Meetings

90 posts

Leeds & Grenville Branch – June 2026 Presentation: The People Before Us – With Dr. David Shanahan

Meetings

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.

Leeds & Grenville Branch – May 2026 Presentation: Navigating FultonHistory.com – With Jeanette Sheliga

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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

Leeds & Grenville Branch – April 2026 Presentation: Our American Neighbours: Brockville’s Relationship with the United States – With Alice McMurtry

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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.

Leeds & Grenville Branch – March 2026 Presentation: Finding Faith and Family in Church Records with Kathryn Lake Hogan

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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.

Leeds & Grenville Branch – February 2026 Presentation: Finding Land Documents for 19th Century Ontario

Meetings

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.

Leeds & Grenville Branch – December 2025 Presentation: Show and Share

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Join us on Monday, December 1st  at 7:00 pm on Zoom for a Show and Share experience!  Do you have a genealogy success story you want to share?  Is there a family history heirloom that you want to show off?  How about a challenge that you’re looking for help to solve?  Want to learn what’s new in our Archives?  Our December genealogy event on Zoom will have all of these elements!  If you want to send us a photo or document in advance to share with the audience, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll make it happen.  If you simply want to tell a story or ask a question, all you need is a microphone on your computer or tablet. If you prefer, you can type questions into the chat section of the Zoom platform.  We’ll usher in the Christmas season with some family history stories! To register for this year-end presentation, click here.

Leeds & Grenville Branch – November 2025 Presentation: The Untold Stories on Cenotaphs

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Photo Credit: Lest We Forget – Canada.ca

Join us on Monday, November 3rd at 7:00 pm via Zoom for a presentation by Blake Seward. His topic is The Unknown Stories on Cenotaphs.

Starting with a name on your town’s cenotaph and working through evidence files to produce a detailed summary of a soldier or nursing sister, Blake Seward will take you on an interesting historical journey through the Great War and Second World War.  Join Blake as he shares some of the hidden stories collected from over 25 years of working with First and Second World War service personnel files, war diaries, and circumstances of death cards held at Library and Archives Canada as a part of the Lest We Forget project.  The recipient of numerous awards for education programming, Blake will discuss the importance of getting students to develop the skills to work as a historian when conducting similar research, the challenges of working with documents that are one hundred years old, and the connections that exist with contemporary issues. To register for this presentation, click here

Leeds & Grenville Branch – September 2025 Presentation: A Road Trip Through Leeds County – Exploring the Records

Meetings

Join us on Monday, September 1st (Labour Day) at 7:00 pm on Zoom for A Road Trip Through Leeds County – Exploring the Records.

Come with us on a road trip through the Townships of Leeds County. Visit the County Office, Township Offices, Towns, Libraries, Archives, Museums, Historical & Heritage Societies. There might be some road-side stops and a few detours along the way!

Over the last couple of years volunteer branch members have been visiting local libraries and archives in the county with the hope to eventually visit them all. This tour was prepared using the information gleaned from those visits, as well as studying websites and social media outlets to tell you what you might find at these locations.

The presentation was prepared by Branch volunteers and will be presented by Patti Mordasewicz, Chair of the Leeds & Grenville Branch of The Ontario Genealogical Society.

The presentation is free and open to everyone, but registration is required. For information and registration link, click here.

Leeds & Grenville Branch – June 2025 Presentation: Invaded! The Fenian Raids and the Canadian Response – With Kathryn Lake Hogan

Meetings

Join us on Monday, June 2nd at 7:00 pm via Zoom for a presentation by Kathryn Lake Hogan. Her topic is: “Invaded! The Fenian Raids and the Canadian Response”

Between 1866 and 1871, Irish-American veterans invaded Canada, attempting to pressure Britain to withdraw from Ireland. Gain an understanding of the historical context, significant battles, and the lasting impact on Canadian military and national identity. Determine your ancestor’s role in these events and where to find the records.

Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS, is a professional genealogist, educator, and speaker specializing in Canadian family history research. As the founder of Looking4Ancestors, Kathryn has helped countless family historians discover their Canadian roots, with expertise in areas such as Loyalist ancestry, British Home Children, migration patterns, and tracing lesser-known stories. She regularly presents webinars, courses, and workshops for audiences across North America and is known for making complex research topics clear, approachable, and inspiring.  To register for this presentation, click here.

Leeds & Grenville Branch – May 2025 Presentation: Old Hay Bay Church: Loyalist Yesterday & Today – With Peter and Angela Johnson, UE

Meetings

Join us on Monday, May 5th at 7:00 pm via Zoom for a presentation by Peter and Angela Johnson, UE. Their topic is “Old Hay Bay Church: Loyalist Yesterday & Today”.

Peter and Angela Johnson UE have been members of UELAC since 1982, having served in several positions including National Secretary (Angela) National President (Peter), Bay of Quinte & Toronto Branch President (both), and are currently serving their second term as Co-National Genealogists since 2016. Angela & Peter are part of the Board of Trustees since 2012 and 2014 for the Old Hay Bay Church, as well serving on the Restoration Committee, and are Custodians each summer at the church. Angela & Peter are long time members of Quinte Branch OGS and both have served as Branch Chair. Angela & Peter have been part of the re-enactment regiment the Kings Royal Regiment of New York which just celebrated its 50th Anniversary of the formation of the re-enactment group. Both Peter and Angela have been interested in Genealogy since they were teenagers. When they are not busy doing genealogy they help their 4 children raise their 9 grandchildren.  To register for this presentation, click here.