Lanark County Genealogical Society Awards and Recognitions Event

On Saturday, November 5, 2022, in the Beckwith Municipal Building at Black’s Corners Ontario, it was a time to recognize the countless hours of many of our volunteers for their work in researching, authoring and preserving Lanark County Families History and Heritage for the future generations. It also was a time to recognize those who work behind the scenes to make and advance the Society of today.

Awards were presented:

Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award to Rose Mary Sarsfield for her leadership and collaborative interest in preserving the history of Lanark County Ontario for future generations. Her lifetime contributions to fostering unity in genealogy, the preservation of records and in helping make family history a vital force in the community at large.

Long-Standing Community Service Recognition Award to Gary Byron and Jayne Munro-Ouimet for their many years of dedication to preserving the family histories of Lanark County.

Dedicated Volunteer Awards to Karen Prytula and Don Ross for their countless hours and dedication in researching and documenting our Lanark County heritage and family stories for future generations.

Back Row: Deputy Reeve Brian Dowdall, Jayne Munro-Ouimet 20+ years service, Helen Benda Life Member, Gary Byron 25+ years service, Rose Mary Sarsfield Humanitarian Award, Karen Prytula Dedicated Volunteer Award

Front row: Marilyn Snedden, Shirley Somerville and Helen Gillan all Life Members.

Absent were Don Ross Dedicated Volunteer Award and Life Members Marion Cavanagh, Linda Seccaspina, Arlene Stafford-Wilson, Rosetta McInnes, and Josephine Van Alstine.

Our Guest Speaker Catherine Poag, writer and a local author spoke to us about her latest publication “The Ferry Man’s House” which is based on a Lanark County real-life legend. Catherine will soon release her second publication that advances on Rideau Ferry’s Gate Keeper legend

The annual Lanark County Harvest Festival is back!

Head to Beckwith Park on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 to celebrate the county’s bounty of the harvest during a community event hosted by Lanark County and Beckwith Township. This festival features partners from the Township of Lanark Highlands showcasing its people, products and projects. Bring the kids there will be fun things there for them, too! Even better, this event is FREE!

Celebrate the harvest and take part in this fun, a community event featuring local producers, food seminars, cooking demonstrations, local musicians, historical displays and more.

Now accepting Orders for “Lanark County Routes”

“Lanark County Routes” is the latest publication designed to assist people in researching their ancestors in Lanark County. Find out how to pre-order the two-volume set or either title separately.

Continue reading Now accepting Orders for “Lanark County Routes”

Wild Lands of the Crown – Essays on the History of Darling Township

Max Sutherland had no ancestors in Darling Township, but that did not deter his interest in the place he adopted as his second home. Max devoted many years of his life chronicling the history and the families of this place. He was also not adverse to trying to literally dig up where the pioneers were buried, climbing fences, crawling through brush, over rock piles with his shovel, along with friends to try to find where the old families buried their loved ones before there were organized cemeteries.

Continue reading Wild Lands of the Crown – Essays on the History of Darling Township

Beginner’s Guide to Genealogy

We were recently contacted by the young author of a new online guide for those wanted to get started in researching their family tree. Rachel, an American contributor from Hobby Help, alerted us to her Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Genealogy, and we’re delighted to add it to our Genealogy Research Links page.

Rachel shared with us that she “got the bug a few years ago and along with the excitement itself of finding new relatives one of her missions is to give back and spread the word to beginners”. She is based in New York, and although she hasn’t yet found any Canadian connections in her family history, she keeps searching!

 

A High Five to an International Team of Young Students

We recently received a lovely note from an international (USA) educator:

“I’m a mentor and tutor for a small group of kids in my local area. My class and I wanted to give you a shout and send you some virtual “high-fives” on your page, Genealogy Research Links. We enjoyed your genealogy resources and bookmarked them for our family tree project. 🙂

“While looking for more resources, the kids thought it’d be a brilliant idea to send you a page they found: History at Home-A Guide to Genealogy. They figured it’d be a great resource to add with your other resources on your page. Do you mind adding it? They’d feel so accomplished knowing it would benefit your web visitors.

We were very pleased to add this new resource to our Links section, and are delighted by the interest from and cooperation with these local students.

How exciting to know that a love of local history and genealogy is being cultivated in young students.