Ontario Vital Statistics: Registrations of Births, Marriages and Deaths

• An Introduction to Vital Statistics at the Archives of Ontario
  (on this page below)
• Vital Statistics Table of Contents
  (includes complete Microfilm Listings for the novice and experienced user)
• Frequently Asked Questions
  about Birth, Marriage and Death Records
• Finding A Birth Registration
  - A Pathfinder
• Finding A Marriage Registration
  - A Pathfinder
• Finding A Death Registration
  - A Pathfinder

Click here to see a larger image (161K)
Bride and Groom, Torges wedding, [ca. 1945]
Gordon W. Powley
Black and white negative
Reference Code: C 5-1-0-126-2
Archives of Ontario, I0002756

Introduction

Vital statistics are records pertaining to births, marriages and deaths within the province of Ontario. The Archives holds a significant number of these records.

Vital Statistics Records Held by the Archives

The Archives of Ontario has the Indexes (where they exist) and Registration Books from the Office of the Registrar General of Ontario for:

• Births: 1869-1909

• Marriages: ca. 1801-1924 (Note: There are many gaps in pre-1869 marriage records)

• Deaths: 1869-1934

All of these records are publicly available on microfilm. Another year of records is sent annually to the Archives. These are restricted until they have been made available on microfilm. The latest transfer (1910 births, 1925 marriages, 1935 deaths) is being filmed and will be available some time in 2007. For more recent registrations, you must contact the Office of the Registrar General.

Availability of the Microfilm Copies of the Indexes and Registrations

Microfilm copies of the indexes and registrations may be:

• Consulted at the Archives of Ontario's Main Reading Room, 77 Grenville Street, Toronto. This room is open 8:15 am to 10:30 pm Monday to Friday and 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturday. Reference staff are available to assist you from 8:15 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays.
• Borrowed through the Interlibrary Loan Department of your public library. Quote the appropriate MS and reel #. These reels cannot leave the borrowing library, so make sure to order them from a library that has a microfilm reader.
• Borrowed from the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through their Family History Centres. The Family History Centres have a different numbering system than the Archives of Ontario. Use the microfilm conversion list to convert our reel numbers to one you can use at a Family History Centre.
• Purchased directly from the Ontario Genealogical Society. For a complete listing of vital statistics microfilm available, consult Purchasing Vital Statistics Microfilm on our Vital Statistics FAQ page, or visit the Ontario Genealogical Society website.

  Note: The Archives of Ontario does not conduct Vital Statistics searches or issue birth, marriage, or death certificates.

Looking Up a Registration

The indexes and registrations are not available on this web site. They are only available on Microfilm. This web site provides directions on how to determine which microfilm reels you need in order to find the registrations you are seeking.

Finding a particular birth, marriage or death registration involves the following steps:

1. Use this web site to find the Index microfilm containing the surname and year of the event that you are looking for. Request that Index reel through a library, archives or other institution that uses the interlibrary loan system or through a Family History Centre of the Church of Latter Day Saints.
2. Using the Index microfilm, look up the event and record the registration year and registration number.
3. Returning to this web site, find the Registration microfilm containing the registration year and registration number. Request that Registration reel through a library, archives or other institution that uses the interlibrary loan system or through a Family History Centre of the Church of Latter Day Saints.

   Note:You may also consult microfilm copies of the Indexes and Registrations at the Archives of Ontario's Main Reading Room, 77 Grenville Street, Toronto. This room is open 8:15 am to 10:30 pm Monday to Friday and 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturday. Reference staff are available to assist you from 8:15 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays.

Research Guides and Pathfinders

If you are not familiar with Indexes and Registrations you may want to read the following handouts:

• Research Guide 203: Understanding the Vital Statistics Indexes: explains the information found on the Indexes. To download a PDF version of Guide 203 click here.
  
• Research Guide 202: Vital Statistics Bulletin: explains what information was recorded on the registrations. To download a PDF version of Guide 202 click here.

If you are not familiar with researching Vital Statistics Registrations you may want to consult the following pathfinders:

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