Uncovering the Past: Tales from a Passionate Genealogist

When she a young child, Heather’s mother told her that Mark Twain was a great-uncle. It seemed like a really cool thing to tell people, but other than that, it held little meaning for her at the time. Fast forward forty years: one night while Heather found herself between jobs and with time on her hands a TV ad for Ancestry reminded her of Mark Twain and she decided to see if there was any truth to the family story. Only later did she realise that this was the moment her passion for genealogy was born. In this talk Heather will share stories from her own work – involving archival research, personal interviews and the latest in genetic DNA technology – to help us understand why the field of genealogy has grown exponentially in recent years and why it has become not only Heather’s passion but also her second career. Perhaps she will also inspire you to begin your journey tracing your own family history. 

This lecture is a live, in-person event in Cameron Hall. You do not need to pre-register to attend – just show up.

BIOGRAPHY:

After a 20-year career as a Marketing Executive for several consumer-packaged goods companies, Heather retired from the proverbial rat race to dedicate more time to her family and to pursue her own family history. Originally enthralled by the shaking leaves, she turned her attention to educating herself on proper genealogy methods and received a certificate from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. She started her own company, Dig Ancestry Services in 2013 and her second career began. She is passionate about finding the stories in everyone’s family history and seeks to help people on their journey of discovery. She volunteers with the Ontario Genealogical Society and is currently serving as the Past President, Conference Chair and Editor of the Families Journal. 

This lecture is co-sponsored by the Ontario Genealogical Society