Lauren's Genetic Genealogy

04/05/2026

Pleased to be able to share an update and conclusion to Carmen's search, originally posted in 2024.

This search really emphasizes that people should DNA test and upload everywhere when looking for a biological relative- they may have been waiting on that one site all along..

Happy for Carmen to finally have her answers after 5 years of searching!

*All names have been changed Search goals: Identify Carmen’s biological parents and locate her siblings 2021 Carmen first reached out for help with her search in 2021. She was adopted and had…

12/31/2025

2025 is nearly over which means it's time for the fourth annual LGG year end wrap up post. If you know me you probably already know I enjoy stats and data so it's always fun to make this and look back on the year.

This year, 43 searches were completed originating in four different countries, with the majority being from Canada and 20 of the 43 originating in Ontario.
It was a busy year, with work, some speaking events, and a summer cemetery project, but this passion of helping others discover their biological roots is always a priority.

For those whose searches are still ongoing, I remain fully committed to each case and optimistic that answers will emerge in 2026. I never give up.
Several long-term searches were successfully resolved in 2025, including one that took three years: a reminder that there is always hope.

And of course, each person is more than a number! I have made countless friends and connections across the map this year. Thank you for trusting me with your search.

(Percentages below exceed 100% because some searches involved more than one generational category!)

All the best for 2026! 🧬

11/17/2025

Hanna’s search is one of the most unique ones I have ever done.

It is also one of the handful of searches I've done where true, deep, meaningful friendships arise- which is very fulfilling!

Read more here:

*All names have been changed Search goal: Identify Hanna’s biological father Hanna’s search is one of the most unique ones I have ever done. Last year, before I met Hanna, in the summer…

10/27/2025

The IGG Accreditation Exam is open to law enforcement professionals and IGG practitioners working on behalf of law enforcement, as well as those seeking to work or volunteer in both areas.

Read what Lauren Robilliard, AIGG, of the Toronto Police Service, had to say about her experience.

Ready to take the next step? Learn more at www.iggab.org/exam.html

10/24/2025

The Toronto Police Service made a significant impact at the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual conference in Denver. TPS won a prestigious Forensic Science Award and five members were invited to give presentations on training initiatives to address antisemitism, a new model to embed victim services in divisions, preventing disinformation and a case study on how TPS generated nearly a billion social media impressions with its viral engagement with Taylor Swift fans.
Read more: https://www.tps.ca/media-centre/stories/toronto-police-genealogists-win-forensic-science-a/

10/19/2025

In person registration is now open!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxu7sDWx-zo0dZnsGeG3wFF8BA_2S0oEeMsFtCc2LhfA3k3A/viewform?usp=send_form

Please join us as JGS Toronto member Lauren Robilliard takes us on her journey into investigative genetic genealogy.

In this talk, Lauren shares the unexpected path that started from a cemetery assignment while at university. What began as a personal quest to uncover biological roots evolved into a career solving real-world mysteries with Toronto Police Service’s cold-case unit. She chronicles the twists and turns of a personal quest that turned into a professional calling, offering insights into the power of genetic genealogy for both personal discovery and public good. Attendees will also learn what they can do to help solve a cold case.

📅 Date: Sunday 26 October 2025
🕒 Time: 10:30 AM ET
📍 Location:
In person at Congregation Shaarei Shomayim
(470 Glencairn Avenue, North York)
and online via Zoom

All are welcome to attend; advance registration is required. There is no charge for attendance at this program.

🔗 Register at jgstoronto.ca/programs

10/16/2025

Looking forward to speaking at JGS Toronto on Sunday Oct 26! In person registration is not open yet but if you want to watch by Zoom, you can register now.

I get asked all the time "how did you become an investigative genetic genealogist?" and this talk will cover it all! Including how you could help solve a cold case too.

Please join us as JGS Toronto member Lauren Robilliard takes us on her journey into investigative genetic genealogy.

In this talk, Lauren shares the unexpected path that started from a cemetery assignment while at university. What began as a personal quest to uncover biological roots evolved into a career solving real-world mysteries with Toronto Police Service’s cold-case unit. She chronicles the twists and turns of a personal quest that turned into a professional calling, offering insights into the power of genetic genealogy for both personal discovery and public good. Attendees will also learn what they can do to help solve a cold case.

📅 Date: Sunday 26 October 2025
🕒 Time: 10:30 AM ET
📍 Location:
In person at Congregation Shaarei Shomayim
(470 Glencairn Avenue, North York)
and online via Zoom

All are welcome to attend; advance registration is required. There is no charge for attendance at this program.

🔗 Register at jgstoronto.ca/programs

10/08/2025

It's been quiet here lately, with over a month since the last search solve blog post. However I am always working and checking on my long term cases, hoping that the right matches will appear or I'll have a research breakthrough. And there are many many searches pending, waiting for someone's test to appear or contact to be made when the time is right.

September did bring the exciting announcement of Canada's oldest case to be solved with IGG: The Woman in the Well, now given back her name: Alice Spence nee Burke. If you haven't read the story already, you can google it and do a little deep dive. Happy to have been part of the solve.

07/28/2025

I’m proud to share that I’ve recently earned the Accredited Investigative Genetic Genealogist (AIGG) designation from the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board (IGGAB)

This rigorous accreditation represents a key milestone in my work as an investigative genetic genealogist, and I’m honoured to be among the first handful of Canadian practitioners to receive it. 🇨🇦 🧬

Thank you to IGGAB for developing a thoughtful and challenging process that helps set professional standards in our growing field.

05/21/2025

After nearly a month... I am back with another search post!

Geoffrey's search was a quick one that took about two hours, and then a few weeks later we had official confirmation of who his biological father was.

Read more here:

*All names have been changed Search goal: Identify Geoffrey’s biological father Geoffrey’s wife Josie reached out on his behalf for help with his search. Geoffrey is an adoptee and had …

04/15/2025

Looking forward to representing Canada 🇨🇦 on this panel about IGG on a global scale and challenges of implementing IGG nationwide, at the RIGG conference in New Jersey in June. More info here https://whova.com/embedded/session/M3B1k4-H9HrP3r4gb-DxSUcBBvkulxg4VlEvy%408L28Q%3D/4473002/?widget=primary

We have just a handful of speakers left to announce ahead of and we are so excited for this panel! These four speakers from around the world will come together to discuss adoption of IGG on a global scale and the challenges of implementing IGG in their respective countries. Don't miss it! Tickets available through April 30: https://www.ramapo.edu/igg/conference/

03/27/2025

Cassie's search was a two part search- she was looking for her biological father, as well as her maternal grandparents. Amazingly, it all just took a few days from start to end!

After I posted this, my website notified me that Cassie's search is my 200th search post, so this is roughly my 200th search (some searches involve two people) About 100 more are either in progress, pending, or not published for privacy reasons.

If you read my search posts, follow along here on Facebook, or listen to me chatter about genetic genealogy in Messenger, I'd like to thank you for your support! More search posts to come.

*All names have been changed. Primary search goal: Identify Cassie’s biological father Secondary search goal: Identify Cassie’s maternal grandparents Part 1: Cassie’s biological f…