History of the Grande Prairie & District Branch
Organizing Committee (1977-1978)
Interest in forming a genealogy society in Grande Prairie led to the creation of an organizing committee tasked with establishing a local branch of the Alberta Genealogical Society. The committee submitted a letter of intent in January 1978 and worked to organize the new Branch. Their planning and commitment laid the foundation for what would become the Grande Prairie & District Branch.
- Carol Thomson
- Jim Mason
- Charlotte Jones
- Marie Matkin
On February 28, 1978, the Grande Prairie & District Branch received its Charter from the Alberta Genealogical Society with an initial membership of 33 members.
Founding Executive (1978)
Upon receiving its Charter on February 28, 1978, the Branch elected its first executive:
| President |
Carol Thomson |
| Vice-President |
Jim Mason |
| Secretary |
Laura Turnbull |
| Treasurer |
Merna Wilson |
| Membership Secretary |
Paulette Hrychiw |
| Librarian |
Freddie Jones |
It took ten years for the group to find a permanent location for a meeting place until a partnership with the Grande Prairie Public Library was established. This became the location for our meetings and our library collection.
A newsletter, Heritage Seekers, was launched that spring to provide information about meetings, conferences, research, websites and tips to the members. Heritage Seekers had been published continuously four times a year and provided members with a platform to write and share their research stories.
Grande Prairie Branch has always supported the provincial body of the Alberta Genealogical Society, and had the pleasure of hosting the Alberta Genealogical Society’s AGM and conference in 1982 and again in 2003.
Through the years we provided research and education to the public through our Family History Day, “Genies in the Library” Program 
, and recognize the “Clan of the Day” at the Highland Games by presenting them with their family history. These programs and activities are continually evolving to meet the needs of the members and the community.
The Grande Prairie & District Branch established the Margaret Kay Scholarship to remember our friend and fellow member. Margaret was an enthusiastic supporter of our Branch. A teacher by profession, she generously shared her knowledge and was a willing volunteer at both the Branch and Provincial levels. The scholarship for genealogy fosters Margaret’s spirit of learning, teaching and sharing genealogical knowledge, specifically as a family historian hobbyist.
Grande Prairie & District Branch is fortunate to have so many dedicated and long term members who continue to meet the challenges of the changing world of genealogy and who passionately share their knowledge.