Claiming Canadian Citizenship: Step One

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 Claiming Canadian Citizenship: Step One

Canada Flag & Stars from Getty via Unsplash: Free

In September,  Leah Larkin told us about her complicated effort to claim Canadian citizenship* through one of her Acadian ancestors who were forced out of Canada centuries ago. While inspiring, most of us would not strive to complete such a huge project.

My goal should be much easier to accomplish because my paternal grandfather was born in Ontario, Canada, and his birth registration is already linked in my tree. Due to a recent change in Canadian law, those who can prove descent from a Canadian are eligible to claim Canadian citizenship. This change has opened a flood of requests to all Canadian archives to provide the certified documents needed in this quest. Larkin told us in September the wait would be three years for her filed claim!

My reason for claiming citizenship is that one of my sons is urging me to do so. Our daughter-in-law, his wife, is Canadian because her mother was born in Manitoba. Her mom recently claimed citizenship for both she and our grandson. My son would like to join them so they have matching passports in case they need them while traveling in the future.

The latest NGS Monthly mentions a new website, GeneoHub. From there it was one click over to the Ontario Archives, and easy to follow their clear instructions, and request my grandfather's certified birth registration. They allow linking to the online image (below). I also stated the facts in the "comments" section of the application. I'm hoping this speeds up the process since no search need be done.


Link to image

  • Thomas Cowan, male  #035508
  • Parents: Walter S. Cowan, Annie McPherson
  • Date of birth: 23 June 1890
  • Place: Wellington, Puslinch


Next Steps

  1. Watch for reply from Ontario Archives; submit payment
  2. Apply for official birth certificate for my father, Thomas Cowan's son
  3. Same for me and any of my children who want to claim
  4. Once all those documents arrive, actually file a claim

Then, WAIT

I plan to get those Washington State records soon, because the sooner the claim is made, the better. 

Are YOU claiming Canadian citizenship? Tell us about your progress. 

* Claiming citizenship is not the same as applying for citizenship; it is simply providing proof of a claim.


Valorie Zimmerman


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Send your stories to m.strickland@skcgs.org





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