FREE
