In Canada, most provincial archives, and indeed most local archives, are well aware that genealogists and family historians are among their most constant visitors, whether in person or on-line. Accordingly, a number of Canada’s provincial archives have developed  finding aids to archival collections thought to be of first interest to genealogists. And a few archives have taken to social networks, like Flickr and Facebook, to make their collections both better known and more accessible.

The BCGS’s Canadian Provincial Archives – A Web Guide has links to the websites of all of Canada’s provincial archives, and direct links to provincial archival databases, exhibitions and catalogues of particular importance to genealogists and family historians.

Some ‘Friends of the Archives’ groups are active in Canada promoting and supporting local, provincial and specialized archives. For example, the Friends of the City of Vancouver’s Archives raised funds for the 1600 cubic foot cold storage facility needed to preserve deteriorating negatives and photographs and the Friends of Library and Archives Canada contributed funds to add a rare 1765 manuscript map by James Cook showing the south coast of Newfoundland to Library and Archives Canada’s collection. Friends groups often facilitate volunteer projects and sponsor events and exhibitions featuring archival collections and related topics. See the BCGS list of Friends of Archives in Canada for links to each group.

BCGS hopes these will be useful to anyone interested in Canadian genealogy research. Both these web publications are on-going projects so please do send updates, suggestions and new information to the BCGS Editor: editor@bcgs.ca or c/o the BCGS, P.O. Box 88054, Lansdowne Mall, Richmond, BC, CANADA V6X 3T6.