The table below indicates the months for which handouts and/or videos are available.
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November |
December |
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To see any of the videos or handouts, you need to be logged in to your membership account.
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These resources are not to be shared with non-members. |
10 January 2026
Who Pays the Piper? Wills and Testaments of Scottish Musicians 1513-1800
Presenter: Robert Urquhart
Family historians sometimes think wills and testaments were only made by the wealthy, but many were registered in Scottish courts for people of “small estate,” including pipers and other musicians. This presentation used such examples to explain the terminology of wills and testaments and show how these records reveal details of the lives and families of pipers, drummers, trumpeters, minstrels, and others.
“It All Started with Some Buttons… Looking for a Stewart Piper”
Presenter: Susan Reany Iskra
While visiting family in England some years ago, Susan Reany Iskra was shown a set of buttons and told of a connection to a Stewart piper at Drummond Castle. These buttons were the starting point for a research journey that Susan shared in her presentation as she spoke about her search, the processes and some of the resources she used, and what she was able to learn about this piper in 19th century Scotland.
14 February 2026
Exploring Pictures with AI: the Good and the Bad
Presenter: Paul Cripwell
You’ve acquired a picture of an object, scene, or ancestor but have no idea of its location or timeframe. How do you find out? Ask AI! That seems to be the answer to everything these days. But how do you know if the information you get back is accurate? Paul Cripwell walked us through the explorations he conducted on some of his own pictures—what AI got right, what it got wrong, and how he figured it out.
Rain-Soaked Roots: Weather Shaped the Lives of Our British Isles Ancestors
Presenter: John Reid
Weather touched every part of our ancestors’ lives—from daily chores under rainy skies to celebrations on sunny summer days, from mild seasons that brought good harvests to the storms that forced people to adapt or move on. This talk explored how both ordinary and extreme weather shaped life across the UK, Ireland and beyond. Drawing on official records, newspapers, and personal diaries, John traced how weather influenced work, health, migration, and memory, revealing a layer of family history often overlooked.
14 March 2026
Tips for Using FamilySearch's Full Text Search
Presenter: Ken McKinlay
The application of AI-driven handwriting recognition technology in FamilySearch's search has opened up the records to genealogy and family history researchers in ways we couldn't have imagined just a few years ago. In the past, we would consider ourselves fortunate if we came across a collection where the principal names had been indexed. Now, practically all the names and words in many digitized collections have been indexed for us. Ken provided us with some tips and tricks to help us find those previously overlooked or hard to find records on FamilySearch.
[Members can view the Chat for the link to a handout recommended by Ken.]
Thistles and Cedar, Hearts Entwined in War
Presenter: Wendy Jocko
Wendy Jocko told the story of the marriage between her Scottish-born mother and her Algonquin First Nation father. Williamina Barr McKay, an orphan, had survived childhood trauma when she met the Algonquin soldier Leo Alexander Jocko during WW II, married him and moved to Canada. Their intercultural marriage weathered initial hardships in rural Canada, a decade-long separation, and eventual reconciliation, creating a family that embodied both their rich heritages, a microcosm of Canada's multicultural tapestry.
28 March 2026—IGRS Special Lecture
Focusing on the Migrants: How Genealogy has Transformed our Understanding of the Irish in Canada
Presenter: David A. Wilson, Professor of History and Celtic Studies at the University of Toronto and General Editor of the Dictionary of Canadian Biography
Part of the International Lecture Series with the Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS)
BIFHSGO was honoured to present the inaugural event in an international lecture series to celebrate the IGRS' 90th anniversary. Professor Wilson presented an engaging and informative lecture on the importance of genealogical research to the understanding of the history of the Irish in Canada. He offered several examples which have debunked common themes and contributed to new insights. He referenced several authors who have produced valuable sources on a variety of themes. A lengthy Q and A followed, which highlighted more sources.
11 April 2026
The Travelling Genealogist: BIFHSGO members' top tips for travelling to research your family history
Moderator: Dianne Brydon
This moderated session focused on recommendations for a successful family history research tour, drawn from our members’ experience. There’s a wealth of experience in our community!
The Rise and Fall of John Lowther Kemp Sr. 1793–1869
Presenter: Doug Loucks
This “riches to rags” story began with newspaper clippings found early in 2023 that reported: “Mr. John Lowther Kemp, formerly hop merchant at Canterbury has been nominated by the Right Hon. the Earl of Romney as a poor brother of the Charter House.” This exciting find prompted hours of research, and a trip overseas to tour the Charterhouse and to walk the streets of Canterbury where Doug Loucks’ 4x great -grandfather John rose to great wealth before the changing times swept him into poverty.
9 May 2026
Documenting Lives: A Spotlight on BIFHSGO's Partnership with Library and Archives Canada from 1994 to 2026 and Beyond
BIFHSGO Research and Projects Director Sue Lambeth, joined by Nicole Watier, Genealogy Consultant at Library and Archives Canada (LAC), spoke about the partnership between BIFHSGO and LAC that has spanned more than 31 years. They highlighted projects undertaken by BIFHSGO volunteers that document events in the lives of British home children. Sue and Nicole also offered a look ahead, describing new initiatives planned for 2026 and beyond.
A Good and Faithful Servant: the life of Henry Arrowsmith Brogdon (1812-1883)
Presenter: Veronica Scrimger
In the 19th century, Methodism expanded greatly in the counties of Northumberland and Durham. Like many other lay preachers at this time, Veronica Scrimger’s 3x great-grandfather Henry Brogdon made a significant lifelong contribution to the spread of the word of God. He preached in over 165 cities, towns and villages in the northeast of England. His was a dual life; Henry worked a full-time job and spent his evenings and Sundays sharing the teachings of Jesus Christ. Henry witnessed the development of the railways and the expansion of coal mining in the Great Northern coalfield. His death in December 1883 left a huge void in his community of Willington, County Durham.
13 June 2026
BIFHSGO's Annual General Meeting
Presenter: Dianne Brydon
A giant thank you to retiring Board Members Duncan Monkhouse, Laurie Dougherty and Anne Coulter. Thank you to Shirley Monkhouse and Patricia Roberts-Pichette also, for stepping forward to fill the roles of Program Director and Director-at-large respectively.
The announcement of this year's Virtual Conference dates, theme and some of the speakers was eloquently made by Barbara Tose
The award for the Best Anglo-Celtic Roots Article was given to "Robert Malcolm: Sadler, Soldier, Sportsman" by Adrienne Stevenson.
Hall of Fame awards were presented to Mary-Lou Simac and David Jeanes for their outstanding service to BIFHSGO.
William Wallace: Family Myth, Brick Wall, Loyalist
Presenter: Carolyn Brown
Breaking the brick wall of this Loyalist ancestor meant first exploding a family myth and then using every genealogy pathway to learn his true origin.
Carolyn Brown has benefited from her long involvement in the British Colonial America SIG to learn more about her ancestors in 10 of the 13 Colonies. She took up genealogy seriously in 2010 when her father, who had compiled a lot of information in the pre-Internet age, passed on his files to her. When she’s not doing genealogy, Carolyn is a scientific and medical writer, editor and publishing consultant.
Secrets: The Pullman Family Revisited
Presenter: Patty McGregor
Patty's grandmother, Sadie Pullman Weir (1896-1981), had always wondered about her father's origins. The search to find the family of her father, John Pullman (1841-1905), was the subject of a BIFHSGO talk back in 2003. As it turned out, his weren't the only secrets the Pullman family kept close. New information has challenged those original findings, and led to questions about the well-documented 'paper trail'.
Patty McGregor is a retired public servant who was born and raised in Toronto but has lived in Ottawa since 1998. She has been seriously researching her roots since the early 1990s and is a graduate of the National Institute of Genealogical Studies as well as the author of the NIGS Canadian Immigration course. Some of you may recognize her as one of the Marketplace vendors at in-person genealogy conferences, selling used and out-of-print books related to family history research.
Nottingham’s Old General
Presenter: Marianne Rasmus
While researching one of her direct lines, Marianne Rasmus stumbled across a distant cousin, whose otherwise unremarkable life made an unforgettable impact on the people of Nottingham—a story which remains part of the city's lore to this day. Beginning with a present-day search for a statue, Marianne will examine available records and newspaper articles and share the remarkable story of Nottingham's Old General.
After reluctantly taking Canadian History as a “filler” course in college, Marianne Rasmus discovered her passion for history. It became an obsession when she began researching her family in 2008 and uncovered long-forgotten stories in her family tree. Born and raised in Vancouver, Marianne spent her life in BC, but when the opportunity for a mid-life adventure presented itself, Marianne and her husband, Bill, took the plunge and moved to Ottawa in 2013. Marianne became a member of BIFHSGO in 2014. She has given several presentations, served on the Board, the Conference Planning Committee, and is facilitator for the British Colonial America SIG. She was inducted to the BIFHSGO Hall of Fame in June 2025.
12 September 2026
Paper, Photos, and the Unexpected: What do Museums and Archives Want from Family Historians?
Panellists: Canadian War Museum - Arlene Doucette, Collections Specialist, Dress and Insignia & Alain Simard, Collections Specialist, Archives; Pontiac Archives - Jon Stewart
Family historians often inherit papers, photographs, heirlooms, medals, uniforms, tools, letters, and other objects whose historical value may not be obvious. How can these materials be preserved for future generations, and what belongs in an archive or museum?
In this panel discussion, Arlene Doucette, Collections Specialist, Dress and Insignia and Alain Simard, Collections Specialist, Archives, from the War Museum, and Jon Stewart, volunteer with the Pontiac Archives shared practical advice on identifying historically significant items and deciding when donations may be appropriate. Learn what kinds of documents and artifacts are most sought after, what institutions can and cannot accept, and how seemingly ordinary family items can help tell the larger story of a community, occupation, migration, faith tradition, or era.
Small Moments
BIFHSGO members shared a small moment from their genealogical research. A Small Moment is significant, but it’s smaller and less earth-shattering than a Great Moment. It is a short story about an interesting finding from family history research, such as an event, a person or an object that adds detail to a family story. Blended with anecdotes, photos, a bit of historical context, a map, or a family tree, a small moment can be like a personal Heritage Minute. It could be considered a family history vignette.
A Mirror to the Past - Carol Annett
A Tragedy that Triggered a Wedding - Paul Cripwell
An Elusive Nephew - John Reid
My Granny's Bible - Nancy Higgins
When is a Horse Not a Horse? - Gil Croome
3 October 2026
Preserving Family Archives
Presenter: Kyla Ubbink
Family documents, photographs, clippings, works of art, diaries, bibles, trinkets and treasures are the physical evidence that tell the stories of our ancestors. As genealogists, many of these pieces of history wind up in your care and knowing how to preserve them is paramount to ensuring their longevity. Kyla Ubbink advised on implementing archival principles of preservation to the care of family memorabilia. Current and up to date practices for storing archival materials, how to detect processes of deterioration, and methods of intervention were shared within the context of practical ‘at home’ application. Topics included proper boxes and enclosures, the use of albums, shelving, climate control, pest and mould prevention, basic cleaning and repair, and introduction to digitization.
Operating a private conservation studio since 2002, Kyla Ubbink began her career through an internship with the Library and Archives Canada’s conservation laboratories in 2000 and subsequent contract positions through to 2005. Her private practice, Ubbink Book & Paper Conservation, provides professional conservation, restoration and preservation consultation services to institutions, galleries, antiquities dealers, collectors, researchers and genealogists. Kyla’s work has been integral to the collections of the Canadian War Museum, Canadian Museum of Natural History, Parks Canada, Bank of Canada, Global Affairs, Crown and Indigenous Affairs, and numerous University, archive, rare book, and art gallery collections.
Kyla was a part time professor of Cultural Preservation for Algonquin College’s Archives and Records Management Program from 2007 through 2019. She has several publications in professional periodicals, is a regular presenter at conservation conferences, and provides workshops and lectures for community groups and heritage professionals. Kyla recently served on a Canadian Standards Review Board to assess and update the standard for “Permanence of Paper for Records, Books and Other Documents”. She has also fulfilled the role of treasurer and secretary for the Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property’s Board of Directors.
Video available (for members) only until 3 January 2027.
Casting the Past: Historical Storytelling
Presenter: Pierre Brault
How do playwrights research their historical theatre productions? Ottawa actor/playwright Pierre Brault describes the process he used to discover background information for his historical works featuring Patrick Whelan, Thomas MacKay and Colonel By, the central figures in three of his plays. Pierre explains how he uses this information to animate their lives on the stage and will read from some of his most well-known works.
Pierre Brault is a multi-award winning actor/ playwright/ comedian whose solo works have been performed across the globe. http://www.pierrebrault.com/