History of Wellington County Branch, Ontario Ancestors (OA)
The Waterloo-Wellington Branch of Ontario Ancestors (The Ontario Genealogical Society), which served Waterloo and Wellington counties, was formed by Eldon Weber and Jacqueline Norris in 1972. In 1991 the Branch began a review with the objective of enhancing its ability to serve the regional territory covered by the Branch by electing two vice chairs – one for Waterloo and one for Wellington. As a result, meetings were held in Guelph at the Orange Lodge on Waterloo Avenue on a regular basis and several of the committees, such as the Cemetery Recording, Church Records and Branch Library, started dividing the work. By 1997 when the Waterloo-Wellington Branch was celebrating its 25th Anniversary, it was decided to divide into two separate branches. By 2000 all the assets had been divided and Wellington applied to OGS to become a separate Branch. This was granted in September 2000. The Wellington County Branch of the Ontario Ancestors was officially granted its Charter on January 1, 2001.
The Charter was officially presented to the Branch in a ceremony held 24 April 2001. Pictured below is Ken Bird, 2001 OGS President, presenting the Charter to Elinor Knight, Region III Director, and Jack Knight, the Chair of the newly formed Wellington County Branch.
Fifteen years later, the Wellington County Branch is still thriving. The photo below taken at the 2015 Ontario Genealogical Society Conference shows Alan Campbell, the Past President of the OGS, presenting our Branch Chair, Jan Salsberg, with a certificate honouring the Branch for 15 Years of Service.
Branch Council – Through the Years
A special thank you goes out to the following men and women who have served over the years on the Wellington County Branch Council. Thanks to their hard work we have many valuable genealogical materials at our disposal today.
Chair
- Jan Salsberg, 2017-present
- Jacquie Norris, 2010, 2015
- Catherine Pacey, 2011-2013
- Jim Deverell, 2009
- Jack Burns, 2009
- Ronald Walsh, 2007- 2008
- Vacant, 2004-2006
- Jack Knight, 2001-2003
Vice-Chair
- Sharie Aspden 2020-2022
- Laura Inglis, 2013-2014
- Jim Deverell, 2009
- Jack Burns, 2008
- Jacquie Norris, 2001-2002
Secretary
- Shirley Hutton, 2021-present
- Phyllis Carnochan, 2018-2020
- Sheila Watt, 2013-2014
- Diane Gilbertson, 2012-2014
- Yvonne Robertson, 2007-2011
- Elizabeth Larabee, 2001-2003
Treasurer
- Lana Reece, 2018-present
- Phyllis Carnochan, 2010-2017
- Sylvia Jane Rigby, 2001-2009
Awards
- Jacquie Norris, 2010-2012
- Dale Lahey, 2011
Cemeteries
- Pat Pletch, 2001-2010
Computer Resources
- Jack Knight, 2001-2007
DNA-SIG
- Terry Maurice, 2017-2021
Hospitality
- Elinor Knight, 2007
- Donna Speers, 2001-2002
Indexing
- Elinor Knight, 2001-2005
- Jacquie Norris, 2002-2005
Inquiries/Research
- Earl Mead, 2019-present
- Jennifer Thackwray, 2017-2018
- Penny Cleeves, 2007-2008
- Elinor Knight, 2002-2006
- Bill McKinnie, 2001
- Perry Cockburn, 2001
Library
- Jan Salsberg, 2016-present
- Bill McKinney, 2008-2015
- Bev Niven, 2012
- Bill Pipes, 2003-2007
- Elinor Knight, 2001-2002
- Donna Speers, 2001-2002
Members at Large
- Susan Arness, 2023
- Phyllis Carnochan, 2021
- Beverly Hunter, 2020
- Judith Hayman, 2020-2022
- David Hayman, 2018-2019
- Elinor Knigh, 2008-2009
- Bob McEachern, 2006-2017
- Jacquie Norris, 2002-2019
Membership
- Shirley Hutton, 2021-present
- Beverly Hunter, 2020
- David Hayman, 2018-2020
- Susan Leitch, 2007-2018
- Sue Visser, 2004-2006
- Kasey Mitchell, 2001- 2003
Photographer
- Earl Mead, 2019-present
- Jim Deverell, 2013-2018
Program
- Julia Loncke, 2020-2022
- Susan Edwards, 2015-2016
- Susan Edwards, 2003-2012
Projects Coordinator
- Phyllis Carnochan, 2016-present
Publications & Sales
- Lana Reece, 2023
- Sharie Aspden, 2021-2022
- Stephen Bowley, 2007-present
- Perry Cockburn, 2001-2002
Publicity
- Julia Loncke, 2019-2022
- Susan Edwards, 2015-2018
- David Chapman, 2014-2014
- Joan Maynard, 2012
- Margaret Finnigan, 2011
- Dawn Pembleton, 2010
- Laura McKay, 2007-2009
- Sue Visser, 2006-2006
- Mary Hurst, 2001-2004
Scrap Book
- Thelma Hornberger, 2015-2017
- Catherine Taylor, 2011-2014
Strays
- Dale Lahey, 2001 – 2001
Traces & Tracks Editor
- Joan Maynard, 2020-present
- Judith Hayman, 2017-2019
- Yvonne Robertson, 2013-2014
- Phyllis Carnochan, 2012
- David MacLachlan, 2008-2011
- Stephen Bowley, 2004-2007
- Dale Lahey, 2001-2003
Website
- Graham Burt, 2021-present
Welcoming
- Thelma Hornberger, 2010-2011
- Penny Cleeves, 2001 – 2002