FAQ

MGS has considerable resources and expertise for learning about Métis ancestors, both in the MGS Resource Library and through use of our MGS Research Services.  However, we do not provide an official Métis genealogy to support application for membership in the Manitoba Metis Federation.  For an official metis genealogy interested individuals should seek assistance from the Centre du Patrimoine in St Boniface.

Centre du Patrimoine,
Société historique de Saint-Boniface
340, boulevard Provencher
Saint-Boniface, Manitoba R2H 0G7

Heritage Center
Historical Society of Saint-Boniface
340 Provencher Boulevard
Winnipeg, MB R2H 0G7

Visit Société historique de Saint-Boniface for further information.
Phone: (204) 233-4888

The Manitoba Genealogical Society is run by volunteers who work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Memberships are processed once a week on one of those days.

If you join MGS online, you pay through PayPal or credit card and you get immediate access to the membership area and the Manitoba Name Index (MANI).  You will get an immediate email with your online transaction details.  Your membership will still be processed on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

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Attending a MGS Webinar is a two-step process.

1. Purchase your ticket at Eventbrite.
2. Register to attend with ZOOM.

Purchase Your Ticket At Eventbrite.
Your purchase of a ticket gives us the information required to send you a ZOOM link so you can register for the webinar.

Register to attend with ZOOM.
When we send you the link to ZOOM, fill in the registration form as prompted, and you will be automatically given the link to join the meeting. If the workshop you signed up for is for more than one session, you will use the same link each week.

*You need to have ZOOM loaded on your device.
*You need to know your personal login information for ZOOM.

We often get inquiries about membership refunds.  In particular, people ask:  I became a member, searched and did not find any records.  Can I get a refund?

The MGS website homepage has a search box, and you can search for records before you become a member.  In addition, we have many records that copyright does not allow us to publish online.  These need to be searched in our Library/Resource Centre.  If you do not live in Winnipeg or the surrounding area, we have a $10 Research fee for a Single Name/Source Search.

Memberships are not refundable, nor are they transferrable.

Research Packages

The Manitoba Genealogical Society is run by volunteers who work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. All MGS business is taken care of on those days. Most queries are responded to within 7 days. If you have not received a response in one week, know that we are working on it. You are welcome to send another email or phone us at 204-783-9139. 

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There is no one “best” program.

Make sure any program you use allows you to make a GEDCOM file. This allows you to transfer all your data from one program to another. Eventually, most genealogists change programs. GEDCOM also allows you to upload your tree from your personal software choice to any of the online family tree services.

There are lots of programs that have a lot of great features. Some of the top genealogy programs, in alphabetical order:

Family Tree Builder: great free genealogy software
Family Historian: simple and effective popular program  RATED A+
Legacy Family Tree: really great reporting features, great source citations  RATED A+
Roots Magic: a very popular long-standing software amongst genealogists

I suggest that you look at the reports that the software you are choosing lets you print. Sharing our tree with family is usually of primary importance. What is your priority? Does your program choice let you do that?  The most important items that your chosen program should do well are to transfer images from one program to another, and let you record the sources of your information in the most detailed way possible.

Legacy Family Tree is a very detailed program and is widely used by professional genealogists because of its capability to record the most detailed information that you have found on your family.  Of course, the more detailed it is, the bigger the learning curve, but there are many videos on YouTube and lots of information in the Help section.  You don’t have to use all the features, but it is nice to have them.

Please do not use your Yahoo! email account with MGS. Emails from MGS do not go through to Yahoo! email accounts. Please use another email service to register with the Manitoba Genealogical Society. 

The MGS Library/Resource Centre is located in The Brick shopping plaza at 1045 St. James Street, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. You can park anywhere in the mall parking lot.

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Yes you can. For a $10 fee, you can use the Library/Resource Centre holdings for a full day.  Alternatively, for a $50 individual membership, you can have access for a whole year.  Click below to learn more about our holdings, hours of operations and more.

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You have two options:

1. You can bring a bag lunch and eat in our kitchen, or

2. You can visit one of the many restaurants surrounding MGS. We are in a strip mall with multiple restaurant options, and if you want to venture across the street, you will find McDonalds and other restaurants.