OGS Conference 2011 – Day 1

We went down to Hamilton last Wednesday, planning to do some research before the OGS Conference started on Friday, but the “car gods” had something to say about that - we never got to do any research!

The car broke down in the express lane of the 401 in the middle of Toronto (just past the Don Valley Parkway) in evening rush hour. After getting a ride in a tow truck to the Hamilton hotel where we were staying, we spent the next two days babysitting our car while it went through hours of testing to finally realize that it was simply a sticky throttle!

So Friday evening was the first time we were able to go to Conference.

After opening remarks by Nancy Trimble, President, and The Honourable Vivienne Poy, Senator (Honourable Patron of the OGS), the excited conference-goers sat earnestly listening to The Houston Memorial Lecture as given by J. Brian Gilchrist entitled, “Looking Forward by Looking Back: the changing face of genealogy and family history”, in which he gave a lighthearted review of where the OGS has been in the last 50 years, and where it is going in the next 50.

He has been involved in genealogy since he was 10 years old, so he answered some of my questions I have had about genealogy in Ontario - for instance, when was the first genealogy book written in Ontario (in the 1860s), who wrote the first guide books, who was the first president of OGS, etc.

He made extensive use of videos in his presentation, which kept it lively and interesting to the very last word. Anyone who has heard Brian speak knows that he is a very good speaker, and he ended his talk by asking us who will carry the OGS into the next 50 years.

Brian said that technology will carry the OGS in the next 50 years. He went through all the things technology does for us now - online databases, blogs, Twitter feeds, etc - but there will be a lot more before it is over. By the time he was finished his talk, we were as enthusiastic as he was - and looking forward to the future.

You will be able to read his Houston Lecture in the August edition of Families (of which I am its editor), along with the opening remarks given by Senator Poy.

Voices from the Dust

This family history event is being hosted on Friday, May 20th by the Ottawa Ontario Stake Family History Centre (located at Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa).

Always informative, it's a great chance to meet some very dedicated genealogists, and to take advantage of some valuable resources.

For details on speakers, topics, and location, please go to www.ottawastakefhc.on.ca/vftd.html

See you there!

116th Haviland Family Reunion

Here is your chance to connect with the Haviland Family again!

The 116th Haviland Family Reunion will be held July 9th 2011 at Waterford North Conservation Area in Waterford Ontario. Here is your chance to connect with your family again

Saturday's events will start at 1:00 a.m. with registration, followed by a 12:00 noon pot luck buffet meal at the Pavilion. There will be afternoon activities for all ages: baseball, volleyball, genealogy sharing, renewing of acquaintances, viewing group photographs and the "Canadian Haviland Family Genealogy" books, and face painting.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Captain John Haviland, a United Empire Loyalist, having served the British as an artificer in the American Revoluthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifion, moved from Haviland's Hollow on the NY/CT state line and settled in 1803 at Townsend Township, Norfolk County, near Brantford. Descendants have held a reunion annually since 1896.

For information contact: http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
David Haviland
PO Box 269
Otterville, ON N0J 1R0

or

Email him at haviland@ican.net.

Langstaff Family History

It so happens that Jack Langstaff read the paper, "Buggery and Slander: The Trials and Tribulations of Moses Winter" by Guylaine Pétrin in the May edition of the Ontario Genealogical Society's journal, Families, and found out that he was related to one of the signees of the petition.

He has researched most of the early Langstaff's who came to Ontario, and if you would like to check them out, please go to his website at http://www.langstaff.net/.

In addition, Jack says that "As well, there may be Germans from Kreis Kolmar and Wirsitz who can find parts of the family in the extensive birth file".

If you go to the site, you will see genealogies for families such as KRIENKE, LONGHURST, and NEELY.

He can be contacted at frack@rogers.com

NIGS and OGS Partnership

At the closing ceremonies of the Ontario Genealogical Society, President Nancy Trimble—in conjunction with Louise St. Denis, Managing Director of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies—made a major announcement regarding a partnership between the two entities.

The Institute will provide Live Meeting services to the Branches, in addition to other membership benefits.


More details to follow ...