Why?
Everyone should have a chance to know where they come from; how they got to be who they are, and part of that journey is genetic. My own family tree has branches and leaves dipped in ink … my father, my grandfather, a couple of great-grand uncles, and a 5th great-grandfather were all involved in printing, writing and publishing – and it’s those very genes that have guided the direction of my generation … my brother works in the printing industry and … well … you already know what I do.
Frankly, I’m fascinated by history, and particularly genealogy. At first it was just the thrill of the hunt that spurred my research; simply recording births and deaths that dated back centuries; my tree ‘branches’ back to the 1700s. But after the initial satisfaction of finding when my ancestors lived and died … it was the story of their lives that continued to fuel my quest. It still does.
Where did I find these stories?
Libraries and archives are filled with past editions of local newspapers, magazines and journals. Inside those pages is the history of our ancestors. Some of the stories reach directly into their lives to tell tales of who they were, what they did, and sometimes why they did it. When I read my first published quote from an ancestor, it gave me goose-bumps. Through the pages of print that survived centuries, I heard my 5th great-grandfather speak. Wow! What a thrill.
Each month, EyesOnBC Magazine and The Beacon Magazine continue to chronicle our community and the people who live here. We publish stories that will ‘speak’ to future generations; stories about people just like you. Copies of The Beacon are submitted to the National Library in Ottawa each month, where it is archived, indexed and will be accessible to future generations. It's an important legacy that we're proud to help create.
EyesOnBC Magazine and The Beacon Magazine. We tell stories. Your stories.
For archived editions of The Beacon ... go here
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