You can access the Genealogy and Family History pages of Library and Archives Canada (LAC) via our Discover the Collection website. Just select “Genealogy and family history” from the “Most requested” section of the page.
If genealogy is new to you, start with the following sections (located in the left menu).
How to Begin
Are you curious about genealogy? Want to know what it is all about and how you can get started? If so, the A to Z tools and guides page and The basics page are for you.
Topic
A key section in your pursuit of family history, Topics offers information on the resources you need to fill in your family tree. It covers all topics related to genealogy and even provides subtopics to guide you along.
Places
To find genealogical resources specific to provinces and territories, visit Places. This section includes a brief historical overview of each province and territory, research suggestions, and links to related websites.
Before you start, remember these important tips:
- Keep a research log to record the various sources you consult (e.g., books, websites). This will help you avoid repeating your work.
- Ensure your online sources are reliable (e.g., use census, immigration, or other official records). Information found on genealogy websites can sometimes be inaccurate.
Questions or comments? We would love to hear from you!
Library and Archives Canada Blog 
Is it true that the dedicated genealogy service on the 3rd floor at 395 Wellington will be closing and amalgamated with other consultation services on the 2nd floor? Details please.
Thank you for your question. The Genealogy Services at LAC remain in their current location on the 3rd floor. Should there be changes to services in the future, LAC will ensure that clients are notified in advance.
Any chance you can help with the ATIP backlog? Waiting now more than 2 years!!
Thank you for your comment. We are working very hard to get to your request as soon as we are able. In the past year, we’ve released over 1.2 million pages and we’re improving the ways we do our work every day. Going into 2024, the ATIP Branch is excited to be completing even more requests and decreasing the backlog.