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THIS IS A ZOOM ONLY EVENT.

This popular event is an annual opportunity for some of our VGS members to give short presentations on their genealogical or historical research projects, or their interesting ancestors. 

Each of our four member speakers will give a 15 to 20 minute presentation:

Arthur Sissman: "The AI-Assisted Genealogy Detective"
Arthur Sissman will tell the story of how Mark Thompson challenged him to discover his second great-grandfather's full name in April 2025 by inviting him to speak at the VGS member’s night event. With artificial intelligence assistance from Steve Little, and Arthur's own experience with AI tools, he continued a journey that began back in 2002 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Join Arthur as he shares the fascinating process and surprising discoveries made on this quest!

Joanne Barnard: "Sharing Family Stories: From Oblivion to Posterity"
Joanne Barnard will demonstrate how tools like Amy Johnson Crow's "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge can help transform family stories from hidden database entries or forgotten attic treasures into shareable family history. Joanne will present several fascinating stories she has uncovered and shared with her family, including an intriguing unsolved murder mystery from 1912.

Merv Scott: "My DNA Conundrum"
Merv Scott will discuss how, after completing much of his planned genealogical research, he still faced fundamental unanswered questions about his family history. His presentation will explain why he chose Y-DNA testing for his father's family and how he implemented the same testing approach for his mother's paternal line. Merv will reveal his findings for both families, including the answers to his most pressing questions and some unexpected surprises that emerged from the DNA results.

Kathie Ross: "Ladies of the Ledger"
Kathie Ross will present highlights from her final project for the Post-Graduate Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies through the University of Strathclyde. Her research explores the women who self-identified as accountants and auditors in the 1931 British Columbia Census, focusing specifically on those with connections to Victoria. Join Kathie as she shares these pioneering professional women's stories and their significance to local history.