Kelley O’Rourke and Margot Heron at CIMPN’s inaugural genealogy workshop, Getting Started with Family History, held for the St. Veronica Seniors’ Club in Dorval on September 4, 2026. Photo: Evita-Marie Di Falco.
On Friday, September 4, 2026, CIMPN President Kelley O’Rourke presented Getting Started with Family History, a beginner genealogy workshop for the St. Veronica Seniors’ Club at the Sarto-Desnoyers Community Center in Dorval. The workshop was made possible in part through the financial support of the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Québécois d’expression anglaise (SRQEA) as part of the project Preserving & Showcasing Irish Heritage in Quebec.
The event was organized by Margot Heron of the St. Veronica community, and participants gathered for lunch before the presentation began. CIMPN was also pleased to welcome special guest Enrico Ciccone, Member for Marquette in the National Assembly of Quebec and Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Energy and Natural Resources.
The workshop introduced participants to the basic methods and tools of family-history research. Its central message was simple: start with what you know, question what you find, and cross-reference the evidence. Participants were also introduced to newer research tools, including artificial intelligence.
Margaret Lowe’s family history provided the workshop’s main case study. Margaret had won a draw among members of the St. Veronica Seniors’ Club to have part of her family history researched for the presentation. At the close of the workshop, participants received practical handouts, including research shortcuts, reference sheets and keys for reading historical records.
The Dorval workshop marked the launch of CIMPN’s genealogy research services and workshop program. Information about these new services and future workshops will be available on the CIMPN website shortly.