Friends of the Barrie FamilySearch Center

03/21/2026

03/10/2026

The Simcoe County Branch of Ontario Ancestors invites you to join us on:

DATE: Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 11:00 am ET

PLACE: This meeting will be “ONLINE ONLY. “

Speaker: Linda Corupe
Topic: The Heir & Devisee Commission of Upper Canada

The Heir and Devisee Commission (1797 – 1854) was established to clarify the titles to lands in Upper Canada. Join us while Linda teaches us about the Heir and Devisee Commission, the records that were created, why they are valuable to genealogists, and how to access them.
You may register for this online Zoom presentation at the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xw5GmI1iRxacgRdYShgt-g #/registration

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/) or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.
We welcome all.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Simcoe County Branch, OGS March webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

02/09/2026

The Simcoe County Branch of Ontario Ancestors invites you to join us for our first meeting of 2026.

DATE: Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 11:00 am ET

PLACE: This meeting will be “ONLINE ONLY. “

Speaker: Janice Nickerson
Topic: Breaking Down Brick Walls – The GPS Approach
Ever hit a brick wall in your research that you just can’t get around, no matter how hard you try? Well, Janice is going to use her 20-plus years of experience to help us past that. In this webinar, she will teach us how to use the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) to tackle any research challenge by applying the 5 elements of the GPS: Conducting a Reasonably Exhaustive Search, Preparing Source Citations, Evaluating Evidence, Resolving Contradictions, and Writing Conclusions to our research problems.
To attend, register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mtVojnO9SAmSaujx3Za4qQ #/registration

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/) or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.
We welcome all.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Simcoe County Branch, OGS February webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

12/01/2025

The Simcoe County Branch of Ontario Ancestors invites you to join us for our last meeting of 2025.

DATE: Sat. Dec 6, 2025, at 10:30 am for our IN-PERSON ONLY Meeting

PLACE: Barrie and District Association Realtors facility, 676 Veterans Drive, Barrie

This will be our annual “Show and Share” meeting, so we invite you to join us for some “Christmas Goodies” and to share your “Family History Finds”
that you have uncovered over this past year.

Registration is not required for those attending in person. We welcome all.

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/) or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.

10/15/2025

The Simcoe County Branch of Ontario Ancestors invites you to join us on
DATE: Sat. Oct 18, 2025 at 10:30 am ET (HYBRID meeting)
PLACE: In-person location, Orillia: Ramara Centre, 5482 Highway 12 South, Orillia, Ontario L3V 6H7
Speaker: Speaker: Fred Blair
Topic: Andrew Borland and the Development of Orillia and Coldwater

Andrew was a veteran of the War of 1812, a fur trader in 1813, a surveyor's assistant in 1820, a steamboat captain in 1832, and possibly even a hotel keeper and wood mill owner. The images in the presentation are taken from a variety of records that are shown in the slide presentation. For some members, this may be an introduction to some of the records available for the War of 1812, land records, Upper Canada Land Petitions, Upper Canada Sundries, and 1837 Rebellion British payrolls.

This will be a Hybrid meeting.

For those attending online:
Click or copy & paste the URL below into your search engine.

Registration link for joining online:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nty3YjMiSQu2ah9WBQwT_Q #/registration

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Registration is not required for those attending in person. We welcome all.

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/) or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Simcoe County Branch, OGS Monthly Meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

08/27/2025

Simcoe County Branch, Ontario Ancestors
Welcome you back! We hope you have enjoyed the last bit of summer. The Simcoe County Branch of Ontario Ancestors invites you to join us on September 13th. This meeting will be Hybrid.

DATE: Sat. Sept. 13th, 2025 at 10:30 am ET (HYBRID meeting)
PLACE: In-person location, Barrie: Barrie & District Association Realtors facility, 676 Veterans Drive, Barrie, Ontario
Speaker: Trevor Carter

Topic: 20 Years of Archaeological Field Schools at Fort Willow National Historic Site. This year marks the 20th year of archaeological field schools at Simcoe County’s Fort Willow, a War of 1812 national historic site near Barrie. The field school, unique in Ontario, is a senior-level high school program led by Trevor Carter, a licensed archaeologist and high school teacher at St. Joseph’s High School in Barrie. This presentation will include an overview of the past 20 years of work at the Fort, including new historical discoveries, as well as the value of the excavation experience for the students.

This will be a Hybrid meeting, In Person & Online
For those attending online:
Registration link for joining online: by clicking or copy & paste the URL below into your search engine.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3sh3PZvaT4e-B8t9CEcSXw #/registration
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Registration is not required for those attending in person. We welcome all.

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/) or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Simcoe County Branch, OGS Monthly Meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

08/19/2025

The Barrie Ontario FamilySearch Center will re-open tomorrow Wed Aug 20, after our summer break. The hours are Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 12:30 pm-3:30 pm. Saturdays by appointment only.

08/14/2025

Welcome back! We hope you have enjoyed the last bit of summer. The Simcoe County Branch Ontario Ancestors invite you to join us on September 13th. This meeting will be Hybrid.

DATE: Sat. Sept. 13th, 2025 at 10:30 am ET (HYBRID meeting)
PLACE: In person location Barrie: Barrie & District Association Realtors facility, 676 Veterans Drive, Barrie, Ontario
Speaker: Trevor Carter

Topic: 20 Years of Archaeological Field Schools at Fort Willow National Historic Site. This year marks the 20th year of archaeological field schools at Simcoe County’s Fort Willow, a War of 1812 national historic site near Barrie. The field school, unique in Ontario, is a senior level high school program led by Trevor Carter, a licensed archaeologist and high school teacher at St. Joseph’s High School in Barrie. This presentation will include an overview of the past 20 years of work at the Fort, including new historical discoveries, as well as the value of the excavation experience for the students.

This will be a Hybrid meeting, In Person & Online
For those attending online:
Registration link for joining online: by clicking or copy & paste the URL below into your search engine.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3sh3PZvaT4e-B8t9CEcSXw #/registration
After registering you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Registration is not required for those attending in person. We welcome all.

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/), or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.

Send a message to learn more

06/11/2025

The Simcoe County Branch Ontario Ancestors invite you to join us on June 14th. The meeting will be Hybrid. This will be our last meeting until September. Enjoy your summer!

Date: Sat. June 14, 2025
Where: Penetanguishene Centennial Museum and Archives 13 Burk Street, Penetanguishene, Ontario
Time: 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Speaker: Lori Oschefski
Topic: The British Home Children: Canada’s Forgotten Legacy Join Lori Oschefski, founder of Home Children Canada, for an insightful presentation on the history of the British Home Children (BHC) migration programs. Discover the challenges these child migrants faced, the hardships of indentured service, and the resilience that led to their success. Learn about key resources for research and explore the vast contributions Home Children made to Canada’s development and war efforts. Through compelling stories and historical insights, this presentation sheds light on an overlooked chapter of Canadian history and honors the legacy of over 100,000 BHC who helped shape the nation.
This will be a Hybrid meeting, In Person & Online
Registration link for joining online: by copying & pasting the URL below into your search engine.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/KhR7DA0JRoG0_EE4TaZDKw #/registration

Registration is not required for those attending in person. We welcome all.

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/), or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Simcoe County Branch Presentation. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

05/07/2025

The Simcoe County Branch Ontario Ancestors May meeting will be Hybrid. It will take place In Person & Online.

Date: Sat. May 10, 2025 Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library,
425 Holland Street West, Bradford (Zima Room)

Speaker: Nancy Leveque
Topic: A Deeper Dive into using Family Search
Join us as we learn unconventional ways to use the Family Search website and their tools to expand your family history research. We
will learn how to use the Family Search Catalog and explore the Full Text experiment on their Labs website.

This will be a Hybrid meeting, In Person & Online
Registration link for joining online:
Please us the link below to register to view online.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/y-bC_a9lSz6D677VY7jHgA

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/), or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.

Registration: Registration is not required for those attending in person and we welcome all!

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Simcoe County Branch Presentation. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

04/09/2025

The Simcoe County Branch Ontario Ancestors April meeting will be Hybrid. It will take place In Person & Online.
Date: Sat. April 12, 2025
Time: 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Speaker: Mary Fletcher Harris from the Barrie Historical Archive
Topic: Early History of Barrie
Location: Barrie & District Association Realtors facility, 676 Veterans Drive, Barrie Note: new Barrie location
This will be a Hybrid meeting, In Person & Online
Registration link for joining online:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcldeyqqzsiHtCGxVmY1I1lWkV4RvpLRm2Z #/registration
You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/), or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.
We invite you all to join us in person or online for our April 12th meeting.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Simcoe County Branch Presentation. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

03/04/2025

The Simcoe County Branch Ontario Ancestors March meeting will take place Online Only.
Date: Sat. March 8, 2025
Time: 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Speaker: Laura Camilleri, Archivist at The Museum of Dufferin Topic: Silent Roots – The Black Settlers Who Shaped Dufferin Count
Black settlers were among the first homesteaders in the hills of Dufferin County, but there’s almost nothing left to show they were here. But they were here, and they helped to build farms, villages and businesses. In the almost 175 years since they helped build Dufferin County, their stories have been relegated to names in government records and tales recounted by Irish and Scottish settlers in newspapers and family histories. The Museum of Dufferin Archives has been researching their stories, in an effort to make their legacy anything but silent. She will also touch on Mono and Mulmur Townships that were moved from Simcoe County to Dufferin County.
This will be an Online Only Meeting.
Registration link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYuduygrj0jHNwWUU2jeaRyaoJmt_T4EYw1 #/registration
You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/), or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.
We invite you all to join us online for our March 8th meeting.

Send a message to learn more