Migration Pathways Between Canada and the United States You Haven’t Considered
Length: 60 minutes
Summary: Migration between Canada and the U.S. wasn’t always a straightforward process. Explore lesser-known cross-border movements, from New England Planters to Black Loyalists, lumber workers, and Depression-era families, and learn how to track them through records in both countries. Develop practical strategies to uncover hidden migration stories in your family tree.
Outline:
Migration between Canada and the United States was far more complex than a one-way journey north or south. Families crossed the border repeatedly, drawn by opportunities, community, and survival. This webinar explores four lesser-known migration pathways that genealogists often overlook.
We begin with the New England Planters, who settled in Nova Scotia after the Acadian expulsion, with some later returning to New England or moving elsewhere in the Maritimes. Next, trace Black migration, from Loyalists and Underground Railroad refugees to 20th-century workers commuting daily between Windsor and Detroit. The session then turns to industrial labourers who worked seasonally in lumber, mining, fishing, or in factories, leaving behind valuable records in both countries. Finally, we examine Depression-era relocations, when Prairie families sought survival in the U.S. Midwest and Americans looked north to Canadian farmland.
Throughout, detailed examples demonstrate research strategies and highlight the records that document these movements.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Recognize overlooked migration patterns across the border.
- Identify the key records generated by each pathway.
- Use maps, timelines, and FAN methodology to trace families.
- Correlate records across Canada and the U.S. to prove identity.
- Overcome challenges such as surname variations, missing records, and boundary changes.
Book This Webinar NOW!
Click HERE to have me present this webinar either through your group’s virtual meeting platform or my StreamYard platform. Includes 45-50 minutes of instruction plus 10-15 Q&A session, PDF handout and a limited time (one year) webinar recording.
