Searching Resources in Alberta, Canada

Welcome to the Search and Reunion Message Board! NEW UPDATE ON SEARCHING IN ALBERTA, CANADA!!! On November 1, 2004, when the Child, Youth & Family Enhancement Act comes into force, the Alberta government will open access to identifying information contained in adoption records. This change will affect all adoptions granted in the province prior to January 1, 2005. Birth parents and adoptees, who are 18 years and older, may obtain identifying information about one another, unless a veto is in place at the time of the request. Individuals who want their identifying information to remain confidential must file a disclosure veto with Albertas Post Adoption Registry. This veto will prevent the release of any birth registration or adoption information identifying the person. Check the website for more information: [url]http://www.child.gov.ab.ca/whatwedo/adoptionrecords/page.cfm?pg=index[/url] General Searching Information for Adoptees born in Canada and taken to the USA. If anyone was born in Canada and adopted by American adoptive parents and taken to the United States, contact the US Dept. of Immigration and obtain a copy of your Entry Visa. This form should show your full birthname. This is required for all persons taking up permanent residence in the U.S. Registry The Alberta Provincial Government Post Adoption Registry 6th Floor, Sterling Place 9940-106 Street Edmonton, Alberta Canada T5K 2N2 Tel: (780) 427-6387 Edmonton Toll free in Alberta, call 310-0000 and ask them to put you through to 427-6387. Non-Identifying Information Usually completed within 6-8 weeks. Adult adoptees that were placed in Alberta are entitled to the following: - Your Full Birth Name (As of March 1995) - A certified copy of your Adoption Order - Non-identifying Information Birth Parents and Adult Siblings are entitled to the following: - Non-identifying information about the adoptee. This includes the year of birth, but DOES NOT include the date or even the month of birth. It also includes a brief description of the adoptive family. The birth parents and siblings do not even have access to the adoptee's birth name. Passive Registry There is no fee for this. The registry began in 1987. Adult adoptees placed in Alberta and their birth families can join the Passive Registry run by the Post Adoption Registry. It will not search but if two of the parties are on file the PAR will contact each party, usually within thirty days of a match. Each new application is checked for a match within five working days. If a match is made, individuals are usually contacted within 30 days. You do not have to place your name in the passive registry to get your information. Active Search The law presently allows active searches. birth parents, and birth siblings can have active searches done. The searches are conducted by private agencies who are licensed by the government. Counselling Clients who are matched all receive preparational information during the reunion process. Inquiries Currently, more than 19,000 people have registered for direct contact. Email: Other great websites to check out: [url]http://www.adoptionchat.com[/url] [url]http://www.adoption.com[/url] [url]http://www.adopting.org[/url] [url]http://registry.adoption.com/[/url]