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Local and Family History

Genealogical research is a popular and one of the fastest growing hobbies in North America. We can help you trace the branches of your family tree, check the history of an old building…or maybe even solve a mystery.

At the Library, you have a tonne of historical records and resources at your fingertips. We'll show you where to start and give you some tips for your research.

Come in to the library and we can help you with the following:

  • An introduction to our resources and how to use them
  • Access the microfilm. We have newspapers going back to 1878!
  • How to research a specific ancestor or topic
  • Tips for obituary or newspaper research
  • Help using online resources

Want to get started from home? Below you will find some basics and resources to start your search or try our Genealogical and Family Research Guide 2020 where we go through our resources and show you basic family research methods.

National Resources

  1. Library and Archives Canada-Genealogy and Family With the Library and Archives Canada Genealogy and Family website you can consult databases that include census, immigration, citizenship, land, military, births, marriages and death records.
  2. Family Search  FamilySearch is a nonprofit family history organization dedicated to connecting families across generations.
  3. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation  A permanent home for all statements, documents, and other materials gathered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). The public can access historical records.
  4. CanadaGenWeb’s Cemetery Project  Started 2004 as a volunteer project of CanadaGenWeb and currently offers a free and searchable listing of over 18,000 known Canadian cemeteries.
  5. Cyndi’s List  Cyndi's List is a categorized and cross-referenced index to genealogical resources on the Internet. A list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online. A free jumping-off point for you to use in your online research.

Provincial Resources

  1. Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan Contains historical records which include public documents created by governments ranging from the Territorial period to modern day, as well as records from private citizens, businesses and institutions dating from the mid-19th century to recent times.
  2. Saskatchewan Archival Information Network (SAIN) SAIN provides information about the archives in Saskatchewan and their holdings.
  3. The Northwest Resistence  Database Provides access to materials relating to the Northwest Resistance of 1885 held by the Special Collections Department of the University of Saskatchewan Libraries and the University of Saskatchewan Archives. It contains a searchable database of bibliographic records and include photographs.
  4. Peel’s Prairie Provinces It is a resource dedicated to assisting scholars, students, and researchers of all types in their exploration of western Canadian history and the culture of the Canadian prairies. This website contains both an online bibliography of books, pamphlets, and other materials related to the development of the Prairies, as well as a searchable full-text collection of many of these items.
  5. Saskatchewan Cemeteries Project There are over 3300 cemeteries and burial sites in the province of Saskatchewan. 1750 are transcribed or photographed on this website.
  6. Saskatchewan Genealogical Library Hosts public and member only access databases. The public access databases are Biggar Railway Retirees List, Cemetery Index, Changes of Name, and RCMP Obituary Index.