VGS General Monthly Meetings
Meetings are at 7:30 pm on the
2nd Thursday of the month (except Jul and Aug)
at the Gordon Head United
Church Hall
4201 Tyndall Ave
Victoria, BC
Next Meeting - Sept 9, 2010 - Mr. Nicholas Russell
Join us at 7:30 pm on Thursday, September 9 at Gordon Head United Church for the first meeting of our 32nd year! Chat with old friends, hear about other folks' research over the summer and meet new family history enthusiasts.
We'll also be talking about the October Seminar (registration table will be open).
The Past is Present
The Story of Victoria Told Through its Buildings
Our guest speaker will be Mr. Nicholas Russell of the Hallmark Society - www.hallmarksociety.ca.
So often in genealogy we get hung up on who our ancestors were and don't take enough time to consider how they lived and what their homes were like. Mr. Russell's presentation will be a look at the history of Victoria through the eyes of the buildings. Starting from the First Nations Longhouses, to the Hudson Bay Company's settlement and winding up with 150 years of Victoria's building, this presentation will offer an overview of the development of our city through history.
About Nicholas Russell - Nick has spent much of his spare time over the last 20 years doing heritage research, including documenting three houses that he has lived in / now lives in. He has written heritage walking tours here and in Regina (where he was president of the heritage society for several years) and has led walking tours, bicycle tours and "ghostbustours". For about the last seven years he has also been part of a team recording a century of house plans filed at City Hall, and transcribing building records at City Hall and from the Colonist.
NOTICE: With our new membership year starting July 1, membership dues for the coming year are payable at our monthly general meetings, or at our Resource Centre.
Last Meeting Minutes
Minutes from last General Meeting - June 10, 2010 (AGM)
A Glance Ahead
October, 2010 - Canada's Women's History month - Merna Forster
VGS member Merna Forster will be speaking to us about some of the great women in Canadian History. Her website, heroines,ca - A Guide to Women in Canadian HIstory, is an excellent resource, and also contains information on Merna's book: 100 Canadian Heroines: Famous and Forgotten Faces.
Merna currently works at the University of Victoria as Executive Director of the Great Unsolved Mysteries in Canadian History Project.
November, 2010 - Found Military Treasures - Tom Clark
Tom Clark will be our guest speaking about the Military Treasures which were uncovered by squatters. Turned out to be his great, great grandfather’s papers which were found in an abandoned house.
December, 2010 - Christmas Potluck - Rev. Robert MacRae
In addition to our annual Christmas potluck dinner, our guest speaker will be VGS member and author, Rev. Robert MacRae. Celebrating the season of giving, his talk will be about his book on H.R. Macmillan - The Man Who Gave Back.
January, 2010
To be announced.
February, 2010 - Black History Month - Ron Nicholson
VGS's own Ron Nicholson will be presenting a film about the Underground Railroad.
March, 2010
To be announced.
April, 2010
To be announced.
May, 2010 - Members Night & Silent Auction
Further details to be announced.
June, 2010 - AGM & Elections
Speaker to be announced.
Past Meetings
June 10, 2010 - Annual General Meeting
Guest Speaker - Ann ten Cate, Archivist, B.C.
Archives.
Topic - Violent and Unnatural Death: A Look at Coroner's Records at the
B.C. Archives"
Archivist Ann ten Cate gave an illustrated talk about some of B.C.'s more famous incidents and accidents, and the historical role of the coroner in British Columbia. The B.C. Archives holds all of the coroner's records relating to inquests and inquiries in B.C. between 1858 and 1970, which in the case of inquest records, are remarkably detailed, providing information about the full circumstances of a death and all of the events leading up to, it in the actual words of the witnesses. The depositions and transcripts give fascinating descriptions of criminal activity, workplace habits, living conditions, family life, safety standards, medical treatments - and the full range of human tragedy. The records give “voice” to the men and women whose lives and deaths are examined in minute detail in these records, and whose passing may not be noted in any other way. Taken as a whole, the records document society’s attempts to improve living and working conditions, and safeguard its citizens. They are also useful for family historians, who may find some surprising answers to long-standing family mysteries.
Ann has a particular interest in genealogy and records relating to social history. She has worked at the City of Toronto Archives, the Anglican Church of Canada General Synod Archives, the Region of Peel Archives and for the last 19 years has assisted researchers at the B.C. Archives.
Do you have any ideas for guest speakers?
Please contact Melanie Arscott -
