About Us

Our History

In 1978 a small ambitious group of Medicine Hat family researchers decided to establish an Alberta Genealogical Society Branch.

Over the years our library/meeting room has been at various locations. The Multi Cultural Folk Arts Centre, now the site of the downtown post office, was our home for seven years from 1995-2002. Our shelves and cabinets of materials were crammed into two small rooms off of the large central meeting area.

On November 13, 2002, members packed everything and moved to our present location in Hillside Monumental (Pattison) across from the Hillside Cemetery entrance. Thanks to the Martins this has been our home for the last ten years.

The last fifteen years have been marked by significant changes in genealogical research. Computers and the internet have become major tools used by genealogists. In 1998, a Community Lottery Grant was used to purchase a badly needed desktop computer to replace an old laptop. The new computer was needed for databases of our library holdings, obituary indexes, and cemetery records. It was also useful for teaching research methods.

Thanks to the enlarged space at our present location, library resources and equipment have been dramatically increased. Fern Muirhead and now Faye Knoblick have worked long hours to organize the materials. Along with more books, periodicals, and other research materials, desktop and laptop computers with an LCD projector and two screens have been obtained for research and programs. AGLC Casino funds have helped pay for expenses. Helene Paquin and Kathy Gleisner have been instrumental in obtaining Casino revenue.

Donations from our Branch have helped the Medicine Hat Public Library – microfilm scanner/reader purchase, and the Medicine Hat & District Germans from Russia Society – Esplanade statue dedicated to immigrant pioneer settlers in Western Canada.

In 2010, AGS Genfair hosted by the Medicine Hat and Brooks Branches with the help of Archives staff was held at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre.

To promote the Society, open houses, workshops, and displays – Canada Day and Heritage Festival have been valuable. Funds have been raised through bake sales, garage sales, raffles, donations, query researches, and the casino.

Thanks to Branch members, Earl Morris and Leanne Balfour, who have made noteworthy changes to our website and newsletter; Shannon Cairns and Clarence Janke for leading query researches; Merv and Barb Hamblin for providing the lunches; and Teresa Parasynchuk for membership/publicity.

AGS & MH Branch 25-year members include Ruby Engler, Marge Ensminger, Grace Roth, Betty Padfield, Brian Klein, Edna McKelvie, Edie Pinder, Richard McNeill, and Teresa Parasynchuk.

Presently Branch members are engaged in projects involving district cemetery updates and Medicine Hat News obituaries-past and present. Marge Ensminger, Eileen Stahl, and Uwe Krickhahn have spent many hours on these projects.

Thanks to the many Branch members that have volunteered their time over the years to Medicine Hat & District Branch, AGS.