28 November 2011 - the BCGS website will have a new look very soon, so we won't be posting new information here as of today. If you need some information in the next few days, please e-mail the BCGS webmaster at webmaster @ bcgs.ca (Remove the spaces around the @).

25 November 2011 - Reminder - if it snows, the BCGS Library will be closed. See the BCGS web calendar (from the home page menu) for open dates. The Library will be closed for the holidays from 3 pm Dec 17, 2011 to 10 am Jan 3, 2012.

25 November 2011 - Reminder - the annual BCGS Christmas Social is Wednesday, December 14 from 7:30 pm at Edmonds Community Centre. Guests are very welcome. Refreshments, pocket book sale, BC book display, family history displays. (Members are invited to bring baking and pocket books, and their own exhibits and displays. Please contact Eunice Robinson to confirm.)

25 November 2011 - Reminder - the latest Canadian genealogy survey will close Wednesday, November 30th, 2011. Go to http://www.genealogyincanada.blogspot.com to learn more about it. This is a survey by students at Carleton University in Ontario led by Professor Leighann Neilson, Sprott School of Business and Emeritus Professor Del Muisse of the History Department. Here is the link to the Canadian Genealogy Survey.

3 November 2011 Reminder - the next BCGS General Meeting is Wednesday, November 9, 2011,  7:30 pm at Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby. Two group sessions - the English group - Mesopotamia in WW I with Susan Snalam - and the Scandinavian Group.

3 November 2011 Tracing Your Scandinavian Ancestors now available on BCGS Handouts page.

3 November 2011 BCGS Links page updated. Bab La dictionary site link added.

23 October 2011 Tracing Scandinavian Ancestors, November 2, 2011 from 7-8:30 pm, Central Vancouver Public Library. Free, first come, first seated. See BCGS poster or the VPL website for more details.

22 October 2011 Several Finding Your Roots Family History seminar handouts posted for the BCGS Walter Draycott Library and for Constructing a Family History in the Maritimes and Atlantic Canada. and for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Genealogy Resources.

13 October 2011 - Robert D. Watt's Heraldry Handout is posted now on the BCGS Handouts page. See that page for contact information.

13 October 2011 - the BCGS Walter Draycott Library will be closed this Saturday, 15 October, 2011 so that all volunteers can attend the Finding Your Roots Family History Seminar in Surrey, BC. Follow the link to see the schedule and register for classes. All day - free. Drop ins welcomed.

26 September 2011 - Reminder - hear Robert Watt, the former Chief Herald of Canada speak on Heraldry at the next BCGS General Meeting, Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 7:30 pm at Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby.

9 September 2011 - Canadian Census & Immigration handout from the Vancouver Public Library / British Columbia Genealogical Society talk, 8 September 2011 is now available on-line. Just follow the link above for a pdf copy. Recommended also were Dick Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and the Ancestry Insider blog. Follow the links to see these. And if you are interested in projects to identify archival and other immigration photographs, follow the Do You Know This Girl? campaign at the Red Star Line Museum blog or Facebook page as many try to trace the story of a little girl who landed in New Brunswick, Canada in 1905, and whose photograph is in Library and Archives Canada's collections.

26 August 2011 - Did you order Northhamptonshire Parish Register and Bishops Transcript films from FamilySearch? These two films (British Film 1999388 and 94971) are at the BCGS Walter Draycott Library waiting for you. Please contact Betty Allen at the Library 604 502 9119 or e-mail: bcgs@bcgs.ca

26 August 2011 - Reminder - the next BCGS General Meeting is Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 7:30 pm at Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby. Sessions: Quebec Group; Discussion Group – Maps for the Family Historian; Computer & English Group – Searching the National UK Access to Archives (A2A): http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/default.aspx

10 August 2011 - Handouts (4) for the English session tonight at the BCGS General Meeting are posted on the BCGS 2011 Library Week page.

10 August 2011 - The Jewish Museum & Archives of BC will be presenting an Oral History Interviewer Training Workshop on Sunday, November 27th from 10:00 am – 2:30pm at the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture in Vancouver, BC. "Whether you are a novice oral history interviewer, interested in creating your own oral history program, or just seeking a refresher, this hands-on workshop will introduce participants to the practice of interviewing for historical purposes as well as using digital tools for recording oral history interviews."  Fee: $80.00 per person, $5 per JHSBC Oral History volunteer. Seating is limited, registration is required. Refreshments provided, but please bring a bag lunch. To register for the event, contact Jennifer Yuhasz, Archivist at the Jewish Museum & Archives of BC at (604)257-5199 or email archives@jewishmuseum.ca.

7 August 2011 - Reminder - the next BCGS General Meeting is Wednesday, August 10, 2011,  7:30 pm at Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby. Sessions - English group and the Discussion group: Are You Organized??

29 July 2011 -  Métis Research handout posted from BCGS 2011 Library Week

23 July 2011 - More BCGS Library Week info posted today - handouts for both the DNA and Scandinavian sessions.

23 July 2011 - Re problem with Dorset County records on CD with Who Do You Think You Are (WDYTYA) Magazine's August 2011 issue - Dorset FHS recently scanned and produced the 15 separate volumes of the 'History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset' by Rev John Hutchins MD on CD and the whole 15 volumes on DVD. Volume 11 of these invaluable and richly detailed books formed part of the free promotion WDYTYA CD. However, it has been acknowledged by the Magazine that a technical problem in the free CD was not discovered by their checking system and this free Volume cannot be opened and accessed. WDYTYA have provided a fix online at http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/discfaq and will provide a written 'FIX' in the September Issue. In the meantime Dorset FHS would like to confirm that the CDs and DVDs the Society is now selling of this publication are NOT affected and can be opened and viewed on computers using Microsoft Windows operating systems. (It is hoped a version for MACs will be available in the future). Meanwhile the magazine's technical team say: "Mac users can also access these files by selecting 'media' and then 'DorsetFHS' and 'DFHSPT11'".  The full product is available from the Dorset FHS web site at http://www.dorsetfhs.org.uk/publications.htm and at Genfair: http://www.genfair.co.uk

22 July 2011 - Check the BCGS 2011 Library Week Handouts page for new info from this week's sessions.

19 July 2011 - BCGS Library Week - the DNA Q & A will be Saturday morning, 23 July at 11 am.

19 July 2011 - Check the BCGS 2011 Library Week Handouts page for this week's handouts and links.

17 July 2011 - The new annual BCGS Family History Book Award winners were presented during the BCGS Walter Draycott Library Open House today.

16 July 2011 - Times for the BCGS Library Week talks will be at 11 am for mornings, 1 pm for afternoons. Call the Library 604 502 9119 for more information. For the Wednesday webinar, please be there by 10:45. On Thursday, the  Métis research session will be in the morning, and the Canada research session in the afternoon.

10 July 2011 - BCGS Walter Draycott Library Open House July 17, 2011 from 2 to 4 pm. Free. Refreshments. First BCGS Family History Book awards will be presented. See the Library Week schedule for details on activities each day. New this year, Ancestry Library Edition available at the Library till 3 August, 2011.

10 July 2011 - Reminder - the next BCGS General Meeting is July 13, 2011,  7:30 pm at Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby.

9 July 2011 - BCGS Walter Draycott Library Week 2011 Schedule posted here. Watch for updates. The Library will be open 10-3 pm each day from Monday, July 18 to Saturday July 23, 2011. Free. Library Open House - July 17, 2011 - All welcome, free, refreshments.

9 June 2011 - Two tours at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver coming up, June 19, 1 pm, tours with Lorraine Irving of the BC Genealogical Society and John Atkin. $10. Meet at the Cemetery's Celebration Hall. And June 26 at 1 pm, Women in Mountain View Cemetery with tour leaders Lorraine Irving, Jolene Cumming and M. Diane Rogers $10. Meet at southwest corner of 33rd and Fraser.

9 June 2011 - Chinese Genealogy session with May Yan, June 14th, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. First come, first seated. Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch, Vancouver, BC.

6 May 2011 - Coming up - 2 p.m., May 24th at Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch, Laurie Cooke of Cloverdale Library will be speaking on 'Discovering First Nations Heritage'. Details at CanadaGenealogy.

5 May 2011 - Researching Your British Columbia Ancestors handout posted on the BCGS Education Handouts page.

27 April 2011 - The Francophones of Early Vancouver - walking tour with Maurice Guibord, Saturday 30 April 2011. See more details here at CanadaGenealogy.blogspot.com

14 April 2011 - Reminder - Abbotsford Genealogical Society seminar with Lyn Meehan, 7 May 2011 at the Clearbrook Library. The topics are:  Canada's National Treasure - Library & Archives Canada collections; Before and Beyond the Internet; and Research Plans That Work. For registration information, addresses, etc. see the Abbotsford Genealogical Society website.  Genealogist Lyn Meehan specializes in Western Canadian family history research. See her website for more about her and her presentations.

14 April 2011 -  Annette Fulford will be speaking on World War I war brides at the BCGS General Meeting in Burnaby, May 11th in Burnaby. Refreshments. All interested are welcome.

14 April 2011 - Might you be related to Kate Middleton? Please contact the BCGS webmaster: webmaster@bcgs.ca

14 April 2011 - Dragonfly TV in the UK is looking for Canadians who are interested in taking part in a new show, Guess the Relative (working title) featuring British families and long lost relatives. Go to the Guess the Relative.tv website or contact the BCGS webmaster for other contact information: webmaster@bcgs.ca

14 April 2011 - The BCGS and the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) are co-sponsoring Tracing Your Ancestors in British Columbia, May 5 at the Central Branch, VPL, in Vancouver. See the VPL events page for details. Free. Limited seating; first come, first seated.

12 April 2011 - Genealogy in Ireland handout by Eunice Robinson posted - from the session co-sponsored by BCGS and VPL

1 April 2011 - PayPal now available for memberships in the BC Genealogical Society. Contact the Webmaster with any questions.

31 March 2011 - PayPal now available for on-line donations to the BC Genealogical Society. See the button on the Home Page. Please contact the Webmaster if any questions.

29 March 2011 - contact information updated for the Victoria BC Germans from Russia Historical Society

25 March 2011 - The BCGS and the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) are co-sponsoring Genealogy in Ireland, 12 April 2011 in the Peter Kaye Room, Lower Level Central Library, 350 West Georgia St., Vancouver. Speaker: Eunice Robinson. Seating is limited, first-come, first-served. For details, see the VPL events calendar or call VPL at 604 331 3603, or see the BCGS web calendar or contact bcgs@bcgs.ca

25 March 2011 - Reminder - the next BCGS meeting is 13 April 2011, 7:30 pm at Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby - Painting the history of Vancouver and British Columbia - artist Brian Croft discusses his art and his historical research. See his website: BrianCroft.com

25 March 2011 - BCGS Legacy users group meets 31 March at Waves, 715 Columbia in New Westminster, 6:30-8:30 pm. See BCGS web calendar for details.

25 March 2011 - PayPal now available for BC Research requests. (PayPal will soon be available for most other BCGS payments.)

19 March 2011 - Important Note - Cloverdale Library's Heritage Quest Database Online: Tutorial is April 30, 2011, 10:30-11:30 a.m (not March 23 as shown in the BCGS March journal). No charge. Presenter is Laurie J. Cooke: "Many people come to Cloverdale to use Ancestry - the world’s largest online genealogy collection. Few people realize we have Heritage Quest as well, a database known more for its unique record set than its massive size. Heritage Quest includes a variety of North American resources, but it’s of extra special interest to those with American ancestors and/or living descendants - and so many people do without realizing it..."
Please pre-register by calling 604-598-7328, or emailing familyhistory@surrey.ca. See Cloverdale Library's genealogy full event listings.

19 March 2011 - another genealogy/family history survey is online - from Myles Proudfoot. Thank to Lorine Schulze of Olive Tree Genealogy for passing this along. (Your BCGS Editor has participated; some very good questions.)

15 March 2011 - BCGS Library - Directories listings updated.

15 March 2011 - Reminder - join the BC Genealogical Society St Patrick's Day Parade group, Sunday 20 March, 2011. Meet at Granville and Drake by 10am. Contact bcgs@bcgs.ca for more information. See a parade map on the Vancouver CelticFest website.

9 March 2011 - BCGS Cemetery Committee page updated.

9 March 2011 - The French Presence in Vancouver - SFU City Program and the French Connection Cultural Ass'n of B.C., April 6-May 11, 2011 SFU's downtown Vancouver campus.

9 March 2011 - Friends of the Vancouver City Archives AGM - special presentation "Vancouver's Other Great Photo Archive: The Vancouver Sun and Province Library". Members only, but memberships available at the door.

9 March 2011 - British Columbia Historical Federation conference, May 5-9, 2011 in Powell River

8 March 2011 - the BCGS Annual General Meeting is 9 March 2011 in Burnaby. The speakers are: Jacqueline Gresko and Anita Bonson on Pioneers in the Work of Civilization: Royal Engineer Wives in 19th Century British Columbia. Refreshments. All interested are welcome.

8 March 2011 - Genealogy-Family History Survey - a Master of Archival Studies, University of British Columbia student is asking genealogists and family historians to participate in a short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/genealogical_users  For more information, see the CanadaGenealogy blog.

10 February 2011- BCGS Computer Group - Legacy genealogy/family history software handout is now on the BCGS Education Handouts webpage, with some additional notes.

10 February 2011 - BCGS member Donna Fraser and Donald W. Davis present "Finding Amelia" - British research -  at Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch, 22 February 2011, 7-8:30 pm. First come, first seated; see the Vancouver Public Library events calendar on-line for details.

10 February 2011 - the Abbotsford Genealogical Society 2011 Spring Seminar with Lyn Meehan is 7 May, 2011 at the Clearbrook Library. For details, see the Abbotsford Genealogical Society website for more info, registration form and a poster. Her three topics are: Canada's National Treasure - Library & Archives Canada collections; Before and Beyond the Internet; and Research Plans That Work.

26 January 2011 - Reminder - the next BCGS General Meeting is 9 February 2011, 7:30 pm at Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby. Group sessions are: Quebec; Computer- Legacy software; Discussion - Getting Organized. See the BCGS web calendar for more information.

26 January 2011 - The British Columbia Genealogical Society and the Central Branch, Vancouver Public Library will co-sponsor genealogical programmes this year -   see a .pdf list of the VPL genealogy programmes.

26 January 2011 - Cloverdale Branch, Surrey Public Library is sponsoring Cemeteries: the Archival Collection with Brenda L. Smith, February 26, 2011.

25 January 2011 - the British Columbia Historical Federation  Book Store is now on-line.  The book, Vancouver Voters, 1886, from the British Columbia Genealogical Society can be purchased there for only $40.00 including Canadian shipping.

8 January 2011 - Reminder - the next BCGS General Meeting is 12 January 2011 7:30 pm at Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby. Topic: Brickwalls Discussed - a panel of experienced researchers will answer questions and try and help you to break those walls down!

8 January 2011 - First Steps on the Ancestral Trail with Brenda Smith, 26 January 2011, George Mackie Library, Delta, BC. Registration required. Click on the link to see the poster.

8 January 2011 - click here for the new 2011 BCGS Education Schedule

10 December 2010 - BCGS Scandinavian Group webpage updated - new contacts.

9 December 2010 - BCGS Walter Draycott Library catalogue on-line database updated.

9 December 2010 - please note that the Reset button on the BCGS Walter Draycott Library search isn't working right now.

8 December 2010 - the Surrey Family History Center Open House is 8 January 2011. See the poster for details.

8 December 2010 - WHITLOCK Family Ancestry website added to Links - in the BCGS Member Personal Homepages section.

23 November 2010 - Reminders - If it snows, the BCGS Walter Draycott Library is closed. And - December Holiday closure - The BCGS Walter Draycott Library will be closed for holidays in December after the 18 December to 6 January 2011.

19 November 2010 - Attention Members: We have organized another tour of the Vancouver City Archives – only 10 participants at this time. The date is Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 2:00 pm. There is parking available at the Archives. Please meet in the lobby of the Archives at 1:50 pm, so we can start on time. After the tour is finished, participants will be able to continue to research until 5:00 pm.
If you’d like to attend, please email Eunice at eunice @ dccnet.com (remove spaces) or contact the BCGS webmaster: Webmaster@bcgs.ca

17 November 2010 - BCGS Christmas Social, 8 December 2010 starting at 7:30 pm at the Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby, BC.

15 November 2010 - the BCGS Walter Draycott Library is now a FamilySearch Family History Library affliliate library. Films and fiche may be ordered in from Salt Lake City. Call or visit the BCGS Library for information.

15 November 2010 - BCGS Military Records Sessions handouts now on-line.

10 November 2010 - Canada Vigil 1914-1918: www.1914-1918.ca continues to 11 November 2010.

10 November 2010 - December Holiday closure - The BCGS Walter Draycott Library will be closed for holidays in December after 18 December to 6 January 2011.

10 November 2010 - Ancestry.co.uk has WW I Service and pension records and Medal Index cards free to view till 14 November 2010 for Remembrance Week. www.ancestry.co.uk  News via the Federation of Family History Societies: http://www.ffhs.org.uk

10 November 2010 - Reminder - Cloverdale Library Second Annual Family History Show and Tell! Saturday 13 November 2010 - Free. 10:30-12:30 pm. Cloverdale Library. Bring your family history creations to show - please register at 604-598-7328, or email familyhistory@surrey.ca

30 October 2010 - more info on the 10 November 2010 BCGS General Meeting topics - Discussion Session – Military Records and Their Availability; Scottish Group - Scottish regiments, some history and where to find information, concentrating on WW 1; Irish Group – More Available Irish Records. Also, this will be the last night for submissions to the Most Improved Genealogy Contest! If you can't attend the meeting, contact Eunice Robinson beforehand to enter the contest.

29th October 2010 - Reminder - the next BCGS General Meeting is 10 November 2010 7:30 pm at Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby. Groups meeting that night are: Discussion Group: In Memory of Our Military Ancestors; Scottish Group; Irish Group.

29 October 2010 - Some of the handouts from the Finding Your Roots Family History Seminar, 23 October 2010 in Surrey, BC are now posted on our website for your convenience.

21 October 2010 - updated BCGS links page - USA archives, libraries, immigration.

30 September 2010 - the BCGS is now selling 2011 Entertainment Coupon Books. Contact Cathy Magee, BCGS Boutique. To purchase an Entertainment Coupon  book on-line - even for another area, like the Okanagan or for Utah, USA - please use this link: On-line Purchase -2011 Entertainment Books for BCGS
 

30 September 2010 - Reminder - the annual Finding Your Roots Family History Seminar is coming up 23 October in Surrey BC. All day. Bring a lunch and attend any classes of interest to you free. Visit the BCGS Boutique table for new books and genealogy charts, etc. and novelties and the BCGS book sale table for used books. BCGS volunteers needed. 

30 September 2010 - Reminder - the next BCGS general meeting is 13th October, 2010 at 7:30 pm in Burnaby at Edmonds Community Centre - English, Quebec and US groups sessions after the meeting. See the web calendar for more details.

12 September 2010 - Reminder - the John D. Reid Seminar is this Saturday, 18 September, 2010 all day in Burnaby. See the brochure and call today to reserve your seat.

12 September 2010 - Reminder - Genealogy Anti-Procrastination informal get together — Is there a genealogy project you’ve intended to start (or finish)? Let’s encourage and assist each other this fall. Refreshments. 7-9 pm, BCGS Walter Draycott Library. Call Diane 604 294 5369 or e-mail: editor@bcgs.ca about future meetings.

12 September 2010 - For those in the Canadian Vital Statistics discussion at the September general meeting, the Canada - Vital Statistics DRAFT list is posted now. Please send comments to the Editor: Editor@bcgs.ca 

12 September 2010 - BCGS LInks page updated - Internet Search Engines  To suggest new links, please contact the BCGS Webmaster.

9 September 2010 - BCGS web calendar update - the BCGS Walter Draycott Library will be closed  Saturday,18 September and Saturday, 23 October to allow all volunteers to attend the John D. Reid Seminar 18 Sept. and the Finding Your Roots Family History Seminar 23 Oct.

Updated BCGS Education schedule (.pdf) to December 2010.

5 September 2010 - Reminder - the Early Bird price deadline for the John D Reid seminar is Wednesday September 8, 2010. See details here. Call to reserve your tickets or buy them at the General Meeting, September 8th at Edmonds Community Centre, 7:30 pm.

5 September 2010 - Updated ongoing meeting information and added Scottish and South African links on the BCGS Cemetery Committee webpage and the Facilitators page. Updated Facilitator information. (Volunteer needed as new European facilitator.)

2 September 2010 - BC Research page updated. There are now 6 BCGS members listed as available to do private research.

2 September, 2010 - The BCGS BC Newspapers - Obituaries page has been updated. The Osoyoos Times has obituaries on-line.

2 September 2010 -  'House history' links have been added to the BCGS Links page under Canadian websites.  Note: the BCGS links are being checked, updated and reorganized. If you would like to suggest useful new links, please contact the BCGS webmaster.

8 September 2010 - BCGS General Meeting. Group sessions: Vital Statistics Access discussion; Computer group; Canada group.

10 August 2010 - Note - one of the topics for the John D. Reid seminar has changed - please see the revised poster.  He will now be speaking on DNA and genealogy as well as on researching  immigration records and newspapers.

5 August 2010 - The BCGS is very pleased to present John D Reid, Sept. 18th, 2010 in Burnaby speaking on immigration, hidden web gems for British research and researching newspapers. Note the early bird prices - to Sept 8, 2010 only. See the BCGS Seminar poster here for all details. John will also be speaking in Courtenay BC Sept 25 with Lesley Anderson of Ancestry.ca, sponsored by the Comox Valley Family History Research Group  See John Reid's blog, Anglo-Celtic Connections.  The BCGS Boutique will be at both seminars with genealogy and family history books, maps, charts, research tools and novelties.

5 August 2010 - BC Research page updated. There are now 5 BCGS members listed as available to do private research.

The Prince George Genealogical Society's annual seminar is September 25, 2010 - featuring speakers Celeste Rider and Elma Barnes. See the poster here (.pdf).

Please note - the BCGS Walter Draycott Library will be closed July 31, 2010 for the holiday weekend.

BCGS 2010 Library Week handouts now on-line.