Events - Month View

The Ireland SIG welcomes all members who are researching their family history in the Ireland.
SIG Leader: Kathie Ross

The Scottish SIG welcomes all members who are researching their family history in Scotland.
SIG Leader: Heather Shave
SIG Assist: Pat Rosson

This VGS Field Trip and tour of the historic Kinsol Trestle near Shawnigan Lake is back by popular demand. The tour will be lead by Lori Trelar, president of the Shawnigan Lake Museum and expert on the history of the Trestle, one of the tallest free-standing and most spectacular timber rail trestle structures in the world.

Optionally register for the following additional activities:
Lunch at the Lake House (you pay at the restaurant), and
Tour of Shawnigan Lake Museum.

You must make arrangements for your own transportation to and from Shawnigan Lake and the 3 separate locations: the Kinsol Trestle, the restaurant, and the museum. The Kinsol Trestle is 12 kilometers from the highway and 8 kilometers past Shawnigan Lake Village.

The United States SIG welcomes all members who are researching their family history in the USA.
SIG Leader: Pat Rosson

The England SIG welcomes all members who are researching their family history in England.
SIG Leader: Heather Shave
SIG Assist: Gerry Poulton

VGS Members Update scheduled to be emailed

The grisly murder of a nurse, a crippling 1917 strike, death on the wartime battlefield, the 1918–19 flu pandemic, life on the home front—these are just some of the historic events covered in the early days of the Trail Creek News. In Printer’s Devils, historian Ron Verzuh offers both a study of pioneer journalism and a social history of the smelter city of Trail as it grew into a small but prosperous community. He traces the stories of residents and their evolving attitudes, pastimes and opinions as they respond in times of economic crisis, war, labour strife and life-threatening disease against the backdrop of one of Canada’s pioneer industrial centres.

Presented by Patricia Skidmore at Sylvan United Church, 985 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road, by donation on Sep 17, 2023, 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Learn about the Prince of Wales Fairbridge Farm School and a Shawnigan Lake Family. Commemorating British Home Child Day.

The goals of this SIG are to introduce and share the fun of doing family history, and to encourage and show members how to do it themselves. Answer questions.

Geared to new members just starting out, and any active members who would like to brush up on their skills.

In-person only at the VGS Centre.

The focus will be on researching items that have been donated to the VGS. Learn to identify clues by careful observation and search for answers in the many sources we have available. The aim is to return found items to their families whenever possible.

The Ontario SIG welcomes all members who are researching their family history in Ontario, Canada.
SIG Coordinator: Gerry Poulton

Free to active VGS members. Members must join this and other Special Interest Groups to receive emails from SIG volunteers containing SIG meeting details.

Countries investigated by this SIG include Romania, Belarus, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, Serbia, Russia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Austria, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, and Herzegovina.

In-person only at the VGS Centre.

Learn how artificial intelligence (AI) can assist genealogists and family history researchers, with a particular focus on discovering the advantages and limitations of AI, and how genealogists can apply this knowledge.

Learn, share, and contribute your experiences with DNA testing and genealogy research. Learn more about your options if you haven‘t tested your DNA yet.

VGS Members Update scheduled to be emailed

Federal Statutory Holiday in Canada