The Yorkton branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society encourages you to embark on a new adventure and explore your family tree! Recording your family history is a priceless gift for future generations of your family. If you are wondering where to start, the Yorkton Genealogy Society always welcomes new members. The group meets once a month, the second Tuesday of each month (except for June, July and August) at the Yorkton Public Library. Hear interesting speakers, and get helpful advice, learn about possible new avenues to explore with your own research, and get encouragement when it seems your research trails have hit a dead end!
Besides recording the obvious information of births, marriages and deaths, it is also important to record any and all family stories. These funny, sad, or interesting stories provide an added dimension and insight to the personalities who make up your family, past and present. The time to begin is now: record these memories while senior members of the family are still around to corroborate any details you are unsure of.
“Pioneer times” were what people once thought of when they thought of genealogy; but the passage of time makes “the good old days” a lot more recent. A ten year old child now would think that the days of black and white television, only one or two channels, rotary phones, no computers, no iPhone, and writing letters as “the olden days”. It is important to record these memories, too. Write down how exciting it was to get your first television set, your first automatic car, your first plane ride. When did you get your first stereo? What was the first record album you ever bought? How amazing was it to cook a baked potato in the microwave for the first time? How did you learn how to make pickles or jam? When did you get your first computer and how big was it? These more modern stories will be a treasure for the future.
When researching relatives, it is also helpful to know what was going on around them at the time. Learn more by logging on to the Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan at www.esask.uregina.ca and find an astonishing variety of information about the province and its many contributions. As the site explains, “In celebration of Saskatchewan’s centennial, The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan is a gift both for and by the people of Saskatchewan of their knowledge and experience to all who would care to know of the people, places and events that have shaped this province’s legacy to Canada and the world.” Subjects include aboriginal (First Nations and Metis); agriculture and food, arts and culture, business and industry, education, history, military, religion and philosophy, sports and recreation, and much more.
Browse by subject or by entries. The site makes for fascinating, comprehensive reading about the province and its peoples. This information can help round out your family story. This site also has over one thousand images, and by clicking on the image, you will be connected to the corresponding article.
Make your family tree your family’s summer project; you will find it entertaining and rewarding, and future generations of your family will treasure and appreciate your efforts. Discover the hardworking, the upright, and the colorful members of your family tree: their life decisions and choices made you who you are today.
Every family has a story: discover yours with the Yorkton Genealogy Society!
