It's old, but it wasn't the first newspaper published in our country. However, it is often referred to as the official newspaper of the Government of Canada. Instrumental in the democratic process, the Canada Gazette has been keeping citizens informed since 1841.

 Now, through the power of technology, genealogists can search back copies for family members and learn more about the laws and regulations that affected their generation.

 Available through the Library and Archives of Canada, A Nation's Chronicle: The Canada Gazette website (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/canada-gazette/index-e.html) will eventually contain digital images of the newspaper from its conception until 1997. The website promises all digitizing will be completed in early 2009.

 Currently, the database contains about 30 per cent of the published material, including 1983 to 1997 of Part I, 1950 to 1976 and 1983 to 1997 of Part II and 1985 to 1997 of Part III. The on-line digital images were created from microfilm, microfiche and original copies held by Library and Archives of Canada.

 Part I includes public notices, official appointments, government-proposed regulations and miscellaneous public notices required from the private sector. Part II contains official regulations from government departments and agencies. Public Acts of Parliament make up Part III.

 To search the database, select "Search the Canada Gazette" from the side menu. Searches are made by using keywords. Keywords can be any word (including surnames and locations), set of words or phrases. When searching with more than one word, results will include only the pages that contain all those words in any order. If keywords are enclosed between quotation marks, the resulting pages will contain the words in that particular order.

 For more tips on how to search, read the Search Help page. An advanced search engine is available and can help narrow the results.

 Results include the volume, number, date of publication and page number. Images can be viewed in GIF or PDF. Unfortunately, the person's name in relationship with the keyword(s) is not listed on the result page. When searching using a surname, you won't know who the information pertains to until viewing the image. The search engine doesn't distinguish between surnames and other words in the document. For example, when searching with the surname Appleby, one result was for a person living on Appleby Drive in Saskatoon. On the other hand, this is great if researchers are looking for a particular address.

 Various information is learned about each individual, including full name, dwelling address, date of occurrence, debt amounts, bankruptcy data and unclaimed balances at financial institutions.

 For example, my uncle, Obert Tibert, had an unclaimed balance of $425.64 on April 27, 1976. Although many others listed on the page had a known address, my uncle's place of residence was unknown.

 Current issues of the publication are found on the Canada Gazette website (http://canadagazette.gc.ca/index-e.html). Issues since 1998 are archived here.

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 Researcher's file

 When did Isabelle Sutherland, daughter of Alexander, die and where was she buried? Isabelle married (possibly common-law) Brian Lynch, both originally from Scotland. They lived near Earltown, Colchester County. Brian died December 15, 1865. Their son, William, was the informant on the death records. Contact Isabelle's granddaughter, Marguerite Mitchell, e-mail margmcmitch@uniserve.com.

 Diana Lynn Tibert is a freelance writer living in Milford, Nova Scotia.

 Submit a query. It's free! RR#1 Milford, Hants County, Nova Scotia B0N 1Y0; e-mail tibert@ns.sympatico.ca.

posted on 01/13/09