Hi everyone!
It's time to get to know another one of our wonderful WikiTreers. This week's member is Peggy Watkins.
Peggy became a Wiki Genealogist in August 2018. She is very active in leadership roles in our Canadian project and also participates in our England and Nordic projects.
When did you get interested in family history?
I was inspired to learn about my family history and local history from my dad. He was an avid historian and a great storyteller. In his retirement, he wrote a blog to record the family stories he knew so that his family would always have a record of that. I started researching in 2007 but took a break and returned to it when I discovered WikiTree.
What are some of your interests outside of genealogy?
I love to be creative; I draw, paint, collage and more. I enjoy walking in nature, riding my e-bike and travelling. This spring I have a couple of trips planned, the biggest is a trip to Scandinavia in June, a part of the world that has fascinated me for a long time.
What is your genealogical research focus?
Now that I have my main family profiles built, I spend my time improving those profiles and adding to my CC7 count. I also do a lot of work on the profiles of Notables, particularly those from British Columbia and the rest of Canada. I think it is important to recognize those people who made significant impacts on their communities (large and small). Being a part of the waves of newcomers to Canada, I find it interesting to learn about what brought people to this country and the hardships and triumphs they had here. I am also interested in helping to document the First Peoples of this land.
Are you are interested in certain locations?
As team lead of the British Columbia team, I spend a lot of time adding and improving profiles for this region. I also have two one-place studies of very small communities with particular significance to my family.
Do you have a favorite ancestor?
One of my favorite ancestors is Lavinia (Walker) Watkins who came to Canada from Ireland on her own as a teenager and eventually found herself in the Canadian Rockies. I admire the determination, perseverance and courage that would have taken. My dad told me stories about her so she does not seem so far in the past. Her family is also a brick wall and I would love to learn more about her branch of the family.
(interview continues in comments)