Land Grants to Veterans

From the seventeenth century, the French and British governments encouraged former soldiers to settle in Canada. Loyalists received land grants after the American Revolution, as did Canadian militiamen following the War of 1812. References to these records are found within various collections such as Land Petitions and Provincial Land Grants. The Government of Canada followed the same tradition with grants to veterans.

The Soldier Settlement Act (1917, 1919) and the Veterans' Land Act (1942) allowed veterans of the First and Second World Wars to purchase land with the help of government loans, with additional funds for livestock and equipment.

Research at Library and Archives Canada

North West Rebellion (1885)

Land grants were available to veterans of the North West Rebellion (1885). Search for references to correspondence and files relating to those individuals in the Government of Canada Files database.

Keywords: surname and 1885
Record Group: 15

South African War (1899-1902)

References to land grant applications can be found in the South African War database.

Aboriginal Veterans

The settlement of Aboriginal veterans of the First and Second World Wars was administered by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (RG 10). Records can be searched using the Government of Canada Files database.

Keywords: "soldier settlement" and the surname of the person
Record Group: 10

Research in Other Institutions

Records of the Soldier Settlement Board for First and Second World War veterans are in the custody of:

Access to Information and Privacy Office
Veterans Affairs Canada
PO Box 7700
Charlottetown PE
C1A 8M9