The Yorkton branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society meets on the second Tuesday of each month (except for July and August) at the Yorkton Public Library. Interested genealogists are always welcome, no matter what stage of research your inquiries may be. Meetings often feature a speaker or genealogy topic to discuss, and there is always great advice for your research! Yorkton members, remember that the members’ wind-up is on Tuesday, June 20. For more information call Glenn at (306) 782-7969.
Your research can begin at www.bac-lac.gc.ca, Library and Archives Canada. This is a very informative site, easy to navigate. Their mandate is: “Library and Archives Canada (LAC) combines the holdings, services and staff of both the former National Library of Canada and the National Archives of Canada… LAC’s mandate is as follows: to preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations; to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada as a free and democratic society; to facilitate in Canada co-operation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge; to serve as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions.” Go to the tab “Discover The Collection” and then click on “browse by topic”. You will find a huge selection of genealogical avenues to explore.
Closer to home, visit www.saskarchives.com to see their collection of information. Their site describes their work as: “The Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan is the provincial agency responsible for acquiring, preserving and making available records of significance to the history of the Province of Saskatchewan.” You can find information online, or visit the archives in person. Under the tab “Your Visit to the Archives”, the site says: “The Provincial Archives is a public service institution dedicated to encouraging and assisting everyone who is interested in exploring our province’s history. While our website provides access to hundreds of thousands of record descriptions, full access to the records is best achieved through a personal visit to our reading rooms. The Provincial Archives has offices located in Regina and Saskatoon. Our Regina office is located at 3303 Hillsdale Street. Our Saskatoon office is located in Room 94 of the Murray Building on the University of Saskatchewan campus.”
As Canada celebrates 150 years, this is a milestone year for you to begin a genealogy project. If you are new to genealogy, start off with a different approach by writing down family stories. They may be about picking mushrooms as a child; getting your first television set; being on a party-line; visits with aunts and uncles; describing a family wedding; going to a bridal shower… the list goes on, but these memories are priceless to future generations. These stories, even if they are as short as one paragraph, will be a special collection your family will treasure.
You may want each family member to write down a special memory of past relatives, going back as far as they can remember. Or maybe you will decide to tackle that dusty box of old photos in the closet, trying to label the “who and where” of each photo. Whatever you decide to do, make this the year that you being your genealogy work.
Every family has a story: discover yours with the Yorkton branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society! Happy Canada 150!
