From 1867-70, a great deal of current Saskatchewan was Rupert’s Land. In 1870, the Northwest Territory and Rupert’s Land merged to become one vast territory encompassing modern day Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and northern Quebec. Last updated 12 Nov 2024.
Hudson’s Bay Company
For these and other Colonial Office records, see the National Archives, Kew, London.
- 1670 – the Hudson’s Bay Company was created by British royal charter
- 1763 – the North-West Company was formed to encompass and exploit that part of the territory not covered by the HBC charter
- 1820 – HBC was joined with the North-West Company
- 1869 – HBC sold its rights to the two-year old Dominion of Canada
Mandy Banton, Administering the Empire, 1801-1968: A Guide to the Records of the Colonial Office in the National Archives of the UK (London, UK: University of London Press, School of Advanced Study, Institute of Historical Research, 2020), https://humanities-digital-library.org/index.php/hdl/catalog/book/administering-the-empire-1801-1968 : accessed 14 Jun 2021.
Confederation
This page last updated 3 Jan 2023 and contains resources primarily for Saskatchewan, Canada. Main archives and lesser known locales have location maps. Listings are under the following categories:
- Archives
- BMDs and Divorce
- Cemeteries, Obituaries
- Church Records
- Courts, Law, Legal, Prison
- Hospitals
- Historic Maps of Western Canada
- Land, Directories, Property
- Lists
- Local History Books, other Publications
- Maps
- Newspapers
- Western Canadian Censuses
Archives
| Place | Name and Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| online | Peel’s Praire Provinces (Internet Archive) | Once located at the UofC and now with the Internet Archive, this is an essential resource for the prairies, with a focus on Alberta, this site has records for AB, SK, and MB |
| online | Saskatchewan Genealogy Records Online | Impressive list but sadly many dead links from the disappearance of RootsWeb |
| Moose Jaw | Moose Jaw Genealogical Society | From the volunteers at this society, this site features huge amounts of genealogical data. Aside from the 3 sections listed below, look for Towns & Schools, and Local History Books. |
| Saskatoon | City of Saskatoon Archives, 202 – 4th Avenue North, Saskatoon (opening Jun 2024) | One of the greatest tools in the genealogist’s toolkit is mapping. The City’s archives house fire insurance maps, city maps, building plans and much more. Unfortunately only available in person, but if you ask nicely, you might be able to talk the City clerks into finding something for you. |
| Saskatoon | FamilySearch Center, 1429 10th Street East Saskatoon, SK S7H 0J4, (306) 343-6060, SK_Saskatoon@familyhistorymail.org | Hours: Wed 6:00-8:30pm, Thurs 10:00-12:00 pm, Fri 10:00-12:00 pm ; Closed last 2 weeks in December |
| Saskatoon | Saskatchewan Genealogical Society (Saskatoon Branch), Bay 1, 1730 Quebec Ave, Saskatoon SK S7K 1V9, info@genealogysaskatoon.ca | Hours: The library is open before in-person Branch meetings |
| Regina | Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan, 2440 Broad Street, Regina, SK, S4P 0A5, 1-833-382-4068 | Hours: Monday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm; also the site for the United Church of Canada Archives. |
| Regina | Saskatchewan Genealogical Society (Main Branch), 110 – 1514 11th Avenue, Regina, SK, 1-306-780-9207 | Hours: Monday through Friday, (Closed every third Monday), 10:00 am – 4:30 pm |
| Regina | University of Regina Archer Library, Archives and Special Collections, University of Regina Room 107.4, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, archives@uregina.ca, 306-585-4014 | The subject coverage of this collection is broad but areas such as western Canadian and Saskatchewan history, are emphasized. |
BMDs and Divorce
eHealth Saskatchewan Genealogy Index Searches
This site was created in 2005 and appears not to have been updated since. From the website:
The legislation governing Saskatchewan Vital Statistics allows for the publishing of a genealogical index of historic vital events. A portion of these events have been indexed and are available via the search below.
The search function does not allow for Boolean searching, so keep a notepad handy of all the name variants you’ll need. For example: Giesbrecht, Geesbrecht, Geisbrecht, Giesbrekt, etc. The “Select number of records” to show in results should automatically have been set at 100 or larger, but it defaults to 3.
Copies of records may be ordered from the Government of SK. In Feb, 2018, the charge for a death certificate was $55. Here’s a link for more information.
HINT #1 – Although the site suggests that births older than 100 years are available (~1918), I have yet to find any birth records past 1908.
HINT #2 – See above. It’s a similar situation for death records. The site suggests that records older than 70 years are available (~1948), but I have yet to see records past 1916.
Divorce
From 1867-1919, divorces in SK were by Act of Parliament. Notices for the divorces granted were listed in the Statutes of Canada. Check the “Index to Private Acts 1867-1916.” The easiest route would be by checking local newspapers (divorcing couples were required to publish their intent) and the Canada Gazette. Find all of these in provincial archives, university libraries, and legislative libraries. The Canada Gazette is online at LAC but if you have trouble (i.e., you’ve searched the online gazettes and can’t find your people), LAC is helpful.
For records 1919-31, divorce petitions were under provincial jurisdiction. Consult the dockets at the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan. After 1931, contact the courthouse where the divorce was held. If you do not know in which judicial district the divorce occurred, you should contact the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings in Ottawa. Be sure to check FamilySearch’s catalog and image only sections.
It’s important to note that many people, faced with the challenges, did NOT divorce at all. Many moved to another town, city, or country and started a new life.
| Type | Dates | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divorce | 1841-1968 | Acts of Divorce | GoC; this page is old and will likely be replaced |
| Divorce | 1841-1997 | The Canada Gazette | |
| Divorce | > 2 Jul 1968 | The Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings | GoC; The Registry may only give you information about someone else’s divorce if you need it to enforce a law or if you have the consent of one of the parties. |
| Divorce | 1826-1946 | Index to Canadian Parliamentary Divorces | Hugh Armstrong’s Index to Surnames, hosted at CanGenealogy |
| Divorce | 1870-1930 | Saskatchewan Divorce Records – International Institute | Archives of SK |
| Divorce | 1891-1954 | FamilySearch | See for example, “Saskatchewan, Judicial District of Saskatoon, Court of King’s Bench docket book and divorce files, 1918-1946“ |
Cemetery, Obituaries
Cemetery – Ancestry – Saskatchewan, Canada, Cemetery Transcripts, 1850-1994
Recently updated, the transripts are data from the graves 1850-1994. You might just find your elusive ancestor here. (Link requires an Ancestry account.)
Cemetery – Moose Jaw Genealogical Society
For the cemeteries Moose Jaw Pioneer Cemetery, Moose Jaw City Cemetery, Rosedale Cemetery, Sunset Cemetery (formerly Resthaven), Pine Grove Cemetery, Heath Cemetery, Smith Cemetery, and St. Aidan’s Church Cemetery, look for photos, lists and transcriptions.
Cemetery – SK Genealogical Society Burial Index
Over half a million names.
Cemetery – Saskatoon – Woodlawn Cemetery
Woodlawn is Saskatoon’s largest cemetery. As of Jan 2022, it has recorded 63,000 interments. It is a soothing, restful, and well maintained space, and best of all for the genealogist, it has a database index search. The link will take you to the main page. Find the link to the search on the page. In addition, the staff at Woodlawn are exceedingly helpful. I am a Find a Grave volunteer for this cemetery. If you are looking for a marker, please feel free to contact me.
Obituaries – Moose Jaw Genealogical Society – Obituaries (1888-?)
Moose Jaw Genealogical Society. The Moose Jaw GS deserves a massive shout of appreciation for their work in scanning, posting, and transcribing obits from 1888 onwards, right up to nearly present day. Comes in a variety of formats.
Obituaries – SK Genealogical Society Obituary Index
Members can access over 160K names in this list.
Obituaries – Saskatoon Obituaries, 1902-1945
From Eleanor Kennedy, this impressive site is a listing of the Saskatoon obits names and dates. Currently available are the years 1940-1945, but 1939 is on the way.
Church Records
| Denomination | Place | Dates | Provider | Details & Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | Saskatchewan | 1846-1957 | FamilySearch | Canada, Saskatchewan Catholic Church Records |
| United Church of Canada | Living Skies Region (Saskatchewan) | 1925-2019 | MemorySask; Living Skies Regional Council | United Church of Canada Saskatchewan Conference Archives [1925-2018]; United Church of Canada Region 4 Archives [early 2019]; United Church of Canada Living Skies Regional Council Archives |
| Mixed | Saskatchewan | various | FamilySearch | Saskatchewan Church Records (12 Apr 2024); check image only records for SK baptism, burial, and other church records – will need to search by location |
Courts, Law, Legal, Prison
| Category | Provider / Title | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courts | Abbotsford Genealogical Society | 1864 to 1939 | Non B.C. Wills Surnames A-Z (periodical) |
| Courts | FamilySearch | various | Check FamilySearch image only for collections such as “Court Docket Indices,” “Citizenship Records, Court Records,” and others |
| Courts | FamilySearch | 1887-1931 | Canada, Saskatchewan Probate Estate Files, 1887-1931 |
| Courts | Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan | 1887-1931 | File R-1266 – Supreme Court of the North-West Territories (Civil) |
| Courts | Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan | 1887-1931 | File R-1267 – Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Court of Appeal |
| Courts | Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan | 1887-1917 | File R-1286 – Supreme Court of the North-West Territories (Criminal) |
| Courts | Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan | 1918-1952 | Saskatchewan. Court of King’s Bench |
| Courts | SK Genealogical Society / Changes of Name | 1917-1993 | This register of name changes from 1917-1993 is a goldmine, listing both the previous and new names, plus dates and locations, of SK residents who opted for a name change. |
| Law – Annual Statutes of Saskatchewan | SK | 1906-present | CanLII – From 1906 to present day, find the original laws on the books here. |
| Prison | Ancestry | 1921 | 1921 Census of Prince Albert, subdistrict 58, Prince Albert City, Jail – Built on the site of a former residential school in 1911, the 1921 Canada census lists ~130 inmates. Today the jail is the Saskatchewan federal penitentiary. |
| Category | Provider | Dates | Links and Notes |
Hospitals
Saskatchewan had two hospitals for those suffering mental health issues: Weyburn and N. Battleford. You can find some former patients for either hospital with Find a Grave if you enter the key phrase “Saskatchewan Mental Hospital Cemetery Memorials.”
Hospitals – North Battleford Provincial Mental Hospital
Here are the specifics to help you locate the actual census record: Province of Saskatchewan; District 222 North Battleford; Subdistrict 59. There are only 25 pages in this file. The patients and staff begin on page 4. See below for finding the records. As well, I found that the 1921 Canada census lists the patients AND staff. If you’re looking for any missing, long lost SK-based relations around this time period, check this census. HINT #1: 1921 census at Library and Archives Canada, enter the keyword “mental” and choose the province of Saskatchewan. HINT #2: If you have an Ancestry account, you’ll be able to page through the entire census, which is easier: i) Go to the 1921 Census of Canada; ii) Browse this collection, choose province of Saskatchewan and district of North Battleford. In the drop-down, locate sub-district 59 – Mental Hospital. Try this link. HINT #3: Use LAC’s Census Search, enter “mental” or “hospital” in the More/Sub-District Name field for any census.
Hospitals – Weyburn Mental Hospital
The Weyburn Mental Hospital opened in December, 1921, too late for the 1921 Canada census (in June). It wasn’t only for mental health – there was a “TB” (tuberculosis) annex. Here’s some background information on the hospital, and here’s the location. You can find it in the 1926 census of the prairies at Family Search here:
- Year – 1926
- Province – Sask.
- District – 36 Weyburn
- Sub-district – 87, Weyburn City Mental Hospital, pages 1-21 [Edit note: Pages 1-4 are staff; 5-21 are patients.]
I prefer FamilySearch because I like paging through the whole file. Alternatively, you can find Weyburn Hospital at Library and Archives Canada’s Search page by entering “Weyburn” in the keyword box, plus the names you’re looking up.
Land, Directories, Property
| Category | Provider | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land – Descriptions and where they came from | ISC | 1871 | SK’s borders are the 2nd and 4th of the western meridians; 1st meridian is just west of Winnipeg, which is why Winnipeg was an important jump off point for European migrants in search of free land |
| Land – Descriptions | Township Canada | Legal land descriptions in Canada – includes BC and Ontario, definition of “DLS,” why ON is different from SK, why BC is different from AB, definition of Legal Subdivisions (LSDs) subdivisions, ten free lookups/mth. | |
| Land – Homestead Records | FamilySearch | n/a | Saskatchewan Land and Property Records wiki – you will need to sign in |
| Land – Homestead Records | Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan | 1872-abt. 1930s | Series S 42 – Saskatchewan Homestead Records Pre-1930 series |
| Land – Forts | Canadian Forts, by Pete Payette | 18th-early 20th cent. | Pete’s site details the forts of SK. Did your family work with the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) fur trade outposts or the Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP)? |
| Land – Maps | GridAtlas | present day | If you’re not a farmer, you probably have a little trouble reading the legal land descriptions for the Prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. You are limited to four free lookups/day so plan accordingly. If you make a mistake, you’ll have to wait another day. |
| Land – Pioneer Questionnaires | Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan | 1905, 1953-1971 | Fonds (S)X 2 – Pioneer Questionnaires collection – only the names transcribed in finding aids – records must be consulted in person OR try FamilySearch images only. |
| Land – Records (General) | Ancestry | Wills, Probates, Land, Tax & Criminal – the homestead records in this collection are NOT the same as those in the PAA | |
| Land – Saskatchewan Residents Index | Saskatchewan Genealogy Society | abt. 5.2 M names |
Land Exceptions
It’s important to note that not everyone was eligible to participate in the Dominion Land homestead process – one had to be a British subject. For this reason, at least two major communities were specifically excluded: Indigenous and “Orientals,” which included Chinese, Japanese, Persians and more. See the Canada Year Book (1915), p. 632. Thus, homestead records generally will not be available for these populations.
Directories – Canada, the Ancestor Hunt
Thanks to the work of Kenneth R. Marks and Miriam Robbins, we have a site for Canadian directories. This site is always being updated. As of July 2020 there are directories for Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Plans are underway for Alberta, BC, Newfoundland & Labrador, PEI, Quebec, and the Territories.
Local History Books
Local histories can help build entire family trees.
| Provider | Notes |
|---|---|
| FamilySearch | Use the catalog to find local histories |
| Internet Archive (aka Archive.org) | Find Peel’s Prairie Provinces, once housed at the University of Calgary, here. |
| Saskatoon Public Library main branch (Frances Morrison), Local History | Extensive collection. Contact Local History for lookups. |
| Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan | Search the catalog |
| Saskatchewan Genealogy Society (SGS) | The SGS is very active, with branches all over SK. At least three have libraries. If you don’t know where to look, email the Regina archives and office at saskgenealogy@sasktel.net. |
| University of Manitoba | Find Manitoba Local Histories here. Also has some for SK. |
Publications – Military Service Recognition Books
For some years, the legions have been raising money by producing Military Service Recognition Books. Families wishing to honour their veterans contribute write ups. Unfortunately, they are not a database lookup, but the names of those being honoured are listed in the indexes, it is absolutely free to look them up, and if you are lucky, the writeups usually include a photo – pure genealogical gold. Google “Military Service Recognition Book” + [province] to find them.
Publications – Cypress Hills Massacre – Canadian Encyclopedia
Everyone approaches genealogy differently, and for different reasons. For me, genealogy helps me see historical events with a new perspective – through the eyes of our ancestors. Here’s a good summary of the Cypress Hills Massacre of SK and AB, 1873.
Publications – Notable Saskatchewan Women, 1905-1980
Published by the Saskatchewan Labour Women’s Division, Gov’t of SK and available online at the University of Calgary here.
Publications – Saskatchewan Medical Journal (1900s)
A journal for doctors. I found the main body of the journal a bit TMI, dealing with medical procedures as it does; however, each journal contains a Personals section about the gossipy events in the lives of doctors such as obituaries. Here’s how to find them:
- go to the link and scroll down to the Serials section of periodicals, annuals and newspapers
- Click “Browse this collection”
- In the search box, enter “Saskatchewan,” and refine the search by entering “Title” in the “Search in” dropdown menu
- There are not many medical journals, so easy to browse
Newspapers
Ancestor Hunt – Saskatchewan Online Newspapers
For the provinces that have stricter privacy laws, more tools are needed. You may not be able to hunt down any of the big three vital stats via eHealth, but you may find a local news piece announcing an event. The Ancestor Hunt has done a great job explaining what’s available, and how to search, and while the information is available elsewhere, it’s nice to see it organized this way.
Births and Marriages from the Moose Jaw Weekly Times – Moose Jaw Genealogy Society
A hidden gem. Search here for an index and a copy of the digitized record. When I visited, there were births from 1888-1914 and marriages from 1891-1914. See below for obits. Well done, Moose Jaw GS!
Newspapers- Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan
Digital newspapers, free to search, organized by publication. Not every edition of every publication is online, but there’s enough to give a great sense of the life and times of the day.
Thank yous
Saskie genealogy is hard! We really wouldn’t get very far without the dedicated efforts of our genealogy societies. I’m a member of my local branch. In addition, I’m a member of the FB groups Saskatchewan Genealogy and Saskatchewan Genealogy Network, where there are dozens of genealogists willing to offer advice. To everyone, thank you.