2017 Genealogy Year in Review

2017 was another busy genealogy year. In terms of travel, it was the busiest yet. Here's a look back:

January saw several webinars

February was RootsTech and of course, that is always a whirlwind of activity. This year I was a speaker, an exhibitor and an ambassador. New experiences included the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and riding in a Rickshaw!

March was nice and quiet and allowed time to prepare for three back to back tour groups in April and May 

April saw a great experience with the Highlands History and Research Tour. This was a one off and thoroughly enjoyable. We attended the Memorial Services at Culloden, visited archives in Skye, Inverness and Fort William, toured Sutherland and then traveled to Glasgow to meet up with the Glasgow Tour

Both the Highland Tour and the Glasgow Tour attended the annual conference of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies which was held in Fife. 

The Glasgow Tour was a whirlwind but another incredible experience. The group researched at the Mitchell and found a wealth of information at the Glasgow City Archives. Other research took place at the University of Glasgow Archives and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society. 

May saw the Edinburgh Tour. By this point I was hanging on by a thread having blown my knee and suffering a severe bladder infection. However, the tour enjoyed two guided historic tours - one of Victorian Edinburgh and the other of Greyfriar's Cemetery. Research took place at the ScotlandsPeople Centre, the National Archives, the National Library, the Scottish Genealogy Society and the Edinburgh City Archives. A small group went to the Glasgow City Archives and a couple went through to Kinross to research their ancestors. 

I was able to attend the Beltane Fire Festival, tour the Scottish Crannog Centre and spent a brilliant day in Fife. I also had the chance to visit loads of family and get caught up on their lives. 

After the tour, and once I was back on home turf, I had the pleasure of speaking for the Muskoka Parry Sound Genealogy Group.

June was Jamboree. Another fabulous event. So much fun. I was a speaker and an exhibitor. It was great to spend time with genealogy friends and to be able to wander around the expo hall. I was also privileged to give talks at the York OGS branch meeting as well as at MacDougall Cottage in Cambridge. 

July was Highland Game Season and I attended Cambridge Festival where I was also able to give a talk. Then it was down to Batavia to speak for the Genessee Genealogy Group. Thoroughly enjoy this group. 

August was another whirlwind with the very successful Scottish North American Leadership Conference followed by the Fergus Festival. Then it was off to Washington State for the Northwest Genealogy Conference. A great group of people. They do a super job of looking after their speakers. Following the conference I headed north to spend some much needed time rejuvenating with my cousins and aunt for a girls weekend in Qualicum BC. Beautiful countryside and tons of fun with family. 

September was back to Scotland. The first 10 days was spent on a private tour with friends who have ancestral ties to Orkney. We toured Dornoch, Badbea Clearance Village, and then spent three glorious days in Orkney where the tour participants were able to re-connect with family who still remain in Orkney. Then it was back to Edinburgh, over to Fife to see where the other side of the family had lived and all too soon, it was over. 

The September tour started out attending the monthly meeting of the Scottish Genealogy Society where we learned about Kirk Records. Research took place at the ScotlandsPeople Centre, the National Archives, the National Library, the Edinburgh City Archives and the Scottish Genealogy Society. One of the participants went through to the John Gray Centre. 

October was the finale of the Great Canadian Genealogy Summit in Halifax and the start of the winter webinar series. 

In between all of the traveling, I continued as editor for the quarterly newsletter for the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History, wrote all of the articles for the Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors magazine and contributed a few articles to the Heritage Travel Issue. I was able to host a few webinars and in getting ready for 2018 I was able to put a virtual conference together for anyone researching their Scottish ancestors!

2018 promises much less travel, which allows more time for writing, webinars and perhaps another virtual conference.