In Requiem: Ken Aitken

Kenneth G. Aitken, a popular genealogy speaker, educator, and blogger in western Canada, has passed away. Many people read his "Genealogy Education" blog in which he offered all sorts of advice as a long-time genealogist and educator.

Ken held a BA in Linguistics and a Master of Library Science degree from the University of British Columbia. He also was involved in course work in local and family history with Brigham Young University and the University of British Columbia. He was the Director of Student Recruitment for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, a distance learning institution affiliated with the University of Toronto.

A member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists, Ken was a professional genealogist for more than 25 years, as well as a genealogy librarian for over 20 years and an adult educator for more than 40 years. He was the charter president of the Hambrook Family History Society and served for 15 years as editor of that society's journal. With the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society he served as a branch chairman, a director, and second vice-president.

Ken Aitken also wrote articles that appeared in genealogical and family history journals plus other scholarly journals in Canada, Australia, the U.S. and England. He was a popular speaker at numerous conferences, seminars, and workshops.

You can read Ken Aitken's obituary on his blog at http://www.genealogy-education.com.

Comments

[Henry Z ("Hank") Jones, Jr., FASG]

I was very sorry to hear of Ken Aitken's passing. I first met him in Saskatoon a few years ago when we both spoke at a conference of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society. I was most impressed not only with his great knowledge of all-things-genealogical, but also with the fire and passion he had for our mutual addiction: it just flowed out of him! Ken had a wonderful vision of where our community of family historians should go and was tireless in his efforts trying to get us to that better place. He will be greatly missed.

[J. Brian Gilchrist]

With the death of Ken Aitken, Canada's has lost another prominent genealogical leader - just a few short months following the death of Ryan Taylor. Ken's enthusiasm was infectious. We had great conversations at various gatherings over the years. We shared concerns over how to continue educating the next generation of genealogists, especially in trying to encourage people to become more savvy in using the amazing variety of resources that are waiting to be found in archives and also to encourage familiarity with previously published materials in libraries that are often being ignored, and under-utilized. As he is now numbered with The Saints and all those who have gone before, he now has the answers to all his genealogical problems. "Rest Eternal grant unto him, O Lord, and may Light Perpetual shine upon him". J. Brian Gilchrist, Toronto, Ontario.