Abbotsford British Columbia Family History Centre

Centre Contacts
Location: 30635 Blueridge Drive, Abbotsford BC V2T 5W3 Canada

Link to map using Google or other map sites

Phone: 604-852-8043

E-mail: [mailto:bc_abbotsford@familyhistorymail.org bc_abbotsford@familyhistorymail.org]

2021 Family History Presentation Calendar (via Zoom)
** Information coming soon on how to sign up for these presentations**

Thursday, March 18th - 7:00 PM

Presenter: Karen Inkster Vance

Ancestors in Context: Putting the History in your Family History - Expand your family history research beyond names and dates! Placing your ancestors in historical context will not only provide clues for future research paths but will help you create a sketch of your ancestors' daily lives and better understand the decisions they made as a result of what was happening around them. In this session you will learn where to find helpful social and historical resources - particularly those available online - and how to analyze and glean fragments of information from documents so that you can piece together and write about the rich lives your ancestors led. Target audience: Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced

Bio: Karen Inkster Vance, MA, is an educator, family storyteller, researcher and writer who has enjoyed documenting her family history for over 30 years. She is the author of Voices from the Past: A History of North Roe (2006), a social history of the village in Shetland, Scotland where her great-grandfather was born. She conducted over 150 oral history interviews as part of the Ex-Cadet Oral History Project at Royal Roads University and oversaw the writing and production of two documentary films, Coming Full Circle: Remembrances of Royal Roads Ex-Cadets (2009) and Ingrained in Us: Remembering Royal Roads (2013), both of which aired on local television.

After travelling the world to tramp through cemeteries, wade through archives and interview numerous family members Karen has discovered that true joy comes not from just filling in the names and dates on her family tree but from piecing together the lives that her ancestors led. Gathering social history clues, analyzing photos and oral history interviewing are just a few of the creative approaches Karen uses to bring her ancestors to life. She is on a mission to write down and share her ancestors’ stories and help other family historians do the same.

Karen resides in Surrey, BC, Canada. For further information about Karen and her current projects, visit: www.KarenInksterVance.com

Regular Schedule (CLOSED due to COVID-19)
**** During inclement weather call ahead to be sure the Centre is open****


 * Mon. 10:00am - 1:00pm
 * Tue. 6:00pm - 9:00pm
 * Wed. 6:00pm - 9:00pm (closed last Wednesday of every month)
 * Thur. 6:00pm - 9:00pm
 * Fri. 10:00am - 1:00pm

The Centre will be closed on the following dates:

Summer Schedule (CLOSED due to COVID-19)
TBA

Abbotsford Family History Day (annual event)
CANCELLED due to COVID-19 www.abbotsfordfamilyhistory.com

Staff/Consultant Training Meeting
Staff training takes place the last Wednesday of the month 7:00 PM at the Abbotsford Family History Centre and is closed to the public on these nights. Staff/Consultants - consult emails closer to training date for details.

Centre Resources
Please note that as of August 31, 2017 you can no longer order films from Salt Lake, this is because many can be viewed on-line or at the Family History Centre.

Books and Other Printed Material
The centre has a collection of books, maps, dictionaries and gazetteers you may use for your research.

Computers and Internet Access
The centre has 12 computers, 2 printers, 1 multi-functional digital copier/scanner/printer and 1 TV. All library computers have Internet access. Personal laptops can also be connected to the Internet. Many helpful research resources are available from the desktop of the library computers and include free use of many subscription websites.

Databases and Software
This centre has access to the FHC Portal page which gives free access in the centre to premium family history software and websites that generally charge for subscriptions. Premium databases include the following:


 * 19th Century British Library Newspaper Digital Archive
 * Alexander Street Press - The American Civil War and Women & Social Movements in the United States
 * American Ancestors (Library Rights)
 * Ancestry (Institution Versions: US/Australia/Canada/Germany/Sweden/United Kingdom)
 * ArkivDigital
 * FamNet
 * Findmypast (Institution Version)
 * Fold3
 * Geneanet
 * Kinpoint (Premium)
 * MyHeritage (Library Edition)
 * Newspapers.com
 * Paper Trail
 * Puzzilla (Premium Services)
 * Genealogical Software Programs for your use at the centre: Ancestral Quest 15, Legacy 9 and Rootsmagic 7

Microfilm Readers and Microfilm Library
The centre has 2 fiche readers, 4 film readers and 1 digital film reader that has the capability to print film and microfiche images or save them to storage media. We have a permanent selection of films which include many English Parish Registers and European films. A collection of fiche for your use: Old Parochial records of Scotland, England Parish Records, complete index of Scottish Presbyterian Church Records 1500-1854 and England & Wales PCC Wills Index 1701 - 1749.

Centre Services
NO CENTRE SERVICES UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE - COVID CLOSURE

Group Visits - youth groups, adult groups, children's groups and family groups email [mailto:BC_Abbotsford@familyhistorymail.org BC_Abbotsford@familyhistorymail.org]or call the centre at 604-852-8043 for more information and to book an appointment.

Individual Visits - assistance is available from regular staff without an appointment.

Scanning photos/documents to memory sticks and/or upload to FamilySearch Family Tree site.

Executive Committee:
Director: Jen Haddad

Training Coordinator: Jen Haddad

Abbotsford Family History Day Committee: Jen Haddad, Lyn McGonigal, Ron Purvis and Christina Sadler