This a service for distant genealogists and are answered by volunteers. Local researchers are encouraged to visit the City of Ottawa Archives and the Branch Library. Due to the shortage of volunteers and the volume of Inquiries, responses may take 4-8 weeks; longer if you fail to follow the instructions below and we have to contact you for further information. Please read them carefully and we will be pleased to help you.
Cemetery Transcriptions: Ottawa Branch OGS supports the Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid (OCFA) by submitting to the index all surnames transcribed from cemeteries. The entries from Ottawa Branch are identified by references beginning with OT-followed by year of submission.
Cemetery Lookup Fees: Ottawa Branch charges $3 for each individual burial transcription requested or $5 for a photo of a tombstone facet (face) bearing the requested name. [Photography is only available for cemeteries located within the City of Ottawa]. Where available, cemetery interment register data may also be provided for an additional fee of $3 each. Interment register data generally includes a great deal of information [family relationships etc.]about the deceased.
Newspaper publications of birth, death and marriage: Ottawa Branch charges: $5 for each event if the full date of the event is included with request. If only the month and year of the event are known, the charge will be $10. If only the year of the event is known the charge will be $25.00. In each and every case the location of the event must also be provided.
Payment of all fees: Inquirers with Canadian home addresses pay in $CA, all other inquirers pay in $US. The face value of the amount is the same in both currencies. These fees include postage and must be received in advance of initiation of the research. Use this form to simplify payment.
Make cheques or money orders payable to ‘Ottawa Branch Ontario Genealogical Society’. If the payable name is not correct our bank will refuse the payment and there will be delays as you will be asked to forward another payment with the correct name. You may make an Inquiry request by email inquiries@ogsottawa.on.ca . We will respond by email either accepting your request or not. Please respond by email indicting your acceptance of the conditions expressed and give indication that the fee will be sent by regular post in the next few days. Your research will be initiated as soon as possible upon receipt of the fee by regular post.
Requests, including payment, must be submitted to our postal address:
Ottawa Branch Ontario Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 8346
Ottawa, ON K1G 3H8
Cemetery Publications: The society publishes many cemetery transcriptions; please consult our website. Researchers interested in a large number of names from the same cemetery may find it most useful to purchase a specific publication.
The Library of Ottawa Branch OGS has extensive holdings of genealogy material available for browsing at the library or click here and follow the directions. Such items include census information, voters’ lists, directories, passenger lists, genealogies, community and county records, maps and periodicals. As well, the collection has some births, marriages and deaths in parish registers, newspapers, obituaries, township records and repertoires.
We also invite you to consider submitting a copy of your personal genealogy [completed or not], to be housed in our library. This could result in useful collaboration with other researchers having interests in common with you.
The request for a search in any of these library holdings must include specific title, date and place information as well as surnames. The cost is an initial fee of $5, which includes a photocopy or microfilm printout of one page.
Please note: If you require a professional genealogist, Library and Archives Canada [LAC] maintains a list of free-lance researchers or the Ottawa Branch OGS could recommend one of our own. For an LAC contact please Click here for Library and Archives Canada