Alberta Family Histories Society

Alberta Family Histories Society Genealogy and Family History

The activities of the society are funded completely by membership fees, fund-raising projects and donations from individual members.

In May, Alberta Family Histories Society volunteers are updating our cemetery database, Alberta Ancestors. More names ar...
06/15/2026

In May, Alberta Family Histories Society volunteers are updating our cemetery database, Alberta Ancestors. More names are being added all the time, so check it out: Alberta Ancestors – https://albertaancestors.ca

Plus many updates, new names and new photos for other rural cemeteries and the City of Calgary cemeteries.

May - 2026
No new rural cemeteries added to AB Ancestors this month.

Current Alberta Ancestors status (May)
382 cemeteries
272,703 persons
198,915 photos

Thanks to Ron Gilmore for a wonderful presentation about the Irish Name Books at last night's Society meeting!
06/09/2026

Thanks to Ron Gilmore for a wonderful presentation about the Irish Name Books at last night's Society meeting!

Alberta Family Histories Society announces our much-anticipated, biennial, Family Roots Conference 2026!The 3Rs of Genea...
06/08/2026

Alberta Family Histories Society announces our much-anticipated, biennial, Family Roots Conference 2026!

The 3Rs of Genealogy - Relationships, Research and Resources will be held Saturday, October 17, 2026 at Hotel Blackfoot, Calgary.

Four wonderful speakers, Sara Cochran (Skeleton Whisperer), Rhonda Lauritzen (Evalogue Life) and AFHS’ own Ron Gilmore and Christine Hayes will bring stories of Relationships, tips and tricks of Research and ideas for Resources.

Alberta Family Histories Society is ready to take registrations for this exciting event.

$90 AFHS members | $100 for non-members (includes: 4 Sessions (6 presentations with choices for two of the sessions), Continental Breakfast, Buffet Lunch & Digital Syllabus)

For all the details and how to register, please see our conference webpage https://afhs.ab.ca/event/family-roots-2026/ . If you have any questions, please email our conference chairperson ([email protected])

What's happening at the AFHS in June? For all the latest information, or to register for a SIG or the monthly meeting pl...
06/01/2026

What's happening at the AFHS in June?
For all the latest information, or to register for a SIG or the monthly meeting please see our website: https://afhs.ab.ca/events/

June 1 – AFHS Board Meeting – 7 pm - Zoom
June 8 - Society Meeting – The Irish Name Book by Ron Gilmore - 7pm – Hybrid
June 9 - Legacy SIG - 7 pm - Zoom
June 12 - Writing SIG - 9:30 am - Zoom
June 13 - Digital Genealogy SIG –10 am – Zoom
June 15 - Chit Chat – Topic is Homes - 7pm – Zoom
June 22 - Ontario SIG – My Earliest Ontario Ancestors - 1:30 pm – Zoom
June 27 - Calgary Public Library Genealogy Coaching - 1 pm - Calgary Central Library - AFHS members help with your research

Our Resource Centre is available to the public Thursdays and Fridays from 10 am to 2 pm, and Saturdays from noon to 4 pm. Our volunteers look forward to helping you at our new library, meeting and office space (Suite 251S in the south tower, 8500 Macleod Trail SE in the Heritage Square building).

Times to Remember Acadia Valley 971.23 Acad 1981Page Count 369Published by Acadia Valley Community Club in 1981https://a...
06/01/2026

Times to Remember
Acadia Valley
971.23 Acad 1981
Page Count 369
Published by Acadia Valley Community Club in 1981

https://albertaancestors.ca/books/b0265-times-to-remember/

An Early History written by Ellen Krempien - The Hanna Herald and East Central Alberta News - Thursday August 25, 1955 - Golden Jubilee - 50th Anniversary of Alberta

“First settlers in Acadia Valley region took out homesteads on Red Deer River; land taken in 1909. Joe Niwa and Lockie Cameron, Broderick, Saskatchewan, who first c ame to Alberta in 1909, still farm original land to this day.”

In keeping with Jubilee year, when Alberta’s communities are honoring their pioneers, Acadia Valley too, has been remembering its early settlers and bringing forth tales of its frontier life. The lore of the pioneers here reveals not only the very difficult experiences endured, but also the fact these people were of a type to be set apart from all others. Many left the comforts of well established communities to come here to new homes in a wilderness, many miles from a railroad at a time when travel was by oxen or horse. Recognizing the possibilities of this heavy land with its deep rich subsoil, they stayed on through adversity, to establish for their descendants, homes and farms of which the province may be proud.

Acadia Valley is located along Highway 41 commonly referred to as Buffalo Trail between Oyen and Medicine Hat.

Old Banff Cemetery117 Grizzly Street - 1888Located in the Town of Banff, AlbertaBanff National Park, CanadaIn 1888, a bu...
05/18/2026

Old Banff Cemetery
117 Grizzly Street - 1888
Located in the Town of Banff, Alberta
Banff National Park, Canada

In 1888, a burial ground was located at the south end of Grezzly Street, and in 1890 baby Adelia Woodworth became one of the first Banffites to be buried there. In 1894, the grounds, known today as the Old Banff Cemetery, were officially designated. A rustic fence and carriageway were constructed and plots were laid out in a precise manner.

The engraved tombstones hold the names of many of Banff’s historic figures, but they also commemorate community members whose tales are less well known, as well as the Banff landscape itself. The Brett Mausoleum, constructed in 1914 by stonemason J. E. Malloy, features a locally sourced grey Rundlestone roof and polished marble interior. The Rawlins Monument, also constructed in 1914, features carvings of the mountain scenery. Other tombstones depict golfers, horses and cross-country ski tracks.

The Old Banff Cemetery also provides space for the nearly Bankhead mining community, as residents preferred to use an already established site. Mourners would travel nearly nine kilometers on foot, often preceded by the Bankhead Mine Band, to bury their dead. The Bankhead Miners Memorial, erected by the members of the Bankhead union #27, honours the fifteen miners killed over the town’s 22 year mining history.

“This plaque was produced by the Banff Heritage Corporation and the Town of Banff, with assistance from Parks Canada, Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and Local Community Members.”

https://albertaancestors.ca/cemeteries/banff-town-cemetery-banff-national-park/

A big thank you to Angela Boyes who spoke on using NotebookLM at our Society Meeting on Monday night. She showed members...
05/12/2026

A big thank you to Angela Boyes who spoke on using NotebookLM at our Society Meeting on Monday night. She showed members how to use this Google AI product to create family stories using research documents. From posters to podcasts, she demonstrated the effectiveness of this tool and inspired many members to try using it.

Pioneers and Progress Alix and Clive History Club971.23 Alix 1974Page count 880Published 1974Page 27The Early History of...
05/11/2026

Pioneers and Progress
Alix and Clive History Club
971.23 Alix 1974
Page count 880
Published 1974

Page 27
The Early History of Alix
The first settlers in what was later to be Alix were the Todds. Joseph Todd and his family travelled from Michigan, USA, by prairie schooner and arrived in Canada in 1901. He homesteaded the NE ¼ of Sec. 36-39-23, W. 4th, which is the location of our village. He built a log house for his home on the same site where Kenneth Smith lives today, in 1973. A small settlement came into being and was called Toddsville. Later when the first railway was being built, the president of the CPR, Sir William Van Horne changed the name to Alix in honour of Mrs. Alice Westhead, the first white woman settler in this part, wife of Charles Westhead, an early rancher.

Definition of a “Prairie Schooner” - A descriptive name for a covered wagon, which was truly the ship of the prairie for pioneers.

School Districts: Alix, Alix (North), Carroll, Clive, Hickling, Hopedale - Haynes, North Star, Open Valley and Carradale, Ripley, Sargent, Stanton, Stone, St. Patrick’s and Westling.

Alix is located northeast of Red Deer, Alberta.
https://albertaancestors.ca/books/b0019-pioneers-and-progress/

For the months of March & April, Alberta Family Histories Society volunteers uploaded _ new cemeteries to our cemetery d...
05/04/2026

For the months of March & April, Alberta Family Histories Society volunteers uploaded _ new cemeteries to our cemetery database, Alberta Ancestors. This was a total of 1347 names. More names are being added all the time, so check it out: Alberta Ancestors – https://albertaancestors.ca

March & April - 2026 - Current Alberta Ancestors status (Apr 30)
382 cemeteries
272,586 persons
198,675 photos
Rural cemeteries added to AB Ancestors:
Barnwell Cemetery (MD of Taber) 430 names + 298 photos - https://albertaancestors.ca/cemeteries/barnwell-cemetery-md-of-taber/
Caroline Cemetery (Clearwater County) 482 names + 378 photos - https://albertaancestors.ca/cemeteries/caroline-cemetery-clearwater-county/
Dickson Cemetery (Red Deer County) 435 names + 308 photos - https://albertaancestors.ca/cemeteries/dickson-cemetery-red-deer-county/

Address

Suite 251S, 8500 Macleod Trail SE
Calgary, AB
T2H2N1

Opening Hours

Thursday 10am - 2pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+14032141447

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