WHAT WE DO
Our Story
We’re a service company dedicated to providing expert genealogy research with a personal touch.
We understand that the stories of your ancestors are a vital part of your family’s unique history. That’s why we’re committed to helping you discover the past and connect with your roots. Plus, we offer a service to create digital reproductions of cherished vintage photographs and 35mm slides.
How it all began!
“Who Nit Ya!” was a phrase I used to hear quite a bit back home. It’s a friendly way to ask about someone’s background, like their family and where they live. I think it’s a fitting name for genealogy, don’t you? As we uncover who our ancestors are and how they helped shape our lives through their family and friends. The communities they lived in and how they made a living providing for their families.
My family history journey started in 1990, right after my dad passed away. Growing up and into adulthood, we often chatted about family and friends. We laughed over funny stories and reminisced about the past, sharing our ancestors’ unwavering determination to overcome challenges. I wish I had started recording these stories and details sooner, as he shared them. This website and all my research are dedicated to my parents.
I’ve spent so countless hours in the archives, digging through old papers and trying to decipher all the handwriting. Now, research is much easier thanks to tools that quickly gather all the relevant online documents and present them as evidence for each person. With the ability to get our DNA tested, it’s opened up a whole new world of research. Usually, when you get your DNA tested, you’ll find you have anywhere between 30 to 40 thousand DNA matches.
I’ve got over 140,000 people in my database! I use Reunion software, which comes with all sorts of handy tools like charts, timelines, reports, and even book-making reports. For my clients, I create professional book reports that are easy to read and understand, complete with indexes of names and places. You can customize the book to fit your needs perfectly.
OUR SERVICES
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Building your family tree
Leveraging from our 35 plus years of research and the database of 140,000+ individuals we can help you build your own tree. The database of individuals are all over the globe but are mainly concentrated in Atlantic Canada. This database could then form the basis of your tree on ancestry.com.
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Photos - Family Keepsakes
We meticulously digitize old photo albums, boxes of pictures, and 35mm slides, preserving the original photographs while providing a digital reproduction. These non-destructive reproductions allow you to retain your original photos and view and share them digitally on your preferred electronic device.
DNA test kit
Thinking about or have purchased a DNA test kit!
Let me help you with that.
If you've been considering taking the Ancestry DNA test, now might be the time to go for it. Personally, I have found it to be an enjoyable and informative experience. With the help of ancestry.com, you can unlock a wealth of information about your family history and DNA connections. While the process of building an online family tree may seem overwhelming at first, I can assist you in making sense of your DNA matches and making the most of your ancestry.com account.
Discovering your family history can be an exciting journey full of surprises. If you avail of my services, I shall guide you through the entire process from ordering the kit, establishing your family tree to assigning your DNA matches to individuals in your family tree. You'll be amazed by the number of matches and the fascinating stories they reveal.
Building your family tree
Have you tried to put together a family tree only to run into walls
Let me put my skills to work for you!
Back in the early days of building my family tree I had pieces of paper everywhere. Created charts to establish how everyone fitted into the tree, it was horrible. I bought my first family tree software in 1991 and have tried many others since. Currently I'm using Reunion software that I find wonderful to work with and produces beautiful reports. For some of my clients I have made a poster-size chart of the family ancestors which can be dry-mounted and ready for hanging.
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When I do client research I also capture spouses of relatives and research their family tree also. Typically I find their ancestors are related by marriage or part of the direct line of ancestry of the client. Point of note, when you share ancestors with some of your distant cousins it will also askew the DNA shared results. If you decide to take the DNA test I can help you understand the results of your test.
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The range of my client base is Atlantic Canada and my research is worldwide. In my research I have identified people from many walks of life, rich and famous, lords and ladies, politicians and ordinary folk like the most of us. Through DNA research I do sometimes find relatives that are unknown to family members. I approach the client on how they wish to handle it before I go deeper.
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To get you started I usually require some personal knowledge of parents and grandparents. The first report back as far as your Great Grandparents will be provided to you at no cost. Iterations of the report as we flush out details are also at no cost. Further research of ancestors and distant cousins will be negotiated on fee for service basis.
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My research will be limited to the documents that are available online or at the local archives. If research at local archives are required all costs associated with the research will be billed at actual costs, no markup.
Digitizing your old photos
Would you like to dust off those old photo albums or drag out that box of photos and share them with your family and friends?
At WhoNitYa, we provide a service that meticulously creates digital reproductions of cherished vintage photographs and 35mm slides, enabling you to view and share them with your family and friends. While retaining the physical photographs, you gain access to a digital copy. These images are scanned at optimal density, facilitating retouching and sharpening as required.
Revive cherished memories by bringing them to life through our meticulous photo restoration services. Each photograph will be meticulously recreated, capturing the essence of the original. Additionally, we offer the exceptional service of digitally enhancing your most treasured images. We can transform cracked, smudged, or out-of-focus photographs into captivating visuals that you would be proud to display and share. In certain instances, we can artificially colourize the photographs to breathe new life into them.
Kindly contact us to inquire about the services we offer. We can provide you with pricing details that align with your requirements and budget.
