Durham's April 7th Zoom Meeting - The Ontario Land Index - Jane MacNamara

Please join Durham Branch at 7:30 pm on April 7th as one of our favourite speakers Jane MacNamara speaks about the Ontario Land Records Index.

Jane MacNamara will introduce the newly digitized version of an old friend to family historians- the Ontario Land Records Index. This was a long-term project for the Toronto Branch and it is finally accessible from your own home. The Ontario Land Records Index (OLRI) is an index to those settlers who were allocated Crown land in Upper Canada/Canada West/Ontario. Its coverage ranges from the earliest grants of the 1780s, to acquisitions administered by the Canada Company and Peter Robinson, to grants for military service in the Fenian Raids and South African War in the 20th century.

Kindly register at the following Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ggvLC88jRsWHRTecVQE6_g

Durham Branch's March 3rd Virtual Meeting - “AI in Genealogy: Say Hello to Your Personal Research Assistant” - Michael Nettleton

created with ChapGPT

Join us at Durham’s March 3rd Meeting via Zoom at 7:30 pm when Michael will introduce us to Artificial Intelligence, using exploration of building source references and providing some additional actionable suggestions for getting started.

Michael Nettleton has been capturing family history since a young age. Active with several genealogical and historical groups, he is a frequent presenter at Toronto Branch meetings and has spoken at the OGS Conference. Michael is an articulate and engaging speaker, and a precise author. He has addressed audiences in a variety of roles, preparing and delivering presentations and articles professionally and personally as an authority on a range of topics.

The registration link is available on the Durham Region Branch website: 

https://durham.ogs.on.ca

 

Durham’s January 22nd. “Virtual Social/Research Drop-in”

 

• Durham’s January 22nd. “Virtual Social & Research Drop-in” •

Bored with just sitting in a virtual branch meeting without having a coffee break or

having a chat with your neighbour, even to just say hello and how’s your research

going?

Come and join us at our virtual social gathering, via Zoom, at 11 am ET on January 22nd .

Bring your coffee, tea, favourite beverage and spend some time with like-minded

individuals! Anything goes! It’s an informal gathering and you can share your

successes, ask questions or even see if we can look something up in our library. 

Tell your friends – and pre-register at this link (copy and paste into your browser:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yOitnOoMS5i4kl-xMU5A4w

Durham Branch's February 3rd Meeting: "Scoundrel Bingo"

 

Durham Branch’s February 3rd Meeting: “Scoundrel BINGO”

3 February 2026 @ 7:30 p.m. via Zoom

Speaker: Janice Nickerson

It’s Game Night with Durham Branch as we participate in a lively, game-style webinar playing bingo! We will learn about crimes, occupations, and unusual records of Ontario’s scoundrel ancestors.

Who says genealogy can’t be fun? In this engaging webinar, attendees download a “Scoundrel Bingo” card filled with crimes, justice terminology, and record types. As Janice shares colourful stories from Ontario’s black sheep ancestors — from petty thieves to tavern brawlers — participants mark off their cards. Each example illustrates a specific record type, showing how scoundrels left behind more than just scandal — they left evidence genealogists can use. First to bingo wins bragging rights, but everyone leaves with a deeper knowledge of Ontario’s rich justice records.

Kindly pre-register at the following Zoom link (copy & paste into your browser):

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ArAfSFv-T3uxXFfIj3T68w 

Durham’s Nov. 4th Meeting - Ancestral Mapping Using Google Earth Pro

 Durham’s Nov. 4th Meeting - Ancestral Mapping Using Google Earth Pro

Please Join Durham Region Branch for our Tuesday, Nov. 4th virtual meeting at 7:30 pm as David Joiner demonstrates how he transformed a diary into a graphical presentation using Google Earth Pro.

Google Earth Pro is a free downloadable application with many useful features for genealogy and digital mapping. Participants will learn how to add informative placemarks and lines on a map, use polygons to highlight regions of interest, run automated tours of mapped points, include image overlays to give context to family history, access historical imagery to link family stories with land surface changes over time, and share and store mapped details. Case studies will include the presenter's paternal ancestry from Aberdeenshire and his maternal ancestry from Ireland.

David Joiner is a recently retired secondary school geography teacher with an interest in family history and expertise in geographic information systems (GIS).

Nov. 4th will also be our brief Annual General Meeting for the purpose of presenting a yearly report.

Kindly pre-register at the following Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9cp1jHKGRtO8iilmvfTLmQ

Durham's August Virtual Drop-in

 Durham's August Virtual Drop-in

Time: Aug 28, 2025 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register at the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83321698991

Meeting ID: 833 2169 8991

Durham's Feb 4th Virtual Meeting - Six Free Websites Every Ontario Genealogist Needs - Janice Nickerson, U.E.

 

Six Free Websites Every Ontario Genealogist Needs

Please join us on Tuesday Feb. 4th at 7:30 pm via Zoom as we welcome Janice Nickerson, one of our favourite speakers.

Topic:

If you watch TV, you might be forgiven for thinking that you need to pay hefty subscription fees to big genealogy companies to research your ancestors. But some of Janice’s most exciting finds were found on six free websites. In this lecture she will introduce you to her favourite online sources for Ontario family history.

Bio:

Janice Nickerson, U.E., is a professional genealogist based in Toronto. 

Her expertise includes Upper Canadian history, criminal justice records, turning bare bones genealogies into shareable family stories, and using genealogy gifts and games to create a legacy. 

In addition to helping her private clients discover the richness of their ancestral heritage, Janice does heir searching for provincial Public Trustees, writes and lectures on a variety of genealogical topics. 

Her books, Crime and Punishment in Upper Canada: A Researcher’s Guide (2010), and York’s Sacrifice: Militia Casualties of the War of 1812 (2012) were both published by the joint imprint of the Ontario Genealogical Society and Dundurn Press. 

Janice is a proud 8th-generation Canadian, with English, German, Irish, Welsh and First Nations ancestry.

Please register at the following Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkd-GhqT8qH9bj4rTKVVQNpddgsarkciML

Durham's January 7th Zoom Meeting: Where Have All the Obits Gone?

 

Please join Durham Region Branch on Tuesday, January 7th at 7:30 pm as Gordon McBean tackles the topic “Where have all the obits gone?

Some argued that there was no need for genealogical societies to record obits anymore, once online obituaries became available. After all, it’s all online now! Due to the high cost of publishing obits many people are only publishing brief notices and then using the Funeral Homes website to publish a complete obit. Funeral Home sites are not permanent and newspapers are closing and their websites disappearing.

A detailed obituary will focus on the important moments that made up the life of a loved one. Including short anecdotes which show readers the true character of the person who has passed away. An obituary is the final record of a person’s life: their achievements, interests, passions and milestones. Because published obituaries become part of the public record, obituaries keep the memory of those we loved alive. Who is ensuring the information will be preserved when newspapers shut down and websites disappear.

Gordon McBean, a member of the Manitoba Genealogical Society (MGS) since 1996, has been actively involved in the organization, including serving as past president and VP of Information Technology from 2011 to 2017. He played a crucial role in developing the MGS MANI online database, which now includes over 1,500,000 index records. A retired Educational Technologist from Red River College, Gordon supported staff with technology training and is also an avid photographer and outdoor enthusiast. In 2023, he was honored with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for his significant contributions to genealogy and community service.

This will be a Zoom only meeting Everyone is welcome to attend.

Kindly pre-register at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0scemtqzMvGNYLfDTYeSdlprT68-KXS9l_

Durham Branch April 4th Meeting - Breaking Down Brick Walls – Case Studies

 

Breaking Down Brick Walls – Case Studies

April 4, 2023 @ 7:30 pm via Zoom

No idea on how to get past your brick wall? Need help cracking the case? Come to the Durham Region Branch’s April meeting and watch Stephen Wood, our Research coordinator, show how he has helped many people work on their brick walls.

Stephen Wood is a founding member of the Durham Region Branch. He has held many roles in our branch since 1982. He is the past-Chair and the current librarian, researcher and office manager for the branch. Stephen and his wife Lori have built our library catalogue which will be rolled out soon. 

Kindly pre-register at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkfu-pqzIpH9IagH9YXzwkTdo7xLA1u3Wx

Durham Branch March 7th - Away to Canada (Pioneering in Ontario pre-1850)

 

Durham Branch’s March 7th Meeting

Away to Canada - Barbara Dickson

Have you ever wondered what it was like to pioneer in Ontario pre-1850?

Come discover life in Canada during the first half of the 19th century as seen through the eyes of an English gentleman, David Cragg. A true-life account, David, born in 1769, lived through the Napoleonic wars, the death of his beloved Molly from a grand consumption, the Industrial Revolution, his immigration to Canada as a widower with eight children and the founding of Greenbank village in Reach Township (now in Durham Region). This fascinating presentation – a walk down memory lane as told through David’s own writing – will intrigue and inspire Canadians, historians, and anyone who’s interested in learning more about how people lived almost 200 years ago in Britain and Canada.

 

Barbara Dickson is a sought-after award-winning best-selling author, historian, public speaker, documentary film producer and writer who has entertained, educated, and enlightened audiences for twenty-five years. Dickson’s speaking platform mirrors her passions: commemorating Canada’s bomb girls, honouring the legacy of the Irish people in building Canada, challenges and triumphs of 19th century immigration life, living with multiple sclerosis, and heart transplantation in Canada.

Barbara’s website can be found at https://www.barbaradickson.ca/

The meeting will be held at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, March 7th via Zoom only.

Kindly register for the Zoom programme via the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0oc-urqDosGNGDP64oNGEXhgHOfiuRF0E4

Durham Branch’s Virtual Library Monthly Drop-In this Thursday June 23rd

Welcome! You are invited to join “Durham Branch's Library Drop-In”. We have a permanent day and time now: 4th Thursday at 11 am via Zoom. Drop-in and let’s talk genealogy!

We have booked Zoom meetings from June to October, it is one link and you can book all dates at the same time or pick and choose which meetings to attend.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Kindly register at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYocuioqz4oHdLUmfh9rWpNJRU-fAAj8_A_

Can't Wait for the "RootsTech Connect" Conference!

 

It's going to be the biggest RootsTech yet, and it's virtual and free! Watch this YouTube video to get a sneak peek at the all new Rootstech.org website that will be opened up to us this coming Wednesday. They are going to show you all the links, expo hall, speakers (both recorded & keynote), other languages and the Relatives at RootsTech feature (you must be in the global family tree at familysearch.org). They will also explain how logging into your FamilySearch account (register here for a free account) will increase your conference experience quite a bit.

The Expo Hall preview starts on Wed. Feb. 24th at 7 pm EST and the first Keynote speaker will be at 11 pm EST. This conference has over 314,000 registrants from 224 countries world-wide, so the conference will go 24 hrs a day for a full 3 days!!

Action Items:

1. Register for the conference at rootstech.org

2. Create your FamilySearch free account. 

3. Make sure that you are linked to the global Family Tree.

4. Sign in to your account and go to the Find New Relatives page and join in. You'll be able to chat with relatives once the conference starts.

It’s going to be like no event ever before, and I can’t wait!

The May meeting video is now available for re-play!

Just a note to let you know that the recording of our May Meeting featuring Bob Dawes on "Connecting English Ancestors" is now available in our YouTube Channel.

Virtual Ontario Ancestors Conference Announced Today

Kudos to Dianna Fulton and the Conference Committee for their hard work in setting up this virtual conference! As announced in the Ontario Ancestors e-Weekly. Unfortunately the links in e-Weekly don't seem to work, so I have put the corrected link below:

Visit virtual2020.ogs.on.ca 

Some of the links aren't connected yet (May 9th @ 1 pm), so once you are on the page, click on "Conference Info" since that seems to have the links all attached. "Conference Schedule" has the most information.