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Context
Bill C-3, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act, came into effect on December 15, 2025. Since then, people born outside of Canada can apply for Canadian citizenship based on an ancestor (parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent) having held Canadian citizenship. For more information on claiming Canadian citizenship by descent, visit Immigration.ca.
The province of Quebec centralized registration of births in 1994; prior to this, churches kept records of births and baptisms in register books and sent copies to the provincial government. The Eastern Townships Resource Centre holds records of Eastern Townships United Churches – including former Methodist and Congregational churches – and records of Presbyterian Churches on long-term loan. The birth information that the ETRC has access to is that recorded in the church copies of the registers which they have deposited with us for safekeeping. There are also several digitized copies of church registers older than 100 years old that are freely available for consultation via BAnQ Numérique from all religious denominations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can I request from the ETRC?
The ETRC can conduct research on your behalf to locate birth or baptismal entries in church registers, both in our holdings and in digitized online sources such as BAnQ Numérique.
Does the ETRC provide certified copies of documents?
No, the ETRC does not provide certified copies. We recommend that you make a request through the Directeur de l’état civil (the Director of Civil Status) for birth certificates or certified copies of baptismal acts. You can find more information on the DEC’s website.
How do I make a request?
You can make a request by filling out our Request for Research Services form.
How much does it cost to make a request?
Our research services are billed at a rate of $45.00 CAD per hour, as per our Price List. We require each research contract to authorize a minimum of one hour of research time, but the actual time varies, depending on the availability of records and the detail provided in the initial request. If a request seems as though it will take more than the time authorized in the contract, the ETRC will communicate with the client prior to proceeding for permission to increase the authorized number of hours.
How long will it take before I receive the results of my request?
As of March 2026, we are offering a turnaround time of two to three weeks per request. Please note that you will only receive your results after your payment has been received.
How do I pay for my request?
Once the research has been completed by our team, we will send you an invoice by email. This invoice can be paid by credit card using our secure online payment portal, the link to which will be included on the invoice. Requests may also be paid by cheque mailed to us. Please keep in mind that you will only receive your results after your payment has been received by us; credit card payments therefore result in a quicker turnaround.
What preliminary research should I do?
You are not required to do any preliminary research; however, if you have done preliminary research, you can include details in your request submission form. Any biographical information that you can provide will make the research more efficient, taking less time and thereby saving you money.
If you can determine the person’s religious denomination (e.g. Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, Universalist, etc.), we can narrow down our search. You may be able to find this information using free, online sources such as the Canadian census.
Other questions? Contact the Archives Department