Researching in the Location of Your Choosing
2025-03-06 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Denver)
Researching in the Location of Your Choosing, Bronwyn Frazer, Susan Bates, and others
This group will meet once a month, on the first Thursday of every month, from February to June, 2025. The geographic focus will vary in response to research questions posed by participants. Join us if you have research questions, and also join us if you have experience researching, to help brainstorm answers to the questions being posed.

Genealogy Book Club
2025-03-13 18:30 - 20:00
Genealogy Book Club, Terry Hartley
This group will meet the 2nd Thursday of every month from January to June, 2025.
We’re diving into “Research Like a Pro with DNA” by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthln.

A Research Trip to England
2025-03-16 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-24 18:30 - 20:00
A Research Trip to England, Susan Bates
Susan visited Lancashire in June of 2023 to tour the area where her ancestors had lived before emigrating to Pennsylvania in 1818. The talk will include research finds in county archives and local libraries, plus some photos of the very scenic countryside.

NFHS General Meeting
2025-03-17 19:00 - 21:00
Linda Yip of Saskatoon, Sask.
Tracing the Voyage of the ‘Princess Royal’ to B.C. as it deals with Nanaimo & the Princess Royal arrival in 1854; will also include information about the Hudson’s Bay Company in Western Canada.
This is a Zoom only presentation.

Computer Talk for Technophobes
2025-03-27 18:30 - 20:00
Computer Talk for Technophobes, Susan Bates
This will be an open Q&A session to help you with technical issues related to computer use.

Researching in Ontario
2025-04-03 18:30 - 20:00
Researching in Ontario, Ruth Stewart
Ruth will describe some of the sources she has found helpful when researching ancestors in Ontario. This will be a group discussion, with time for participants to share their own experiences with Ontario research.

NFHS Executive Meeting
2025-04-07 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-05 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-06-02 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-08 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-06 13:00 - 15:00

Computer Talk for Technophobes
2025-04-10 18:30 - 20:00
Computer Talk for Technophobes, Ruth Stewart
Ruth will demonstrate two tools you could find useful for sorting through your DNA matches and determining what your relationship to them could be. She’ll show also how to use Puzilla to guide your research.

NFHS General Meeting
2025-04-14 19:00 - 21:00
Claire Smith-Burns of Kelowna, BC
“The Lucky Dip: Serendipity & Genealogy”
Claire Smith-Burns will share three case histories of spectacular genealogical discoveries made quite by accident. However, these “lucky” finds more often happen to observant family historians who are following a solid research plan and examining every clue! Your ancestors may have been “ordinary” people but research can reveal information you never expected! A lesson on good research habits and following clues.
This is a Zoom presentation only.

Genealogy Book Club
2025-04-17 18:30 - 20:00
Genealogy Book Club, Terry Hartley
We’re studying “Research Like a Pro with DNA” by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthln. The discussion at the April session will be on Chapter 10 Research Logs and Writing As You Go.
It’s not necessary to register again if you’ve registered for any session of the Book Club previously.

Researching in the Location of Your Choosing
2025-05-01 18:30 - 20:00
Researching in <location TBD>, hosted by Susan Bates, Bronwyn Fraser
The geographic focus for May will be determined at the April meeting. In previous sessions, we have focused our discussions on Ireland, Nanaimo and Ontario.

Genealogy Book Club
2025-05-08 18:30 - 20:00
Genealogy Book Club, Terry Hartley
We’re studying “Research Like a Pro with DNA” by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthln. The discussion at the May session will be on Chapter 11.
It’s not necessary to register again if you’ve registered for any session of the Book Club previously.

NFHS General Meeting
2025-05-12 19:00 - 21:00
Marianne Rasmus of Ottawa, Ontario
“Ella’s Story: Expanding that empty branch on the family tree.”
It is the story of Marianne’s husband’s Scottish War-Bride grandmother who had been adopted and how they used DNA to determine her parentage.

This is a Zoom presentation only.

Computer Talk for Technophobes
2025-05-22 18:30 - 20:00
Computer Talk for Technophobes, hosted by Susan Bates

Researching in the Location of Your Choosing
2025-06-05 18:30 - 20:00
Researching in <location TBD>, hosted by Susan Bates, Bronwyn Fraser
The geographic focus for June will be determined at the May meeting.

Genealogy Book Club
2025-06-12 18:30 - 20:00
Genealogy Book Club, Terry Hartley
We’re studying “Research Like a Pro with DNA” by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthln. The discussion at the June session will be on Chapter 12.
It’s not necessary to register again if you’ve registered for any session of the Book Club previously.

NFHS General Meeting
2025-06-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Beban Park Social Centre, Room 8
Gordon L. McBean of Winnipeg, Manitoba
Gordon will present “They Came Through Ontario”. He will be reporting on the various research methods and tools he has used to obtain favourable results.
This is a Hybrid meeting.

NFHS General Meeting
2025-09-15 19:00 - 21:00
Terry Hartley of Nanaimo, BC (member) – topic to be determined.
DNA testing for genealogy offers more than just ethnicity estimates —it uncovers a personal archive of inherited information waiting to be explored. In this beginner-friendly session, we’ll review the three main types of DNA used in family history research: autosomal, Y-DNA, and mitochondrial DNA. You’ll learn how each one can help confirm relationships, break through brick walls, and reveal unexpected family stories.
Real-life examples will be used to illustrate how DNA can support, and sometimes challenge, your paper trail. We’ll also touch on important ethical and privacy considerations when working with your genetic data.
This is a Hybrid meeting.

Genealogy Book Club, Terry Hartley
2025-09-18 18:30 - 20:00
Repeated by popular demand! We’ll be studying Research Like a Pro with DNA by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthln, and applying their methods to our own research. Each participant will choose a brick wall ancestor and work through the techniques outlined in the book to make and document progress. Along the way, members will share updates, receive constructive feedback, and benefit from guidance from both fellow participants and the facilitator.
The book can be purchased online available in paper or ebook. The book club sessions will run monthly on the third Thursday through to June of 2026. Register once for all of them.

Coffee Club
2025-09-25 10:00 - 12:00
Come join our large table for fun and interesting conversation. Held on the last Thursday of the month, 10:00 am to 12 noon at Smitty’s, Rock City, 2980 Island Highway, Nanaimo. We send reminder emails about a week ahead of time and ask for RSVP’s to provide Smitty’s with a number to set up for.

SOS: Searches and Strategies for Your Research Challenges, hosted by Susan Bates, Bronwyn Frazer
2025-10-02 18:30 - 20:00
Join us if you have a brick wall you’d like us to tackle, or if you enjoy solving others’ puzzles, or if you just want to hear some new strategies that might apply to your own research.
These sessions will be held on the first Thursday of October, November and December.

“A Mouse at Moresby”, Tony Green
2025-10-09 18:30 - 20:00
Tony will talk about his father’s experiences as a photographer for the Royal Australian Air
Force in New Guinea in WW2. He’ll also describe the lengthy development of the book and
explain the curious title. The book by Big Sky publishing of Australia is now for sale online and will be released October 1st. www.bigskypublishing.com.au/books/a-mouse-at-moresby/

Genealogy Book Club, Terry Hartley
2025-10-16 18:30 - 20:00
We’re studying Research Like a Pro with DNA by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthln.
Repeated by popular demand! We’ll be studying Research Like a Pro with DNA by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthln, and applying their methods to our own research. Each participant will choose a brick wall ancestor and work through the techniques outlined in the book to make and document progress. Along the way, members will share updates, receive constructive feedback, and benefit from guidance from both fellow participants and the facilitator.
The book can be purchased online available in paper or ebook. The book club sessions will run monthly on the third Thursday through to June of 2026. Register once for all of them.

NFHS General Meeting
2025-10-20 19:00 - 21:00
Dave Obee of Victoria, BC – “Every Source Matters: Using a variety of clues to find distant
family members”
Dave Obee is editor and publisher of the Times Colonist newspaper in Victoria, B.C. He has worked as a journalist in British Columbia and Alberta since 1972. He also finds time to maintain a terrific, information packed website covering Canadian and European links that is well worth a look. You will be impressed. https://www.cangenealogy.com/
This is a Hybrid meeting.

Je Me Souviens, Ruth Stewart
2025-10-23 18:30 - 20:00
I have been researching my pre-1700 Quebec ancestors. Join me as I trace their routes from France to the settlements of Quebec, Sainte-Foy and Ville-Marie in New France.
