Civil Registration
Birth, marriage, and death records can provide a wealth of information for the genealogist. Varying amounts of information about parents, occupation, birthplace, place of residence, etc. are available depending on the type of record. Death records are often the most comprehensive. Government registration of births, marriages and deaths is usually referred to as civil registration and the records as vital records. In Canada, the responsibility for all aspects of civil registration falls to the individual provinces and territories. Availability and access vary from province to province. The Vancouver Public Library holds microfilm resources relating to British Columbia and Ontario records. These include a complete set of available British Columbia registrations and a set of indexes to the Ontario registrations. For the other provinces you must contact the specific provincial Vital Statistics office.
British Columbia
Vital Statistics Agency
Civil registration in BC is the responsibility of the provincial Vital Statistics Agency in Victoria. For more information, go to BC Government - Birth, Adoption, Death, Marriage & Divorce.
Certificates and/or copies of record registrations can be ordered for a fee. Note that eligibility requirements apply for restricted (i.e., non-historical) records.
British Columbia Archives
The BC Archives Genealogy Search provides access to searchable indexes (including partial transcriptions and, when available, digitized images) for the following historical records:
- Births: 1854-1903
- Marriages: 1871-1947
- Deaths: 1872-2002
- Colonial Marriages: 1859-1872
- Baptisms: 1836-1888
Copies of historical records can be ordered for a fee.
Indexed historical records that have been neither digitized nor microfilmed, however, may be requested by mail at no charge. Fill out form VSA 797 for births, VSA 798 for marriages, and VSA 797D for deaths. If there is a microfilm number present in the index record, see the instructions below for accessing at VPL.
FamilySearch
FamilySearch's British Columbia Research Page also provides access to searchable indexes and digitized images for many historical births, marriages, and deaths. For additional context, see their guide on British Columbia Vital Records.
As records are digitized on an ongoing basis, it is recommended that you search both the BC Archives and FamilySearch databases to determine if a digitized copy is available.
At VPL
The Vancouver Public Library has a complete* set of the publicly released microfilms on Level 6 of the Central Library. If a digitized image is not found online, the BC Archives Genealogy Search can be used to determine the appropriate BC Archives microfilm reel number to look for in our collection. For detailed instructions on using the online index to locate specific records on microfilm, see our page on BC Civil Registration.
* The following death registration reels have gone missing from the collection:
- B13355 (1976)
- B13375 (1941-1944) - Indigenous registrations
- B13377 (1950-1956) - Indigenous registrations
Alberta
Service Alberta, Vital Statistics
Civil registration in Aberta is the responsibility of the provincial Vital Statistics Office in Edmonton. For more information, go to Alberta Government - Birth, adoption, death, marriage and divorce.
Certificates and/or copies of record registrations can be ordered for a fee; note that eligibility requirements apply for restricted (i.e., non-historical) records.
Provincial Archives of Alberta
The Provincial Archives of Alberta provides digital scans of their paper indexes for the following historical records:
- Births: 1870-1903
- Marriages: 1870-1948
- Deaths: 1870-1973
- Stillbirths: 1914-1946
Copies of historical records can be ordered for a fee.
FamilySearch
For additional context, see FamilySearch's guide on Alberta Civil Registration.
Saskatchewan
Health Registries
Civil registration in Saskatchewan is the responsibility of the provincial Health Registries Office in Regina. For more information, go to eHealth Saskatchewan - Residents.
Certificates and/or copies of record registrations can be ordered for a fee; note that eligibility requirements apply for restricted (i.e., non-historical) records.
eHealth Saskatchewan
The eHealth Saskatchewan Genealogy Index Searches provides online access to searchable indexes (including partial transcriptions) for the following historical records:
- Births more than 100 years ago
- Deaths more than 70 years ago
Historical marriages (from over 75 years ago) are not yet available online. Copies of historical records can be ordered for a fee.
FamilySearch
For additional context, see FamilySearch's guide on Saskatchewan Civil Registration.
Manitoba
Vital Statistics Branch
Civil registration in Manitoba is the responsibility of the provincial Vital Statistics Branch in Winnipeg.
Certificates and/or copies of record registrations can be ordered for a fee; note that eligibility requirements apply for restricted (i.e., non-historical) records.
Use their Genealogy Searches for Unrestricted Record to search the online indexes (including partial transcriptions) for the following historical records:
- Births more than 100 years ago
- Marriages more than 80 years ago
- Deaths more than 70 years ago
Copies of historical records can be ordered for a fee.
FamilySearch
For additional context, see FamilySearch's guide on Manitoba Civil Registration.
Ontario
Office of the Registrar General
Civil registration in Ontario is the responsibility of the provincial Office of the Registrar General in Thunder Bay. For more information, see ServiceOntario's sections on births, marriages, and deaths.
Certificates and/or copies of record registrations can be ordered for a fee; note that eligibility requirements apply for restricted (i.e., non-historical) records.
Archives of Ontario
Searchable indexes (including partial transcriptions and, when available, digitized images) are available online for the following historical records:
- Births: [ca. 1830]-1917
- Marriages: [ca. 1801]-1942
- Deaths: 1869-1952
- Overseas Deaths: 1939-1947
Note that the Archives of Ontario does not maintain its own database of historical records, but provides online access via Ancestry and FamilySearch (see below).
Ancestry Library Edition
Access to indexes and digitized images of many Ontario birth, marriage, and death records is available at the Vancouver Public Library through Ancestry Library Edition.
FamilySearch
FamilySearch's Ontario Research Page also provides access to searchable indexes and digitized images for many historical births, marriages, and deaths, although the website may not include one or two of the most recent years. For additional context, see their guide on Ontario Civil Registration.
At VPL
The library has birth, marriage, and death microfilm indexes to vital records held by the Archives of Ontario for:
- Births: 1869-1914
- Marriages: 1873-1929
- Deaths: 1869-1939
Using the information provided by the above indexes, you can request the microfilm containing the actual record from the Archives of Ontario. For more information on finding these records, see our page on Ontario Civil Registration.
Quebec
Beginning in 1926, births, marriages and deaths in Quebec could be reported directly to a civil office, but it was 40 more years until significant numbers were reported only to such an office. The modern Quebec civil registration system was not fully established until 1994.
Before the formal civil registration registry was established, baptisms, marriages and burials were often recorded in church or parish registers. Until 1994, copies of parish records were sent to local courthouses where they served as civil and vital records.
Copies of parish registers submitted to local courthouses prior to 1900 have been deposited in the 9 regional centres of the Bibliothèque et archives nationales du Québec. Records from 1900 to present are in custody of the provincial Directeur de l'état civil.
FamilySearch
FamilySearch's Quebec Research Page also provides access to searchable indexes and digitized images for many historical births, marriages, and deaths. For additional context, see their guide on Quebec Civil Registration.
New Brunswick
Service New Brunswick, Vital Statistics
Civil registration in New Brunswick is the responsibility of the provincial Vital Statistics Office in Fredericton. For more information, go to Service New Brunswick - Vital Statistics.
Provincial Archives of New Brunswick
The Vital Statistics Search Engine provides access to searchable indexes (including partial transcriptions and, when available, digitized images) for the following historical records:
- Births: 1800-1928
- Marriages: 1847-1972
- Deaths: 1815-1972
View their Record Series Introduction page for more details about the index entries and digitized records available.
FamilySearch
FamilySearch's New Brunswick Research Page also provides access to searchable indexes and digitized images for many historical births, baptisms, and deaths. For additional context, see their guide on New Brunswick Civil Registration.
Nova Scotia
Service Nova Scotia, Vital Statistics
Civil registration in Nova Scotia is the responsibility of the provincial Vital Statistics Office in Halifax. For more information, go to Nova Scotia - Vital Statistics.
Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics
Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics provides access to searchable indexes for the following historical records:
- Births: 1864-1877, 1908-1923
- Delayed Births: 1830-1923
- Marriage Bonds: 1763-1864
- Marriage Registrations: 1864-1948
- Deaths: 1864-1877, 1908-1973
- City of Halifax Deaths: 1890-1908
FamilySearch
FamilySearch's Nova Scotia Research Page also provides access to searchable indexes for many historical births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths. For additional context, see their guide on Nova Scotia Civil Registration.
Prince Edward Island
Department of Justice and Public Safety, Vital Statistics
Civil registration in Prince Edward Island is the responsibility of the provincial Vital Statistics Office in Montague. For more information, go to Prince Edward Island -Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates.
Additional details can be found on their Genealogy at the Public Archives page.
FamilySearch
FamilySearch's Prince Edward Island Research Page provides access to searchable indexes and digitized images for many historical baptisms, marriages, and deaths. For additional context, see their guide on Prince Edward Island Civil Registration.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Vital Statistics Division
Civil registration in Newfoundland and Labrador is the responsibility of the provincial Vital Statistics Division in St. John's. For more information, go to Service NL - Birth, Marriage & Death.
FamilySearch
FamilySearch's Newfoundland and Labrador Research Page provides access to searchable indexes and digitized images for many historical births, marriages, and deaths. For additional context, see their guide on Newfoundland and Labrador Civil Registration.
Yukon
Vital Statistics
Civil registration in the Yukon is the responsibility of the provincial Vital Statistics Office in Whitehorse. For more information, go to Yukon Government - Vital Statistics.
FamilySearch
For additional context, see FamilySearch's guide on Yukon Civil Registration.
Northwest Territories
Department of Health and Social Services, Vital Statistics
Civil registration in the Northwest Territories is the responsibility of the provincial Vital Statistics Office in Inuvik. For more information, go to Health and Social Services - VItal Statistics.
FamilySearch
For additional context, see FamilySearch's guide on Northwest Territories Civil Registration.
Nunavut
Northwest Territories, Vital Statistics
Nunavut was part of the Northwest Territories up until April 1, 1999. Civil registration records from 1925 to March 31, 1999 for events that occurred in the present territory of Nunavut are held by the Northwest Territories' Vital Statistics office in Inuvik.
Department of Health and Social Services
Civil registration in Nunavut from April 1, 1999 onwards is the responsibility of the provincial Department of Health and Social Services in Rankin Inlet. For more information, go to Nunavut - Health Services.