The British Columbia Archives (BC Archives), the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency (BCVSA), and the Information and Data Management Branch (IDMB) are pleased to announce the release of indexes to BC birth registrations (1872-1898) on the BC Archives Web site, effective 16 June 1999 at: http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca

The BC Archives Web site provides an extensive source of genealogical information on pioneer residents of the Province of British Columbia. In addition to the Genealogical Resources page, the Web site offers direct online searching of historical B.C. Vital Event Indexes (nearly 1 million names in total), consisting of birth events over one hundred years old, marriage events over seventy-five years old, and death events over twenty years old.

Indexes to marriages (1872-1921) and deaths (1872-1976) were first released on 13 January 1997. Earlier this year, those indexes were updated to include marriages for 1922-1923 and deaths for 1977-1978.

Since the initial release in 1997, the Vital Events portion of the BC Archives Web site has taken more than 3 million hits, from around the world.

This project is the result of close cooperation between the BCVSA and BC Archives/IDMB, in partnership with the Genealogical Society of Utah, which has provided the staff to microfilm the original registration documents. Volunteers from the West Coast Family Histories Society and the Victoria Genealogical Society provided an invaluable service by indexing early birth, marriage, and death registrations. Volunteers from the West Coast Family Histories Society undertook the very time-consuming task of sorting birth registrations in preparation for microfilming.

Microfilm copies of original birth registration documents (1872-1898), marriage registration documents (1872-1923), and death registration documents (1872-1978) are available for viewing in the BC Archives reading room in Victoria.

For a list of libraries and genealogical societies that hold a copy of the marriage and death microfilm released in January 1997, please consult: http://www.hlth.gov.bc.ca/vs/genealogy/microfilm.html

The full set of birth, marriage, and death registration documents on microfilm (344 reels) may be obtained from the BCVSA for $2775 ($3,163.50 with tax) and the COMfiche index for $25 ($28.50 with tax). The update set of reels released in 1999 (36 reels) costs $275 ($313.50 with tax). Prices are effective 16 June 1999, quoted in Canadian dollars, and subject to change. Please consult the BCVSA Web site page at: http://www.hlth.gov.bc.ca/vs/genealogy/order.html for information on when copies of the newly released birth, marriage, and death microfilm reels will be available for purchase. For details on how to place your order, please contact BCVSA at: vsgene@moh.hnet.bc.ca, or at the mailing address below.

Birth registrations are released one hundred years after the date of birth, marriage registrations seventy-five years after the date of marriage, and death registrations twenty 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 disclosure of personal information for historical or archival purposes.

BC Archives staff cannot provide photocopies of birth, marriage, or death registration documents, nor do research in the online databases or registrations on behalf of remote users. BC Archives will refer all requests for genealogical services, including photocopies, received by phone, e-mail, FAX or mail, to the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency, 818 Fort Street, Victoria, B.C., Canada V8W 1H8. Phone: (250) 952-2681 or toll-free (800) 663-8328.

Services can also be obtained through independent researchers, including those listed at: http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/general/res_list.htm

Questions about the data in the online indexes or the genealogical services provided by the BCVSA should be addressed to: vsgene@moh.hnet.bc.ca.

For more information about the project, contact the Public Access Group of the British Columbia Archives/Information and Data Management Branch: webmaster@bcarchives.gov.bc.ca.