Birth records in Canada are managed at the provincial and territorial levels, with each region maintaining its own system of registration. Official birth registration began in most provinces between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but earlier records were often kept by churches.
For example, British Columbia started registering births in 1872, while Ontario implemented civil registration in 1869. Quebec has some of the oldest records, dating back to the early 1600s, as Catholic parishes meticulously documented baptisms, which served as de facto birth records. The prairie provinces, such as Saskatchewan and Manitoba, saw a significant influx of European settlers in the late 19th century, influencing their birth records. Immigration waves, Indigenous ancestry, and historical events like World War I and II also shaped Canada's genealogical records.
Today, provincial archives and online databases provide access to birth records, making them essential for tracing ancestry, particularly in regions with diverse immigrant populations.
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Birth, Marriage & Death
Birth Records
- Canada, Manitoba, Birth Index, 1880-1919 756,113 records
- Canada, Prince Edward Island Births and Baptisms 711,220 records
- Canada, Quebec, Catholic Parish Baptisms 50,486 records
