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Searching in Canada

MISCELLANEOUS CANADIAN LINKS

• Manitoba – LINKS
• Forget Me Not Family Society, Surrey, British Columbia
• Quebec – Mouvement Retrouvailles
• Batshaw Family Services in Montreal
• Parent Finders New Brunswick and PEI
• Adoption Records By Province | Origins Canada

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

In Canada, adoption and adoption disclosure are provincial matters. You must apply to the province where the adoption was FINALIZED in order to obtain any information about that adoption. In most provinces you are entitled to non-identifying background information and may register in a matching registry. Some provide search services, but usually for adoptees only. Waiting lists are very long everywhere and waiting times change all the time. Most legislation is under review.

ALBERTA:

Post Adoption Registry, Alberta Children’s Services,
11th Floor, Sterling Place, 9940-106 St.
Edmonton, Alberta, T5K 2N2
Telephone: 780-427-6387
email: postadoption.registry@gov.ab.ca

New legislation in effect November 1, 2004. Adoption records are open to both adoptees and birth parents. A matching registry and non-identifying information are available. If an adoptee does not know about his adoption, adoptive parents can place an information disclosure veto.

BRITISH COLUMBIA:

Under the Adoption Act in B.C., birth parents and adults who were adopted as children can get identifying information about each other.

MANITOBA:  New legislation came into effect in June 2015.

Manitoba Family Services
Post-Adoption Registry
114 Garry Street
Suite 201
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4V5
Telephone: 204-945-8201
e-mail: cfsd@gov.mb.ca

http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childfam/registry.html

The Adoption Act has been amended. The key changes are as follows:

• A person who was born in Manitoba, was adopted, and is now an adult may now apply to the director under The Adoption Act for a copy of his or her pre-adoption birth registration and the new registration of birth document that was substituted for it after the adoption. The parent named on the person’s pre-adoption birth registration  (“registered birth parent”) may also apply for those documents, but the copies they get will not show information about the adoptive parents.
• A person who was born outside Manitoba but adopted here and is now an adult may apply for his or her pre-adoption birth registration information that is available in the director’s records.
• Disclosure vetoes can be filed only by adopted persons who are 16 or older or their registered birth parents, and only if the adoption was granted in Manitoba  before these amendments take effect, or outside the province.
• Adult parties to an adoption granted in Manitoba will continue to be able to file contact vetoes until these amendments take effect. However, after these amendments take effect, adopted persons who are 16 or older and their registered birth parents will be able to file a contact preference to specify the contact with the other that they are prepared to have, if any.
• An aboriginal person who was born in Manitoba and adopted will be able to request that his or her pre-adoption birth registration and identifying information about his or her birth parents be given to another person, or to a government or organization, for the purpose of applying for benefits or services provided to aboriginal persons. These requests are not subject to vetoes or contact preferences.
• The director under The Adoption Act will operate as the “central desk” for the Vital Statistics Agency and the court in dealing with requests for adoption and pre-adoption birth registration records, information and Manitoba adoption orders. As well, search services offered by the director are expanded.
• Provisions relating to adoption proceedings in the court will reflect the court’s practice of adoption proceedings being closed to the public.
• To help protect parties’ privacy rights, the director will be able to disclose identifying information to an appropriate authority in another  jurisdiction to determine if a veto or contact preference has been filed there. The director will also be able to enter into information-sharing agreements with other jurisdictions.
• Fines for offences under the Act are increased from $20,000 to $50,000, in line with the fines for offences under The Child and Family Services Act.

Vital Statistics Act Amendments

Part 2 of this Bill amends The Vital Statistics Act. The key changes are as follows:

• Section 10 of the Act, concerning adoption orders and pre-adoption birth registrations is replaced to reflect the increased transparency of these records.
• The director under The Vital Statistics Act will be allowed to give previously sealed pre-adoption birth registrations and related adoption orders to the director under The Adoption Act so he or she can carry out responsibilities under that Act.
• As well, the director is given the power to examine registrations or proposed registrations under the Act and to sever information from them if the truthfulness or legitimacy of the information is in doubt.

NEW BRUNSWICK:

Post Adoption Disclosure Services
Department of Social Development
PO Box 6000
Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5H1
Telephone: 506-453-2152

Post Adoption Disclosure Services (gnb.ca)

e-mail: sd-ds@gnb.ca

NOTE:  NEW BRUNSWICK HAS PASSED NEW LEGISLATION – BILL 39 – TO OPEN ADOPTION RECORDS IN APRIL 2018.  

Recent changes to New Brunswick’s Family Services Act allows adoptees and birth parents to apply for access to available identifying information and will provide for access to different documents depending on which party you are to the adoption.

These changes will take effect on April 1, 2018 and will affect:

• adult adoptees;
• birth parents of adoptees;
• adult children of a deceased adult adoptee; and
• adult children of a deceased birth parent whose child was placed for adoption.

As of April 1, 2018, adult adoptees and birth parents will be able to obtain forms to apply for access to birth records related to an adoption. These forms will be available on the Department of Social Development’s web page for the Opening of Sealed Adoption Records (gnb.ca).

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR:

Post Adoption Services – Eastern Health
81 Kenmount Road
St John’s, Newfoundland, A1B 4A4
Telephone: 709-752-4406
http://www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/birth/accessing_records_under_adoption_act/index.html

Adopted persons who were born and adopted in Newfoundland and Labrador will receive a copy of their original birth registration in their birth name (including the name of any birth parent on record) and a copy of their adoption order provided a disclosure veto has not been filed.

Birth parents of people born and adopted in Newfoundland and Labrador will receive a copy of the adopted person’s original birth registration, the adopted person’s birth registration following adoption (including any changes of name consequent to the adoption), and the adoption order.

NOVA SCOTIA:
http://www.gov.ns.ca/coms/families/adoption/AdoptionDisclosure.html

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

Nova Scotia’s Adoption Information Act establishes a balance between people’s right to privacy and the opportunity for contact between adopted person and their birth families.
The Adoption Information Act creates an active registry to help people search for members of their birth family. Identifying information will be exchanged only after both parties have consented.

Adoption information on file
The basic record for any adoption consists of legal documents and background information. In recent years there has been a general improvement in the type and amount of information recorded. In the past, records were not so complete and there may be little information available on a particular adoption.
Identifying and non-identifying information
Identifying information is information that will likely reveal the identity of another person involved in the adoption. Under the Act, identifying information includes a person’s name, birth date, residence or occupation. Non-identifying information may include medical history, physical description, interests and level of education.

Who can obtain non-identifying information?
You can obtain non-identifying information about an adoption you were involved in if you are:
An adopted person 19 or older
An adopted person under 19 with the written consent of your adoptive parents
A birth parent
A birth sibling or birth relative 19 or older with the written consent of the birth parent (some exceptions apply)
Who can obtain identifying information?
To obtain identifying information, both you and the person you are looking for need to be 19 years or older. You may request identifying information if you are an adopted person, a birth parent, or a birth sibling with the written consent of your birth parent (some exceptions apply). Adopted persons may also request information about siblings who were placed for adoption in other families.
Under most circumstances identifying information will not be released without the consent of the person being identified.

What if we can’t locate my birth family member?
The Adoption Disclosure Services Program staff have been successful in locating more than 95% of the people being sought. If the Adoption Disclosure Services Program staff cannot locate the person you are seeking, you will be advised of the steps that were taken. If we cannot locate them, identifying information cannot be released.
What happens to the Passive Adoption Register?
The Department of Community Services will continue to maintain the Passive Adoption Register. The Register contains the names of all the people who registered before the Adoption Information Act as well as those who registered after January 1, 1997.
If I am already on the Passive Registry do I have to register again?
If you want the Adoption Disclosure Unit to conduct a search, you need to apply again. Searches will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority will be given to medical emergencies and in cases where the birth parents are over 65 years of age. If you only wish to remain on the Passive Adoption Register, there is no need to reapply.
Next steps

The first step in obtaining information is to register with the Passive Adoption Register (see How to Register, below). This will record you as someone who wants contact with another person involved in the adoption. Registering will also provide you with all non-identifying information that is available from your record.
Once you have registered, the Adoption Disclosure Services Program staff will check for a match. If both of you have registered as wanting contact, a social worker can help you to arrange contact.

The Search
If the other person has not registered, the staff will search for him or her on your behalf. The search is carried out in the strictest confidence to protect the privacy of the person you are seeking.
If the person is located, he or she will be asked if he or she consents to contact. If the person objects to contact for any reason, identifying information will not be released. He or she will be asked to provide updated non-identifying information for you.
If the person you are seeking has died, identifying information will be released.  
If you do not want to be contacted, you can formally register your wish by writing the Adoption Disclosure Services Program.

To register write:
Adoption Disclosure Services Program
Halifax District Office- Child Welfare
103 Garland Avenue
Dartmouth, NS B3B 0K5
Phone (902) 424-2755

ONTARIO:

For information, telephone: 1-800-461-2156 or 416-325-8305 or visit the  Service Ontario website under “Searching for Adoption Records”.

Adoptees and birth parents may request identifying information about each other from Vital Statistics in Thunder Bay. Contact and information vetoes are available. Waiting lists are only about 2 weeks. A special search is available to birth relatives and adoptees in cases of severe health issues. A passive Matching Registry is available for adoptees, birthparents, grandparents and siblings. Non-identifying information in redacted form can be obtained from the Children’s Aid Society or agency involved, although there is a long waiting period to get this information.

http://www.ontario.ca/government/search-adoption-records

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND:

Post Adoption Registry,
Department of Health and Social Services
161 St. Peter’s St. PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PEI. C1A 7N8
Main telephone: 902-368-6511 Coordinators: 902-368-6139
http://www.gov.pe.ca/sss/index.php3?number=18537&lang=E

Adoptees can request a search for birth family members. The waiting list is about 1 year.  There is no charge for this service. A matching register. is available. Birth mother’s permission is needed for birth name to be released. Priority is given to those aged over 60 and for medical searches.

QUEBEC:

Adoption Disclosure Laws changed in Quebec in June 2018. 

For more information go to Searching in Quebec.

SASKATCHEWAN:

Post Adoption Registry,
1920 Broad Street 10th floor
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3V6
Telephone: 306-787-3654,  or toll-free 1-800-667-7539

http://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/births-and-adoptions/adoption/post-adoption-services

http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/deplist.cfm?d=17&c=4111

Adopted adults, birth family members, adoptive parents of minors canrequest search and contact services. There is no charge for documents, registry, search and contact or for background information, but there are long waiting times. A copy of the Adoption Order showing birth name is available to adoptees.

YUKON, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES & NUNAVUT:

Adoption Disclosure Registry
Dept of Health & Human Resources, Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2C6
Telephone: 867- 667-3002

Yukon:    Access adoption records | Government of Yukon

A new law came into effect in Yukon in May 1, 2010. Adoptees and birth parents can obtain original or amended birth information. Adoptees can request Adoption Orders. Information vetoes and contact preferences are available. Searches and registry are available to both. NWT and Nunavut provide non-identifying information, as well as search and contact services to adoptees and birth parents. Identifying information is released when consent is received from both parties. Contact agencies for more information.

www.gov.yk.ca/forms/forms/5500/yg5654_e.pdf

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The Northwest Territories has closed records for natural parents and adoptees.

1.  Post Adoption Disclosure

Identifying information is only released with the consent of both parties, unless the Registrar of Adoptions cannot within 1 year locate the person whose consent must be obtained, at which point the records will be released. Natural parents and adoptees may request inclusion in a passive reunion registry, request an active search, or request non-identifying information. Nunavut adoption laws are based on the same legislation.

For information on adoptions that took place in the Northwest Territories contact:

Registrar, Adoptions
Department of Health and Social Services
Government of the Northwest Territories
CS-6th Floor, P.O. Box 1320
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9

Phone: (867) 873-7943

2.  Obtain your Hospital Records

Mothers can call the Medical Records department of the hospital in which the birth took place to obtain your hospital chart with respect to prenatal care, labour and delivery, post natal care, hospital stay, etc.  Mothers should also apply for their child’s hospital record.  (Hint:  Do not use the word “adopted” if possible,  and if asked why records are required the answer is “for my personal record”).

3.  Maternity Home Records

Mothers who resided in Maternity Homes may apply to the organization which ran the home for any records which may have survived:

For Salvation Army Homes contact:

Salvation Army Archives
26 Howden Road, Scarborough, Ontario

Nov 8, 2023