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Other Types of Search

The purpose of Restoring Family Links is to reunite family members who have lost contact with each other because of conflict, disaster or for circumstances beyond their control (considered on a case-by-case basis). If you believe your request may fall within this last category please contact your local Red Cross office.

The Canadian Red Cross cannot

  • ship prescription drugs to family members in other countries
  • ship money, clothing or other items
  • accept enquiries pertaining to child custody, child abduction or child support
  • accept requests concerning the reunification of adoptees with birth parents
  • facilitate the adoption of children from other countries
  • locate persons to settle an estate
  • accept genealogical searches
  • provide direct advocacy regarding immigration processes.

For links to organizations that may be able to assist in these cases please see below.

Adoption and separated families

Searching for a birth family or relative

International adoptions

  • National Adoption Clearinghouse
    A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, it has links for adoption professionals, prospective parents, national adoption registry and databases.

Adoption in Canada

World War II related information

Canadian Veterans

  • Veterans Affairs Canada
    This is the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs of the Canadian Government. The links page is extensive.
  • The Department of National Defence
    This is the website of the Canadian government department responsible for the Canadian military. Useful areas are operations and human resources.

United States Veterans

  • The American Legion
    The American cousin to the Canadian Legion.
  • Military USA.com
    This site contains veteran databases and information on veteran reunions.
  • Shipmates.com
    This site contains information and links to veteran databases, reunions, associations and organizations.

Holocaust related

Missing persons

In Canada

  • The Salvation Army
    The Salvation Army operates a free (donation suggested) family search service.

Aboriginal people in Canada

  • Aboriginal Canada Portal
    A Government of Canada web site with links to the major aboriginal organizations in Canada. The site is a good source for native information in Canada.
  • National Association of Friendship Centres
    Dedicated to aiding aboriginal people living in urban centres, they may provide a grass roots level of tracing an individual.

Persons in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland and Ukraine

The United States

  • Missing in the USA
    This site is a free message board. Messages may be posted according to a specific state or the whole United States.
  • White Pages Directory
    An on-line version of the white pages with multiple search options.
  • Vital Records Information United States
    This site contains information about where to obtain birth, death, marriage certificates and divorce decrees in the United States.
  • U.S. Postal Service Site
    Useful for checking addresses for accuracy.
  • The Dogpile
    This site has a reverse look-up tool using phone numbers, addresses and even email.
  • The Social Security Administration
    The Social Security Administration will provide a letter forwarding service for strong humanitarian purposes when all other possibilities have been exhausted. The Social Security Administration does not provide translation services, so the letter to The Social Security Administration must be written in English, but the enclosed letter to the sought person may be written in another language.

    The request must be submitted in writing providing as much information as possible:
    • Sought Person’s name and Social Security number (if known)
    • Date and place of birth
    • Names of Parents
    • Name and address of last known employer with dates of employment (if known)
    • Relationship with the Sought Person
    • Reason for wanting to contact the person (** they will only accept requests for humanitarian reasons**)
    • Date of last contact

Send a letter in English with the required information along with a letter to be forwarded on your behalf t

Social Security Administration
PO Box 33003
Baltimore, Maryland 212290-3003
USA

Missing in the UK

  • National Missing Persons Help Line
    A charity organization that concentrates on finding the most vulnerable (young, old, sick). It works with other organizations, both national and international, as well as the police and social services.
  • Look4them.org.uk
    This web site is a portal to several UK-based search organizations. It is a joint effort of nine different organizations, including the British Red Cross. The links include organizations on this list and cover almost all the same search parameters.

Missing in Australia

Missing in Poland

Missing in Ukraine

Genealogy

Vital Statistics Offices

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Northwest Territories
    Registrar General, Vital Statistics,
    Department of Health and Social Services Government of NWT
    Bag 9, Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0
    1-867-777-7420 or Tollfree: 1-800-661-0830
    Fax: 867-777-3197
  • Nova Scotia
  • Nunavut
    Registrar General, Vital Statistics,
    Nunavut Health and Social Services Government of Nunavut
    Bag 3, Rankin Inlet, NU X0C 0G0
    867-645-8002
    Toll free: 1-800-661-0833
    Fax: 867-645-8092
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Québec
  • Saskatchewan
  • Yukon Territories
    Vital Statistics Government of the Yukon
    4th Floor, 204 Lambert St., P.O. Box 2703, Whitehorse, YK Y1A 2C6
    867-667-5207 or Toll free: 1-800-661-0408
    Fax: 867-393-6486

If you have any questions please contact your local Red Cross office.

Posted September 24, 2007/Updated April 14, 2009
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