Registration is now open for the Ontario Genealogical Society’s 2026 virtual conference, ‘From Steamships to Microchips‘, being held June 12th to 14th. The streams are AI and Migration. For more information see Virtual Conference 2026.
Yearly Archives: 2026
6 posts
Join us on Monday, June 1st, 2026 at 7:00 pm via Zoom for a presentation by Dr. David Shanahan. David will be speaking about “The People Before Us”, the original Indigenous settlement of Eastern Ontario up to around 1791. He will discuss the Saint Lawrence Iroquoian people who “disappeared” from history, the Algonquin people who controlled the region from the Ottawa Valley to the Saint Lawrence, the French and British impact, as well as the Loyalist refugees after 1783.
David Shanahan has worked as an historian with indigenous organizations and communities since 1987. Between 1999 and 2020 he was a research historian with the Anishinabek Nation (Union of Ontario Indians), working on land claims, treaty issues, and other community histories. He worked as a research historian with Nativelands Inc., located on the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve, from 2020 – 2024. David is actively involved with North Grenville Historical Society, and publishes and edits the North Grenville Times. To register for this presentation, click here.
Join us on Monday, May 4th, 2026 at 7:00 pm via Zoom for a presentation by Jeanette Sheliga. Her topic is Navigating FultonHistory.com.
FultonHistory.com, or Old Fulton NY Postcards, is a free, historic newspaper website that contains archives of over 50 million pages of microfilmed newspaper images (mostly New York State newspapers, along with collections from other states and Canada). There are many articles and news items for Leeds & Grenville in some of the northern New York papers. This presentation will give an overview of the content and a variety of search strategies.
Jeanette is a professional genealogist who lives in Lockport, NY. She has been speaking on genealogy subjects since 2011. Jeanette is the owner and President of the Virtual Genealogical Association (VGA). VGA was founded in 2018 and has virtual programs at least twice a month in addition to Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and an annual conference.
To register for this presentation, click here
Join us on Monday, April 6th, 2026 at 7:00 pm via Zoom for a presentation by Alice McMurtry, Community Program Coordinator at the Brockville Museum. Her topic is Our American Neighbours: Brockville’s Relationship with the United States.
Alice’s presentation will be an overview of the economic, industrial, and transportation connections between Brockville and the United States (upper New York State in particular), and how this relationship has changed over time.
Alice McMurtry joined the Brockville Museum team in the summer of 2022. With over a decade of experience in historical interpretation in museums, she has worked in various cultural heritage sites across the province, including the City of Toronto History Museums, the Village at Black Creek, the Bata Shoe Museum, and the Ontario Heritage Trust. As the Community Program Coordinator at the museum, she researches, develops, promotes, and delivers a variety of interpretive programs for a range of audiences.
To register for this presentation, click here.
Join us on Monday, March 2nd, 2026 at 7:00 pm via Zoom for a presentation by Kathryn Lake Hogan. Her topic is “Finding Faith and Family in Church Records”
Genealogists often turn to church records for vital events, but many overlook the wealth of additional information these sources contain. Churches were not just places of worship; they were social, cultural, and community hubs. Records such as membership lists, pew rentals, missionary reports, and denominational newspapers can reveal family
relationships, migration patterns, and insights into social status. This presentation guides researchers in locating and interpreting these underused sources in Canada and beyond. Attendees will learn strategies for accessing denominational archives, digital collections, and local repositories, while also gaining practical tools for applying these unique records to family history.
Examples will illustrate how these records can offer insights into ancestors’ religious practices, community involvement, and social standing. Practical advice on locating these records in archives, online databases, and digitized collections will be provided, along with strategies for interpretation, such as understanding theological terms, identifying biases in records, and connecting findings to other genealogical sources.
A native of Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS, is a professional genealogist and educator with deep roots in Canada, including a mixture of Canadian, Loyalist and New England branches connecting her to England and Wales. But her passion doesn’t stop at her own genealogy; Kathryn’s mission is to help others find their ancestors in Canada.
Kathryn is a graduate of ProGen 4 and the International Institute for Genealogical Studies, earning professional learning certificates in English and Canadian genealogy. The author of research guides featuring Canadian genealogy, Kathryn, has written articles for CrossRoads, Family Tree Magazine, The In-Depth Genealogist, and the APG Quarterly. Having served in leadership roles for notable organizations such as Ontario Ancestors, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada, she continues to champion greater accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity in family history.
Kathryn’s dynamic presentations, ranging from society meetings to genealogical research institutes in Canada and the United States, have earned her a reputation as one of the leading voices in Canadian genealogy. Whether you’ve attended one of her sessions or tuned into her “Genealogy with a Canadian Twist” webinars, you’ve likely felt the excitement of Kathryn’s dedication. To register for this presentation, click here.
Join us on Monday, February 2nd at 7:00 pm via Zoom for a presentation by Chuck Buckley. His topic is Finding Land Documents for 19th Century Ontario, Canada.
Far more than just a location or an address, land records hold numerous documents containing the relationships between your ancestors. Land records provide the next level of information for understanding your family story. Wills, and covenants on bargain and sale transactions may provide you with the extra detail you are looking for. The presentation is a Demonstration and Workshop of one methodology for uncovering land records in Ontario.
Chuck Buckley, P.L.C.G.S., B.Sc., P.Geo., has family history interests across Canada and international interests in Ireland, Scotland and England. He is the Cemeteries Co-ordinator for the Leeds & Grenville Branch of Ontario Ancestors. He resides in Canmore, Alberta, Canada.
To register for this presentation, click here.