Where did it all begin? It was not in Etobicoke as would be logical to think, nor was it in Toronto, but in the City of Mississauga.

J. Brian Gilchrist, an internationally respected genealogical authority, who is the founder of the Etobicoke Genealogy Group (EGG), has been teaching and lecturing on the subject since 1974. Sometime before 1981 he was a Night School Instructor at T. L. Kennedy Secondary School in Mississauga. It was there that he met the nucleus of the group of students who were to follow him when he transferred the classes to Kingsmill Secondary School on Royal York Road.

Brian taught family history courses at Kingsmill for up to three nights a week, and often for 24 weeks a year teaching hundreds of students from around the GTA.

Some of the more seasoned and experienced students, many of whom had become great friends as a result of attending the classes, wanted to gather socially and yet still discuss genealogical topics. Subsequently Brian called a meeting of his alumni and the Etobicoke Genealogy Group held its inaugural gathering at Kingsmill on May 7, 1986.

Meetings are informative, and there is always lots of time for discussion either on the subject of the evening, or family history in general. If one person does not know the answer, someone else will probably be able to guide you.

Meetings are held at The Etobicoke Civic Centre at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd Thursday of each month.

There is no membership fee, but a pay-what-you-can policy ($1 is recommended) is in effect at each meeting. See you soon!