Library and Archives Canada announces "Immigrants to Canada," an Online Database
The following announcement was written by Library and Archives Canada:
Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the launch of an online database, Immigrants to Canada.
The database contains Canadian immigration records held at LAC, many of which relate to immigrants from the British Isles arriving in Quebec and Ontario; also included are references to settlers in other provinces. Through this new database, researchers can access references to lists of immigrants and other types of records created before 1865, such as declarations of aliens and names of some Irish orphans.
You are invited to visit the database at: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/immigrants-canada/index-e.html.
The contributions of many LAC staff were instrumental in the success of this project, and their efforts are much appreciated.
URL does not work. Get error: This Page Cannot Be Found
Posted by: Sue Jones | November 14, 2008 at 02:50 AM
URL does not work for me either.
Posted by: Mary Anne Drobnak | November 14, 2008 at 04:40 AM
Link is fine if you type it in rather than clicking on it!
John
Posted by: John Brebner | November 14, 2008 at 04:51 AM
The link works if you copy and paste:
http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/11/www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/immigrants-canada/index-e.html
and then remove "http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/11/
Posted by: Rebekha | November 14, 2008 at 07:15 AM
The URL doesn't work because there is a period at the end of "index-e-html". Copy and paste without the period.
Posted by: Nufarr | November 14, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Here's the correct link
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/immigrants-canada/index-e.html
Roger
Posted by: theKiwi | November 14, 2008 at 08:18 AM
I'm surprised they didn't include the Maritime provinces in there. Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia were major points of entry. I checked and none of my PEI ancestors who came over about 1830 from Scotland and England are in this collection.
Only having Quebec and Ontario in there would be like having American records for only Chicago and New Orleans.
Posted by: Kenneth Lary | November 14, 2008 at 08:43 AM
I agree with Mr. Lary. My ancestors came through the maritime provinces and I was so hoping this collection would include them...
Posted by: Trish Lewis | November 14, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think that the maritime provinces were part of Canada at the time in question. They were separate portions of British North America.
Posted by: Zadruga Guy | November 14, 2008 at 02:11 PM
The original link works fine for me (Firefox 3). The period at the end is not coloured so should not affect the address.
Posted by: Ernie Chorny | November 14, 2008 at 02:36 PM
The ancestor I'm interested in came in 1867, just a little beyond the time period covered in this new database. I know of no source that covers that time period, do you?
I sure wouldn't complain about such a great effort even though it doesn't help me!
Posted by: Jerry Hale | November 16, 2008 at 01:06 AM
The exact date of the creation of Canada as a formal entity would be July 1, 1867. However the name, selected by Jacques Cartier in the early 1500s,covered a lot of ground over the centuries before that date, including what is a lot of the US midwest and as far south as Louisiana.
The website does indicate that some maritime provinces data is included but it is far from comprehensive. One can only hope that the database will grow, and that the rich eastern entry points will eventually be recognized. From my experience living in Ontario and the general lack of knowledge about the eastern provinces evidenced there, suggests that will take some time.
Posted by: Bev | November 17, 2008 at 08:00 AM
The Maritimes were not part of Canada during the period of these records and Newfoundland/Labrador did not join confederation until 1949 when Premier Tommy Douglas decided it was time. All of the rellies I have found came through Montreal, Quebec City or Toronto. A lot of those that landed in the Maritimes either stayed there or went south.
Posted by: Kathy | November 17, 2008 at 02:57 PM
The phrase "The Maritimes" includes Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Some people, mostly non-Canadians, seem to confuse Newfoundland and Labrador with the Maritimes.
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick merged with the Canadas in Confederation in 1867 with Prince Edward Island joining them six years later in 1873.
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | November 17, 2008 at 03:11 PM