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Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society

An organization of family historians, some with Toronto roots, others who live in Toronto, we have ancestors around the world.

Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society

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Sandy cliffs of the Scarborough Bluffs with Lake Ontario in the foreground
Houses on brow of hill overlooking Withrow Park.
Roofline of the south St. Lawrence Market building
Gothic arches of the main door of the yellow brick Cathedral Church of St. James.
Light filtering through mature trees on a wide variety of grave markers in St. James Cemetery and Crematorium.
Skyline of downtown Toronto from Riverdale Park in evening light. Shows CN Tower and skyscrapers.
Red and white streetcar passing under the steel superstructure of the bridge at Queen Street and the Don River. The superstructure has a big clock and a sign that says: This river I step in is not the river I stand in.
man standing at edge of swamp

We’re launching the fall season at Toronto Branch with a bonus event! Join us for a special in-person only meeting the afternoon of Saturday September 20, in advance of our regular monthly meeting online the evening of Monday September 22. Both are free and all are welcome to attend! Our September 20 meeting will take place in the Auditorium of the North York Central Library, located at 5120 Yonge Street at the North York […]

September 2025—fall launch!

Man standing in front of a wall sign that reads Gene by Gene

Toronto Branch is thrilled to be hosting an advanced-level, full-day workshop on Y-DNA testing on October 18, led by David Vance, a worldwide expert on Y-DNA and vice-president of FamilyTreeDNA.   Y-DNA is passed down from father to son, and can be a big help to genealogists researching direct paternal lines. Develop your skills and deepen your understanding of the Y-DNA test and its potential uses with sessions on the latest from FTDNA, testing […]

Why Y-DNA? Find out!

watercolour painting of house in field

Boost your research skills this fall with two separate online courses on Ontario land records—both led by Toronto Branch instructor Jane MacNamara. Join Jane in September for a three-session course on the province’s Crown land records, and complement your learning with another three-session course in November on land registry records. All sessions are on Thursday evenings, beginning at 7:30 pm (EDT), and will be recorded and archived for a limited time. NEW FOR 2025: […]

Learn about Ontario land records!

Streetcar at night, blurred to show motion

Toronto Branch presented the 14th annual Toronto History Lecture via Zoom on Tuesday August 5, 2024. This year, we welcomed a father-son team of speakers to talk about a Toronto icon—our streetcar system! Dr. Brian Doucet and Dr. Michael Doucet have spent their careers researching cities and urban change. They showed us how streetcar lines have shaped many Toronto neighbourhoods, and how the story of the streetcars is interwoven with the transformation of the […]

The Toronto History Lecture for 2025

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Activities

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Projects

  • Projects Overview
  • The Ontario Name Index: “TONI”
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  • St. James Cemetery

Toronto research sources

  • Research Guide
    • Toronto Chronology
    • Places within Toronto
    • Street Name Changes
  • Libraries & Archives
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  • City Directories
  • Cemeteries
  • Census Records
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    • Assessment Rolls
      • Finding Aid to Wards
    • Council Minutes
  • Land records
  • Newspapers
  • Biographical Sources
  • Manuscript Collections
  • Probate Records
  • School Records

Related organizations

  • Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto
  • Ontario Genealogical Society (parent society)
  • United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada

Toronto Branch Meetings

Sep
20
Sat
1:00 pm Preserving Family Archives
Preserving Family Archives
Sep 20 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Preserving Family Archives @ Auditorium, North York Central Library
We’re excited to present a special in-person-only meeting taking place on Saturday, September 20. Doors open at 1:00 p.m. We’ll be gathering in the Auditorium at the North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street. The[...]
Sep
22
Mon
7:30 pm What is my “biological” surname:...
What is my “biological” surname:...
Sep 22 @ 7:30 pm
What is my "biological" surname: A 12-year journey @ Online webinar
Around 2010, Beth Adams’ partner asked her to find out what his “biological” surname is. Finding the answer was an epic 12-year journey, with MANY twists and surprises. With the help of friends, DNA, and[...]
Oct
27
Mon
7:30 pm The Dead from Down the Street
The Dead from Down the Street
Oct 27 @ 7:30 pm
The Dead from Down the Street @ Online webinar
They gave up their lives and are buried overseas, but many of them once lived in our own neighbourhoods. Learn the names of our First World War dead who had roots within blocks of your[...]
Nov
24
Mon
7:30 pm Great Moments in Genealogy
Great Moments in Genealogy
Nov 24 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Great Moments in Genealogy @ Online webinar | Toronto | Ontario | Canada
In keeping with our November, last-meeting-of-the-year tradition, Toronto Branch members will be sharing “great moments” in their family history research in a series of short, inspiring and frequently humorous presentations. We look forward to this[...]
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Courses starting and Workshops

Oct
18
Sat
10:00 am The Whys of Y-DNA—Beyond the Basics
The Whys of Y-DNA—Beyond the Basics
Oct 18 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Whys of Y-DNA—Beyond the Basics @ Lansing United Church
The Toronto Branch Education Committee is very excited to announce that David Vance, a recognized worldwide expert on Y-DNA and vice-president of FamilyTreeDNA, will be presenting an advanced-level, in-person workshop on Y-DNA testing on October[...]
Nov
1
Sat
9:30 am From Books to Blogs: A one-day f...
From Books to Blogs: A one-day f...
Nov 1 @ 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
From Books to Blogs: A one-day family history writing workshop @ Burgundy Room, North York Community Memorial Hall
Thinking about sharing the results of your family history research and never been quite sure how to go about it? This one-day workshop, “From Books to Blogs,” is designed to help you get started. The[...]
Nov
13
Thu
7:30 pm Understanding Ontario Land Regis...
Understanding Ontario Land Regis...
Nov 13 @ 7:30 pm – Nov 27 @ 9:00 pm
Understanding Ontario Land Registry Records @ THREE-SESSION ONLINE COURSE | Toronto | Ontario | Canada
Three-session online course: 7:30 pm to about 9:00 pm November 13, 20 and 27, 2025 $35 OGS members / $40 non-members Despite the 2020 closure of Land Registry Offices, Ontario land registry records are becoming[...]
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Recent posts

  • September 2025—fall launch!
  • Why Y-DNA? Find out!
  • Learn about Ontario land records!
  • The Toronto History Lecture for 2025
  • June 2025 meeting—online
  • Planning a genealogy trip
  • May 2025 meeting—online

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Toronto is situated on Indigenous land. This is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Wendat, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This land is also part of the Dish with One Spoon territory, a treaty between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (aka Six Nations Confederacy), the Anishinaabek and allied nations, to peaceably share and care for this land, its waters, and all of the biodiversity in the Great Lakes region. We are all responsible for honouring this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship, and respect.

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