Enquiries/Lookups, Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society

Enquiries/Lookups

Toronto Branch will undertake genealogy research look-ups, which could include a search of Ontario Archive indexes; birth, marriage and death records; newspaper notices; census; church records; Toronto directories; cemetery transcriptions and burial records. Toronto Branch may also have suggestions for an enquirer as to the approach to take in doing their genealogy research. Enquiry requests are dealt with by volunteers.

OGS members making Enquiries should include their OGS number and indicate the OGS branches of which they are a member. For membership information concerning Toronto Branch, OGS, see Membership Information.

In your Enquiry request to Toronto Branch, please include as much detail in point form rather than in paragraphs and clearly state your objectives. Please include a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) with your request. In the case of overseas or out of Canada requests, an IRC (International Reply Coupon) should be sent. Responses may take as long as 6 to 8 weeks depending on the time of year.

Fees will be quoted once the degree of effort and expected costs for photocopying, postage, etc. can be determined. Examples of fees are as follows:

Full record photocopy of a Vital Statistic event (RG-80) at the Ontario Archives where the name and place of event and index reference number are provided is $5.00.
Full record photocopy of a Vital Statistic event (RG-80) at the Ontario Archives where the name and place of event are provided, but the index reference number must be determined, is $10 with a span of 5 years being searched. A greater span of years will require an additional fee.
Cemetery Transcriptions: $2.00 per page with a $5.00 minimum. Note that it is often advantageous to purchase the entire publication as you may also find other names of interest in your research.

Payment: Cheques or money orders are to be made payable to Toronto Branch, OGS. Non-Canadian residents are requested to pay in U.S. funds at par.

If your enquiry is by post, please mail your enquiry to Enquiries Coordinator, Toronto Branch, OGS, Box 518, Station K, Toronto, ON M4P 2G9.

If your enquiry is by email, send to the Enquiries Coordinator.

See also our Electronic Search Services, which include a large database of Places of Worship Registers and Indexes in historic York County (which includes Toronto) and our Cemetery Index Search service.

We are unable to undertake detailed research because of the time required. At your request, we will provide a list of professional genealogists who would work on a fee basis.