It’s getting close to two years since I published my latest book, Credentials for Genealogists: Proof of the Professional. I wrote it because I passionately care about genealogy as a profession and I can see its structure declining before my eyes. Things have changed a little since the book was launched in October 2018 and one good change came to my attention recently. It relates to Atlantic Canada.
When I was researching for the publication I found it very difficult to get information about the Genealogical Institute of the Maritimes (GIM). This accrediting body was founded in 1983 and it provides credentials for genealogists conducting research in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. A few years ago its online presence consisted of an add-on to the website of the Nova Scotia Genealogy Network Association. It contained a few static pages and gave no contact details for those it accredited.
Recently I was asked to recommend a genealogist in Canada, without geographical specifics. There are two accrediting organisations within Canada, GIM and the Bureau québécois d’attestation de compétence en généalogie (BQACG), which only covers the province of Quebec. When I looked for the GIM web pages they were gone! I was afraid that the organisation had imploded, but when I searched for ‘Genealogical Institute of the Maritimes’ up came its new website.
The first thing I noticed was an excellent YouTube introduction to the organisation’s background and history by Allan Marble, one of its founding members. This new website has a list of GIM Members naming all genealogists, past and present, who have been granted credentials. Separately, it has lists of certified researchers currently active, arranged by province and with contact details. It was a pleasant surprise to see that GIM has been reinvigorated. Though it is one of the smaller accrediting organisations, it serves a very useful purpose for an area of the east coast of North America through which many Irish, English and Scottish migrated. Ireland’s cod fishing connections with the area, dating from the eighteenth century, are well known.
Incidentally, Credentials for Genealogists: Proof of the Professional [2nd edition] is available to order by following the link here: Books Written by Paul Gorry. Getting back to Canada, I wish long life and prosperity to GIM.