VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY ~ WE COVER THE WORLD ~ The Victoria Genealogical Society (VGS), located in Victoria BC Canada, was established in 1978 as a non-profit, volunteer-run society. VGS's first aim is to further the study of genealogy - the exciting search for one's ancestors and family history. Our VGS Resource Centre contains a large Canadian collection, plus resources from other parts of the world to help you with your genealogy research. Are you interested in researching your heritage and family tree? Are you looking for others who share your enthusiasm for genealogy? Are you looking for resources and help with your genealogy research? We can help! - Please join us!

Victoria Genealogical Society (VGS)
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

News bulletins and announcements from VGS and beyond.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR VGS SEMINAR on 21 OCT 2017

Posted 17 Sep 2017

You may have noticed that this year's seminar is rather late in being announced. This is due to the need to make our impending move the priority this year. However, we are happy to present a partial-day seminar which will be October 21st from 9am to 1pm. (Registration from 8:30 am).

As you can see, this year's annual seminar is fast approaching, so get your tickets while you can! We are selling fewer seats this year to ensure a comfortable experience for everyone at the venue, so make sure to buy early to avoid disappointment. As an added incentive, those who register by September 30th will be put in a draw to receive free seminar admission!

Admission will include morning coffee/tea/water and a midday break including coffee/tea and wonderful snacks from Judy's Snack Shack catering (those of you who attended last year will remember her amazing goodies!). We will also have door prizes to win!

Our title this year is "Next Steps: Using New & Traditional Resources to Further Your Research". We have three sessions from two amazing speakers: Victoria's own Dave Obee, journalist, editor-in-chief of the Times Colonist, and highly accomplished genealogist and speaker, and Susanne Sulzberger, Reference Archivist with the Vancouver office of Library and Archives Canada.

** DON'T FORGET: All who register by September 30th will be
put in a draw to win FREE seminar admission!

Please check out our seminar page for further information on the seminar and instructions on how to register. We would love to see you there!

 

 

EXCITING NEWS ABOUT OUR NEW LOCATION & LOGO

Posted 10 Sep 2017

VGS members should have recently received our monthly e-newsletter by email, including an important message from our VGS President Pat Acton.  Excitement has been growing over the summer in anticipation of our move to a new location at the end of September.  The new lease has been signed, and hard working volunteers have been busy packing over the summer.   But we are still open for business at our current Alston Street Resource Centre until the completion of the workshop on Saturday, September 30th.

The new location, opening October 3rd, comes with a new name:
The Genealogy Learning & Research Centre
#209-4475 Viewmont Avenue
Pennbridge Building, Royal Oak Shopping Centre
Victoria V8Z 6L8

Be sure to come and visit us!

Along with our new location comes a new look for our branding as well.  Pat explains that: "as we continue to grow our online presence we needed to design a new logo using vector graphics for a sharper online image."

As the image for the new logo may not have been visible to all members via email, I'll give you a sneak peak here.  Pat's comment on the logo: "I love the twist on the conventional genealogy tree, by having a more human-like characteristic with arms open wide to embrace the entire family tree. I hope everyone likes it as much as I do."  We hope you like it too!

Don't be surprised if, over the next few weeks, you see this new logo appear on this website, on forms, in social media etc.

VGS members should refer to their e-newsletter for further details.

 

VGS TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL LIBRARY EVENT - SEPT 16, 2017

Posted 9 Sep 2017

Researching your Family History?  Want to learn about writing your family Story?  On September 16, 2017, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the Royal BC Museum is sponsoring this event at the Greater Victoria Regional Library, Central Branch.  "Meet genealogists and learn how they share their research with family members and the public through social media, self-published accounts and more." 

Our very own VGS Journal Editor, Kathleen Lowe, will be one of the presenters.

Registration is required.  For more details, please visit https://www.gvpl.ca/event/researching-family-history-writing-your-story/

 

VGS STARTING OUR 40TH YEAR - POSITIVE CHANGES AHEAD

Posted 6 Sep 2017

Our 2017-2018 VGS year is now underway. This will be our 40th birthday year, as well as an exciting and positive year for our Society.  We are very thrilled with our plans for the coming year!

To start the year off, our VGS Resource Centre at Alston Street re-opened as of September 5th, at regular hours - visit our Resource Centre page for details and directions.

When you walk in you will notice that there have been changes and that the VGS is definitely an organization on the move to a new home.

However, many things are still the same:

• Wifi and internet searches (and free access to Ancestry) are of course free to VGS paid up members (have you renewed YOUR membership?)
• Wifi access is available for your laptops – as it was before. Two PCs are available for searches for members who do not have laptops.
• VGS friendly volunteers are available to help you with your ancestral research and internet searches.
• Saturday morning workshops will start again for the 2017-2018 season.   The first workshops are scheduled for Sept 23rd and Sept 30th at our Alston Street address.  Watch for the "Resourcefully Yours" email bulletins  for more details, or visit our workshop page.

Our anticipated move to our new home in the Royal Oak Shopping Centre will occur effective October 1, 2017. That's next month!  Details will be sent to members in the very near future.

 

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR 2016-2017 SEASON PRESENTERS!

Posted 13 Aug 2017

The Victoria Genealogy Society is extremely grateful for the efforts of this past year’s workshop presenters and speakers, who volunteer their time for the society and both entertain and educate us on so many aspects of genealogy and local history.

The workshop presenters for the 2016/17 season were as follows:

• Allison Bond:
  • Making Your Own Family History Book
• Elaine Fraser:
  • Google Earth: A Geography & History Tool for Genealogists
• Gerry Poulton:
  • Ancestry.com Search Strategies
  • FamilySearch.org Search Strategies
• Heather Shave:
  • Across the Pond
  • Beginning Scottish Research
  • English Poor Law and Workhouses
  • Scotland Beyond ScotlandsPeople
  • Beginning English Research
• Joe Carr:
  • Paperless Genealogy
• Kathleen Lowe:
  • Writing Biographies of Your Ancestors
  • Drop in Writing Sessions
• Keith Holden:
  • Identifying Military Uniforms in Old Photographs
• Melanie Arscott:
  • Introduction to Quebec Research
• Merv Scott:
  • This Isn’t Your Mother’s Genealogy: Put Twitter to Work for You
  • 10 Steps to Success: An Introduction to Genealogy
• Sarah Hamster:
  • Organizing Your Research & Using Genealogy Forms
  • Getting Organized to Start Your Family History
  • Proving Your Genealogy
• Tim Duncan:
  • Interpreting DNA Testing Results: A Primer
• Wilf Bruch:
  • Stories in Stone: Clues to Family History in Cemeteries

Speakers for our monthly Speaker Series meetings for the 2016/17 season were as follows:

• Kate Humble: A Man’s Home is His Castle
• Yvonne von Ruskenveld: Connecting with Our Foremothers: Learning About the Lives of Women Over 100 Years Ago
• Nick Russell: Glorious Victoria Homes
• Karen Hoshal: Black Pioneers of the Area
• Bonnie Campbell: The Jewish Pioneer Merchant and The Nlaka'pamux Basketmaker : My Research Journey to Discover Their Remarkable Story
• Frances Backhouse: Panning for Golden Nuggets of Klondike History
• Joanne Barnard; Melanie Arscott: Members’ Night Speakers
• Mark Zuehlke: Scoundrels, Dreamers & Second Sons: British Remittance Men in the Canadian West

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!

 

VGS RESOURCE CENTRE SUMMER CLOSURE

Posted 17 Jul 2017

*** IMPORTANT CHANGE ***

Please be aware that the VGS Resource Centre is NOW CLOSED until the end of August 2017 so that we can properly prepare for the upcoming move. If members have any special requests for access, please contact our Librarian, Cathie MacKenzie (librarian@victoriags.org) or President, Pat Acton (president@victoriags.org) to discuss.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding with this closure, as this will make it possible for us to move to our new facility and get back up and running as quickly as possible. We look forward to welcoming you to the new space!

 

CANADA DAY - VGS RESOURCE CENTRE CLOSED

Posted 28 June 2017

On July 1, 2017  we hope you'll be out and about celebrating Canada's 150th birthday. 

Our VGS Resource Centre will be closed that day in honour of this special national holiday, 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CANADA!

 

 

 

LONG WEEKEND - RESOURCE CENTRE CLOSED, HIGHLAND GAMES

Posted 18 May 2017

Our VGS Resource Centre will be closed this Victoria Day Long Weekend (May 20-22). But please come visit us at our VGS booth at Victoria’s 154th Annual Highland Games and Celtic Festival.  This three-day event is held at Topaz Park, Blanshard at Finlayson, kitty corner to the Mayfair Mall in Victoria BC. 

 If you think you have Scottish ancestry, this is the place to be this weekend.

 

 

 

MEMBER SPEAKERS NEEDED FOR UPCOMING MEMBERS NIGHT

Posted 1 May 2017

If you're a VGS member and are willing  to do a short presentation at our upcoming Speaker Series meeting on Thursday, 11 May 2017, Monica would really love to hear from you!

Members presentations don't have to be formal - they can be in any format and about any genealogical-related topic that you like.  Power point slide shows are NOT a requirement!  You can talk about your family stories, perhaps about those high achievers or travelers or black sheep in your family tree.  Or talk about your own travels for family research or about some of those brick walls you've been able to knock down.  We're all interested!

Members and guests are also encouraged to bring items for shorter "show and tell" segments.  What's your favorite family touchstone?

Time is running short, so if you are willing to participate, or have further questions about what is involved, please contact Monica at vp@victoriags.org as soon as you can.

 

CHANGE TO NEXT WEEKEND'S GENEALOGY WORKSHOP

Posted 5 April 2017

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel the "Making Genealogy Exciting" workshop for this Saturday. However, we have had the opportunity to offer the "Making Your Own Family History Book" workshop by Allison Bond again. This workshop was held back in January and was a sell out so we're pleased to be able to offer it again.

To register, please email workshop@victoriags.org as soon as possible.

8 APRIL 2017 - MAKING YOUR OWN FAMILY HISTORY BOOK

PRESENTER: Allison Bond

Ever wonder how you can make those documents, photos and information available to family members? Learn the steps to completing a family history book - including how to prepare, organize, and assemble the book, as well as how to choose and use the best platform. You will learn some of the challenges and see a sample of a completed book, as well as one under development.

This is a practical workshop for those thinking about putting their documents together for their family members.​

FEBRUARY MEETING CANCELLED

Posted 9 February 2017

Tonight's February Speaker Series meeting has been cancelled due to weather and road conditions.  Please be safe.

 

SNOWING AGAIN - CHECK YOUR EMAILS ON THURSDAY

Posted 4 February 2017

Our next Speaker Series meeting is schedule is for Thursday, February 9, 2017.  With the current snowy conditions, we ask that you please check your emails by Thursday (Feb 9th) noon to learn if the Speakers' Series meeting will continue that evening.

While we hope the snow and ice will stay away to allow us to have the meeting, everyone's safety is our main concern.

 

VGS Reaches Fundraising Goal for Smile Cards!

Posted 4 February 2017

We are excited to report that our Thrifty Food's Smile Card Fundraising Program has been a resounding success again this year and our Goal has again been reached! Congratulations to all our members and friends who participated by taking and using one of our Smile Cards. With over 100 Smile Cards being used by our members and friends we reached our goal limit of $3,000 set by Thrifty Foods.

If you have balances remaining on your Thrifty Smile Cards they still work so use up them up.

Don't throw away your Smile Cards as we plan to apply for funding under their new program year beginning in May. Watch for further news on this website.

PLEASE DON'T RETURN YOUR SMILE CARDS TO THRIFTY FOODS.

If you have any other questions about the Thrifty Foods Smile Card Program, please email Merv Scott at Projects@victoriags.org

 

Identifying Military Uniforms in Old Photos - Learning Opportunity

Posted 30 January 2017

Do you have a picture of a family member in military uniform (Canadian and/or British), but have no idea what branch of service it's from?

Interested to learn more about the military stories of your relatives?

Then Saturday, February 11th is your chance to let Major (Retired) Keith Holden, Canadian Forces Medical help at his workshop, "Identifying Military Uniforms in Old Photographs", at the VGS Resource Centre!  Keith has an impressive amount of military knowledge and wowed those who attend his workshop last time it was held.  Don't miss this opportunity!

Don't have any pictures for identification but are interested in military history? You're more than welcome to register as well to see the results of Keith's photo analysis!

Photos need to be sent to Keith ahead of time to give him time to research each one.  A reminder that the deadline to send your photographs is this Saturday, though we may be able to consider taking photos a day or two later if people have trouble getting them submitted in time.

Cost and  detailed information can be found on our VGS Workshops page.
Register by emailing: workshop@victoriags.org

Previous Years of VGS news - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010

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