Quick access to information based on government's structure
Genealogists and amateur family history buffs now have a new tool on the internet for researching their British Columbian ancestors. British Columbia is the first province in Canada to release indexes to its historical birth, marriage and death records on the web (http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca). Users can now search the website indexes for birth registrations 1872-1898 (at least 100 years after the date of birth), marriage registrations
1872-1923 (at least 75 years after the date of marriage), and death registrations 1872-1978 (at least 20 years after the date of death). These time frames are consistent with the protection of privacy provisions in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (section 36) governing the disclosure of personal information for historical or archival purposes.
When Vital Statistics was created in 1872, it began the provincial registration of births, marriages, and deaths. These original documents are invaluable in genealogical research because they contain names of parents, birth dates, occupations, cause of death, and signatures. The public can now view copies of these documents on microfilm at the BC Archives reading room in Victoria and at public libraries, genealogical societies, and family history centres which have purchased the film.
The project to release historical vital event records began six years ago as joint venture between the BC Vital Statistics Agency, the BC Archives and several genealogical societies. In addition to
re-microfilming the records, the project originally planned to produce an index to the records. As the popularity of the internet grew, the index was developed into a searchable web database on the BC Archives' website. Since going live in 1997, the public response has been ecstatic; in the last two years these indexes have had over 3 million hits, averaging 3,600 per day with peak days of 30,000.
The Vital Statistics Agency's own website (http://www.hlth.gov.bc.ca/vs/) had a million hits last year, and now averages 3,700 hits a day. Through the web, the public can apply for official birth, death or marriage certificates, or one of the many colourful commemorative birth, marriage and genealogy certificates. Application forms can be downloaded and faxed or submitted electronically using credit card payment via a secure web server. Office locations and telephone numbers are available for Vital Statistics, Marriage Licence Issuers, Marriage Commissioners, Notaries, Funeral Homes, and Government Agents around the province. Other contact addresses are listed for people seeking documents from other Canadian provinces or US states.
The Agency's website provides instructions on the registration process for births, marriages, and deaths, how to apply for a legal change of name, and details on the Wills Registry. The website is also an excellent source of provincial health statistics; in addition to this report, the Quarterly Digest and other Agency publications can be viewed and downloaded.
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