Distributed free of charge to interested subscribers and former members.

 

This popular event is an annual opportunity for VGS members to give short 15 minute presentations on their genealogy research journeys,  interesting ancestors, or their tips and tricks. This is an opportunity for non members to meet our members (online) and ask questions that may help to break down their own research brick walls.

 

Here are a list of this year's presentations:

 

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.

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!

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.

 

Register for these and other presentations.

Date: Thursday, May 8th, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PST
Location: This is a Zoom Only Event

For more information or registration visit REGISTER NOW

 

The Victoria Highland Games is a family-focused weekend of Scottish and Celtic arts and culture including pipe band competitions, Scottish Highland dancing competitions, Heavy Events (e.g. caber toss, hammer throw), Scottish country dancing, fiddling performances, Scottish/Celtic and folk music bands, Scottish Clan and genealogy booths and displays, historic military demonstrations and displays, Scottish/Celtic food and merchandise vendors.

 

In the Victoria Genealogical Society tradition, we will once again have a booth at the Games where we display our materials and encourage and guide Games attendees in their family history pursuits.

 

VGS volunteer Lois Thompson will also be giving a daily presentation in the Heritage Tent.  Always entertaining here is a short summary of her presentation: Have you ever wondered what your ancestors believed about monsters and other Scottish legends? Did you hear stories sitting on your grandparent’s knee? Did anyone in their family ever see a monster, a fairy, a kelpie? How do legends and myths relate to Genealogy?

 

We hope to see you there. 

 

Date: May 17 and 18, 2025

Location: Topaz Park

 

For more information about the Games visit Highland Games

 

I facilitate two Special Interest Groups. One is Family History 101 and the other is Eastern Europe.

Family History 101 started as a group to help people get started on their genealogy. All were welcome, the newbies, people who had “lost their way”, and the curious. This started out as a weekly meeting, but soon morphed into a monthly SIG. We have a steady group and have drop-ins. We always welcome members with new problems, or as I like to call them, new adventures.

Eastern Europe started up again last September. With the war in Ukraine, people have begun to re-think their ancestry. DNA has given us all a wider scope for our searches. This group tries to dig deeper into their heritage. There are lots of problems with languages, shifting borders, wars, finding documents.

Both groups are very interactive, helping each other. We all bring something different to share with others. We always look forward to meeting new people. Any VGS members who would like to join us are welcome to attend.

 

Learn more about all special interest discussion groups at SIG

- Sarah Hamster, SIG Leader