Below are the resources that are generally available for most time periods. Under each title is a blurb telling you if the resource is available for this time period. For more general information on each resource, how to use it, where to find it, click on the title.
Birth Records
Ontario has a Privacy Act that restricts the viewing of certain records until a specific period of time has passed. In the case of birth records, they are not released for public viewing until 97 years after the birth has occurred. It then takes 1-2 years for the records to be prepared for viewing. Therefore you shall have to seek alternate records of birth, or wait until 97-99 years have elapsed.
Birth records for this time period will be available for public research in the following years (97 years plus 1 year for preparation):
1930 - 20281931 - 20291932 - 20301933 - 20311934 - 20321935 - 20331936 - 20341937 - 20351938 - 20361939 - 2037
Books
Books are an often overlooked resource especially now that the internet appears to have all the information you need at your fingertips. Local histories, period histories, and even transcripts are available, not just locally, but worldwide. Is your ancestor hiding in a book?
Cemetery Records
If the person you are seeking was buried (as opposed to cremated) you should be able to locate a cemetery record.
Census Records
The census was enumerated in 1931 and will be available for genealogy research in 2023.
Church Records
Depending on the religion and privacy restrictions of the church records you're seeking you may, or may not, be successful with your search.
Citizenship/Naturalization Records
If your ancestor was a British subject (born in Canada, England, or one of England's colonies) you will not find a Citizenship or Naturalization Record because they were already considered a citizen. If your ancestor was born elsewhere they were eligible to apply for Citizenship or Naturalization after living in Canada for three years and declaring loyalty to the British Crown. However, this information may be protected under the Privacy Act and not available for research.
Court Records
Coroner RecordsCorrectional RecordsDivorce RecordsFire Marshall RecordsOPP InvestigationsSurrogate CourtWills & Estate Files
Death Records
Ontario has a Privacy Act that restricts the viewing of certain records until a specific period of time has passed. In the case of Death records, they are not released for public viewing until 72 years after the death has occurred. It then takes 1-2 years for the records to be prepared for viewing. Therefore you shall have to seek alternate records of death, or wait until 72-74 years have elapsed.
Death records for this time period will be available for public research in the following years (72 years plus 1 year for preparation):
1930 - 20031931 - 20041932 - 20051933 - 20061934 - 20071935 - 20081936 - 20091937 - 20101938 - 20111939 – 2012
Funeral Records
Funeral Records may be available but could be subject to privacy laws, it's dependent upon the Funeral Home's regulations
Emigration Records
Some records were kept of border crossings from Canada to the USA. Canadian records are available up to 1935, from 1936 onward they are protected under the Privacy Act and not available. US records are available up to 1954.
Immigration Records
Quarantine Records
Land Records
Land PatentsOntario Land Registry Office
Marriage Records
Ontario has a Privacy Act that restricts the viewing of certain records until a specific period of time has passed. In the case of Marriage records, they are not released for public viewing until 82 years after the Marriage has occurred. It then takes 1-2 years for the records to be prepared for viewing. Therefore you shall have to seek alternate records of Marriage, or wait until 82-84 years have elapsed.
Marriage records for this time period will be available for public research in the following years (82 years plus 1 year for preparation):
1930 - 20131931 - 20141932 - 20151933 - 20161934 - 20171935 - 20181936 - 20191937 - 20201938 - 20211939 - 2022
Military Records
These records are not available until 20 years after the death of the person in question and can only be requested by next-of-kin.
Misc Records
DirectoriesNewspapersBiographiesFraternal OrganizationsEmployment RecordsAlumni Records
Do you know of another resource that could be used to research this time period?
