Courses and Workshops, Toronto Branch, OGS

COURSES and WORKSHOPS
Co-sponsored by the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library and the Toronto Reference Library.

The Toronto Branch runs a regular program of courses in a wide variety of subjects for genealogists at all levels of expertise.

Spring 2013

Digging for Gold in Toronto's Libraries and Archives
With so many family history records becoming available online now, it is easy to overlook the unique resources and expertise available to us in Toronto at our libraries and archives. Take this opportunity to hear presentations from archives and library staff and your fellow researchers—all in one information-filled day.
Registration fees until April 15: $30 ($20 for OGS members)
Registration fees after April 15: $35 ($25 for OGS members)

When: Saturday May 4, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM EDT
Location: North York Memorial Community Hall
5110 Yonge Street Concourse level
Toronto, ON M2N 5N9

Click here for details.

Using Ancestry.ca Effectively: Records and Family Trees
In this two session course we will investigate the extensive records found on-line at Ancestry and we will learn how to use that information to construct family trees. The course is designed for people starting to investigate the resources at Ancestry.ca. It will serve as the basis for an advanced course on Ancestry.ca which will be offered in June 2013.

Participants will investigate how to search effectively on Ancestry for the wide variety of records available for their families. They will learn how to organize and share their information including setting up public and private trees on-line using computers, smart phones or tablets and how to use information from other people’s public on-line family trees on Ancestry. They will learn how to gain free access to Ancestry.ca which is provided without cost at all Toronto Public Libraries.

The course will draw on the instructor’s extensive teaching experience, as well as her knowledge of technology and genealogy. Instruction will be provided through PowerPoint presentations and in class discussions.

Equipment needed: A laptop is not necessary, but registrants are welcome to bring their own to class.
Schedule: Mondays: 6 and 13 May, 2013, 6:30-8:30 pm
Location: North York Central Library, Classroom 1
Instructor: Carol Nichols
Carol Nichols worked for many years as a teacher in Scarborough and with the Toronto District School Board. There she developed an interest in using technology to help students learn effectively. As a member of the Ontario Genealogical Society, she has presented courses and made presentations on the use of technology in family history. She is especially interested in helping people make good use of available technology to learn about their ancestors, to record their findings and to communicate their results with others.
Fee: $35 ($40 for non-OGS members)
Register for this Course

Advanced Ancestry.ca Weekend Workshop COURSE IS FULL
This workshop is intended for registrants who are comfortable using computers and who have some experience using Ancestry.ca.

DAY 1 - Detailed information about the most effective strategies for searching Ancestry’s growing number of databases with special emphasis on some of the newer features will be provided. Participants will explore all aspects of the ancestry.ca website as well as understand various search techniques how to access and explore global ancestry sites and databases.

DAY 2 - Creating an Online Family Tree and attaching records will be covered in depth and techniques for ensuring that the trees developed are well sourced will be reviewed. Participants will learn how to share their online tree, make appropriate use of privacy settings, create person profiles, and edit entries – adding and deleting and incorporating data from other online trees accessible through Ancestry.
Schedule: Saturday: 8 June and Sunday 9 June, 2013, 9:00 am-12:00 noon and 1:00- pm-4:00 pm each day.
Location: North York Central Library, Classroom 2/3
Instructor: Lesley Anderson
Lesley Anderson works with Ancestry.ca to develop strategic relationships with archives across Canada and acquire new Canadian historical records. She has been a passionate family history researcher for more than thirty-five years. Lesley is the Director of Education running educational seminars for the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, volunteers at the Ottawa Stake Family History Centre and a much sought after speaker.
Fee: $90 ($100 for non-OGS members)
Equipment Needs: Registrants must bring their own laptops
Register for this Course

COURSE LOCATIONS

1. North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto (Subway: North York Centre Station) Map
2. Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto (Subway: Bloor-Yonge Station) Map

HOW TO REGISTER

Pre-registration is required to guarantee your space. Applicants will be accepted in the order of receipt of their application with payment. Payment may be made through our online registration system using your PayPal account or credit card (through PayPal), or by mail using a credit card or personal cheque.

To register on-line, click on the title of the course to go to the registration form. To pay by cheque, print out the form and mail to the address shown.

Course & Workshop Policies and General Information

Accessibility: The venues for all of our courses are wheelchair accessible. If you are a person with a disability and you need a support person to accompany you, he or she is welcome to attend the course at no charge. Please contact us if you wish to register a support person or if you have any other accessibility questions or concerns.

Cancellation Policy: We reserve the right to cancel a course no later than 7 days before a course commences should registration levels be insufficient to cover our costs. We also reserve the right to cancel a course should some other unforeseen circumstance arise.

Copyright: Course notes and other teaching materials are considered the intellectual property of the course instructor. Any such materials received in connection with the course, including but not limited to handouts, overheads, lesson plans, outlines, web pages, slides and slideshows, remain the property of the instructor and the instructor retains copyright in all such teaching aids and materials.

The use of any form of device to audiotape, photograph, video-record or otherwise reproduce lectures, course notes or teaching materials is generally prohibited. However, such recordings and/or reproductions may be made, for private use only, by attendees with disabilities who have obtained advance written permission from the instructor, such written permission not to be unreasonably withheld by the instructor.

Late Registrations & Door Registrations: Late registrations may be accepted if there is space; please contact courses@torontofamilyhistory.org. The course instructor has the discretion to decline acceptance of door registrations, as these can seriously disrupt course proceedings. The full course fee will apply for all registrations and there will be no discount for attending less than all the sessions offered.

Refund Policy: You will be fully refunded, by cheque, if a course is cancelled. Refunds will be pro-rated if the course schedule is changed. For example, a 50% refund will apply if an instructor provides just two of four sessions or if you are unable to attend two rescheduled sessions. Barring exceptional personal circumstances, a 50% refund will apply to registrants who cancel their registration 48 hours or less in advance of the course start date. Late cancellees will be provided with copies of handouts.

For further information, to discuss prerequisite equivalents and to confirm space in a course, email: courses@torontofamilyhistory.org.

OGS members enjoy a reduction in course fees.