Karen Mahoney started researching her family genealogy at a very young age after learning about her great grandfather’s disappearance following the First World War. She did both her own research and provided help to many others searching for their family history. She was a Global Moderator for Rootschat, the UK’s largest free family history forum for many years.

Through her research she learned of the British Home Child scheme and was able to help people who
were descended from BHC. This led to her becoming an advocate for them through social media
platforms. She participated in events throughout Canada, helping and teaching people about this
chapter of Canadian History.

For the last number of years, she has held the position of Vice President of the Sharon Burying Ground Association. The SBG contains the graves of many of the Children of Peace including David Willson and Ebenezer Doan. She has helped raise the public profile of the SBG through social media, community events and networking.

Contacts made through the Sharon Burying Ground led her to an invitation to sit on the Board of the
Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum.

While working as a legal secretary years ago, Karen enjoyed researching property. Researching land
records in Ontario can be very useful in genealogy. This led to a position on the Innisfil Heritage
Committee which gave her the opportunity to do both genealogy and house history and to become
more involved in her community.

Karen has been a Director with the Simcoe County Historical Association since 2022. Being on the Board has helped her to become more familiar with history and the County she resides in.

When not volunteering, Karen works as Safety and Compliance and bookkeeper of their family owned
Cross-Border Transportation Company.