Upcoming Events
Writers Group
The Writers Group is a self directed group of writers who meet to critique and encourage each other's work. If you're working on your memoirs, an article ... ...Read More...August 2026 TIG Meeting - Linda Debe - Genealogy in the Digital Age: Leveraging Free Tools to Work Smarter, Not Harder
For the first TIG meeting in the 2026-27 cycle, we will welcome Linda Debe. Her presentation is Genealogy in the Digital Age: Leveraging Free Tools to Work... ...Read More...Writers Group
The Writers Group is a self directed group of writers who meet to critique and encourage each other's work. If you're working on your memoirs, an article ... ...Read More...September 2026 DNA Interest Group - Dr. Adina Newman - DNA Endogamy: Making Sense When Your DNA Matches Don't Make Sense
Does your family tree resemble a tumbleweed? Do you have thousands upon thousands of DNA matches that make no sense? DNA matches that don't show up for your par... ...Read More...September 2026 General Meeting - Joyce Thompson-Hovey - The Martyr and the Traitor
During the American Revolution, two young Connecticut men were hanged. One was by the British and the other one by colonists. The first one you woul... ...Read More...Writers Group
The Writers Group is a self directed group of writers who meet to critique and encourage each other's work. If you're working on your memoirs, an article ... ...Read More...Oh Canada!
Applying for Citizenship in Canada
If your parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent was born in Canada, you may already be a Canadian citizen. Canada’s new citizenship law — Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act — has permanently removed the first-generation limit that previously prevented Canadian citizenship from passing beyond one generation born outside Canada. For Americans with Canadian ancestry, the implications are enormous.
Millions of Americans have Canadian roots. The historical ties between the two countries run deep: waves of Canadian emigration to the United States occurred throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, including large numbers of French Canadians who settled in New England, Maritimers who moved to the Boston area, and families from across the Canadian provinces who relocated for work in cities like Detroit, Buffalo, Seattle, and beyond.
Until now, many of these families were cut off from Canadian citizenship by rules that were rigid, arbitrary, and often discriminatory. Bill C-3 has changed that. Many of these individuals are part of a group known as “Lost Canadians” — people with legitimate Canadian ancestry whose citizenship was never recognized or was stripped away by outdated laws. If you are an American with a Canadian parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or even more distant Canadian ancestor, you may already qualify for Canadian citizenship by descent — and you may have been a Canadian citizen your entire life without knowing it.
Key Takeaway for Americans
Canadian citizenship by descent under Bill C-3 is automatic and retroactive for people born before the law came into force. You do not need to apply for a “grant” of citizenship. If you qualify, you are already a Canadian citizen — you simply need to apply for proof of citizenship (a citizenship certificate). There is no deadline to apply.
Webinar on Canadian Citizenship by Descent
Kathryn Lake Hogan presenting a special live webinar next week that may be of interest to you.
The webinar is titled Lost Canadians and Citizenship by Descent: Understanding Eligibility, Proving Your Claim, and Navigating the Process.
This is a timely topic that explores Canadian citizenship by descent, the Lost Canadians issue, major changes to citizenship law, and the records required to support a claim. It may be especially relevant for members researching cross-border Canadian families.
The webinar will be held live on Tuesday, June 30 at 8:00 pm ET.
Registration details can be found here:
https://www.looking4ancestors.
Finger Lakes Region Genealogy/History Trail
The Finger Lakes region is full of significant historical and genealogical sites. RGS Past-President Eric Vaughn has prepared a series of places to visit over the next year. We will be featuring a new site each week. See how many you can visit!
Week 15 Stop on the Finger Lakes Region Genealogy/History Trail
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery – Rochester, New York
Location: 2461 Lake Avenue, Rochester, NY 14612
Website: https://holysepulchre.org
Phone: (585) 458-0045
Discover one of the largest and most historically significant cemeteries in New York State! Established in 1871, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery has served as a place of remembrance for generations of families throughout Rochester, Monroe County, and beyond. For genealogists and family historians, it is a valuable resource for uncovering family connections, burial information, and local history.
Cemetery Highlight
Spanning more than 330 acres, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery is the final resting place of over 300,000 individuals and contains a remarkable collection of monuments, mausoleums, memorials, and historic sections that reflect the rich heritage of the Rochester region.
What You'll Find:
- Burial locations for more than 300,000 individuals
- Historic family plots and monuments dating back to the 19th century Veterans' sections and memorials honoring military service
- Mausoleums, chapels, and beautifully landscaped grounds
- Graves of notable Rochester residents, religious leaders, business figures, and community members
- Opportunities to connect burial information with church, census, obituary, and probate records
Research-Friendly Features
Visitors can use a computer located in the Main Office vestibule to search for burial locations and information about individuals interred within the cemetery.
The same search feature is also available online, allowing researchers to locate graves and gather burial information before or after their visit from anyplace you have internet access.
For family historians, cemetery records can provide valuable clues including birth and death dates, family relationships, military service, religious affiliations, and migration patterns. A visit to Holy Sepulchre often helps connect generations and uncover previously unknown family stories.
Beyond genealogy, the cemetery offers a unique opportunity to explore Rochester's history through the lives of those who helped shape the community over the past 150 years.
Whether you are searching for ancestors, documenting family connections, or exploring Rochester's rich history, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery is an essential stop on the Finger Lakes Region Genealogy/History Trail.
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