If your family has been in Canada for at least a few generations, there’s a very good chance that your ancestors will trace back to Ontario. Ontario’s archives and local collections are some of the best in Canada. And thankfully, there are many genealogy websites where you can access these records at no cost! Whether you descend from United Empire Loyalists, post-Confederation immigrants, or pioneering farming families, there are some amazing free Ontario genealogy resources out there for you. 

What can genealogy tell us about forgotten crimes? While researching a relative’s birth, I stumbled across a shocking 1895 true crime story—and realized how powerful family history research can be for uncovering the full picture. Here’s how I use genealogy to investigate historical cases and tell the stories others left behind.