Norfolk County Archives

Tickets are selling fast and there are only 5 tickets left for this year's Genealogy Symposium! Tickets are $25 per person and spots are limited. Register online or come into the Norfolk County Archives during our operating hours to buy your ticket in-person.

Guest speakers include Susan Arness, Bridget Carter, Colleen Murray and Kate van der Meer. Please see our website for more information. We hope to see you there!

2026 Norfolk County Genealogy Symposium Norfolk County Archives' 6th Annual Genealogy Symposium has a value-packed afternoon for you on Saturday, September 19th from 12pm - 4:30pm.

Colleen Murray is just one of the many informative and engaging speakers you will see at the 5th Annual Norfolk County Genealogy Symposium on Saturday, September 19th from 12 pm - 4:30pm. Colleen Murray is a professional genealogist originally from Edmonton and now based in Waterloo. Holding a Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies (PLCGS) and ProGen 26 certification, she has pursued advanced training in DNA and forensic genealogy through the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, specializing in evidence-based research.

Her presentation, "Using Y-DNA to Build Your Family Tree", highlights the use of Y-DNA to break through genealogical brick walls. This presentation shows how you can use Y-DNA to answer research questions, even for populations where traditional records aren't available.

Full event includes:
-4 Guest Speakers
-Book Sale
-Vendor Tables
-Light Refreshments
-Swag Bag

Tickets are $25 per person. Spots are limited. Register online (link in bio) or come into the Norfolk County Archives during our operating hours and buy your ticket in-person. We hope to see you there!

Susan Arness is just one of the many informative and engaging speakers you will see at the 5th Annual Norfolk County Genealogy Symposium on Saturday, September 19th from 12 pm - 4:30pm. Susan Arness, PLCGS, is a Waterloo-based professional genealogist, educator, and speaker specializing in land records and house histories, serving Ontario Ancestors leadership roles.

Her presentation, "What Can Land Records Reveal About Our Ancestors?", will, utilizing the fascinating case study John Cowan, demonstrate how land records reveal ancestors’ lives, inheritance patterns, and family connections across Norfolk County and Upper Canada.

Full event includes:
-4 Guest Speakers
-Book Sale
-Vendor Tables
-Light Refreshments
-Swag Bag

Tickets are $25 per person. Spots are limited. Register online (link in bio) or come into the Norfolk County Archives during our operating hours and buy your ticket in-person. We hope to see you there!

Kate van der Meer is just one of the many informative and engaging speakers you will see at the 5th Annual Norfolk County Genealogy Symposium on Saturday, September 19th from 12 pm - 4:30pm.

Kate van der Meer, Norfolk Historical Society President and archaeology student, draws on her Indigenous and European heritage to advance truth, reconciliation, and community resurgence.

Her presentation, "Between the Rows: Honouring Indigenous Ancestors", will discuss the impacts of the residential school system and assimilation policy, navigating Indigenous genealogy with respect, and furthering truth & reconciliation in Norfolk County.

Full event includes:
-4 Guest Speakers
-Book Sale
-Vendor Tables
-Light Refreshments
-Swag Bag

Tickets are $25 per person. Spots are limited. Register online here: https://bit.ly/4bLtwEi or come into the Norfolk County Archives during our operating hours and buy your ticket in-person. We hope to see you there!

Bridget Carter is just one of the many informative and engaging speakers you will see at the 5th Annual Norfolk County Genealogy Symposium on Saturday, September 19th from 12 pm - 4:30pm.

Bridget Carter, Principal of Sapphire Consulting, became a professional genealogist in 2024, specializing in Northern European and Canadian ancestry research and active genealogical organizations.

Her presentation, "What’s In a Name? The Importance of Place and Time” will discuss how boundary changes, wars, and inconsistent database naming can obscure ancestral locations. Carter will demonstrate the importance of identifying the geographic and historical context during genealogical research.

Full event includes:
-4 Guest Speakers
-Book Sale
-Vendor Tables
-Light Refreshments
-Swag Bag

Tickets are $25 per person. Spots are limited. Register online (link in bio) or come into the Norfolk County Archives during our operating hours and buy your ticket in-person. We hope to see you there!

Wondering what our upcoming Genealogy Symposium is all about? We got you covered! We have a value-packed afternoon for you on Saturday, September 19th from 12 pm - 4:30pm. Guest speakers include Susan Arness, Bridget Carter, Colleen Murray and Kate van der Meer. Sessions are tailored for both beginners and the avid genealogist.

There will also be vendors and our popular used book sale of genealogy and local history books!

Tickets are $25 per person. Spots are limited. Register online here: https://bit.ly/4bLtwEi or come into the Norfolk County Archives during our operating hours and buy your ticket in-person. We hope to see you there!

Registration is NOW open for the 6th Annual Norfolk County Genealogy Symposium!

We have a value-packed afternoon for you on Saturday, September 19th from 12 pm until 4:30pm. Guest speakers include Susan Arness, Bridget Carter, Colleen Murray and Kate van der Meer. More information is available on the Eventbrite page (link in bio or below). Sessions are tailored for both beginners and the avid genealogist.

There will also be vendors and our popular used book sale of genealogy and local history books!

Tickets are $25 per person. Spots are limited.

Register online: https://bit.ly/4bLtwEi or come into the Norfolk County Archives during our operating hours to buy your ticket in person. We hope to see you there!

Norfolk County Norfolk County Heritage & Culture

2026 Norfolk County Genealogy Symposium Norfolk County Archives' 6th Annual Genealogy Symposium has a value-packed afternoon for you on Saturday, September 19th from 12pm - 4:30pm.

Mark your calendars! We are making plans for our 6th Annual Genealogy Symposium! We have a great line-up of speakers including Colleen Murray, Kate van der Meer, and more! We will explore how to use Y-DNA to build your family tree and how to navigate Indigenous genealogy. Tickets are $25 per person and include all speakers, swag, and light refreshments. Tickets go on sale July 24th! Norfolk County

JUNE 9 - DEC 11 - Step into the shadows of Norfolk County and uncover its most enduring myths and legends that have shaped local folklore. From tales of buried treasure to whispers of witches and wandering spirits, this exhibit explores how such stories take root—and what they reveal about the people and places behind them. Unearth rare artifacts, photographs, and archival material that reveal how truth and myth intertwine in this NEW exhibit at Norfolk County Archives (109 Norfolk St. S.) from June 9 - December 11, 2026.