48 Hours to RootsTech!

In 48 short hours, I will be checking in at the airport, ready to head to Salt Lake City to attend RootsTech 2016! 

I have my week planned out. I am part of the Canadian Contingent and we are looking forward to interviews, meeting up with people we only know online. I am looking forward to re-connecting with genealogy friends I don't get to see often enough. I am looking forward to the vendors, the talks, the learning, and the networking. 

I am especially looking forward to time in the Family History Library to further my genealogy research. 

And as an added bonus, I am looking forward to seeing my McDonald cousin, my friend, Margaret. 

Roll on Tuesday!

From This Day Forward

January 31st is an anniversary day. The anniversary of my parents and the anniversary of my in-laws. 

Harry and Ada Woodcock married on January 31 1940 in Trinity Church in Brantford Ontario. Young Harry was just about to be shipped out on active duty as a gunner in WWII

Dot and Tommy McDonald were married on January 31, 1957 in Rosewell Kirk. 

Happy Heavenly anniversary Mom, Dad, Mum and Dad

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity.  The order varies for any given year.  ~Paul Sweeney

RootsTech 2016 Live Streaming Schedule Announced!

I am so looking forward to RootsTech next week! For those of you not able to travel, you can still enjoy the learning experience offered by RootsTech through their live streaming of a number of sessions. 

All of the general/keynote sessions will be live streamed with the exception of the talk by Doris Kearns Goodwin. 

A number of smaller sessions are also being live streamed. 

Here is the list:
https://www.rootstech.org/streaming-schedule?lang=eng

LAST MINUTE OPENING FOR MAY 2016 GENEALOGY TOUR TO SCOTLAND

Due to unforeseen circumstances, a last minute spot has opened up for the May 2016 Genealogy Research Tour to Scotland.

Dates are May 30 - June 8

Full fees due at time of booking.

A genealogy tour to Scotland provides you with:  ~ Pre-tour webinar on Scottish Genealogy Research ~ Pre-tour webinar on Planning For a Research Trip to Scotland ~ Pre-tour assistance to make the most of your time in Scotland ~ Pre-tour package of information to assist with your research planning ~ 9 nights in a centrally located hotel where you will get the sense of living in Scotland ~ Breakfast every day ~ A Family History Talk at ScotlandsPeople Centre ~ A Family History Talk at the National Library of Scotland ~ 5 days of dedicated research time where staff are expecting you and are  ready to assist ~Transportation to and from the research facilities ~ Time to visit the area where your ancestor lived in Scotland and assistance to    plan this ~ Time to research in a local archive, family history society or library ~ The chance to experience a Ceilidh and indulge your Scottish heritage ~ Transportation to and from the Ceilidh ~ Optional historic evening guided tour of Greyfriar’s Cemetery ~ The opportunity to connect with others researching their Scottish roots ~ A great way to connect with your Scottish ancestors ~ Memories to last a lifetime ~ A deeper sense of belonging ~ A better sense of who YOU are as part of the Scots diaspora  Why not join the May tour to research your roots and discover your heritage?  http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/ **airfare and transport from airport to hotel are not included**

FREE WEBINAR - Preparing for a Genealogy Research Trip to Scotland

If you are planning to travel to Scotland this year and would like to do some family history research while you are there. this webinar will help you to be better prepared and to make the most of your research time.

Organization and preparation are the keys to a successful genealogy research trip.

Register now: 

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1836255158863546369

One Week Till RootsTech!

In one short week I will be on my way to Salt Lake City to take in the experience that is RootsTech. This will be my first time at RootsTech and I am so looking forward to it.

My time is booked to the max while I am in SLC but I am so grateful for all of the opportunities to meet up with genealogy colleagues that I really only know online. The days are packed with classes, interviews, and of course time in the HUGE Exhibition Hall. But the evenings are no time for slackers.

Tuesday night is the Commonwealth Meet Up for dinner. Tons of thanks to Jill Ball for orchestrating this gathering. 

Wednesday night is the Media Dinner where we get to meet some of the superstars of RootsTech 2016. Following that, I will be running over to the Olive Garden for the Next Generation Genealogy Network (NextGen) Meet Up. This one is being hosted by the Canadian Contingent: Mike Quackenbush, Kathryn Lake Hogan et Moi. I am looking forward to the energy and ideas that will be permeating through the room with all of these young, vibrant minds. 

Thursday night I will be making my way to the apart-hotel of the In-Depth Genealogist Team for a gathering with my fellow writers. This is such a great group and I am so looking forward to the fun. 

Friday night I will be making my way to dinner with the Family Tree University Team where I will be getting to meet up with fellow course instructors, course developers and webinar presenters. I am really looking forward to this one. There are some great learning opportunities available through FTU and I can't wait to hear all about them first hand. 

Saturday night, I and a gaggle of other Genealogy Bloggers will be making our way to the after party hosted by none other than Dear Myrtle. This will be a great opportunity to network with other bloggers and to enjoy the chance to meet in person rather than online. 

AND THEN Sunday morning, I need to arrive at the airport at.....wait for it.....4:30 am. AM. The good news is that the flight from SLC to Chicago is long enough that I hope to catch some shut eye. 

I will be blogging every day and look forward to sharing my experiences with you. Watch this space!

CANGEN SUMMIT - WHAT A BARGAIN!!

Thanks to the ever shrinking Canadian dollar, the Great Canadian Genealogy Summit (CANGEN) is a remarkable bargain for those coming across the border.

Our registration fees for the full weekend are only $159. At the current rate of exchange, that makes it $112usd! Crazy cheap. 

Your registration fees give you:

• Opening Keynote on Friday night
• Full Day of Concurrent Talks on Saturday
• Two Talks on Sunday, including our Closing Plenary

Also included:

• breakfast Saturday
• full lunch Saturday
• light breakfast Sunday
• free access to Find My Past for the weekend

Our day of research at the Archives on Friday is only pennies more. 

Take advantage of the economy and register NOW: http://www.cangensummit.ca/

Remember every one who registers by Friday gets entered into a draw to have your registration fees reimbursed. Even cheaper!

Just a Fortnight Until ROOTSTECH 2016

In two weeks I will be winging my way to RootsTech 2016. This will be my first time at RootsTech and I am looking forward to drinking in the experience. 

I have been chosen as an Ambassador, so my experience will be from that perspective. I will be spending most of my time in the Exhibition Hall. I will attend some classes, and all of the main events, of course. In addition, I will be attending the Media Dinner on Wednesday night. 

I am looking forward to visiting the Family History Library, attending the Next Generation Genealogy Network (NextGen) Meetup, hanging out with others who write for the In-Depth Genealogist Magazine, and spending time with other bloggers. 

The schedule is jam-packed. From 8 am until 10 pm every day. I am sure lots of it will fly by in a blur, but I am still really looking forward to the experience and to sharing my experience with you. 

I will be Blogging, Tweeting and posting to Facebook. I hope you join in on my journey!

FREE WEBINAR!! PREPARING FOR A GENEALOGY RESEARCH TRIP TO SCOTLAND

If traveling to Scotland is on your bucket list and you are looking to conduct some family history research while you are there, this webinar will assist you to be prepared, be organized and be successful. 

JANUARY 27 AT 7 PM

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1836255158863546369

USING SCOTTISH LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES FOR GENEALOGY RESEARCH WEBINAR

JAN 23 12:30 PM USING SCOTTISH LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES FOR GENEALOGY RESEARCH WEBINAR

This webinar will provide a detailed look at the genealogical information contained within the libraries and archives across Scotland. 
http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/store.html#!/Using-Scottish-Libraries-and-Archives-for-Genealogy-Research-Webinar-JAN-23/p/59172817/category=16311153

IN SEARCH OF YOUR SCOTTISH ANCESTRY WEBINAR

JANUARY 23 10:30
IN SEARCH OF YOUR SCOTTISH ANCESTRY WEBINAR

This 90 minute webinar will get you well on your way to researching in the Scottish records, This webinar includes an in depth look at using the ScotlandsPeople website.  You will receive FREE credits to practice with. 

http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/store.html#!/Scottish-Genealogy-Boot-Camp-Live-Webinar-JAN-23-2016/p/57663364/category=16311153

Both Genealogy Research Tours for 2016 SOLD OUT!

More than a year in advance, the May 2016 genealogy research tour to Scotland sold out. A second tour for September has now also sold out!

That's it for 2016. An expanded tour for 2017 is in the planning stages. It will be the regular tour in Edinburgh with an additional, optional week in Glasgow researching at the Mitchell Library, the Glasgow Archives and the University of Glasgow Archives. Dates have not yet been confirmed but the tour(s) will be in April. Participants will be able to take in both research tours or can choose to take just one - either in Edinburgh or in Glasgow. 

Watch this spot for dates to be posted!

Vote on the Future of Inverness Castle!

©Dave Conner, Inverness, Scotland [CC BY 2.0

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

There has been some buzz on social media for the past couple of months regarding the future of Inverness Castle. The Council is now seeking the public's input regarding the potential uses for the Castle.

The  four main options are:

• A Family History Room, Registrar's Office, Wedding venue and self-catering accommodations. 
• A Museum and Gallery
• A "Capital of the Highlands" Visitor Information Centre, Outlook Tower and self catering accommodations
• A "Themed" visitor attraction and self catering accommodations

Also being considered is a library. 

You can vote for your top three choices by dragging and dropping into the second column in order of importance to you. Here is the link: 

https://www.highlifehighland.com/castle-hill/options-for-castle-hill/

My personal favourite is the Family History Room (which will include a hub for the ScotlandsPeople Centre and provide access to the same databases available in Edinburgh) and Registrar's office in the same location. This could attract large numbers of the diaspora returning to the area to research their Scottish roots. It looks as though accommodation is included in each option, so you can stay onsite where you research! Wouldn't it also be wonderful to have a library in the same building!

Please take the time to vote!

Join Me in Winnipeg April 9th

For those living near Winnipeg, MB, I will be speaking for a full day on Saturday, April 9/16 at the Henderson Library. 
Topics include:

• In Search of Your Scottish Ancestors
• Navigating the ScotlandsPeople Website
• Researching Scottish Death, Burial, Lair and Cremation Records
• Lesser Known Databases for Scottish Genealogy
• Preparing for a Genealogy Research Trip to Scotland 

To register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/scottish-genealogy-symposium-winnipeg-full-day-tickets-19134867905

All registrations include a copy of my book In Search of Your Scottish Ancestors AND 20 free credits to the ScotlandsPeople Website

New Record Release - Stirling District Asylum

The NHS archivists at the University of Stirling have been busy cataloguing the records from the Stirling District Asylum. This 50 volume collection offers a fascinating read into the lives of 

The Stirling District Asylum opened in 1869 and housed some 9000 patients between then and 1918. Many of the patients were paupers (likely a fallout of their mental illness) and one fascinating little detail is that the patients were photographed by staff. These may be the only photographs of the residents since many would not have had access to a camera prior to their institutionalization. 

The records provide a fascinating look into the lives and minds of the inpatients at this Victorian institution. 

The records are accessible to the public by visiting the Stirling University library. 

Join Me in Kelowna April 10th

On Sunday, April 10^th, 2016, “When the wild flowers do spring and the wee birdies sing,” the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society is featuring a wonderful day of learning about Your Scottish Roots with renowned presenter:  Christine Woodcock from Ontario.  This is a unique opportunity to make real progress on your Scottish research! 

About Christine Woodcock, www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca:   

Having been born in Scotland, and having traveled back and forth for her entire life, it was beyond Christine’s ken to think that others who had roots in Scotland hadn't had the same experience. And so, Genealogy Tours of Scotland was born. Every year, Christine gets the honour of accompanying groups of genealogy researchers to Scotland where they can immerse themselves in their Scottish ancestry. When not traveling or planning, she lectures, writes, edits genealogy newsletters, engages with the Scottish North American community and is a self-proclaimed ambassador for both genealogy tourism and for Scotland. 

Topics:

·         In Search of Your Scottish Ancestors

·         Navigating the ScotlandsPeople Website (attendees get free credits to practice at home)

·         Lesser Known Databases for Scottish research

·         Preparing for a Genealogy Research Trip to Scotland

·         Researching Scottish Death, Burial and Lair Records

Where:

·         University of British Columbia Okanagan (Kelowna), Room EME 1101 (Engineering Building)

·         9:00am – 4:15pm (lunch break at 12:10); sales tables will be open from 8:30am-4:45pm

·         Parking discount available ($5 for the day)

·         A Campus map and explicit directions will be emailed to all registrants

Includes:

  FREE credits to ScotlandsPeople

·         Five Workshops with handouts

·         Morning beverage and snack break; afternoon beverage break

·         Opportunity to purchase archival supplies, Christine’s books and we are hoping that the BCGS Boutique will   also be in attendance

·         Please bring a bagged lunch or have lunch at one of the many venues on-campus

To register or for more information: conference@kdgs.ca

Only ONE Research Space Left for SEPT 2016

The second 2016 tour to Scotland to research your family history is almost FULL.  There is ONE research spot remaining. This will be available on a first come, first serve basis.  A genealogy tour to Scotland provides you with:  ~ Pre-tour webinar on Scottish Genealogy Research ~ Pre-tour webinar on Planning For a Research Trip to Scotland ~ Pre-tour assistance to make the most of your time in Scotland ~ Pre-tour package of information to assist with your research planning ¨ 9 nights in a centrally located hotel where you will get the sense of living in ` Scotland ¨ Breakfast every day ¨ A Family History Talk at ScotlandsPeople Centre ¨ A Family History Talk at the National Library of Scotland ¨ 5 days of dedicated research time where staff are expecting you and are       ready to assist ¨ Transportation to and from the research facilities ¨ Time to visit the area where your ancestor lived in Scotland and assistance to    plan this ¨ Time to research in a local archive, family history society or library ¨ The chance to experience a Ceilidh and indulge your Scottish heritage ¨ Transportation to and from the Ceilidh ¨ Optional historic evening guided tour of Greyfriar’s Cemetery ¨ The opportunity to connect with others researching their Scottish roots ¨ A great way to connect with your Scottish ancestors ¨ Memories to last a lifetime ¨ A deeper sense of belonging ¨ A better sense of who YOU are as part of the Scots diaspora  Why not join a tour to research your roots and discover your heritage?  http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/ **airfare and transport from airport to hotel are not included**

2016's Focus is Scotland and Scottish Heritage

A new year is upon us. Full of opportunity. 

I am so lucky to be living my dream. I never feel like I am working. I love teaching, writing, traveling, learning, connecting and I get to do all of these on a very regular basis. 

I set my own hours and apart from a handful of weeks a year when my schedule is governed by others (tours and conferences) I can choose how to spend my days. 

And in all of this, I get to share my love of my homeland, help others in their quest to learn more about their Scottish ancestors and their own Scottish heritage. 2016 is shaping up to be an amazing year - and the focus will be on Scotland and Scottish heritage. 

There will be the usual webinars and talks, articles to write, blogs to author, conferences to plan or attend, colleagues to collaborate with and two separate trips to Scotland to assist others in their quest to research their Scottish ancestors. 

I am so looking forward to the Scottish SIG Symposium in August  -  a full day of learning about Scottish genealogy. THEN it will just be a matter of weeks until the Great Canadian Genealogy Summit where 5 fantastic Canadian genealogists will share their specialized knowledge with others who are looking to learn more about their ancestors who were among the early settlers of Canada - French Canadians, Loyalists, Irish, English and Scots. 

One new project for me this year will also be done behind the scenes in planning for Canada to host the Scottish North American Leadership Conference in 2017 - to coincide with the 150th anniversary of this diverse nation. 

But first, time to get ready for RootsTech 2016!

Only TWO (2) Research Spaces Left Genealogy Research Tour in Scotland

The May 2016 Genealogy Research Tour has been SOLD OUT for 8 months. A second tour was added for September 19 -28. 

However, even though we are still 8 months away from the Sept tour, there are only TWO research spots remaining! Non-genealogy companions who accompany researchers to Scotland are welcome, travel for half price and do not take away from the research spaces. 

When You Join a Genealogy Tour of Scotland, You Get:

~ Pre-tour webinar on Scottish Genealogy Research

~ Pre-tour webinar on Planning For a Research Trip to Scotland

~ Pre-tour assistance to make the most of your time in Scotland

~ Pre-tour package of information to assist with your research planning

¨ 9 nights in a centrally located hotel where you will get the sense of living in Scotland

¨ Breakfast every day

¨ A Family History Talk at ScotlandsPeople Centre

¨ A Family History Talk at the National Library of Scotland

¨ 5 days of dedicated research time where staff are expecting you and are ready to assist

¨ Transportation to and from the research facilities

¨ Time to visit the area where your ancestor lived in Scotland and assistance to plan this

¨ Time to research in a local archive, family history society or library

¨ The chance to experience a Ceilidh and indulge your Scottish heritage

¨ Transportation to and from the Ceilidh

¨ Optional historic evening guided tour of Greyfriar’s Cemetery

¨ The opportunity to connect with others researching their Scottish roots

¨ A great way to connect with your Scottish ancestors

¨ Memories to last a lifetime

¨ A deeper sense of belonging

¨ A better sense of who YOU are as part of the Scots diaspora

            Why not join a tour to research your roots and discover your heritage?

http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca

Save 50 % on World Subscription to Find My Past

Now that Start Your Family History Week is over, Find My Past is offering a 50 % discount to their World subscription so you can get started with your research online. 

The sale is time limited until January 5, so don't delay. Use the promo code XMASOFF15. You can subscribe for one month or for 12 months. 

Happy searching!