AFHS

Family Roots Conference 2024
2024-10-05 08:45 - 15:30 (America/Edmonton) | Hotel Blackfoot, 5940 Blackfoot Trail SE, Calgary, AB, T2H 2B5, Canada
We are excited to announce that OUR CONFERENCE HAS SOLD OUT, and we’re looking forward to a great day of learning am connecting in person!
When: Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 8:45 am to 3:45 pm
Where: Hotel Blackfoot, 5940 Blackfoot Trail SE, Calgary, Alberta (see map here)
Why attend? Come learn and connect with other family historians! Find inspiration and learn about new research skills. Expand your knowledge and make new discoveries.
Registration Fee of $70 (AFHS members) or $80 (non-members) includes:

Four sessions
Morning coffee refreshments
Buffet lunch
Digital syllabus

AI in Genealogy: Is it really new? – Gord McBean
Recently AI (Artificial Intelligence) has been all the news with the release of ChatGPT. ChatGPT might be new, but is AI? Genealogists have been benefitting from AI since about 2000. AI can be used to index millions of historical records, such as census and vital records. It can also extract information from these documents and provide insights into family relationships, locations and occupations. AI has been used to transcribe handwritten and difficult-to-read documents because it can learn to recognize different handwriting styles and even decipher old or faded text. When applied to genetic genealogy, AI can analyze DNA data and identify potential matches between individuals. This technology can also be used for facial recognition, identifying individuals in old photographs. This presentation will look at all of the ways we use AI for genealogy purposes, what is currently new and what new applications are coming.
Western Canadian Military Records for Beginners: Honouring our ancestors by exploring their service – Kendra Gaede
Military records are well worth researching as they provide a wide variety of genealogical data for the family historian. From physical descriptions on attestation papers, to personnel selection reports and commendations, it is possible to paint a picture of a family member we may have never met and follow their progress in the theatre of war. Using examples from WWI and WWII, Ms. Gaede will walk family historians through the process of ordering service records from Library and Archives Canada and the United Kingdom’s National Archives, and how to interpret them once acquired. She will also discuss war-related records available from other important archival centres across Canada, which might help amateur genealogists discover details and photographs of loved ones in wartime. Finally, medals, honours and decorations will be discussed, and questions answered.
If It’s Not a Book – Then What? – Gord McBean
At one time the only option, and the ultimate goal, of genealogists was to create and publish a family history book. Printing and publishing costs make it expensive to publish in the traditional way. Most of us will never really finish our research – so will the “book” have to wait until we have finished? How can we document, preserve and share what we currently know? There are many options now available which we can use. We no longer have to wait until we are “finished.” By producing alternate media we might reach a family member that would never read our book. We need to create something different that will draw them into the family story. By starting with smaller projects we gain confidence and skills we can apply to the next more complicated project. The list of possible alternative projects is almost endless. This presentation will inspire you to share your family project in a variety of ways.
Western Canadian Immigration Documents for the Family Historian – Kendra Gaede
Immigration records are well worth researching as they provide a wide variety of genealogical data for the family historian. Using ship’s manifests, land grants and supporting documents like newspaper articles and census data, it is possible to paint a picture of our immigrant ancestors’ journey to North America and how they forged a new life for themselves in Canada. Discussing the principles of Genealogical Proof Standard, Ms. Gaede will walk family historians through the process of locating and identifying key immigration documents from important archival centres and explain how to interpret these records once acquired. She will also discuss specialized collections, which might help amateur genealogists discover further details and even photographs of loved ones and their homesteads in Canada.

8:45 am
Doors open for registration

9:15 am
Welcome

9:30 am
AI in Genealogy: Is It New? – Gord McBean

10:30 am
Morning Refreshment Break

11:00 am
Western Canadian Military Records for Beginners – Kendra Gaede

12:00 noon
Buffet Lunch (included in registration)

1:15 pm
If It’s Not a Book – Then What? – Gord McBean

2:15 pm
Break

2:30 pm
Western Canadian Immigration Records for the Family Historian – Kendra Gaede

3:30 pm
Door Prizes & Closing Remarks

Gord McBean – Gord has been researching his own family for over 50 years in Canada, the USA, and Europe. Road trips to both coasts in Canada and the US have been peppered with research stops. He is a past president of the Manitoba Genealogical Society (MGS). He was the architect and project lead for the creation of MANI (the MGS online database that currently has about 1.5 million indexed name references). He has delivered presentations and workshops on technology and genealogical topics from Vancouver Island to the Quebec border, as well as in the United States.

Kendra Gaede – Born in Alberta and educated in Saskatchewan, Kendra Gaede is a genealogist, writer and former journalist who lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Kendra is a member of the Manitoba Genealogical Society’s Research Committee, is interested in Western Canadian history and has a passion for archives, databases, historical photographs and oral histories.

Our conference committee is looking for donations for door prizes! If you would like to donate something, we will list your business here, include them in our syllabus and add them to the PowerPoint that will be shown during the lunch hour. Please contact familyroots@afhs.ab.ca
Confirmed door prizes to date are:

My Heritage – Certificate for 1 Year – MyHeritage Complete Plan (Full Access)

My DNA – Coupon for the e-book version of Your DNA Guide: the Book

Legacy Family Tree – Two gift certificates – One Year Memberships to FamilyTreeWebinars

OGIO quality backpack- Donated by Synergy Solutions

Donation of a 12-month Ultimate Subscription

4 Day Passes – Admission to the Park

We hope that you are ready to register! We have great speakers and are looking forward to meeting in person.
Registration will close on September 9 at midnight. There will be no registration at the door of the conference as we have to make seating and catering arrangements in advance.

To register online with credit card payment, go to Eventbrite
If you prefer to pay by cheque, download and print this registration form and mail it with payment to the address on the form. Mail-in registration forms must be received at our office no later than September 9.
We will offer payment by cash, cheque or via Stripe payment machine at the following Society meetings at Bow Cliff Seniors Centre: May 13, June 10 and September 9.

If you have special dietary requests, send an email to familyroots@afhs.ab.ca no later than September 9.
Cancellation Policy – For a full refund, a request to cancel must be received in writing to familyroots@afhs.ab.ca by September 5. Please note that all refunds will be subject to a processing fee. Refunds after this date will not be available as we have to make seating and catering arrangements in advance.
Accommodations: If you would like to stay at the conference hotel, please contact Hotel Blackfoot and reference AFHS Conference 2024 to book your accommodation. Attendees are responsible for making payment directly to the hotel. The rates are as follows: 1 or 2 queen beds – $189.74 (includes all taxes) OR 1 king bed – $223.42 (includes all taxes).
Photography and Filming Disclaimer – Please note that photographs and footage may be taken at this Family Roots event. These may be used for marketing and publicity in our publications, on our website and on social media. Please contact familyroots@afhs.ab.ca if you have any concerns.

AFHS Resource Centre Open
2025-05-08 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-15 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-22 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-29 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-05 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-12 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-19 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-26 10:00 - 14:00 and 11 more dates | Resource Centre – Petwin Atrium Commons, Suite 251S 8500 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2H 2N1, Canada
The AFHS Resource Centre is open today. The public is welcome to come and use our Resource Centre! Our knowledgeable volunteers look forward to helping you discover what we have to offer for your genealogy research.
We’re located at Suite 251S in the Heritage Square building (8500 Macleod Trail SE) in Calgary.
For more information and to search our online catalogue, see our Resource Centre page.
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Another excellent research resource in Calgary is the Calgary Public Library.

AFHS Board Meeting
2025-07-07 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
Alberta Family Histories Society holds regular Board Meetings, and AFHS members are welcome to attend!
For the 2025-26 year, these meetings will be held via Zoom.
If you are a member and would like to attend, please contact communications@afhs.ab.ca for the Zoom invitation.
Why attend? Board meetings are an opportunity to review progress, present ideas, assess risks and make strategic decisions to keep AFHS on the path to success (source).
For the dates and times of other AFHS Board meetings and events, see our calendar.

AFHS Resource Centre Open
2025-09-05 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-09-06 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-12 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-09-13 12:00 - 16:00 | Resource Centre – Petwin Atrium Commons, Suite 251S 8500 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2H 2N1, Canada
The AFHS Resource Centre is open today.
The public is welcome to come use our resource centre. Our knowledgeable volunteers look forward to helping you discover what we have to offer for your genealogy research.
We’re located at Suite 251S in the Heritage Square building (8500 Macleod Trail SE) in Calgary.
For more information and to search our online catalogue, see our Resource Centre page.
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Another excellent research resource in Calgary is the Calgary Public Library.

Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group
2025-09-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
This special interest group is for those who use Family Tree Maker software or would like to learn about it. Bring your questions! We learn from each other.
The Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group meets on first Saturdays each month except July and August at 10 am (Edmonton time).
All meetings are held via Zoom, and those on the SIG distribution list will be sent the link a few days before the meeting by Bev or Nola who are the SIG leaders.
For the coming year, the newest version of this software, 2024, will be the main topic of discussion. We will look at features and discuss any difficulties folks are facing. The value of this SIG is that someone may be able to help or suggest a way around it. Older versions are also looked at if necessary.
Our special interest groups are a member benefit, but we welcome visitors! If you would like to attend this meeting as a guest, please email communications@afhs.ab.ca to receive the Zoom invitation.
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For other Special Interest Group meetings and AFHS events, see our calendar.
To learn more about Family Tree Maker software, see the Mackiev website.

AFHS Society Meeting
2025-09-08 19:00 - 21:00 | At AFHS Resource Centre & via Zoom, Suite 251S, 8500 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2H 2N1, Canada
The AFHS Society Meeting is our regular meeting for all members, usually held on the second Monday of each month from September to June. Guests are welcome to attend!
Please note: Due to the passing of her father, Tara Shymanski is not able to do the presentation about Hudson’s Bay records on Monday night. Instead Amber Godfrey has kindly come forward to do the talk.
Topic: The D.R. Eaton Tragedy: Researching Three Nova Scotian Brothers Who Were Lost at Sea
Description: The Shaw brothers had no idea that their routine voyage to Bremen would end in tragedy. In the fall of 1878, they set out from Baltimore, Maryland to Antwerp, Belgium, with a load of grain and timber. Their ship, the D.R. Eaton, had been built in Eatonville, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, by brothers D.R. and C.F. Eaton and was launched in October 1877. She was built by J.G. Olive Jr. of Saint John, New Brunswick, a first-class ship builder. The D.R. Eaton was declared to be a “ship of the first order for strength and durability.” So how did this brand-new vessel disappear completely, never to be heard from again? Captain Harris H. Shaw, his wife and young daughter, two of his brothers and twenty other crew members simply vanished. Follow my journey as I learn more about this seafaring family and the tragedy that befell them. Newspaper articles, probate documents, Seafarer’s of the Atlantic Province records, census returns, birth and marriage records all help me piece together their story.
Our Speaker: Amber Godfrey
Amber Godfrey is an amateur family historian whose love of family history started in childhood, listening to family stories shared by her parents, grandmothers and extended family. She received a Family History kit for Christmas when she was twelve and that started her on a family history research journey that continues to this day.
After finishing college and working in a variety of office jobs, Amber realized that she could combine her love of books and research and her interest in computers by working in libraries. She graduated as a Library Technician and worked in public libraries in BC for nearly twenty years. When she moved to Calgary, she was hired by the Calgary Board of Education to work on-call in school libraires. Now that her family has moved back to BC, she is currently searching for her next job.
Amber plans to remain a member of the Alberta Family Histories Society and will continue her role as editor of the AFHS Chinook Arch newsletter. While she was living in Calgary, she also volunteered at the AFHS library and helped with their Family History Coaching program at Calgary Public Library.
In 2024, she submitted a presentation idea to the Nova Scotia Genealogy Virtual Conference and was chosen as one of the presenters. Amber is passionate about sharing stories of ordinary people who led interesting lives, especially women, and she hopes to do more presentations for groups in the future.

This meeting will be a hybrid Zoom meeting held at our Resource Centre (Suite 251S, 8500 Macleod Trail SE in the Heritage Square building). If you are in Calgary and area, we’d love to have you join us in person.
The zoom invite for this meeting has been removed since this meeting has now passed.
We welcome guests!
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For more AFHS events, see our calendar.
To see our other two society websites, browse to https://albertaancestors.ca or https://familygenes.ca.

Writing Special Interest Group
2025-09-12 09:30 - 11:30 | Zoom
This special interest group will help you record the stories of your family research. It will meet via Zoom on the second Friday of each month beginning at 9:30 am.
Due to the nature of this group, we’ve decided to limit the number of participants. Please contact communications@afhs.ab.ca to see if there is any space in this group.
Special Interest Groups are a member benefit for all Alberta Family Histories Society members. If you would like to attend a session as a guest, please contact communications@afhs.ab.ca

Digital Genealogy / Family Genes Special Interest Group
2025-09-13 10:00 - 12:00 | To be determined
The Digital Genealogy / Family Genes Special Interest Group is cancelled for September due to ongoing issues with the Family Genes website.
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For other Special Interest Group meetings and AFHS events, see our calendar.
