In Part 1 of this article, I discussed the basic steps to begin Canadian research. In this article, I will discuss the key sources for each of the Canadian provinces (going from the west to the east).
British Columbia (BC) -- Became a province in 1871
- Births, marriages, and deaths from 1872, on microfilm and indexed on FamilySearch.org in the Historical Records section
- Available online at the British Columbia Archives website
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
- Western Land Grants, from 1870 to 1930
- Available on the Library and Archives Canada website
Alberta (AB) -- became a province in 1905
- Census records, including the 1906, 1911, and 1916 censuses
Saskatchewan (SK) -- Became a province in 1905
- Indexes of births before 100 years ago and deaths before 70 years ago, available online at the ISC Genealogy Index Searches website
- Saskatchewan Homestead Records, 1870-1930. Available on the Family History Library film set beginning with number 882996 (index and records), or online at the Saskatchewan Homestead Index website
Manitoba (MB) -- Became a province in 1870
- Vital records, online index 1882, available online at the Manitoba Vital Statistics website
Ontario (ON) -- Became a province in 1867
- Indexes of births from1869 to 1912, marriages from 1869 to 1927, and deaths from 1869 to 1937. Available online, with varying years covered, at FamilySearch.org in the Historical Records section, on microfilm, and at Ancestry.com
- Upper Canada Land Petitions 1763-1865, at the Library and Archives Canada website
- Land records: Ontario Archives Land Record Index, 1792-1876, FHL Fiche 6330425-6330552.
Quebec (QC) -- Became a province in 1867
- See FamilySearch.org, the Historical Records section
- Drouin Collection, at Ancestry.com, 1621-1941 (Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish records)
- Loiselle’s Marriage Index to Catholic marriages, 1621-1960s. FHL microfilms, beginning with film 543,721; and Supplement: beginning with film 1,571,024
Nova Scotia (NS) -- Became a province in 1867
- Vital records, including births, 1864-1877, 1908-09; marriages, 1864-1934; and deaths, 1864-1877 and 1908-1959. Available at FamilySearch.org in the Historical Records section; on microfilm; and online at the Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics website
New Brunswick (NB) – Became a province in 1867
- Vital records, online indexes, including births, 1810 to 1914; marriages: 1847 to 1960; and deaths, 1815 to 1960. Available at FamilySearch.org, in the Historical Records section; on microfilm; and at the New Brunswick Provincial Archives website
Prince Edward Island (PE) – Became a province in 1873
- See FamilySearch.org, in the Historical Records section
- Master Name Index, part, 1700s to 1900s. FHL microfilm, beginning with number 1490091
- Master Name Index, part 2, 1800s to 1900s. FHL microfilm, beginning with number 2135170
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) – Became a province in 1949
- See FamilySearch.org, in the Historical Records section
- Census records: 1911, 1921, 1935, 1945
- Births, marriages, and deaths from 1891
- The Newfoundland's Grand Banks website has compiled vital records listings
These basic sources and websites could get you started in your research in Canadian provinces. Good luck in your research!
