Posted by conference on April 11, 2010 under Blog: New Postings, Canadian Records, Innovations Stream, Marketplace, Speakers and Program, Sponsors | 
We’re delighted to announce a number of extras for family historians attending the Ontario Genealogical Society’s Conference 2010.
Friday, 2:00 pm
Marketplace Grand Opening
For the first time at an OGS Conference, there will be a grand opening of Marketplace. We’ve cleared the schedule of lectures on Friday at 2 pm so everyone can participate. Every square inch of display space has been let and we’ll be able to pore through the offerings of a large number of OGS Branches as well as many commercial exhibitors. And to spice things up, we’ll have some fun—and prizes. See you there!
Friday, 5:45 pm
Graduation Ceremony for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies
Ontario is home to what may well be the world’s most successful provider of distance-learning for genealogists, the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2010.
A number of Conference speakers are National Institute faculty or graduates. The latter have completed a 40-course program and are entitled to the designation of PLCGS (Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies), jointly offered with the Continuing Education Division of the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto.
Please join with other Conference attendees and the National Institute in celebrating its 2010 graduates at a special ceremony to be held Friday at 5:45 pm.
NB: The National Institute has also kindly agreed to sponsor the closing plenary, featuring a tour-de-force lecture by the ever-popular, John Philip Colletta, “Hacks and Hookers and Putting Up Pickles: Snares of Yesteryear’s English”.
Saturday, 12:45 pm and 1:15 pm
Lunchtime Learning Sessions
Also new this year are lunchtime learning sessions on Saturday. During the 90-minute lunch break, there will be two half-hour slots, each of which will feature a 20-minute mini-lecture on what’s new with an important institution or program. So you can grab a fast bite and catch one of the lectures—or if you’re made of sterner stuff, maybe eat on the run and attend two. For your convenience, we’re repeating the two lectures most likely to command large audiences. Here’s the schedule:
12:45 pm and repeated at 1:15 pm
Introducing Genealogists to the New Toronto Public Library Website: Andrew Lofft
12:45 pm and repeated at 1:15 pm
New Developments at FamilySearch: Stephen Young
12:45 pm
Introducing Canada 150: Harry van Bommel
1:15 pm
How OurOntario.ca Can Help You Search Hundreds of Digital Collections: Loren Fantin
Watch for news of more “extras” for Conference 2010 attendees coming soon. There’s still time to be a part of Conference 2010, but a few sessions are full, and others are close, so be sure to register soon.
Posted by conference on February 16, 2010 under Blog: New Postings, Marketplace, Pre-Conference Events, Tours and Events, Visiting Toronto |
Hands-on Research Excursion: One venue at capacity
Registrants have been eager to add an extra day of research to their Conference 2010 experience by signing up for the Hands-on Research Excursion on Thursday, May 13. “Excursionists” selected from a choice of four wonderful archives and libraries.
One of the four venues—the Archives of Ontario—is now at capacity.
But don’t let that discourage you from joining the Excursion!
The City of Toronto Archives is a great choice if your ancestors lived in Toronto or the former municipalities of Scarborough, East York, North York, York or Etobicoke. The two reference libraries are some of the finest in North America for genealogy. The Toronto Reference Library has a collection of books and maps built over the past 115 years and an extensive manuscript collection only accessible on site. The North York Library’s Canadiana Department has an emphasis on Canadian genealogical resources in print and microform, and provides a home for unique deposit collections from genealogical partners.
To register for the Hands-on Research Excursion, select that option on the online registration form, and then e-mail us to choose your venue.
Marketplace and Sponsors pages updated
If you haven’t explored the Conference 2010 website lately, be sure to check the Marketplace and Sponsors pages to see the treats that lie ahead for attendees at Conference 2010. Most Marketplace exhibitors include a link to a website, so you can do some “window shopping” in advance.
Doubletree restaurant praised
Restaurant reviewer Joanne Kates in The Globe and Mail has named the Chinese restaurant (Grand Chinese Cuisine) at the Conference hotel as one of the best in the city. Mmmm…
Posted by conference on August 2, 2009 under Blog: New Postings, Marketplace |
The Marketplace has always been a major feature of OGS conferences.
It is a once-a-year opportunity for all 30 Ontario Genealogical Society branches to display books about their local areas and in particular the publications they have produced. Sales of these very modestly priced books and CDs are an important source of income to fund future projects.
Most of the OGS branch publications are transcriptions of records—like gravestone inscriptions, registers of births, marriages and deaths, cenotaphs, wills, and almost anything else you can think of. Branches are also great at producing guides to research in their areas. But the most important features of an OGS branch table are the local experts standing behind it, only too pleased to answer your questions and suggest new routes for your research.
The Ontario Genealogical Society as a whole also produces many publications that will be available at Conference 2010. It has become tradition for the Society to launch new books at the annual conference. We can’t wait to see what’s coming up for 2010!
The 2010 Marketplace will also include displays from other genealogical and historical organizations whose publications, databases, or expertise could be the key to your research.
The final component of Marketplace is the commercial vendors. These vary from small publishers or authors with one or two print or software titles, to antiquarian booksellers, to the largest Canadian retailers specializing in family history. Companies offering online subscription genealogical databases, periodicals, and genealogical educators will also be well represented.
And Marketplace is always a great place to pick up a one-of-a-kind treasure, a bargain book or CD, a subscription discount, or even a free trial offer!
Posted by conference on July 18, 2009 under Blog: New Postings, Green Conference, Marketplace, The Making of Conference 2010 |
On July 13, the Conference 2010 organizing committee convened at the Doubletree by Hilton, Toronto Airport. It was a chance for some committee members to tour the facility and clarify what till then they’d only seen on paper. For members who had been involved with the conference Toronto Branch had hosted in 2004 at the Doubletree, it was an opportunity to reacquaint themselves with the venue.
We started our tour in the north-east end of the hotel, near the room where the Ontario Library Association will hold a pre-conference event on Thursday, May 13. Conference registrants arriving by public transit will enter the Doubletree here. We could also see the group of off-site restaurants, like Tim Hortons, Swiss Chalet, and Milestones, right across Dixon Road.
As we strolled south-west through the hotel, we passed the Orchid restaurant where many conference attendees will have breakfast and other casual meals, and the front desk. In the same area, we saw two other restaurants—Alfredo’s (northern Italian and Continental cuisine), Ginko (classical Japanese cuisine)—and Harry’s Bar.
Turning south at the front desk, we passed the west entrance from the parking lot, a small retail area, and the pool and fitness centre, on the way to the Plaza conference centre where OGS Conference 2010 will be held.
The Plaza conference centre is on the second floor. Our registration area will be at the bottom of the stairs (there’s an escalator and an elevator, too.) It was easy for the committee to see how that will channel registrants on the right route.
At the top of the stairs, escalator and elevator, the spacious Plaza foyer will be home to a number of activities (more later) and will serve as a gathering place. The 10,000 square-foot Marketplace and the meeting rooms are all clustered around this foyer. (With the exception of one overflow room which is a short stroll away on the ground floor.)
All these areas have complimentary wi-fi access.
The Plaza rooms were undergoing an upgrading of the ventilation system when we visited, but despite the tarpaulins, it was clear how quick and easy it will be to get from session to session, and to the Marketplace.
We finished the tour with a quick peek at a couple of the well-appointed hotel rooms, noting that all rooms have complimentary wi-fi access.
We were impressed with the facilities, the attention to detail, and the staff at the Doubletree—and confident that it will be a great venue for OGS Conference 2010.
