Birth, Marriage and Death Records

Searching for Birth, Marriage and Death Records in the Canadian Provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island

Whether you are tracing your family tree or simply searching for a copy of your own birth certificate, it is not always easy to locate and request the information you require. These step-by-step guides should help you in your quest to find records of births, marriages and deaths occurring in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island.

Manitoba

Older Birth, Marriage & Death Records

The Manitoba Vital Statistics Agency maintains a database of all birth, marriage and death records that are no longer subject to privacy legislation, namely:

�        Birth records that are over 100 years old

�        Marriage records dating from more than 80 years ago

�        Records of deaths occurring more than 70 years ago

The database can be searched by anyone online and free of charge by following these steps:

1.      Go to this webpage: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/cca/vital/Query.php

2.      Scroll down to the online search form and fill it in

3.      Click on the search button

4.      A list of search results will appear, giving basic information on each record.

5.      Once you have found the record you are searching for, click on the �detail view� button to reveal more information.

6.      If you wish to purchase a certified copy of the original record, click on the �add to cart� button.

7.      Once you have selected all of the records you wish to order, go back to http://web2.gov.mb.ca/cca/vital/Query.php and scroll down to �your shopping cart� at the bottom of the page.

8.      Click on the �view� button and a form entitled �Request for Copy of Genealogy Record� will appear with the details of the record(s) selected automatically added to the form.

9.      Print and fill in the form and add the fee of C$12 per record requested.

10.  Mail, fax or take the completed form and fee to:

Vital Statistics Agency

254 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, MB, R3C 0B6

Telephone: (204) 945 3701

Fax: (204) 948 3128

More Recent Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates

Birth, marriage and death certificates issued in Manitoba in the more recent past are subject to privacy legislation. This means that only certain people may access them. If you are seeking a birth certificate that is less than 100 years old, a marriage certificate issued in the past 80 years, or a death certificate dating from the last 70 years, you will need to verify that you are eligible to apply for this certificate. In order to do this, go to this webpage: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/cca/vital/Entitled.html and ensure that you are legally able to request the certificate in question.

In order to request a certificate issued in Manitoba, follow these steps:

1.      Download the application form from the Internet at: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/cca/vital/pdf/Appl_form_english.pdf

2.      Print and fill in the form

3.      Include the appropriate fee. The standard fee is C$25 per certificate or certified photocopy. The express fee, for the processing of your application within 24 hours and the dispatch of the certificate by courier, is C$60 if you live in Canada and C$70 for addresses in the USA.

a.       Mail, fax or take the completed form and fee to:

Vital Statistics Agency

254 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, MB, R3C 0B6

Telephone: (204) 945 3701

Fax: (204) 948 3128

 

Prince Edward Island

Older Birth, Marriage & Death Records

The Public Archives and Records Office of Prince Edward Island holds the following birth, marriage and death records:

• Records of church baptisms from 1777 to 1886
• Marriage register books from 1832 to 1923
• Marriage bonds from 1849 to 1902
• Marriage licenses from 1787 to 1919
• Death records pre-dating 1906

 

Baptismal Records from 1777 to 1886

More than 92,000 church baptismal records covering the 1777 to 1886 period are included on the Prince Edward Island Baptismal Index, which can be searched online and free of charge by following these steps:

1. Go to: http://www.gov.pe.ca/cca/baptismal/search_index.php
2. Select one of the different types of searches, depending upon the information you have available. Click on the chosen type of search.
3. Fill in the online search form and click on the �search� button
4. A list of search results will appear with the following information on each person:
   1. Child�s full name
   2. Date of birth
   3. Date of baptism
   4. Mother�s name
   5. Father�s name
   6. Place of birth
   7. Place of baptism
5. Scroll down the list until you find the name of the person you are looking for and click on the child�s full name to access the complete record, which may contain further information, such as:
   1. Name of the officiating clergy
   2. Name and place of the church in which the baptism took place
6. If you wish, you may request a copy of the original church record by clicking on the �order form� button at the foot of the full record. Print and fill in the order form and send it, together with the requested fee, to:

Public Archives and Records Office of PEI

P.O. Box 1000

Charlottetown, PE

C1A 7M4

Marriage and death records held by the Public Archives and Records Office of PEI

The marriage and death records held by the Public Archives and Records Office of PEI can be consulted in person by visiting:

Public Records and Archives Office

Hon. George Coles Building
Richmond Street
Charlottetown, PE

Telephone: (902) 368-4290

Email: [email protected]

The opening hours can be found on this webpage: http://www.edu.pe.ca/paro/about.asp

Copies of documents can also be requested in person at the Public Records and Archives Office.

If you are unable to visit the Public Records and Archives Office, you may submit a reference inquiry by either mail or telephone to:

Public Records and Archives Office

PO Box 1000

Charlottetown, PE

C1A 7M4

Telephone: (902) 368-4290

More Recent Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates

Prince Edward Island Vital Statistics maintains the following birth, marriage and death records:

1. Birth records from 1906 to the present day
2. Incomplete church baptismal records dating from 1886 to 1906
3. Marriage records from 1906 to the present day
4. Some civil marriage records from 1886 to 1906
5. Death records from 1906 onwards

If you wish to apply for a birth, marriage or death certificate held by Prince Edward Island Vital Statistics, follow this procedure:

1. Go to: http://www.gov.pe.ca/forms/pdf/1.pdf and download the application form
2. Scroll down to the second page of the application form and verify your eligibility to apply for the birth, marriage or death certificate in question
3. Print out and fill in the application form
4. Decide which type of certificate you would like. Birth and marriage certificates are obtainable in the larger framing size and the smaller wallet size, while death certificates are only available in the framing size.
5. Consult the table of fees on the second page of the application form and calculate the total fee payable.
6. Write out a check or money order for the required fee. Ensure that the check or money order is denominated in Canadian dollars and made payable to �Vital Statistics P.E.I.� Alternatively, you may add your visa or mastercard credit card details to the application form.
7. Send the completed application form and fee to:

Vital Statistics

PO Box 3000

Montague, PE

C0A 1R0

Telephone: (902) 838-0880 or (877) 320 1253 (toll free number for Prince Edward Island only)

These step-by-step guides should hopefully lead you to the personal documentation you are seeking in Manitoba or Prince Edward Island.