Canada Vital Records of Birth, Marriage, and Death

= Introduction =

Vital records are birth, marriage, and death records maintained by civil authorities. Civil governments have created records of births, marriages, and deaths.

Records containing this information are commonly called "vital records," because they refer to critical events in a person's life. These are the most important documents for genealogical research, although the births, marriages, and deaths of many people have never been recorded by civil authorities.

Some births, marriages, and deaths not recorded in vital (civil) records may be in church records.

What You are Looking For
The information you find varies from record to record. These records may include: Name of your ancestor. Names of relatives of your ancestor, such as parents, spouse, or children. Date and place of birth, marriage, or death. For additional information you can find in vital records, see Tip 2.

= Steps =

These 3 steps will guide you in obtaining a vital record.

Step 1. Decide when and where your ancestor may appear in a vital record.
Determine your ancestor's:


 * Approximate year of birth, marriage, or death.
 * Place of birth, marriage, or death.

For help finding the year and place where a vital event occurred, see Tip 3. For reasons why it is generally better to obtain the death record of your ancestor first, see Tip 1.

Step 2. Obtain a birth, marriage, or death record for your ancestor.
Select the year the birth, marriage, or death occurred:

Write or call the provincial Vital Statistics office or a Registry Agent to obtain a current copy of the application form. Fill out the form as completely as possible with as much information as you know, including the year the birth, marriage, or death occurred, and your relationship to the person whose record you want. Return the application with the required fee. If the Vital Statistics office finds the record and it is not restricted, they will send the information to you.


 * Note: If you did not find what you were looking for in this step, see Tip 4 and Tip 5.

Step 3. Analyze the record.
Ask yourself these questions to use the record effectively:


 * What dates does this record provide?
 * What ages are given?
 * What places are mentioned in this record?
 * Are parents or a spouse named?
 * Are witnesses to the event related to the family?
 * Who provided the information? Was that person someone who knew the family well?
 * Does the death record give the name of the cemetery or funeral home? You may be able to search those records for more information.
 * Does the information from the record fit with what you know about the family from other records? If it does not agree, it may have been miscopied by a clerk. Check your sources.

= Tips =

Tip 1. Why might it be better to look for the death record of an ancestor first?

 * Your ancestor's death is more recent than his birth or marriage. It is usually best to work from recent events backward, from the known to the unknown.
 * The death record usually tells you where your ancestor last lived. Then you can look for other records for that place.
 * The death record may lead you to other documents created in connection with the death, such as the burial and probate of your ancestor. Those records may give new family information.
 * Death records may contain birth, marriage, and burial information as well as death information.
 * Death records exist for many persons born before birth and marriage records began. Death records may contain birth and marriage information not available anywhere else.

Tip 2. What information can I find in vital records?
This table tells you the genealogical information contained in birth, marriage, and death records.

Tip 3. How do I find the year and place where a vital event took place? To find a vital record, you will need the approximate year and place the event happened. You may need to search other records first to find clues about this, such as:


 * Censuses.
 * Family Bibles.
 * Genealogies.
 * Local histories.
 * Newspaper notices.
 * Cemetery records.
 * Probate records.
 * Land and property records.
 * Immigration records, especially border crossings.
 * For other ideas on locating your ancestor, see How To Locate Your Ancestor.
 * If you are not sure you found your ancestor, see How to Recognize Your Ancestor.

Tip 4. Why can't I find a vital record?
Some possible reasons are:


 * Your ancestor might have lived in a different place when he was born, married, or died.
 * Your ancestor may have used a nickname or a different surname, or the registrar spelled the name wrong. See Name Variations.
 * Your ancestor might have lived at a slightly different time.
 * Not every birth, marriage, or death was registered.

For other possibilities, see How To Recognize Your Ancestor and How to Locate Your Ancestor.

Tip 5. What should I search next?
First look for vital records of other family members, such as a spouse, brothers or sisters, parents and children. Then search for family information in records such as:


 * Censuses.
 * Church records.
 * Cemetery records.
 * Obituaries.
 * Birth, marriage, and death notices in newspapers.
 * Local histories.
 * Immigration records, especially border crossings.
 * Family letters and Bibles.
 * Military records.
 * Lineage society records, such as United Empire Loyalists.

= Canada and Provinces =

Canada
Where to Find It

Family History Centers and the Family History Library

The Family History Library has a few Alberta vital records in books. It has other kinds of records from the province. To find descriptions of those records, see What to Do Next, and click on Family History Library Catalog. Select from the list of titles to see descriptions of the records with the film or book call numbers. Use that information to obtain the records at a family history center or at the Family History Library.

Family History Centers

Family History Centers can borrow microfilms of records from the Family History Library. A small fee is charged to have a microfilm sent to a center. You may request photocopies of records from the Family History Library for a fee. Staff at your Family History Center can help you request this service. See Family History Centers for the address and telephone number of the center nearest you.

Family History Library

See Family History Library Services and Resources for information about contacting or visiting the Library.

Genealogical and Historical Societies
For addresses of many historical societies, libraries, and archives that may have vital records collections, check CyndisList under "Canada" and under the province on the Internet. See also:


 * Mary K. Meyer, Meyer's Directory of Genealogical Societies in the USA and Canada.
 * Mary Bray Wheeler, Directory of Historical Organizations in the United States and Canada.

Genealogical Search Services
Many genealogical search services will search records for a fee. To find a genealogical search service, check:


 * CyndisList, "Professional Researchers, Volunteers &amp; Other Research Services." This lists many companies and individuals who do research, and mentions publications about how to hire a professional genealogist. Browse Categories on this screen has links to lists of individuals who offer genealogical services. Select Services and Tools, and select Genealogy Service Providers. The services include looking up information for others (in sources available to the researcher) or giving research suggestions. Researchers may charge a fee for their services.
 * Advertisements in major genealogical journals. To order a list of researchers accredited by the Family History Library, click on Order Family History Resources on this screen, and select Publications. Scroll down the list until you find Accredited Genealogists. Decide how much you want searched before contacting a search service. For more information, see Hiring a Professional Researcher.

Alberta
Alberta began province-wide registration of births, marriages, and deaths in 1898, which was generally complied with by 1930. There are a few records of births between 1870 and 1890.

'''What vital records are available? '''Alberta became a province in 1905. Vital records for Alberta open to the public are for years before 1905, when Alberta was part of the Northwest Territories. They cover only the portion of the Northwest Territories that became Alberta.

Birth, marriage, and death registration continued when the Province of Alberta took over the responsibility in 1905. Some births, marriages, and deaths not recorded in vital records may be in church records.


 * Before 1906. Some delayed birth registrations are available for the years between 1870 and 1890. Most of the birth, marriage, and death records are for the years from 1898 through 1905.
 * From 1906 to the Present. Birth, marriage, and death records after 1905 are only available from Alberta Vital Statistics. If you need such a record.


 * Both sets of records have been indexed in: Alberta Formerly the Northwest Territories Index to Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths 1870 to 1905, Volume 1. Additional information about each of the 30,000 names in the book is at the Provincial Archives of Alberta.

Where to Find It


 * Provincial Archives of Alberta.


 * Records of births, marriages, and deaths from 1898 to 1905 are at: Provincial Archives of Alberta 12845-102 Ave Edmonton AB T5N 0M6 That office also has some delayed birth registrations for the years from 1870 to 1890.


 * Alberta Registries Vital Statistics


 * To obtain original certificates for births, marriages, and deaths from January 1906 to the present, write to: Alberta Municipal Affairs, Alberta Registries Vital Statistics Box 2023 Edmonton AB T5J 4W7 Residents of Alberta cannot use the above address. They are required to apply through a Registry Agent to obtain copies of birth, marriage, and death records after 1906. Non-residents of Alberta may also apply through a Registry Agent. See Vital Statistics website.

British Columbia
British Columbia became a province in 1871. Provincewide registration of birth, marriage, and death records began in 1872. A few records were made for events which took place before 1872 but were registered later.

Many births, marriages, and deaths were not registered in the early years. Vital records began to be kept more systematically in 1920.

British Columbia vital records are restricted for many years before they can be made public:


 * Birth records, 100 years.
 * Marriage records, 75 years.
 * Death records, 20 years.

Records available on microfilm as of 2000 were:


 * Births, 1872 to 1899.
 * Marriages, 1872 to 1924.
 * Deaths, 1872 to 1979.

Vital records of births more than 100 years old, marriages more than 75 years old, and deaths more than 20 years old are available on microfilm. Vital records that are more recent must be requested on forms available from the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency.

For additional information, see British Columbia Civil Registration- Vital Records.

Where to Find It

British Columbia Archives 655 Belleville Street P.O. Box 9419 Stn. PROV GOVT Victoria, BC V8W 9V1 Canada

Microfilm numbers for the birth, marriage, and death records are listed with the Vital Event Indexes at the British Columbia Archives Internet site. Both the British Columbia Archives call numbers and the "GSU"(Family History Library) call numbers are listed in the indexes.


 * Use British Columbia Archives numbers when using the archives reading room and at college and public libraries in British Columbia.
 * Use GSU call numbers at the Family History Library and at Family History Centers.
 * For a list of libraries and genealogical societies that have microfilm copies of British Columbia vital records, contact the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency.

British Columbia Archives staff cannot provide research in or copies of birth, marriage, or death records. Their Internet site includes a list of independent research agents who conduct research at the archives for a fee.

British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency  818 Fort Street Victoria BC V8W 1H8 Canada Telephone (250) 952-2681

The Vital Statistics Agency keeps a list of libraries and genealogical societies in British Columbia that have microfilms of the early registrations of births, marriages, and deaths. For information about purchasing copies of microfilms of vital records, contact the Agency.

Manitoba
Manitoba vital records date back to 1882. A substantially complete registration of vital records was achieved by 1930.

All vital records must be requested on forms available from Manitoba Vital Statistics.

For more information, see Manitoba Civil Registration-Vital Records

 Where to Find It 

Manitoba Vital Statistics 254 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3C 0B6 Canada Telephone: 204-945-3701 Fax: 204-948-3128

New Brunswick
Births:

On 1 January 1888, provincewide registration of births began in New Brunswick. Also in 1888, some delayed registrations of births began to be recorded. The earliest births in the delayed registrations are for 1810.

Vital records began to be kept more systematically in 1920. A substantially complete registration of vital records of births was achieved by 1930.

Most birth records less than 95 years old are restricted. Later New Brunswick birth records may be available from the New Brunswick Division of Vital Statistics.

For more information, see New Brunswick Civil Registration- Vital Records.

Indexes
Online indexes to the birth records were made by the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick (PANB). To use microfilms at the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, use the PANB microfilm numbers shown in the indexes. Those are also the microfilm numbers to use when requesting microfilms through the Interlibrary loan service at college and public libraries.

To use microfilms at the Family History Library (FHL) and at Family History Centers, you should use information in the indexes to find FHL film numbers. No conversion guide lists FHL film numbers for the equivalent PANB film numbers. If you use:


 * New Brunswick County Birth Registers Index, 1801-1899.


 * 1) Find the name of your ancestor in the index.
 * 2) Note the county, volume, and page number.
 * 3) Write down the film number for the PANB microfilm.
 * 4) Click on County registers of births, 1812-1921.
 * 5) In the description for each microfilm, find the "PANB film number." For example, Saint John County registers of births books 1 and 2 are on FHL microfilm 2024626. That film includes PANB film numbers F14037 and F14954.
 * 6) Get the film and turn to the proper book and page number.
 * 7) Make a photocopy of the record.

If the "PANB film number" you are looking for is not listed in the descriptions for FHL microfilms, that film of county birth registers is not available through the Family History Library or Family History Centers. To see if it is available through the Interlibrary loan service to college and public libraries, contact the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.


 * [Index to] New Brunswick Late Registration of Births, 1810 - 1904.


 * 1) Find the name of your ancestor in the index.
 * 2) If your ancestor is listed in the index as a child, write down his or her family name exactly as it is spelled in the index and the year of birth. If you have found the name of a parent, write down the name of his or her child and the year that child was born.
 * 3) Ignore any other information in the index. It will not help you find the FHL microfilm. For delayed registrations there is no match between PANB microfilm numbers and FHL microfilm numbers.
 * 4) In the Provincial Returns of Births, 1870 - 1899, and Late Registrations, 1810-1899, find the microfilms that include the "Late registration (original documents)." They are on FHL microfilms 1943957 through 1943995.
 * 5) The late registrations of births are listed by year and are organized alphabetically by family name within each year. Find the microfilm number of the microfilm that contains the proper year and portion of the alphabet.
 * 6) Get the film, and turn to your ancestor's delayed birth registration.
 * 7) Make a photocopy of the record.


 * For example, the index has an entry for Boles, Herbert Lawrence, born in 1872. FHL film 1943960 contains Late registration (original documents) beginning with the name Turner in 1869 and ending with Burpee in 1872. Find the registration document for Herbert Lawrence Boles on FHL film 1943960 between the documents for John Frederick Blair and John Bolger, both also born in New Brunswick in 1872.

For years after 1899, films of New Brunswick Late Registration of Births are not available through the Family History Library or Family History Centers. If the name of your ancestor was in the index and he or she was born between 1900 and 1904, ask your college or public library to order the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick microfilm through the Interlibrary loan service.

Where to Find It

Selected birth records from New Brunswick for years before 1900 are available on microfilm through the Family History Library and Family History Centers. All microfilmed series of birth records are at the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. A few of the birth records at that archives are as late as 1921.

Most vital records of births from 1905 to the present must be requested on forms available from the Division of Vital Statistics.

Provincial Archives of New Brunswick  PO Box 6000 Fredericton NB E3B 5H1 Canada Phone (506) 453-2122

Microfilm numbers for many birth records at the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick are listed in the Government Records Finding Aids.

There is no conversion guide that changes call numbers for microfilms from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick to call numbers for the Family History Library. However, there are some ways to convert those call numbers. See Tip 4.