British Columbia Birth, Marriage, and Death Records - International Institute

British Columbia Brief History
British Columbia was first claimed by both the Spanish and the British. The Hudson’s Bay Company assumed control of what was known then as New Caledonia in 1821. Vancouver Island became a British colony in 1851. By 1858, the year of the gold strikes that led to the Fraser River Gold Rush, New Caledonia had become the Colony of British Columbia. In 1866 the Colony of Vancouver Island had merged with the Colony of British Columbia. British Columbia entered Confederation in 1871 and Civil Registration started in 1872.

Vital Events Registrations and Indexes
The British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency is responsible for the registration of births, marriages and deaths in British Columbia. These registrations began in 1872 after British Columbia became a province of Canada, but do include some events which took place prior to 1872 but were registered at a later date.

The Vital Events Index contains index information to birth, marriage and death registrations, not the actual registrations. The Vital Events Index allows anyone to search for index information on birth registrations (120 or more years old), marriage registrations (75 or more years old), and death registrations (20 or more years old). These indexes are available on microfiche or online in searchable databases, such as on the Royal BC Museum or the BC Archives websites. At the time of writing this course (January 2013) the BC Archives website listed births as available on their index from 1872-1903; baptisms from 1836-1888; marriages from 1859-1936; and deaths from 1872-1991. Adoption information is maintained separately.

Once you have located the record on the index then you can take the next step which is to locate the actual registration to get the information you are looking for. Remember this index is just that, an index; the rest of the information you want is on the registration record.

The index will provide you with the registration number and the appropriate microfilm reel number for both the British Columbia Archives and for the Genealogical Society of Utah (FamilySearch). You can then research the registration at the most convenient location that houses the microfilm.

This will then provide you with a photocopy of the registration. If you need a Certified Copy or a Genealogical Certificate then you will need to contact the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency.

The BC Vital Statistics Agency releases for public viewing records that meet the criteria set by the Vital Statics Act. As of January 2013:


 * Birth registrations, 1854-1903 (next update January 2025), are listed in the Birth Registration Index. In June of 2004, the Vital Statistics Act extended future release dates of birth records from 100 to 120 years after the date of birth, thus there will be no further releases until 2025.


 * Marriage registrations are released after 75 years of the date of marriage. Records from 1872 to 1936 are listed in the Marriage Registration Index.


 * Death registrations are released after 20 years of the date of death; however, as of March 2011 the online indexes do not include deaths with an age designation of 0 or 1 and a date of 1911 or later. Deaths occurring after 1910 for those under age one year, the 0 age designation will also include those for whom the age was unknown. Records from 1872 to 1991 are listed in the Death Registration Index.

These indexes are based on data supplied by the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency. The data have been extracted from historical indexes and early computer tapes that have undergone major coding changes and conversions over time. As a result, inconsistencies or incomplete data may be found in some instances.

Things to take note of:


 * 1) Amended registrations will have both the original and amended registration in the index.
 * 2) Some British Columbia events missing from the index were never registered.
 * 3) There are some events which took place outside British Columbia included in the index.
 * 4) “Unknown” is used when a surname or given name is missing.
 * 5) Marriage records after 1933 and deaths after 1988 have been digitized ―not microfilmed. This will enable the registration documents to be attached to the index database eventually. There will be no future releases on microfilm.

Certified Copies of Registrations
The British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency provides a genealogical service which can search for records and under certain conditions, can provide information from registrations which cannot yet be released to the general public. The agency can produce a genealogical certificate or a certified photocopy of the original registration. All requests for certified copies of registrations or genealogical certificates must be sent to the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency. Contact the Agency for the application form.

Costs (as of January 2013) are listed to give you an idea of the price range for a certified copy of the registrations and genealogical certificates. For updates to the fee schedule, check the BC Vital Statistics Agency website.

Registration Costs
Certified Copy of Registrations Costs


 * Certificate of Birth, Death, or Marriage $27
 * Certified Photocopy of Birth, Death, or Marriage $50
 * Search of Records - each 3 year period $27
 * Changes to Registration $27 (corrections, not including certificate)

Certificate Costs
Genealogical Certificates Costs


 * Genealogy Extract and/or extended search $50
 * Commemorative (birth/marriage) Certificates $50
 * Special Events (birth/marriage) Certificates $50

There are other services available regarding the Marriage Act (for example, Marriage License $100), Name Act and Will Act. You should contact the Vital Statistics Agency for further details.

The Genealogical Resources for British Columbians booklet prepared by British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency, Ministry of Health (2010 Revision) is available in PDF format.

Birth Certificates
British Columbia Registration of Birth

British Columbia Certificate of Birth for Genealogical Purposes



Marriage Certificates
British Columbia Marriage License and Registration of Marriage

British Columbia Certificate of Marriage for Genealogical Purposes



Death Certificates
British Columbia Registration of Death



British Columbia Certificate of Death for Genealogical Purposes



Locations Holding the Microfilm Collection
A copy of the microfilm collection of births registrations from 1872 (120 years old), marriage registrations from 1872 (75 years old) and death registrations 1872 (20 years old) is held by each of the following organizations. Each year the microfilm is updated. British Columbia Archives 675 Belleville Street Victoria, British Columbia V8W 9W2 Telephone: 250-387-1952

British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency 818 Fort Street Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1H8 Telephone: 250-952-2681

FamilySearch and FamilySearch Centers Some records are digitized and available on the FamilySearch website. A Place-name search for British Columbia in the FamilySearch online Catalog will bring these up under Vital Records.

Also, you can locate the FamilySearch Center nearest you and order microfilmed to the center.

Okanagan Regional Library - Kelowna Branch 1380 Ellis Street Kelowna, British Columbia V1Y 2A2 Telephone: 250-762-2800

Simon Fraser University Library W.A.C. Bennett Library 8888 University Drive Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6 Telephone: 778-782-3869

Surrey Public Library - Cloverdale Branch 5642 - 176A Street Surrey, British Columbia V3S 4G9 Telephone: 604-598-7320 Email:[mailto:familyhistory@surrey.ca familyhistory@surrey.ca]

British Columbia Genealogical Society BCGS Walter Draycott Library Unit 211, 12837 - 76th Avenue Surrey, British Columbia Telephone: 604-502-9119 Email: [mailto:bcgs@bcgs.ca bcgs@bcgs.ca]

Vancouver Public Library- Central Library History and Government Division 350 West Georgia Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 6B1 Telephone: 604-331-3603 Email: [mailto:info@vpl.ca info@vpl.ca]

Victoria Genealogical Society P.O. Box 45031, Victoria North P.O. Victoria, British Columbia V8X 3G2 Telephone: 250-360-2808 Email: [mailto:vgs@victoriags.org vgs@victoriags.org]

British Columbia Archives
Marriage Records 1859-1872 - British Columbia Colonial Secretary

This group of records is certified copies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia pre-confederation marriage records submitted to the colonial secretary by clergy, 1859-1872. It also includes a letter from Rev. John B. Good. Microfilm #B09707.

The records are bound into eight volumes in two accessions. The volumes contain certified copies of marriage certificates or returns of marriages submitted by clergy of various denominations. To find an individual marriage record, find the name and volume number on the index which is found at the beginning of the microfilm reel #B09707.

The index consists of two separate sorts, one alphabetically by the surnames of individuals and the second alphabetically by the place of marriage. For each marriage the index contains the surnames and given names of individuals; the record and volume number of the marriage; the date of the marriage (format is year/month/day); the marriage place (name of community and/or church); and the district. Once you have found the name and volume number advance the reel to the correct volume and record within the volume. The finding aid for these records should be consulted regarding the description of the information contained within each volume.

The index is also searchable in the old Genealogy Index database.

Coroner’s Records
Although the Coroner’s Records are not a usual place to look, they can hold the answer to many questions regarding the passing of one’s ancestors.

The next few pages are from the Coroner’s Records Research Guide: British Columbia Archives. We are thankful to the British Columbia Archives staff for providing researchers with a straightforward explanation of these records and easy to follow instructions.

The British Columbia Archives has legal custody of coroner’s inquests from 1859 to 1867 and coroner’s inquiries from 1859 to 1970. Inquests are investigations in which a coroner’s jury was called and the files tend to be larger, often containing witness statements, transcripts and autopsy reports. Inquiries took place when a coroner worked alone and the record is often a single form containing basic information.

The release of certain types of information from inquest/inquiry files, especially those dating from 1908 to 1970, is regulated by various statutes such as the Young Offender’s Act. Access to these files must be arranged through the British Columbia Archives Information and Privacy Section (IPS) for exceptions to routine release under the provincial Freedom of Information Act (FOI). Files which are reviewed by IPS may be mailed to you, along with an invoice for the copying and mailing. If you are unable to purchase a copy of the file, but can arrange to visit the Archives at a later date to view the file, please indicate this to an Access Archivist after you have located the file numbers of the inquests or inquiries you are seeking.

Coroner’s Inquests/Inquiries, Freedom of Information (FOI) Act
To obtain access to coroner’s inquests/inquiries currently restricted under the FOI Act, complete a Photocopy Requisition form showing the call number (GR ####) of the record, the box/file number or microfilm reel number, the inquest or inquiry number, the name of the individual and the year or full date if available. The inquest or inquiry number is usually found in the first column of the index or register. Give the completed form to an Access archivist who will locate the record on microfilm or hardcopy, copy it if necessary and forward it to an IPS staff member for review.

From 1859 to 1871

 * 1) Locate the finding aid (microfilm reel list) for GR-1328 on the bookcase in the Reference Room or consult the finding aid online. The inquests for the Colony of Vancouver Island are listed first chronologically, followed by those for the Colony of British Columbia and the last by the United Colony of British Columbia
 * 2) If you find the name you are looking for, use the self-serve microfilm reel B02446 to view the file. The inquests are located on the film in the order given in the finding aid.
 * 3) If you did not find the inquest in GR-1328, check the card index to Colonial Correspondence (GR-1372) located in the Reference Room. Try a variety of headings such as the name of the individual, “inquests”, “deaths”, etc. Once you have obtained a file number from the top left corner of the index card, use the finding aid GR-1372 stored next to the index or online to identify the self-serve microfilm reel on which this file is located. Retrieve the self-serve microfilm to view the file.
 * 4) If you still haven’t found the name, you may wish to try using the index to miscellaneous correspondence inwards to the British Columbia Colonial Secretary, 1858-1863. Fill out a call slip for C/AB/30.1K1/1 and when you receive the volume, check under the heading “deaths”. Use the name of the author of the letter to locate the letter within the Colonial Correspondence Index (step 3 above). You may also wish to try headings such as “suicides,” “drownings,” “murders,” etc.
 * 5) A few colonial inquests are also found in GR-0431, Box 1 (Melsler, Pin, Casse, Mitchell, Purdie, Roebottom, and Ormondy). There is one 1862 inquest on microfilm reel B02372 of GR-1327 (Hugh Stewart). Inquests held before Peter O’Reilly and W.G. Cox, Cariboo East, in 1864 and 1866 are in GR-2946.

From 1872 to 1937

 * 1) Retrieve self serve microfilm reel B07895 (GR-0432, vol. 5-10, 1879-1937). This contains six volumes of indexes by family name arranged in alphabetical groupings within years. For example, all 1886 inquests for individuals whose last name begins with “A” will be listed together. The indexes do not always record the cause of death (see step 5). Because these indexes were compiled from the registers for the years 1879-1937, always cross-check with the register in the event you do not locate a name (see step 5). The registers begin in 1874, but indexing by name was only done from 1879.
 * 2) Check the full title at the bottom of the form to ensure that you are in the correct date range and then scan the alpha-group for the years which you are interested in. Japanese, Chinese and east Indian names are indexed separately for the years 1923-1937 at the end of Volume 10.
 * 3) The number beside the name is the number of the inquest or inquisition. Inquests are normally assigned a sequential number for each calendar year, for example, 125/06. Inquiries before 1919 generally consist of a three or four digit number without the year or a three-part number ending in the last two digits of the year (2300-7-17). In 1918-1919, inquiries began to be numbered with the file prefix C49-1, C81-4 and C159.

Inquest files which pre-date the Young Offenders Act (1908) can be viewed on microfilm or in hardcopy if the latter has been preserved. Inquest files dating from 1908 require review by IPS staff. Inquiry files are intermingled with the correspondence of the attorney General and require review by IPS staff. The following accessions (record held in an archive) contain inquests/inquiries from 1872-1937:


 * Attorney General correspondence, 1872-1937 (hardcopy): GR-0429
 * Attorney General, sample inquests, 1865-1937 (hardcopy): GR-0431
 * Attorney General, inquests, 1872-1937 (microfilm): GR-1327
 * Attorney General, inquiries, 1902-1937 (microfilm): GR-1323

Other related records can be found by conducting an online search of the textual records catalogue using the keyword “coroner*” (include the *) on the [http://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/bcarchives/. BC Archives] website. To locate the inquest file, retrieve the appropriate finding aid from the bookcase in the Reference Room or view it online. If the file is on microfilm and pre-dates 1908, it may be available in the Reference Room on self-serve microfilm. If no film is located in the cabinet, or the hardcopy inquest post-dates the 1908 Young Offenders Act, ask an Access archivist for assistance or submit a Photocopy Requisition form (see FOI Instructions in this guide).

Hardcopy (original) inquests in GR-0429 and GR-0431, that pre-date 1908, are requested by completing a call slip and submitting it to the Retrieval counter.


 * 5. If you do not know the name of the individual or did not locate a name in the name indexes, but do know the year, use the registers located on self-serve microfilm B07894 (GR-0432, vol. 1-4, 1874-1937). These are a chronological listing of all inquests/inquiries in the province from 1874 to 1937. The registers also record the cause of death. Volumes 3 and 4 of the registers list the inquiries and inquests separately; see finding aid in Reference Room or online for details.

From 1938 to 1970

 * 1) Help yourself to the self-serve microfiche indexes (GR-1513 to GR-1519) stored in the fiche cabinet in the Reference Room. There are seven indexes; choose one of the following based on the date range:


 * Bf00033 Indexes, inquests and inquiries, 1938 to 1944
 * Bf00034 Indexes, inquests and inquiries, 1945 to 1949
 * Bf00035 Indexes, inquests and inquiries, 1950 to 1953
 * Bf00036 Indexes, inquests and inquiries, 1954 to 1958
 * Bf00037 Indexes, inquests and inquiries, 1959 to 1963
 * Bf00038 Indexes, inquests and inquiries, 1964 to 1966
 * Bf00039 Indexes, inquests and inquiries, 1967 to 1970

The accessions covered by these indexes are:


 * Attorney General, inquest, 1938-1967 (microfilm): GR-1502
 * Attorney General, inquiries for Vancouver, 1938-1965 (microfilm): GR-1503
 * Attorney General, inquiries for BC except Vancouver, 1938-1965, and for BC, 1966-1970 (microfilm): GR-1504
 * Attorney General inquiries for BC, 1955-1965 (microfilm): GR-1726 (USE GR-1504 finding aid)


 * 2. Place the appropriate sheet of the microfiche set (based on the first letter of the family name) in a microfiche reader. These indexes are arranged in alphabetic grouping by year. Once you have found a name, see FOI Instructions in this guide for access procedures.

Church Records
For information about church records and their locations, see British Columbia Church Records (National Institute)

Aboriginal Records
The Secwepemc Cultural Education Society holds some records of relevance to aboriginal genealogical research including baptismal records, oral histories and family groupings documents. Secwepemc Cultural Education Society 274A Halston Connector Road Kamloops, British Columbia V2H 1H1 Telephone: 778-471-5789

A Family Reunification Program is operated by the United Natives Nations group for persons who were adopted or lived in foster care to research their ancestors so that such individuals can be reunited with their families.

United Native Nations- Family Reunification Program 110-425 Carrall Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 6E3 Telephone:604-688-1821 Email: [mailto:unn@unns.bc.ca unn@unns.bc.ca]

There are some materials useful for aboriginal genealogical research including census records, lists of registered Indians and Hudson’s Bay Company finding aids at the Union of British Columbian Indian Chiefs Resource Center.

Union of BC Indian Chiefs 500 - 342 Water Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 1B6 Telephone: 604-684-0231

Genealogical Societies
There is no “umbrella” genealogy organization on a provincial scale, but the following should be helpful:

British Columbia Genealogical Society BCGS Walter Draycott Library Unit 211, 12837 - 76th Avenue Surrey, British Columbia Telephone: 604-502-9119 Email: [mailto:bcgs@bcgs.ca bcgs@bcgs.ca]

Victoria Genealogical Society P.O. Box 45031, Victoria North P.O. Victoria, British Columbia V8X 3G2 Telephone: 250-360-2808 Email: [mailto:vgs@victoriags.org vgs@victoriags.org]

Other societies are active throughout the province, for example, Campbell River, Powell River, Kamloops, Kelowna, Vernon, Nanaimo and others. Links to their pages can be found on the BCGS website.

___________________________________________________________________

Information in this Wiki page is excerpted from the online course offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. To learn more about this course or other courses available from the Institute, see our website. We can be contacted at [mailto:wiki@genealogicalstudies.com wiki@genealogicalstudies.com]

We welcome updates and additions to this Wiki page.