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Genetic Genealogy: DNA Testing, Tools and Tips – Ben Dawson, Keynote Speaker

Interested in genetic genealogy or how DNA can help you discover your past? This presentation will explore the history of genetic genealogy, its common misconceptions, how DNA testing works and how to decipher your results using various websites.

Bio:
Bio PicBen Dawson is a lifelong resident of London and has deep ancestral roots in the London & Westminster Township area as well as Huron and Bruce County dating back to the early 1800s. Ben took up genealogy in his 20s and has been a member of the Ontario Genealogical Society for the last 4 years. He is currently the Co-Chair for the London & Middlesex Branch and has spoken at OGS branch meetings on topics such as cemetery transcription, genealogical software and genetic genealogy. Ben has been very involved in the social media side of the OGS branch and helps run the Facebook page as well administrating two additional genetic genealogy Facebook groups.

Ben also recently started a genealogy blog called “Family Tree Project” which offers tips, tricks, and news for the avid genealogist.


Dead & Buried: Accessing the Records – Sue DeGroot

Bio PicDeaths produce many records: death registration, obituary, funeral, burial, cemetery, tombstone records, etc. This presentation demonstrates why you would want to collect all of these records—not just one or two—and what information each record can hold.

Using examples of different records, the audience will learn about the varied information contained in each one. Examples provided in the presentation will be of Ontario records; however, the types of records available can apply to other provinces or countries as well. The discussion will also include the reliability or validity of the detailed information within each record.

Bio:
Sue de Groot is a Professional Genealogist and lecturer, specializing in Ontario and Netherlands. She is a graduate, instructor, and Director, Student and Curriculum Administration for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. She is the author of a number of genealogical articles and is co-author of Finding Your Dutch Ancestors.


From Slavery to Freedom – Rochelle Bush

Bio PicTracing the genealogy of enslaved people of African descent who escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad can be quite difficult and often very alarming. Using some examples relating to her own ancestry, Bush will discuss the documents versus the oral histories, along with the records to help trace people of interest.

Bio:
Rochelle Bush is the proprietor and primary guide of Tubman Tours Canada. She is a descendant of African- American freedom seekers and was born in St. Catharines. Her maternal 2xs great-grandfather, for a period of time, was the minister-in-charge of the Salem Chapel when Harriet Tubman was a member.

In 1994, Rochelle began to preserve, promote and protect Canada’s rich Black history when she resided in Toronto. She returned to her hometown in 1996 to support her family church and help develop the early Black history narrative and government tourism initiatives. One year later she began to offer step-on guide services in Niagara, Ontario to enhance the visitor experience.

Rochelle is a Trustee and the historian of the Salem Chapel, BME Church NHS, a member of the Historical Society of St. Catharines, a past Board member of the St. Catharines Museum, former Emancipation Day organizer, affiliated with the Central Ontario Network for Black History, associated with the Zion Baptist Church and a licensed Niagara Parks tour guide.


Finding Hidden Secrets in the Databases of the OGS – Steve Fulton, U.E., President, Ontario Genealogical Society

Locate those hidden genealogical gems in the databases of the Ontario Genealogical Society and learn how the OGS can help you with your family history research.

Bio:
Bio PicSteve Fulton resides in St. Catharines with his wife Dianna and their son and daughter. He has been involved with genealogy for over 20 years, from the time he discovered that a British Home Child was a part of his family history. Over the years, Steve has also learned of his United Empire Loyalist connections through the Warner and Overholt families and most recently came to understand the power and benefits of DNA in his research.

For the past 12 years, Steve has volunteered with the OGS and its Niagara Peninsula Branch. From the beginning of the Technical Support & Innovation Committee to the more recent Virtual Branches, he believes that innovation is key to the Society’s success. Besides technology, Steve enjoys hunting for and exploring cemeteries with other OGS volunteers.


Introduction to Land Registry Records – Brian Narhi

Records relating to land ownership are among the multitude of primary sources available to genealogists researching their family histories. In this workshop, participants will be introduced to Ontario Land Records and the Land Registry Office. They will learn what’s available and how to search through the records. The speaker will also discuss OnLand.ca, a virtual Land Registry Office that allows you to search or browse any Land Registry Office in the Ontario Land Registry system.

Bio:
Brian was born and raised in St. Catharines. He received an Honours B.A in Classical languages (Greek and Latin) and history from Brock University and an M.A. in Comparative Literature with a specialty in Classical literature (Greek, Roman and ancient Egyptian) from the University of Toronto. He worked as an "Assistant Deputy Land Registrar" in the Toronto Land Registry Office (1988-95); conducted archaeological field work and historical research for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (Archaeology unit) 2000-2003 and has been the staff historian at Archaeological Services Inc. since 2004. He has had a research background in local history and land registry records since 1974, and has published several articles and a few books. Brian has been a member of the St. Catharines Heritage Advisory Committee since 2007, and was a former member of the Niagara Region Heritage Committee, Museum Advisory Board, and board of directors at the Mayholme Foundation.


Getting the Most out of Records – Susan Young

As you evaluate the information you find in genealogical records, you must always measure the content of those records in terms of how well and in what historical context the facts were recorded. As every reader interprets text in records differently, you must also be certain that you are looking at the records and their content from an objective standpoint devoid of current day prejudices. There are paradigms that can help us determine how to get the most out of the records you have found and still likely need to find. It begins with knowing what information you need, involves properly interpreting the records, and responding to the consequences or implications of the record content. Not finding answers? Ask a different question and then look again at your records.

The Mechanics of Finding Your Family Using DNA – Susan Young

In 98% of cases, people with an autosomal match to you are related to you. Whether it is to identify biological parents or to break through a brick wall in your genealogical research, the goal with DNA testing is to determine how you and your matches are related. But, without a system for organizing and analyzing the volume of data the likelihood of identifying any match is left to chance, falling to near 0% if your match has not included a genealogical tree with their test results. This workshop will take you through organization techniques and the DNA match comparison tools that are available to help you identify your relationship to your matches efficiently. What about Y-DNA and mtDNA? We'll look at those, too.

Bio:
Bio PicSusan Young is a Professional Genealogist and Chief Executive of Ancestry Solutions. Susan brings 40 years of experience in legal and professional research that encompasses biographical, genealogical and sociological disciplines. In 2000, she began an exploration into the science of, and the potential for, genealogical research using DNA almost at its inception into the public market. She has also been extensively involved with the St. Catharines Family History Centre since 1983 and established Ancestry Solutions in 1990. She was one of the presenters at the Genetics and Genealogy Workshop hosted by Prof. Julia Creet at the Archives of Ontario in September 2018. Susan has worked with Prof. Creet for her documentary and upcoming companion book “Data Mining the Deceased” and with the BBC2 in her capacity as County Administrator for Kent Online Parish Clerks on their series, "The Secret History of Our Streets". Susan also has a number of other contribution publication credits in biographical and historical works.