With a theme of Diversity in Genealogy – Spotlight on the Grand River, the 2023 Ontario Ancestors conference is scheduled for September 8-10, 2023, and we’re looking for speakers that will educate and motivate our attendees to advance their genealogy.
Specifically, we are seeking new, unique, and enterprising proposals, that speak to the cultural diversity across, and in, all parts of Ontario. Using our Zoom platform, we will deliver two streams of content over the weekend. One stream will be focused on Diversity across the province – stories, cultures, communities, religions, history, archives and genealogy techniques. The other stream will focus on that diversity specifically along the Grand River as it has its own history, stories and voices that we want to share. Interested speakers are strongly encouraged to submit multiple proposals for 40-minute sessions. There is no limit to the number of proposals a speaker may submit.
Topics to be considered include but are not limited to:
- Indigenous records, research and genealogy stories
- Emigration into and out of Ontario from different groups at various times over the past 200 years
- Treaties, land tracts and settlement schemes
- Genealogy in various cultures that made Ontario their home in the 20th century (last 125 years)
- Black settlements in Ontario
- Stories about people and the Underground Railroad
- Franco-Ontarian movement to and through Ontario
- Emigration to Ontario based on labour schemes
- Industrial development throughout Ontario and related communities
- Movement along the major waterways across Ontario
- Researching and understanding various religions in Ontario
- Research in diverse archives, libraries and museums
- New research and writing techniques or tech gadgets
Submit proposals using the submission form at the bottom of this page.
The deadline for the submission of lecture proposals is Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST.
Speakers are required to use an electronic presentation program and will be required to present on-camera for the duration of the presentation.
Compensation
Selected speakers receive an honorarium of $150 CAD for each lecture presented.
Sponsors
Sponsors are encouraged to submit proposals for sponsored talks. The sponsoring organization will cover speaker’s lecture(s) honorarium. Sponsored speakers will receive complimentary Ontario Ancestors conference registration and electronic syllabus materials. Sponsored speakers will abide by all speaker deadlines.
Additional Information
Camera-ready syllabus material, due August 14, 2023 is required for each general presentation and will be included in the electronic syllabus distributed to all conference registrants. Invitations to speak will be issued by March 20, 2023. Syllabus format guidelines will be sent to speakers at that time. The deadline for acceptance and submission of signed speaker contracts is March 27, 2023. Letters of regret will not be sent out until all invited speakers have responded.
About Ontario Ancestors
Ontario Ancestors (The Ontario Genealogical Society) founded in 1961, is the largest genealogical society in Canada. Its mission is to encourage, bring together, and assist those interested in the pursuit of family history to preserve our Ontario genealogical heritage.
We look forward to receiving your lecture proposal submissions, and greatly anticipate an exciting virtual conference.
Heather McTavish Taylor
Ontario Ancestors Virtual Conference 2023 Chair
Call for Speakers has now closed.