Each Learning From Members Class (formerly known as Intermediate Genealogy Class) will take an in-depth look at a record group focusing on the origins of the records, the information provided by the records, their importance to genealogy research, and ways to access the records both online and off.
- 2nd Tuesday of the month (except December)
- In-person: City of Carlsbad Faraday Administration Building in Room 173B
- Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
- Virtual via Zoom: Registration link below
- Presentation: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- All meetings will be hybrid (in-person and virtual)
- Presentation recordings are available to current NSDCGS members
Upcoming Speakers & Events
February 10, 2026
The Remaking of Nova Scotia by the New England Planters presented by Colin Whitney
Colin Whitney will present in person
Presentation will be recorded; available indefinitely
Virtual attendees – registration available later
The first permanent European settlement in Nova Scotia was established in 1605, when French colonists, led by Samuel de Champlain, founded Port Royal in what is now the Annapolis Valley. From that moment forward, Nova Scotia became a focal point in the prolonged imperial struggle between France and Britain that lasted for more than 150 years. The contest for control of the region dominated the first century of this conflict and played a crucial role in shaping the future of Canada.
This presentation begins with a brief overview of the Anglo-French struggle for Canada, culminating in France’s eventual cession of its territories to Britain. It then turns to the challenges faced by the British government as it sought to transform Nova Scotia from a French Catholic colony into a firmly British and Protestant one, loyal to the Crown.
A pivotal policy decision in this transformation was the removal of the French Acadian population who refused to swear unconditional allegiance to Britain. Their expulsion left uninhabited land which could be occupied by the loyal, non-Catholic New England Planters. These settlers, arriving primarily in the 1760s,
fundamentally reshaped the cultural, economic, and political landscape of Nova Scotia. Later waves of migration, including the British Loyalists following the American Revolution and subsequent Scottish immigration cemented Loyalty to Britain.
We will discuss the resources available for discovering Nova Scotia’s genealogical records. These include the main repositories and informational websites as well as search sites providing access to online records. The talk will conclude with a personal case study drawn from my wife’s ancestry, illustrating how the histories of expelled or displaced Acadians and incoming New England Planters can intersect within a single family narrative.
Colin Whitney was born and raised outside London, England. In 1962 he emigrated to the United States, earning a doctorate and professorship in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His career in the aerospace industry brought him to California in the 1970s where he retired as a technical director.
Finding his step grandmother’s DAR application sparked his interest in genealogy which has become a major preoccupation for him. He is a member of the North San Diego Genealogical Society, a Board member of the San Diego Genealogical Society, Chair of the California Pioneer Certificate Program and a
member of other genealogical societies in the United States, England and Ireland.
Past Topics
2026
- January: Genealogy is Religion and Politics presented by Bill Graham
2025
- January: Genealogy is History. Linking your Family with History presented by Bill Graham
- February: Fun with Maps presented by Jennifer Anklesaria
- March: Researching English Locations: Did My Family Really Move That Much?
presented by Cynde Durnford-Branecki - April: Four Ways to Access Digital Images on Family Search presented by Mary Van Orsdol
- May: What we learned at the Family Search Library in Salt Lake City presented by Mary Millet, Karen Nelson, Justine Wenman and others
- June: What’s New at the Library presented by Carlsbad Library Staff
- July: California Pioneer Certificate Program presented by Colin Whitney
- August: Infectious diseases influenced who became our ancestors presented by Stephen M. Baird, M.D.
- September: Reading German Script presented by Vicki May
- October: Unknown Parentage: Roadblocks & Successes presented by Britta Brewer
- November: Citing Sources in the Ever-Changing Digital Environment presented by Mary Van Orsdol
2024
- January: Age of Immigration, Part II presented by Tom Cousineau
- February: Think outside the Box presented by Mary Van Orsdol
- March: Family Tree Maker presented by Cynde Durnford-Branecki
- April: Going Paperless presented by Mary Van Orsdol
- May: Exploring Human Traits and DNA presented by Ron Velarde
- June: Showcase Your Heirlooms presented by Jennifer Anklesaria
- July: Exploring the SLC Family Search Center presented by 2024 SLC Trip Attendees
- August: Exploring the Newly Released Features for the Family Search Website presented by Colin Whitney
- September: Get to Know the Genealogy & Carlsbad History Division at the Georgina Cole Library presented by Library Staff Members
- October: Stumble-Bumbling through AI for Genealogists presented by Mary Van Orsdol
- November: Early California History and the California Pioneer Certificate Program presented by Colin Whitney