Kelowna & District Genealogical Society

10/15/2026

Many of us had parents and relatives who served in the Second World War – be sure to register for Ken McKinlay’s talk on researching their records at the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society’s November 2nd KDGS General Meeting.

Second World War: Researching the Canadians Who Served, presented by Ken McKinlay

Description: Researching our relatives and ancestors that fought for Canada in the Second World War can be a challenge, especially since many of the personnel records are not yet available online. In this talk Ken will be looking at the various resources that can help you in researching those that served and ultimately gave their life in the service of Canada in the Second World War. He will also touch upon additional resources to help you in your research of those who survived that conflict.

When: Monday, November 2, 2026, 7pm PDT

Where: Via Zoom – REGISTRATION REQUIRED - https://kdgs.ca/2026/november-general-meeting-2/

Presenter: Ken McKinlay

Price: KDGS members Free; non-members $10

Bite-size: Louey King. A Chinese Canadian Secret Commando and War Hero, presented by Joan Kirkbride

Ken McKinlay: Embarking on a genealogical adventure over two decades ago, Ken McKinlay's quest began with a mission to confirm or debunk three family stories. Despite uncovering the truths behind those initial tales, Ken's passion for delving into his family's past remains steadfast, fueled by a constant stream of new questions. As a sought-after speaker by branches of Ontario Ancestors, the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, and other genealogy societies across Canada, Ken McKinlay shares his expertise through engaging talks and workshops. His topics have included researching those who have fought for Canada in the world wars, exploring the Canadian censuses, delving into the mysteries of Ontario Land Records, and an eight part series covering "Back to Basics" research for the British Isles. In 2025 he made his debut with Legacy Family Tree Webinars with his talk "Exploring Library and Archives Canada Online". His presentations also focus on genealogical methodologies and overcoming genealogy brick walls. Beyond public speaking, Ken shares his insights on his blog, Family Tree Knots (https://familytreeknots.blogspot.com/), providing a valuable resource for fellow enthusiasts.

09/28/2026

Researching in Ontario? Maybe this update of Ontario birth records can solve your mystety!
Thanks to Gail Dever for posting this on her Genealogy a la Carte blog. https://genealogyalacarte.ca/ancestry-adds-1918-ontario-birth-registrations-finally/?

The wait is over for some of us whose relatives lived in Canada’s most-populated province. The Ontario birth registrations for 1918 are now available on Ancestry in the collection, Ontario, Canada Births, 1832-1918. The last time we saw a new … Continue reading →

09/12/2026

Movement up and down North America in the area that is now Canada and the US has happened since before the countries were settled. How did the official border evolve and what records can you find to pinpoint your ancestors' movements. This article from Family History magazine will point you to what you need.

The United States–Canadian border is the longest boundary in the world with more than 8,800 miles of land, shared history, commerce, and family ties. Discover its history and find records across the border.

09/11/2026

Has your family been in Canada for a long, long time? Passenger lists started in 1865 and before that, it is difficult to find a record. This blog from Finding Your Canadian Story is the first of 2 parts about pre-1865 passenger lists at Library and Archives Canada. Check out the information and subscribe to the blog to get part 2.

It wasn’t until 1865 that Canada started routinely retaining passenger lists. Because of this, pre 1865 immigration records are difficult to find. The exceptions are if your ancestor came fro…

09/10/2026

To clear up the confusion...

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19GCsE2895/

09/10/2026

If you're not an Ancestry subscriber here's a good opportunity to delve into some British wartime records for free. Lots of ads in the article but a great offer from Ancestry.

Family history website Ancestry is offering free access to major records collections, including Second World War service records

09/09/2026

I love the author Elinor Florence. There are many books in the historical fiction genre these days but Elinor's are of great interest to me because of her prairie roots and the prairie people and places she writes about. This is a blog post by another author, Darlene Foster posted on Darlene's blog. https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/2026/09/09/an-interview-with-author-elinor-florence/?

I love discovering authors who write compelling stories. A cousin from Calgary suggested I read Finding Flora by Elinor Florence; a story that takes place in Alberta during the homesteading days. I…

09/03/2026

We are pleased to link our September 22nd Family History Forum to the City of Kelowna's “Culture Days!” This is a free Zoom talk in partnership with the Okanagan Regional Library – registration required.

What: Discover Where Your Story Began: Connecting to Your Ancestral Heritage

Discovering your family history is more than just gathering names, dates and places. Family history becomes meaningful when you connect to your ancestor's culture, traditions and stories. Claire Smith-Burns of the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society will provide you with a step-by-step guide to embark on your family history. She will particularly focus on records and tools that will help you to get to know your ancestors and build their life stories. A handout with chart templates will be provided.

Presenter: Claire Smith-Burns
When: Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026, 6:30pm
Registration Required*: https://orl.libcal.com/calendar/kelowna/fhf

Family History Forums (FHF) are a partnership presentation series of the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society and the Okanagan Regional Library. The topics vary but are typically at the beginner’s level in Family History research. All are welcome to these FREE Zoom presentations, but pre-registration is required through the ORL’s Events Calendar. When registering, be sure to enter your email address correctly and watch for the email from the ORL to confirm your registration. The Zoom link and handout will be emailed to you the day before the presentation by LibCal or the ORL librarian. No FHF in July, August or December.

*Registration often surpasses our Zoom limit but we find that many who register do not log in; by the time we know there is room for more people to attend the presentation, it is too late to notify those on our Waiting List. Therefore, we will no longer limit registration but please be sure to log in early (the Zoom link will be activated at 6:15 PDT) or you may not be able to access the Zoom if 100 people have already logged in. Thank you for your understanding!

08/30/2026

Flo was also a member of the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society. We send our condolences to her family and friends!

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Flo Ryan. Flo was #13, one of our original founding members of the society. Condolences to the family.

08/29/2026

Have you tried "cleaning up" your old family photos with AI? Were you pleased with the results? Did you look closely? This article from the Genealogy Star blog provides some guidance and cautions. What is your experience?

Expert genealogy research tips, technology updates, and historical insights from a veteran researcher and industry consultant.