Senior Academy

How to Build and Share Our Family Memories

Lecture series

Preserve your family’s legacy with our online program! Rediscover cherished memories, learn digital skills, and empower seniors to share their rich heritage. Expert-led, self-directed modules make it accessible to all. Join the journey of reminiscing, connecting generations, and creating a lasting legacy!

 

	1. Introduction to Family History Research Lecturer: Zsofia Heeger Date: November 21, 2023. 10 AM (EST) What is genealogy, and how can you become a family researcher? When you want to tell your family’s history, the most important thing is to collect everything that you already have. You are likely to have family documents, and you probably know at least the names of your parents and grandparents – this is a good starting point. As a first step, you have to collect as much data as possible – ask your siblings, cousins, and contact your family members, probably they not only have more details of your ancestors, but they might have even already started to research the past of your family. Once you have collected everything, you can define the direction of your research. There are many possibilities! I’ll guide you through them.
	2. Collecting and arranging data Lecturer: Zsofia Heeger Date: November 21, 2023. 12 PM (EST) Once we have defined the direction of our research, we can jump into the online databases, to find the data we need to complete our family history. We will explore all the possibilities. Online resources can be very useful, but there are also some traps one you should avoid.Once you have all the data you need, you can draw a family tree, and even upload it to an online database. But what should your tree contain? What are the crucial data? How much can you go into details? When you write down your family history, how can you make it more readable, and not just present a simple collection of raw data? I will guide you through the way to do that.
	3. How can We improve our mental health during the research and create our memorial? Lecturer: Tamar Fodor Date: November 23, 2023. 10 AM (EST) Looking through the past is not easy… We might get overly stressed, face burnout, or encounter unprocessed trauma. This presentation focuses on enhancing resilience as we confront challenging family memories. We’ll explore the comprehensive framework of resilience, encompassing mental, emotional, physical, and social dimensions. Additionally, we will delve into the practice of mindfulness to fortify our coping mechanisms.
	4. How Can I Digitize My Memories? Lecturer: Csaba Kurti Date: November 23, 2023. 12 PM (EST) Join us as we unlock the secrets of archiving! Immerse yourself in the art of digitizing photographs, films, audio, and tangible memories from the comfort of your own home, and conduct interviews with relatives like pros. Transforming fading memories into everlasting snapshots that encapsulate the rich tapestry of your personal history.
	5. DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy. Lecturer: Agnes Szego Date: November 28, 2023. 10 AM (EST) Explore the mysteries encoded in our DNA and unravel the secrets of our ancestry. In this concise lecture, delve into the fundamentals of chromosomes, genes, and inheritance, shedding light on the role of DNA tests from companies like 23andMe, My Heritage, FamilyTreeDNA, and Ancestry. Uncover the significance of autosomal, Y, and mitochondrial-haploid group tests, as well as the intriguing world of autosomal marriages. Discover the profound impact of genetic testing on solving criminal cases and answering personal questions about identity, parentage, and health predispositions. Join us on a fascinating journey into the stories written in our genes.
	6. Genealogy and genetics Lecturer: Gabor Balogh Date: November 28, 2023. 12 PM (EST) Genetic genealogy employs three crucial chromosome tests: YDNA traces paternal lines, mtDNA aids in family tree research, and autosomal DNA complicates inheritance due to cousin marriages. The Y chromosome leads to “Y-chromosome Adam” 236,000 years ago, while mtDNA traces back to “mitochondrial Eve.” Autosomal DNA, though complex, reveals European ancestry connections around 1200 AD. MyTrueAncestry uniquely compares DNA to ancient samples, providing genetic similarity results and identifying ancient relatives, likely our ancestors, from over 85 civilizations.
	7. Set the Goal, Raise Your Self-Motivation Lecturer: Zita Panyi Dr. Abraham Date: November 30, 2023. 10 AM (EST) Clarity – get clear on your goals, why do you want to do it. Commitment – Motivation is what gets you started. Commitment is what keeps you going. Capability – you might need new skills, face old limiting beliefs, join new groups, and meet new people.Consistency – Harness the power of consistency through the law of inertia, tiny habits, and efficient time management to achieve your goals and maintain focus, letting go of distractions.
	8. Essential elements of writing your memoir/family history Lecturer: Susan Bauman Date: November 30, 2023. 12 PM (EST) This lecture centres on the steps to follow to write a compelling story that others will want to read. Essential elements covered include: selecting events to include (and exclude), organizing the anecdotes you want to tell, and storytelling techniques (and what to avoid). How you tell your story is as important as what you choose to tell and what you leave out. Honesty is key! We will use a selection of case studies, both successful and unsuccessful, to illustrate the necessary steps in creating your story.
	9. Connecting Generations: 10 Tips for Effective Communication with Seniors Lecturer: Janice Goldmintz Date: December 5, 2023. 10 AM (EST) We delve into the vital subject of enhancing communication between family members and our beloved older adults. As our society ages, it becomes increasingly essential to bridge generational gaps, ensuring that our seniors feel valued, heard, and connected within our families. In an era of rapid technological change and shifting family dynamics, finding effective ways to connect with our older loved ones is essential for maintaining strong and meaningful relationships. Using empathy and practical techniques, we will discover how we can facilitate the creation of a life’s legacy through conversation and engagement with our older family members. What an amazing opportunity to be able to pass along wisdom, memories and our history to future generations.
	10. “What the law says in Canada” own family information shared in a book, social media Lecturer: Zita Panyi Dr. Abraham Date: December 5, 2023. 12 PM (EST) The law aims to guide interactions and foster a harmonious society, emphasizing the principle of “do no harm.” Legal concerns arise with invasive research or sharing results, necessitating adherence to Privacy, Defamation, and Copyright Laws. This involves aspects like informed consent, respecting privacy, and distinguishing opinions from facts. Ethical considerations go beyond legality, stressing the importance of respecting individuals’ wishes and rights for healthy relationships. Open communication is key to addressing concerns when sharing information with relatives.
	11. Family History Research in a real life Lecturer: Miki Grosz Date: December 12, 2023. 10 AM (EST) Join my presentation as I delve into the essential questions surrounding family history writing. Explore the motivations behind documenting your family’s legacy, including the significance of timing and the advantages of investing in a hard copy-bound format through self-publishing. Discover hidden benefits that may not have crossed your mind. Drawing from personal experience, I’ll share insights into overcoming mixed thoughts and the impact of COVID on my decision to embark on this journey. The session includes a walkthrough of the book’s core and strategies for maintaining it as a living document through continuous family contributions. If these questions resonate with you, this session is a valuable opportunity to gain insights and inspiration.
	12. How I Became a Personal Storyographer. Lecturer: Toba Sheryl Lavine, APR Date: December 12, 2023. 12 PM (EST) Whether you’re interested in helping other people preserve their life stories or are determined to save your own stories on video, this session will be filled with sharing. I’ll share thoughts about the value of leaving a legacy through life stories on video. I’ll share my own journey to become a personal storyographer, and my tips along the way. I’ll share the various steps I follow on my projects to ensure valuable content and good quality, presented in a way to keep viewers interested. I’ll even share my learnings about the value of hiring a professional personal storyographer to produce a life story on video. Of course, I’ll share a favourite life story or two.
	13. Holding Onto Our Memories While Downsizing: How do we part with our treasures? Lecturer: Elana Kleinman Date: December 14, 2023. 12 PM (EST) There are ways to let go of sentimental items without losing the memories of your loved ones and special moments in your life. This talk will offer practical tips for organizing and downsizing our homes. I will discuss the emotional and physical toll it takes to sort through a lifetime of possessions and memories. What you choose to discard is just as complicated a decision as what you choose to keep. I will discuss how to prioritize what to keep and provide various resources for discarding items. This journey of downsizing and decluttering offers you the opportunity to embark on a new chapter of life while preserving your precious memories.
	How have I progressed? Sharing, winning. Date: January 30, 2024. 10 AM (EST) Explore the path of progress in family history presentations with insights into successful endeavours during this session. Join us to witness compelling examples of effective family history presentations that have achieved significant milestones. The session will include a Q&A segment, providing you with the opportunity to glean valuable insights and strategies for your own journey. If you seek inspiration and practical tips on elevating your family history presentations, this is a must-attend session.
	Comming soon…
	Useful Techniques, Tips, and Traps I: Crafting Your Memoir Digitally Lecturer: Date:  Uncover the art of creating and editing your memoir in the digital age. From structuring your personal narrative to utilizing e-books and online platforms like Canva, Facebook, and Instagram, explore the tools that bring your memories to life. Delve into the world of archiving with platforms like Wix and WordPress, learning to navigate the vast landscape of webpages to showcase your unique story.
	Useful Techniques, Tips, and Traps II: Sharing Your Digital Heritage Lecturer: Date:  Explore the avenues for sharing your digital heritage with your family, community, archives, and social media. Learn how to transform your cherished memories into a book, bridging the gap between the digital and tangible. Discover effective strategies for preserving your legacy, connecting with your audience, and leaving a lasting impact on both your immediate circle and the broader community.