British Columbia Family History Societies

This section lists the societies of British Columbia, giving details about each one and what resources and publications they offer.

Abbotsford Genealogical Society

The society is a non-profit making association established in 1977.

Their aims are to promote, encourage and foster the knowledge of genealogy, and to collect, preserve and display genealogical information that will help people to have a better understanding of genealogy.

The association has a Resource Centre based at The Reach Gallery Museum, 32388 Veterans Way, Abbotsford. Parking is free at the Centre and the building is fully accessible.

Many archives are accessible, which incorporate:

Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes
Births, Deaths and Marriages mentioned in Newspapers
Census Indexes
Directories
Genealogies
Immigration Papers
Journals

Resources available include:

Land Records
Maps
Marriages
Newsletters
Obituaries
Reference Books
US Social Security Death Index 1937-1998

These archives relate to Canada, the United States and further afield, such as Australia and England and Wales.

Numerous databases can be accessed, which consist of:

BC Wills
Cemeteries and Tombstone Inscriptions
Stray BC Wills 1864-1939

For a fee, they are prepared to send a copy of the appropriate will.

A list of surnames currently being researched by Members is also available.

Website:
http://www.abbygs.ca

British Columbia Genealogical Society

The association was established in 1971. Many archives are available at Walter Draycott Library, which incorporate:

City Directories
Journals
Newsletters
Periodicals
Telephone Directories

Some Irish Resources are held by the society, including:

Census Returns
Griffith’s Valuation
Irish Books
Maps
Parish Registers
Tombstone Inscriptions

For further information regarding resources held by the Library, please peruse their Library Catalogue.

Some Databases are accessible, which include Historical Newspapers and Cemetery Inscriptions.

Publications are available for sale, which include:

BC Vital Statistics from Newspapers 1858-1872
BCGS Surname Index
Church Records
Newspapers 1902-1914
Schools of the Boundary
Vancouver Voters 1886

A list of Surnames currently being researched by Members is also available.

Website:
http://www.bcgs.ca

Campbell River Genealogy Society

Many archives are accessible at their Library, which incorporate:

Cemetery Transcriptions
Census Indexes
Gazetteers
Genealogical Reference Books
Genealogical Research Directory
Historical Atlases
International Genealogical Index(IGI)

Archives also consist of:

Journals
Magazines
Obituaries
Passenger Lists
‘The Canadians’ Series 1600-1900
Vital Records Indexes

These archives relate to Canada, the United States and further afield, such as England and Wales.

Obituaries are also available, along with a list of Surnames currently being researched by Members.

Publications are available for sale, which include:

Cemetery Transcriptions
Newspaper Extracts from Campbell River Courier 1947-1974
Newspaper Extracts from Comox Argus 1917-1946
Newspaper Extracts from Upper Islander 1964-1990

Website:
https://www.crgenealogysociety.ca/

Comox Valley Genealogy Group

The society was established in 1988, its aims being to promote, encourage and share interest in genealogy, to assist others with their genealogical research, and to make the results of their projects available.

The area covered by the association includes:

Comox
Courtenay
Cumberland
Denman Island
Hornby Island
Royston
Union Bay

Some databases can be accessed, including of Births, Marriages and Deaths mentioned in local Newspapers, Cemetery Indexes and a Burial Records Index 1938-1988.

A list of Surnames currently being researched by Members is also available, along with links to other sites you may find helpful.

Website:
http://cvgenealogygroup.org/

Kamloops Family History Society

The society was established in 1982, its aims being to encourage interest in genealogy, especially in the Kamloops area, to offer advice to members studying their family histories, and to collect and preserve information relevant to genealogy.

Many databases are accessible, which consist of the Pleasant Street Cemetery Database, Funeral Home Index Database and a Member Surname Interest Database.

Numerous publications are sold by the association, including a Funeral Home Index and Cemetery Inscriptions.

Website:
http://www.kfhs.org

Kelowna and District Genealogical Society

The society was established in 1984. They are in the process of transcribing Tombstone Inscriptions for various Cemeteries in the area between Peachland and Oyama. A list of Cemeteries is accessible, and photographs are available on Murray Pletsch’s Canadian Gravemarker Gallery website.

Obituaries are also available, and, for a fee, they are willing to send a copy of the appropriate Obituary.

Numerous archives can be accessed in their Library, which consist of:

Cemetery Transcripts
Census Indexes
Church Records
Directories
Emigration Records
Genealogical Reference Books
Genealogies

Other resources can be accessed, including:

Journals
Local History Books
Maps and Atlases
Memorial Inscriptions
Military Books
Newsletters
Newspaper Extracts

These resources relate to Canada, the United States and further afield, such as England and Wales. A full list is available on their site.

Website:
http://www.kdgs.ca

Nanaimo Family History Society

The association was established in 1981 by Joan Blair and Pat Mahoney. They were originally known as Nanaimo Genealogy Club, becoming Nanaimo Family History Society in 1989.

Some databases are accessible, which incorporate Obituaries and Passenger Lists. The Passenger List Index covers Quebec Ports from 31 Jul 1903 to 13 Oct 1910.

Numerous archives are available in their Library, which include:

Biographies
Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes
Cemetery Records
Census Indexes
Church Records
Directories
Genealogies
High School Yearbooks

Numerous other archives are accessible, including:

International Genealogical Index(IGI)
Journals
Maps and Atlases
Newsletters
Newspaper Clippings
Obituaries
Reference Books
Voters Lists

The resources relate to Canada, the United States and further afield such as England and Wales. A full inventory of their resources is available on the site.

Many publications are available for sale, which include:

Births, Marriages and Deaths mentioned in Nanaimo Free Press 1874-1899
Cemetery Index 1876-1926
Early Catholic Parish Registers, including St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church 1877-1925, St John’s Roman Catholic Parish Wellington 1892-1901 and St Mary’s Roman Catholic Parish Ladysmith 1901-1925
Pioneer Albertans 1912
Voting Registers

A list of Surnames currently being researched by Members is also available.

Website:
http://www.nanaimofamilyhistory.ca/

Powell River Genealogy Group

Their aims are to help people to research their family history, to obtain genealogical materials, and to maintain standards in genealogy.

Many archives are available at The Marjorie Keillor Genealogy Library which is located at 6792 Cranberry Street.

Details of surnames currently being researched by Members is accessible, along with details of links to other sites you may find useful.

Website:
http://sites.rootsweb.com/~bcprgg/prgg.htm

Prince George Genealogical Society

Many resources can be accessed in their Library, including:

Births, Marriages and Deaths
Newsletters
Periodicals
Genealogical Reference Books
Local Histories

Resources also include:

Genealogical Research Directories
Dictionaries
Catalogues
Maps
PCC Wills Index 1750-1800
Newspapers and City Directories

These collections relate to Canada, the United States and further afield, such as England and Wales.

Information regarding Cemetery Transcriptions is also available, along with a list of Surnames currently being researched by Members.

Details of links to other sites you may find of use are also accessible.

Website:
https://facebook.com/pggenealogy

Qualicum Beach Family History Society

The society was incorporated on 31 May 2004, its aims being to promote interest in family history and genealogical research, to educate people in the best ways of conducting research, to maintain a genealogical reference library, and to publish a journal containing genealogical information.

Many resources are available in their library located at 591 Arbutus Street, Qualicum Beach, including:

Burial Indexes
Census Indexes
Genealogical Reference Books
Marriage Registers
Passenger Lists
Vital Records

The resources relate to Canada, the United States and further afield, such as England and Wales. A full inventory of collections is available.

Surnames currently being researched by Members is also available.

Website:
http://www.qbfhs.ca

Vernon and District Family History Society

The association was established in 1982, its aims being to provide a forum for those interested in genealogy, to educate people in the correct ways to conduct family history research, to collect and preserve information relating to genealogy, and to publish books.

Many archives are available in their Resource Centre, including:

Cemetery Transcripts
Census Indexes
Church Records
City Directories
Genealogical Reference Books
Genealogies
Journals
Land Records

Archives held by the society also include:

Maps and Atlases
Military Records
Newspaper Extracts
Obituaries
Periodicals
School Histories
Telephone Directories
Vital Records

The archives relate to Canada, the United States and further afield, such as Australia and England and Wales. A full inventory of their collections is available.

The Armstrong Advertiser Index can be accessed, along with a list of Surnames currently being researched by Members. A list of Cemeteries can also be accessed, and Cemetery Transcriptions.

Website:
http://www.vdfhs.com