Friends of the Barrie FamilySearch Center

05/02/2026

The Simcoe County Branch of Ontario Ancestors invites you to attend our IN-PERSON Family History Spring Workshop.

Simcoe County Branch Spring Workshop #3
Advanced Genealogy - Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 1-4 pm

This workshop is geared to a more advanced level, but can benefit anyone. Topics covered will include: breaking down brick walls, DNA, and putting it all together, documenting your findings.

Registration is required: email Nancy at [email protected] or call
1-416 - (489)-0734 Ext 328 or 1-(855)-697-5567 Ext 328 and leave a message.

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/) or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.
We welcome all.

04/16/2026

The Simcoe County Branch of Ontario Ancestors invites you to attend our IN-PERSON Family History Spring Workshops.

Simcoe County Branch Workshop Thursday, April 23, 2026
Intermediate Genealogy - Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 1 to 4 pm
This workshop is geared toward those who have started their family history project but need help moving their research forward. Topics covered will include: Planning your research goals, using the FamilySearch catalogue and Onland.ca to navigate some lesser-understood sources for research in Ontario.
Registration is required: email Nancy at [email protected] or call
1-416 - (489)-0734 Ext 328 or 1-(855)-697-5567 Ext 328 and leave a message.

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/) or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.
We welcome all.

03/10/2026

The Simcoe County Branch of Ontario Ancestors invites you to join us on:

DATE: Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 11:00 am ET

PLACE: This meeting will be “ONLINE ONLY. “

Speaker: Linda Corupe
Topic: The Heir & Devisee Commission of Upper Canada

The Heir and Devisee Commission (1797 – 1854) was established to clarify the titles to lands in Upper Canada. Join us while Linda teaches us about the Heir and Devisee Commission, the records that were created, why they are valuable to genealogists, and how to access them.
You may register for this online Zoom presentation at the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xw5GmI1iRxacgRdYShgt-g #/registration

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/) or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.
We welcome all.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Simcoe County Branch, OGS March webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

12/01/2025

The Simcoe County Branch of Ontario Ancestors invites you to join us for our last meeting of 2025.

DATE: Sat. Dec 6, 2025, at 10:30 am for our IN-PERSON ONLY Meeting

PLACE: Barrie and District Association Realtors facility, 676 Veterans Drive, Barrie

This will be our annual “Show and Share” meeting, so we invite you to join us for some “Christmas Goodies” and to share your “Family History Finds”
that you have uncovered over this past year.

Registration is not required for those attending in person. We welcome all.

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/) or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.

10/15/2025

The Simcoe County Branch of Ontario Ancestors invites you to join us on
DATE: Sat. Oct 18, 2025 at 10:30 am ET (HYBRID meeting)
PLACE: In-person location, Orillia: Ramara Centre, 5482 Highway 12 South, Orillia, Ontario L3V 6H7
Speaker: Speaker: Fred Blair
Topic: Andrew Borland and the Development of Orillia and Coldwater

Andrew was a veteran of the War of 1812, a fur trader in 1813, a surveyor's assistant in 1820, a steamboat captain in 1832, and possibly even a hotel keeper and wood mill owner. The images in the presentation are taken from a variety of records that are shown in the slide presentation. For some members, this may be an introduction to some of the records available for the War of 1812, land records, Upper Canada Land Petitions, Upper Canada Sundries, and 1837 Rebellion British payrolls.

This will be a Hybrid meeting.

For those attending online:
Click or copy & paste the URL below into your search engine.

Registration link for joining online:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nty3YjMiSQu2ah9WBQwT_Q #/registration

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Registration is not required for those attending in person. We welcome all.

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/) or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Simcoe County Branch, OGS Monthly Meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

08/19/2025

The Barrie Ontario FamilySearch Center will re-open tomorrow Wed Aug 20, after our summer break. The hours are Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 12:30 pm-3:30 pm. Saturdays by appointment only.

08/14/2025

Welcome back! We hope you have enjoyed the last bit of summer. The Simcoe County Branch Ontario Ancestors invite you to join us on September 13th. This meeting will be Hybrid.

DATE: Sat. Sept. 13th, 2025 at 10:30 am ET (HYBRID meeting)
PLACE: In person location Barrie: Barrie & District Association Realtors facility, 676 Veterans Drive, Barrie, Ontario
Speaker: Trevor Carter

Topic: 20 Years of Archaeological Field Schools at Fort Willow National Historic Site. This year marks the 20th year of archaeological field schools at Simcoe County’s Fort Willow, a War of 1812 national historic site near Barrie. The field school, unique in Ontario, is a senior level high school program led by Trevor Carter, a licensed archaeologist and high school teacher at St. Joseph’s High School in Barrie. This presentation will include an overview of the past 20 years of work at the Fort, including new historical discoveries, as well as the value of the excavation experience for the students.

This will be a Hybrid meeting, In Person & Online
For those attending online:
Registration link for joining online: by clicking or copy & paste the URL below into your search engine.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3sh3PZvaT4e-B8t9CEcSXw #/registration
After registering you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Registration is not required for those attending in person. We welcome all.

You may find further information regarding our organization by going to the Simcoe County Branch Meetings web page at (https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/branch-meetings/), or visit our Facebook site at (https://www.facebook.com/groups/827393414004460/) for information about other events.

Send a message to learn more