British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa

British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa BIFHSGO supports genealogy research by people interested in ancestry in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

BIFHSGO supports genealogy research by people with ancestry in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. BIFHSGO is a federally registered not-for-profit society affiliated with the Federation of Family History Societies in the UK and the National Genealogical Society and the Federation of Genealogy Societies in the USA. There are several special interest groups a

ffiliated with the Society: the Writing Group, for members who want feedback on their family history stories; the Irish Group, who hold monthly meetings to assist those tracing their roots in Ireland; The Scottish Group, whose meetings are similarly engaged; the DNA Interest Group; and the TMG Users Group, a self-help group for those using The Master Genealogist database program. BIFHSGO is a member of The Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa / le Conseil des organismes du patrimoine d'Ottawa (CHOO/COPO), an umbrella organization providing networking for the entire local heritage community in the City of Ottawa. The Society is also an associate member of the Council of Irish Genealogical Organizations (CIGO). We work in close cooperation with Library and Archives Canada on researching Canada's Home Children, particularly the indexing of Home Children names found in ships' passenger lists and in the records of the Middlemore Homes. BIFHSGO's role in Canada's Home Children story is to establish databases of information about Home Children who came to Canada and to ensure that the information compiled is freely available to all who are interested.

On Saturday, 11 April 2026 please join us for our monthly meeting.  At 10 am EDT, Doug Loucks will present “The Rise and...
04/03/2026

On Saturday, 11 April 2026 please join us for our monthly meeting. At 10 am EDT, Doug Loucks will present “The Rise and Fall of John Lowther Kemp Sr. 1793–1869”

Finding newspaper clippings that reported “Mr. John Lowther Kemp ... has been nominated ... as a poor brother of the Charter House” prompted hours of research and a trip overseas to tour the Charterhouse and to walk the streets of Canterbury. This is the “riches to rags” story of the life and times of Doug Loucks’ fourth great-grandfather.

Everyone is welcome in-person in Ottawa at Knox Presbyterian Church (120 Lisgar St. at the corner of Elgin Street); or online. For more information, or to register to join the meeting online:

Find all upcoming events at BIFHSGO

Today at 2 p.m. Doors open at 1:30. If you are in Ottawa, we'd love to see you in person!
03/28/2026

Today at 2 p.m. Doors open at 1:30. If you are in Ottawa, we'd love to see you in person!

Less than a week until “Focusing on the Migrants: How Genealogy has Transformed our Understanding of the Irish in Canada” delivered by David A. Wilson.

Saturday 28 March at 2 p.m ET (6:00 p.m. in Ireland - note only 4 hours difference on this date). In person at Knox Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, 120 Lisgar Street (corner of Elgin Street), or online. For more information: https://www.bifhsgo.ca/events

This is the inaugural event in an international lecture series to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS).

Coming up on Saturday.
03/27/2026

Coming up on Saturday.

The IGRS 90th Anniversary celebrations begin this Saturday (28 March) with David Wilson's lecture in Ottawa and available around the world by Zoom. It's hosted by BIFHSGO and it's a free event but you need to register. It's at 6pm for us in Ireland or the UK but 2pm for Ottawa.

For more info check out www.irishancestors.ie
www.bifhsgo.ca



AGI - Accredited Genealogists Ireland

03/25/2026

It's estimated that upwards of 50% of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War were Irish immigrants. Many Irish also served in the British Army. Torn between loyalty to the British Crown, economic stability, and opportunity, the Irish made a lasting impact during the war and post-war settlement in the American colonies. Join Senior Genealogist Melanie McComb to learn about the incentives offered to the Irish from both sides of the conflict, how to research their military service, pensions, bounty land, and identify their origins in Ireland. https://hubs.ly/Q041wgTr0

Address

P. O. Box 38026
Ottawa, ON
K2C3Y7

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